City Paper: What did you guys give up to go on tour?

Emily Kovach: Ryan is a much-loved waiter so he can always kind of come back to his job. Steve and I did quit our jobs (custom framer and administrative assistant, respectively), which is sort of a thrill for us both. We've all been saving up for this trip for awhile, and Steve and I both have jobs tentatively lined up for our return, so hopefully we're not screwing ourselves. It's a little scary to walk away from a salaried job with benefits and all that, but I think we all decided that it's just time.

CP: You booked this thing yourself?

EK: Thanks to the power of the Internet, I was able to reach a shocking number of people doing cool DIY stuff in their towns all over the U.S. With some clues from [manager] Ben Morgan, and a tons and tons of e-mails, we nailed down a lot of shows without too much stress. Some cities were incredibly tough to book (L.A., D.C.) but this is just the way it goes, I think, with indie bands. I'm glad we're doing it DIY — sometimes the idea of a booking agent is alluring, but I really enjoy having personal, ongoing contact with clubs, promoters and show-throwing punk kids.

CP: Where will the tour take you?

EK: We're basically out to the West Coast and back. I'm especially psyched for our shows in the Northwest — Seattle, Olympia, Portland and Eugene — because I've never been there. There are these sort of indie and punk-rock mythologies surrounding that region and I'm ready to see it for myself.

CP: You know, sometimes long tours turn into death marches. Any fear you guys'll end up getting on each others' nerves?

EK: I don't fear it — I know it. But as siblings/roommates/best friends, we've already had plenty of opportunities to get on each others' nerves. But the three of us have this really awesome dynamic and that can't be threatened by a couple of spats or some disagreements. By the end of the tour we're going to be a tighter band and bros for life.

CP: Six weeks. That van is going to smell.

EK: Ellis death farts know no bounds. I am slowly building up my tolerance.

CP: OK, the big question: Why do it?

EK: Well, when you boil it down it's like a road trip, plus getting trashed and rocking out every night, plus not having a job, plus seeing old friends, plus making new friends. I do tend to romanticize things a bit, but this is an opportunity for adventure that we can't pass up.

CP: I think regular enthusiasm checks are in order: How excited are you, right now, scale of one to 10?

EK: Dude, do you really have to ask? 10! 11!