Dunedin Free Press -The Horrorpops

UPDATE - JUNE, 2008

In May, Rolling Stone named Against Me! “Best Punk Band” on their list of “125-Plus People, Places and Things Ruling The Rock & Roll Universe.” Spin named their latest album, New Wave “Best Album of 2007.

Against Me! supported the Foo Fighters on their American tour earlier this year and played some smaller venue benefits for the Harvest Of
Hope Foundation.

After he heard New Wave, former Noise Addict frontman and Grand Royal Records artist Ben Lee covered the entire album in tribute to Against Me!, posting it on his website. His version is still available for free download through his message board.

The band appeared on both Conan O’Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman in 2007, playing New Wave singles “Thrash Unreal” and “Step” respectively.

Against Me! frontman/songwriter Tom Gabel was arrested for assault and battery in Tallahassee in August 2007 after he allegedly assaulted a patron at a café after an argument. Gabel has said that is was just an argument and that nothing happened but a drink being spilled. He was allowed to perform at the Against Me! show that evening, but was arrested immediately afterward and released on $500 bail the next morning.

FROM THE DUNEDIN FREE PRESS - AUGUST 2007

“Now there’s all these people saying ‘I’ve loved you since Vivida Vis.’ ‘No You didn’t. No one liked us when Vivida Vis was around.’” Tom Gabel, founder and frontman of Gainesville’s Against Me! Told Racket Magazine this year. “I was there at those shows! There were TEN people there. What are you talking about? I know you weren’t there.”

Not thirty yet, Gabel’s intense performance and direct songwriting rooted in early protest songs have given him a decade of experience as a professional artist. He has gone from playing at his apartment complex laundromat and local bonfires to world tours of Japan, Australia, Europe and Canada. Against Me! Is known for almost constantly touring.

For five years now, he has been part of the band’s current four-piece blend of punk, folk and rock with Andrew Seward on Bass, Warren Oakes on drums and James Bowman on Rhythm Guitar.

New Wave, released on July 20, 2008, is their ten-song debut on major label Sire Records. The album’s first single “Thrash Unreal” chronicles the life of a typical collge-town burnout, a 40-plus female addict who claims to have no regrets. The album was produced by Butch Vig, producer for Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth and Garbage. Gabel has said that the chance to work with Vig was an important factor in his decision to sign with Sire.

“The majority of his records are great-sounding sonically, but still sound like real bands,” Gabel said of the producer’s work.“In many ways,” Gabel has said of the album, New Wave is “a reaction to the self-centered, dark and moody” tone of their previous release, Searching For A Former Clarity.

Tom Gabel started playing in 1997 at 17 as an acoustic solo act
in Naples, occasionally playing with a bass player or drummer. He began recording as a solo artist, releasing a demo officially titled Against Me! but commonly known as Tom’s First Demo.

The following year’s release Vivida Vis! on Misanthrope Records, featured a full band. Only 500 copies of the album were pressed. It was popularized by file sharing. Gabel released Crime As Forgiven By in 2001 with Kevin Mahon on drums. The widely successful four-song 7”/ Six song CDEP was joint released by Plan It X Records and Sabot Productions. The EP’s two best known songs would have completely different futures with the band. “Impact” remains a staple at current shows. “Burn” has been largely disowned by the band. “It’s awesome to play something that would make someone happy to hear.” Gabel told Racket. “But sometimes there are songs that we don’t necessarily play anymore, and when people ask for ‘em its like ‘God, we don’t want to play them anymore.’ An example would be the song “Burn.” We uh, we don’t play it anymore and it’s like hm…sorry.”

Following Crime, the band released what is usually referred to as The Acoustic EP, first as a four song 7”, then as a CDEP with two bonus tracks like Crime. The EP had no electric guitar or drums, just Gabel on acoustic guitar and Dustin Fridkin on bass. Drummer, Kevin Mahon officially left the band after this EP. Warren Oakes took his place with James Bowman joining on second guitar.

The group released Reinventing Axl Rose in 2002 on No Idea Records. The album contained six tracks re-recorded from Crime and
The Acoustic EP and five new original songs. A full band and electric guitars made the album a change from previous Against Me! Releases. The album’s title track and “Baby, I’m An Anarchist” earned the band widespread punk popularity and lots of fans.

The Disco Before The Breakdown, a three-song EP followed Axl Rose and included guest appearances from fellow No Idea artists and friends and even a horn section on the title track. This EP is much more rocking than their early work, especially on “Tonight We’re Gonna Give It 35%.”

After Disco, Andrew Seward replaced Fridkin, creating the band’s current line up, together since 2003. The band then released Eternal Cowboy followed by Searching For A Former Clarity on Fat Wreck Chords. Gable has said that Eternal Cowboy sounds “more punk” than any previous releases, but their signing on Fat Wreck and changes in their sound are said to have alienated some of their core fan base. Adrock of The Beastie Boys produced Clarity’s second 12’ single “From Her Lips To God’s Ear.”

Next, the band released a DVD, We’re Never Going Home, a road documentary following the band on their US tour. The video includes appearances by Fat Mike Of Fat Wreck and Christopher Johnson of Plan It X as well as footage of Against Me! being offered $1 Million to sign with a certain major label.

The band finished out their Fat Wreck contract in 2006 with Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live In London!!! Recorded at London’s Mean Fiddler, it features the previous unreleased track "Americans Abroad.”

Tom Gabel believes that New Wave is another statement in Against Me!’s continuing manifesto. “Instead of sitting back and complaining about how there’s no good music out there,” he said, “you should be energized and take things over. Be the band you want to hear. Why let someone else have the loudest voice?”