Chicago band Friday Pilots Club (Caleb and Drew) jumped in the Mazda CX-9 (on loan from the spectacular team at The Autobarn Mazda of Evanston) for conversation and food from Red Hot Ranch (3057 N. Ashland).

Discussed this week:

• The Mazda CX-9 lends itself to an Iron Chef-type scenario.
• Bands need protein.
• Friday Pilots Club’s winning the national next2rock competition, earning them a record deal with Big Machine Label Group.
• The band’s reaction to being judged by the likes of Chris Jericho and Jonathan Davis.
• The night of the finals: What went on in their heads?
• Drew’s laptop died like a Viking.
• The parade that welcomed Friday Pilots Club back to Chicago after their win.
• Next steps for the band: Album recording with a producer?
• The bands songs to-date. My favorite song, “Gold and Bones,” an exercise in vocal calisthenics.
• “Bad as Hell”: It’s a sex song.
• Swagger is a key ingredient of the band’s total package.
• Caleb’s crotch issues on stage.
• Friday Pilots Club needs more fog on stage.