Interview: Against Me!

bst interviews Against Me!

by rob tatum

Recently, bst had the chance to interview Tom Gabel, the guitarist/vocalist from Against Me!, when the band hit Denver as part of this year's Warped Tour. We asked Tom about the band's latest album, the current tour, as well as some other things. The following is a recap of the interview. If you are interested in learning more about and listening to Against Me!, visit the band's official website, and Sire Records.

bst: Please state your name and instrument.

Tom: My name is Tom Gabel. I play guitar and sing in Against Me!

bst: New Wave was released about a year ago and has received a lot of positive feedback. How would you compare it to your other releases? What were your expectations for the album?

Tom: Well I like to think that with each record we've made we've gotten better at what we do. I like to think we've gotten better at our instruments, better at playing together as a band. I like to think I've gotten better as a song writer, as a lyricist. I mean when you spend all your time doing something, you hope that you're improving at it. So I look at New Wave as the next logical step in the progression. We didn't have any expectations for the record. When we finished the record we knew that we were happy with it; that was enough. Anything after that is just icing on the cake.

bst: On that note, what are the current plans for the next album? Is there anything different you will do this time around?

Tom: We're just now starting to think about the next record now. I've been writing constantly and I have a handful of songs that I'm really excited about. But we aren't really going to start focusing on the next record until we're done touring for this one.

bst: Obviously Warped Tour has become a staple of the summer and it seems like every year it gets bigger and bigger. Every summer it seems that more and more summer tours and festivals are started. With $40 ticket prices and larger crowds, do you think this has some adverse effect on the music community? Do the shows have any intimacy from your perspective?

Tom: Festival shows aren't supposed to be about intimacy, they're about the group experience. It's a gathering. I think for most people the idea is that they're paying 40 bucks to go and see a bunch of bands play, mostly bands they've never heard before and a couple that they are already fans of. How can that not be a healthy thing for music? Bands playing music; fans listening to music. That's kind of the way it works right? Music is played for people to listen to it. I mean, I think the unhealthiest thing that could happen to music would be for people to not play music, and people to not go to shows. As far as ticket prices go, you pay around $40, and there's about 100 bands that play each day That's 100 bands plus their crew that have to get fed each day. 100 bands that all have to pay for gas (which isn't getting any cheaper). There are around 900 people who are working on this tour, playing in the bands, working on the crews, in production. $40 for a ticket? That means you're giving about .4 cents to each person who is making this tour happen.

bst: Through the years, the tour has offered a little bit of everything and created some diverse crowds with its eclectic lineups. Clearly for up and coming bands (regardless of genre or personal agenda), the exposure is beneficial, but for established acts, what motivates you to play Warped? At times there is tension between the crowds, does this translate back stage? Any memorable moments you’d like to share (good or bad)?

Tom: I would argue that it's almost more beneficial to the established acts to play Warped Tour then for an up and coming band. We actually would never have done Warped Tour had we not been given Main Stage offers. On Warped Tour if you're a band up on stage playing and no one is watching you, chances are people are just going to keep walking by. However, if you already have a crowd of people who know who you are, who are watching you play and into the music, other people walking by will be more apt to stop for a second and see what's going on. Warped Tour is a chance for bands to win over fans that might not otherwise come out to see them play. I've never really experienced any tension in the crowd other than your random drunk asshole here and there.

bst: It’s been nearly a decade since mp3’s (Napster) came out and changed the music industry. Dollars and cents aside, do you think the internet and mp3’s have benefited the music community? Or do you feel artists are being exploited? How do feel about someone who purchases your album online instead of buying the CD? Downloads it?

Tom: I think in general it has an overwhelming negative effect on music. You already have a whole generation of kids who don't think you should have to pay for music. They see no worth in recorded music. They only see worth in Ipods and computers. So Steve Jobs wins and artists lose. It's like if you bought a microwave and then you think that you should get food for free to cook in it. As far as someone buying music online though I have no problem with that. I buy music online myself. I think it's a little overpriced but I think that will change eventually. The one real benefit I do see to digital music is the positive effect it has on the environment. There are no digital albums filing up landfills across the world.

bst: What do you think is the best part of the music industry right now? What can be done to keep that going?

Tom: Music is the best part of the music industry. What can be done to keep it going? People have to play music.

bst: What do you see as the biggest problem with the music industry right now? What do you think can be done to fix it?

Tom: See above.

bst: What are your plans at the conclusion of this tour? More touring? R&R?

Tom: We're going to Canada in September with Japanther and Saint Alvia Cartel. Then in October we're doing a U.S. Tour with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Future of the Left. I'm really looking forward to both of these tours.

bst: Anything else you would like to add?

Tom: Thanks very much for the interview.

bst: Thanks so much for talking with us and answering the questions.