Against Me! is one of the jillion bands set to play Friday's Warped Tour date at Camden. FoPE Michael Lello, who serves as the editor of the Weekender in Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton, talked with AM! singer Tom Gabel prior to the Warped Tour dates this week.

 

 

Do you think Against Me!'s fanbase has changed over the past few years? How?
Yes, it’s definitely changed. It’s grown, there’s a wider variety of people who come out. It’s not so much an exclusively “punk” crowd.

How do you feel about playing on the Warped Tour?
I’m happy to be a part of the tour. We did the tour two years ago, and it was one of the best summers of my life.

 

 

How has the Internet (MySpace, etc.) impacted the all-ages/DIY/punk scene? What role did the Internet have in Against Me! growing its fanbase and promoting itself?
I think the Internet has had both a positive and negative effect on the all-ages/DIY/punk scene. On the one hand it has made networking between bands so much easier. When I used to book all of our shows I did so almost exclusively through the band’s Hotmail account. It’s also a completely democratic system for bands to get their music out there and heard. Record some music, put it up on your MySpace page, and try to get people to listen. Anyone can do it, and aside from the recording cost, it’s free.

 

 

 

   On the negative side, the Internet is a breeding ground for negativity and shit-talking. There is no accountability, you can say whatever you want about someone, doesn’t matter how mean it is, doesn’t matter if it’s true, and you will never be held responsible for what you said. I look at message boards and stuff like that as such a joke. I’m not that old, I'm only 27, so I’m not trying to come off as some old man saying “When I was young ...” but, when I was young, when I was 14-15, my idea of punk had nothing to do with sitting around talking trash on a message board. I was out starting bands, doing a ’zine, drinking beer in alleys, starting up Food Not Bombs chapters, dumpster diving, smashing the state.

 

 

What similarities do punk and folk share? For example — would you consider Bob Dylan punk, in a way?
Well, I guess at their root, punk and folk are both people’s music, street music, working-class music. Would I consider Dylan punk? In some ways, I’d consider punk a little bit like Dylan.

What attracted to you combining folk and punk sounds?
I started playing punk songs on an acoustic guitar because that’s all I had. I didn’t have an electric guitar at the time, didn’t have the money to buy one. It was just about working with what you had. Bands like Crass, Chumbawamba, The Apostles, Flux Of Pink Indians, The Mob, they inspired me to play an acoustic guitar. Dylan inspired me to go electric.

What is it like balancing a DIY ethic and grassroots fanbase with being a major-label band and being on MTV?
There is no balancing required.

 

 

What’s next for Against Me! after Warped? More touring? Recording?
In September we’re doing a Canadian headlining tour with Japanther and Saint Alvia Cartel. In October we’re doing a headlining U.S. tour with Ted Leo And The Pharmacists and Future Of The Left. In November I’m doing a couple dates by myself on The Revival Tour with Chuck Ragan, Ben Nichols and Tim Barry. Then in December we’re possibly heading to France for a handful of shows. So yeah, after Warped Tour is over we’re still going to be out on the road for the rest of the year. Hopefully we’ll start recording a new album early next year.

What are you listening to these days?
I have a real healthy appetite for new music. I got really into bands like Hot Chip, Ghostland Observatory, The Knife and MGMT recently. I heard a couple of the new No Age songs as well. All good stuff.

What’s the best concert you saw in the past year?
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street band in Washington D.C. It was amazing.

Best new album you’ve heard in the past year?
Hot Chip — “Made In The Dark”

Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden

Friday, July 25, 12 p.m.

Tickets: $30 in adv. / $35 d.o.s