Manchester Orchestra has always sounded a little different than most rock bands. They don’t fit into any specific subgenre of music, and they’ve maintained their firm footing in the alternative scene through waves of new music trends and breakout bands over the last eight years. As obnoxious ‘80s-sounding bands (remember the Fratellis?), synth-driven pop punk (what about HelloGoodbye?) and Mumford & Sons clones all came and went, Manchester Orchestra just kept doing its own thing. 

While the band achieved its peak radio play in 2009 with the hit “I’ve Got Friends,” the quintet from Atlanta’s latest record (2014’s Cope and its acoustic re-imagining Hope), proved that the group wasn’t resting on its laurels, selling enough copies to top out at No. 13 on the US charts and score almost as well internationally. That’s not too bad for a band that started out as some suburban high school kids.

Tonight (September 25), Manchester Orchestra will be one of the big-name bands headed to Phoenix for the Summer Ends Music Festival. Myspace caught up with keyboardist/percussionist/backing vocalist Chris Freeman before the big show (seriously, Brand New is headlining that night and Kanye on Sunday. Yes, that Brand New and that Kanye) to talk about the festival, music, and growing up while in an up-and-coming band.

How has the band changed or evolved over the last decade?

We’ve definitely taken some time to get to know new roles in our older age and learned to set boundaries and to prioritize our lives both in the studio and out.

For someone who's totally unfamiliar with your music, how would you sum up Manchester Orchestra's sound? 

Typically, I describe Manchester as a loud dynamic rock band.

What was it like to start a band in high school and have it become successful just a few years later?

It’s all sort of this really big detailed blur. Certain milestones stick out, others don’t. There are a few days that got lost, but for the most part it just sort of kept ramping up until this moment and will hopefully continue to do so until the next milestone.

Was there ever a moment where you (and the band) thought, I can't believe this is really happening, or, I can't believe we're about to play this venue or festival or crowd where it just felt surreal?

There are a few shows that stick out and give the full “surreal feeling moment.” Once, while playing Lollapalooza Brazil, the most beautiful and dangerous looking storm came in during the set. Once in Australia, and a few times playing at home that really brought out some of those happy feelings.

How does the creative process work for the band? How has it changed over time as the band has gotten older?

We’ve always trusted each other in the studio, and that bond and openness has just become more abundant over time. Roles become more defined as we get older, and the same principle seems to apply for us in the studio. We just get together and play things until it feels right or it’s finished, and then move on to the next idea.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences (personally and for the band)? 

Personally, I’d say Pink Floyd’s Animals was a big one for me in the last few years. As a band, I’d say Pedro the Lion, Built to Spill, Kanye and My Morning Jacket.

How would you compare the alternative scene now to what it was like when the band first started?

It somehow feels dissipated and tighter knit all at the same time. I’m still hanging out with the same dudes. Some are still making music, some aren’t. Everybody seems happy. It still looks like people are pushing toward new goals in their own different ways.

What's it like playing a festival like Summer Ends, with names ranging from Hozier to Brand New to Kanye West?

It’s always fun to play festivals because you end up seeing acts you don’t normally get to see. The variety, as well as all of the friends we get to hang out with, make experiences like Summer Ends a nice change from regular touring.

What are the band's plans for the future? 

Keep playing a slew of shows this year and possibly some more writing next year. Everybody’s got irons in the fire right now; it’ll just be a minute before anything can be put out into the public. That sounds like super cool spy talk, but it’s really just a long way of saying, “We’re going to keep working hard, but nothing’s finished.”