In support of their Spring Tour, Railroad Earth agreed to answer a number of fan questions.  We invited our loyal readers to ask the band questions and after we received a decent number of questions, we compiled them and sent them off to the band.

Below are the response, answered by Tim Carbone:

Jeff on Fri Jan 20, 2012
Is the majority of your life on the road with the band? If so, how do you keep sane?

TC:  The majority of my life is not on the road. However, how I stay sane on the road is by exercising, reading a lot and calls to friends and family.

Joe on Fri Jan 20, 2012
I've often wondered if Andy switches instruments from performance to performance on any particular song, banjo for a few weeks then flat picking on that same tune a few weeks later to keep things fresh and even MORE intersting?

TC:  No, the instrumentation from song to song remains the same. Hey, The Song Remains the Same could be a great song title.

Greg on Fri Jan 20, 2012
Who wrote 'Waving Willy' ??

TC:  Todd

Brad on Fri Jan 20, 2012
How come every time I leave my home state you guys are playing? Are you guys following me?

TC:  Just because everyone is out to get you doesn't mean you need to be paranoid.

Don S on Sat Jan 21, 2012
You guys looking for roadies?

TC:  How old? What gender? 

Tom S. on Sat Jan 21, 2012
Did all of you see the Grateful Dead in concert and if so what were your first shows and memories from that time?

TC:  Who?

John E on Sat Jan 21, 2012
come to upstate NY please we live in Saratoga and would love to see you in Saratoga or even around Albany!

TC:  Do you want us to follow you too?

Betty W. on Mon Jan 23, 2012
Hey, I see you are in Charlottesville, VA for two nights. Do you like the area and the music scene there. Is there any possiblity we can hear the band on Mountain Stage the great West Virginia music program in the future?

TC:  Yes, we had a great time in Charlottesville (except for the a**hole who threw a drink at me). And we've done Mountain Stage three times.

Me on Thu Jan 26, 2012
Do you guys use setlists? If so, who writes them?

TC:  We have a big 'Wheel of Chance" with the songs on it. We just spin and whatever comes up we play.

Chip on Sun Jan 29, 2012
Are you guys too big for small town bars now? We're really missing you inn South Central Pennsylvania. York, Pa.

TC:  I thought they said bigger was better.

Yohan on Sun Jan 29, 2012
What are each of the bandmates major influences in music?

TC:       John = Flann O'Brien

            Carey = Earl Palmer

            Tim = Leonardo DaVinci

            Todd = Jack Hardy

            Andy G = Anton Karas

            Andrew = Dale Murphy

The Dude on Wed Feb 1, 2012
Where does your bandname come from?

TC:  Jack Kerouac named us.

Roger on Fri Feb 3, 2012
What's your favorite venue to play?

TC:  Mystic Hot Springs