Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by henotbusybeingborn on Feb 11, 2008 22:16:51 GMT -5
Mad karma! I couldn't agree more. Against Me! is one of those bands that I feel priveleged to have been witness to.
I'll be seeing them for the 7th time at Bonnaroo. You'd think after that many shows, it would start to get old, but definitely not. I can't wait to see them on the farm.
They've got such a specific vibe, it'll be interesting to see what effect the Bonnaroo vibe has on their set. Hopefully, lots of acoustic guitars!
Top 5 AM! songs you wanna hear at Roo, go!
Sink, Florida, Sink Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35% Borne On The FM Waves of the Heart (if they don't get Tegan up on stage for this one, I'll be really bummed) We Laugh At Danger and Break All The Rules Armageddon (the untitled track off of The Acoustic EP, "from Hoboken, to LA, from Portland, to Gainseville...", I doubt they play that one anymore)
Post by henotbusybeingborn on Feb 11, 2008 22:24:13 GMT -5
In regards to the new album, it's good. Not great, but good. I think the honesty and passion is still there. It's just more difficult to relate to. Tom Gabel has said he can only write what he knows, so everything they do is a reflection of their current station in life. And it's definitely easier to relate to the material written when they were four scrappy punks driving around in a van playing folk songs, than it is to material written from the perspective of a successful rock band with FM airplay. Songs like "Stop!" and "Piss and Vinegar" may ring true to the band, with their insider critiques of the music industry, but I can't relate at all.
It's definitely grown on me considerably though. The first four songs are fantastic, some of the best songs they've ever written. I think they need time to grow into their new major label skin, and I'm sure they're next album will be even better.
Well, I'm seeing them on the 23rd (one of only 3 shows they're headlining in the foreseeable future ), so I'm going to list songs that I wouldn't expect them to play in a club set but would love to see at the Farm (aka ACOUSTIC SONGZ!):
Wagon Wheel 8 Full Hours of Sleep We Did It All For Don Joy Cavalier Eternal
Clearly, they won't play all those songs, because the vibe would just be too weird. I will be really peeved if they more or less run through New Wave...but I won't be that surprised either. I'm just hoping for the best. Will they try to expand their fanbase, or will they play their best material? Conundrum.
Post by henotbusybeingborn on Feb 11, 2008 22:35:36 GMT -5
About a year ago, they came around to MD with Riverboat Gamblers and Fake Problems. Me and like 6 of my best friends decided to get some sushi before the show. While we were eating, my friend noticed a bearded fellow walk by the window. He remarked that he looked kinda like Warren, and then excused himself to the bathroom. Next thing we know, he comes running back and shouts "THEY'RE HERE!!!!" Sure, enough, Tom, Warren, James, and Andrew walked in, smiled and said hello, and sat down a few tables down. After a few minutes of whispering and giggling, my friend decided to go up and say something. She said "Hey guys, I don't mean to bother me, but it would really mean alot to me and my friends if you played "We Did It All For Don"" Unfortunately, Tom declined, saying it had been years since they played it. It was at that point that my inebriated friend ran over and shouted "TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT 35 PERCENT TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT 35 PERCENT!", which they ended up playing for their encore, along with The Disco Before The Breakdown, and Sh*t Stroll. It was a great show.
I'll also be seeing them on one of their few headlining dates, so I'm gonna try and chat with Tom. I've corresponded with him through e-mail a couple times, and he's always friendly. If i do, I'll definitely ask him about Bonnaroo.
In regards to the new album, it's good. Not great, but good. I think the honesty and passion is still there. It's just more difficult to relate to. Tom Gabel has said he can only write what he knows, so everything they do is a reflection of their current station in life. And it's definitely easier to relate to the material written when they were four scrappy punks driving around in a van playing folk songs, than it is to material written from the perspective of a successful rock band with FM airplay. Songs like "Stop!" and "Piss and Vinegar" may ring true to the band, with their insider critiques of the music industry, but I can't relate at all.
It's definitely grown on me considerably though. The first four songs are fantastic, some of the best songs they've ever written. I think they need time to grow into their new major label skin, and I'm sure they're next album will be even better.
I see what you're saying, and maybe my comment from before was too harsh. I think it's a good album in the grand scheme of things, but really nowhere near their standards as I perceive them. The sad thing about it is that it's exactly the album that I expected them to make, and it kinda results in a catch 22 -- I want them to be a band that never makes the same album twice, and they have been that band. They have 8 releases that sound like they were made by six different bands. This time around...I just don't think this "band" is as good as the other five.
And I actually grew to like Searching for a Former Clarity a lot. Lyrically, it was all a reflection on and metaphor for selling out, while musically they were doing exactly that. Hypocritical? Absolutely. Interesting? Unbelievably so.
Who knows, maybe some day I'll have a similarly kind reaction to New Wave.
Post by henotbusybeingborn on Feb 11, 2008 22:49:35 GMT -5
Yeah, SFAFC was an interesting album, in that it was pretty much an ultimatum to their older fanbase. "This is the direction we're going with this band, you can either come along for the ride, or sit back and bitch about how much better we used to be."
I may not always agree with the choices they make, but I totally respect the fact that they do everything on their own terms.
What I find so frustrating about all the "haters" is...hmm...how can I put this? Basically, the reason I became so enthralled with this band is the first place is because it really did feel life-altering. It sounds cliched, but I really felt like they could take over the world. And now, they actually have the oppurtunity to make a dent on society, and perhaps have a positive impact, and people wanna hold them back, saying it was better in the basement. When I heard they were gonna be on MTV, I thought "Well, that's weird, but f**k it, it's better than any of the other sh*t that pollutes the airwaves"
This is sort of turning into a rant, so i'm gonna shut up. I love Against Me!. The End.
Post by henotbusybeingborn on Feb 11, 2008 23:03:30 GMT -5
I hoped to myself, but didn't actually think they would be added. I was pleasently shocked to see them on the lineup. It's crazy how Bonnaroo seems to align itself to my musical tastes so perfectly.
I took my daughter to her first punk rock show....Against me! She...and I had a great time, I wish I could take her to roo just to see them again. It was such a cool night she had a blast and got to stay out late ona school night! Very memorable, so I will always be fan.
As my Inebriated buddy walks out of the Porto, he yells out, "Dude...I love this place...bonnaroo thinks about everything...they even put beer holders next to the toilet!"
Had to break it to him that that was the urnal. Good times good times!
Post by c234567892 on Feb 11, 2008 23:41:20 GMT -5
I like their albums and I'm seeing them with the foo fighters on the 24th and i'm glad to hear good things about their live shows. Last time I saw the foo fighters they had the kaiser chiefs and weezer with them and I actually fell asleep through kaiser chiefs and weezer.
This will make me come off as some elitist asshole, but I was into Against Me! 5+ years ago. I loved their music at the time and for a number of years after that but recently, especially with the last album, I personally just can't get into it. They don't seem like the same band at all to me. Believe me, I've tried to enjoy it. I saw them with Mastodon (weird bill) a few months back and their set was a bit of a joke, but I will still listen to Reinventing Axl Rose (awesome album), etc. As you can see, I fit into the "bitching fan" category.
Last Edit: Feb 12, 2008 1:04:20 GMT -5 by nil - Back to Top
I was in love (Still am) with As The Eternal Cowboy. "Che Guevara" is definetly one of my favorite all time songs. That said it's kinda disappointing to see them on a Major label just because of the fact they had a diehard underground anarchist following (not me, but my brother was one of them) especially in Gainsville (like my brother). And they felt betrayed by how AM! Ditched punk for a major label. Although I don't blame them, because i heard that one of the reasons why they did join up with a Major was to record with Butch Vig. So i really don't fault them on that. I don't think they did it for the money really. Plus I do like there new record. Its really well put together. The lyrics in itself are interesting to dive into on New Wave, besides the music. They are quite self aware. On a couple occasions they talk about their jump to a major label and all that jazz.
^^ Whatever their reasons, signing to a major label is a 100% guaranteed exile from the punk scene, especially from any folk and/or crust fans they had. Though, in my opinion, the music is always bigger than the scene. Whatever music and scene it may be. If they hadn't done such a good job appealing to the mainstream, the loss of their original support would have been their end.
I saw them with the Foo Fighters last month. I think their sound was a little off, but that was the fault of the sound guy. However, I am really hooked on 'Thrash Unreal' and I'm really looking forward to seeing them live.
^Yeah, Cliche Guevara might be my favorite song. And if you like the self-aware schtick that's going on in New Wave, it's done a thousand times more thoughtfully in Searching for a Former Clarity IMO.
And to the other guy, yeah, when I saw them with Mastodon their set was kinda disappointing, but still great in the grand scheme of things. Plus, Against Me! and Cursive on the same bill was pretty much a dream come true.
your going to bonnaroo...dont you think that most of the bands there signed to a major record deal! When I was younger the whole "sell out" thing made sense, but hate a band for trying to make a living. Do you think that once they get out of the "independent band" they would have anything to show for it. they put their time in, they did their thing, now they are doing it for themsleves. I am sure your not going to take care of them when their lights are cut off.
Last Edit: Feb 12, 2008 8:42:46 GMT -5 by malo - Back to Top
As my Inebriated buddy walks out of the Porto, he yells out, "Dude...I love this place...bonnaroo thinks about everything...they even put beer holders next to the toilet!"
Had to break it to him that that was the urnal. Good times good times!
This will make me come off as some elitist asshole, but I was into Against Me! 5+ years ago. I loved their music at the time and for a number of years after that but recently, especially with the last album, I personally just can't get into it. They don't seem like the same band at all to me. Believe me, I've tried to enjoy it. I saw them with Mastodon (weird bill) a few months back and their set was a bit of a joke, but I will still listen to Reinventing Axl Rose (awesome album), etc. As you can see, I fit into the "bitching fan" category.
Im with you on this but the part abotu them seeming like a diff band now is because they are a diff band now. they are the definiton of selling out they have completelty abandoned their roots and there ideals. I personally dont care cause i dont belive in anarchy and i had a feeling the "lets not make any money" route wasnt gonna work for them just like how it doesnt work for many many bands. I used to be a fan but everything after "as the eternal cowboy" is pretty much garbage in my ears
Post by henotbusybeingborn on Feb 12, 2008 15:32:11 GMT -5
Here's a video of them playing The Ocean off of their new album at an acoustic performance in Chicago. Apparently it was pro-shot, hopefully for a future DVD release. I've also included the full setlist. Hopefully their Roo set is something like this:
Joy (Tom solo) What We Worked For Walking is Still Honest Reinventing Axl Rose Impact New Wave Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious Tonight We're Gonna Give it 35% Unsubstantiated Rumors Are Good Enough For Me Thrash Unreal (Tom and James) Pints of Guiness Makes You Strong (with Franz Nicolay of World Inferno Friendship Society/The Hold Steady/Guignol) Don't Lose Touch Sink, Florida, Sink Ocean Baby, I'm An Anarchist (Tom solo)
Encore Wagon Wheel 8 Full Hours of Sleep (Tom solo)
