Jackson Free Press

Industrial rock band Filter strolls into Jackson this weekend for the Miller Lite Crawfish Boil. Filter first gained international fame for its 1999 hit single "Take a Picture," a mellow, reflective song and a departure from their aggressively brash sound.

Filter returns to its roots on 2008's "Anthems for the Damned," its most recent album. Though the fiery, raging rock is subdued in comparison to previous forays, the band's mature lyrics and polished structure resonate with longtime fans. John Spiker, Filter's bassist and a new addition to the band, took time out of the band's hectic touring schedule to have a chat about southern food, Europe and hanging with Snoop Dogg.

Where is Filter now?
We are right now in Germany on tour with Papa Roach.

Is it true the Germans love David Hasselhoff?
(Laughs) I haven't encountered a David Hasselhoff poster, yet. It's shocking. Kinda lame. We need to bring the "Hoff" back to the forefront here.

Is it wild performing in Europe and discovering a new fan base?
Totally. It is always a trip to play over here. I mean, it's a fact: Europeans love music. They support live shows. The shows have been great. The entire tour has been sold out. It makes us want to step up our playing.

Ever played with Snoop Dogg before?
No, but we are very excited about hanging with him this weekend.

If he invites the band to, um, his trailer, will you accept his invitation?
(Laughs) We will say "Yes" with a big smile. You will find us in his trailer.

After Jackson, Mississippi, what is the next stop for the band?
We have two more shows after this weekend, and then we head back to Los Angeles to work on our new record. With the new record, we are going to try to revisit Filter's original sound. Our songwriting approach will be to not limit ourselves with rules or expectations of what the music should sound like.

Have you ever eaten crawfish before?
I do not eat it often, but the times I've been to the South, I've loved it. I'm looking forward to eating it again. We can't wait to get to Jackson. Save us some crawfish, man.

Filter will appear on stage at 6:10 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the Miller Lite Crawfish Boil at the Mississippi Coliseum fairgrounds. Visit http://www.millerlitecrawfishboil.com for more info.