“This album is a whole new side of us. It’s a lot more positive, the music is definitely giving off a strong message, we want to show people there’s other ways to handle things as opposed to violence or dwelling on things, instead be strong and stand up for what you believe in, that’s definitely what we are pushing for. The music definitely is a lot more of a fun aspect…”
Faced with a number of lineup changes over the last year or two, the Woe, Is Me lineup that released debut album Numbers back in 2009, will contain only two original members when they hit Australia for Soundwave 2013. With the benefit of going through the process of recording their follow up album this year, a bevvy of recent touring action and a renewed vigour, the band should well and truly be firing on all cylinders by the time Soundwave rolls around.
We spoke with one of those two original members, drummer Austin Thornton and got the lowdown on what we can expect from the new album and of their first ever visit to Australia!
Hey Austin, thanks for taking the time to chat! So where are you calling in from today, you guys have been out on tour for the last few months haven’t you?
I’m in Atlanta right now, we actually just got home from touring a few days ago. It was a really great tour. We’ve kind of been a little MIA lately recording the new record and being busy in the studio and stuff so it was a good chance to get out and do one last good tour off of our debut album Numbers and give it a good final run as our next round of touring will be pushing hard with the new record and new songs. So it’s definitely been a good way to end it out
And given over the last 12 months or so you have had a bunch of new members join the band, I dare say the recent touring will have been a great chance to solidify the band lineup as well.
That’s certainly the primary thing we gained from this tour. It wasn’t so much about getting a massive rise in fans or making money out on the road, it was really taking the chance to get to know each other and all our little quirks, loose ends and things we needed to focus on to get us working really well together as a band. It was definitely a cool hangout session for sure!
So tell me, did you pick up on any interesting personal habits whilst out on tour?
(Laughs) we kind of all have our thing you know. Our new guys such as Brian, our bass player who is an old friend of mine, he is a very outspoken, Southern Tennessee kind of kid, so he’s very outspoken and brash about how he feels about things. Some of the stuff he comes out with is hilarious and really off guard. But over time you just get to know each other better and how we relate to one another, it’s just really all about taking that time.
You mentioned earlier about being busy recording the new album, so where is that all at, have you actually finished recording?
Actually we were in the last few countdown days in the studio and the computer just totally crashed which we were recording on. We had no choice but to go leave and tour. We are going back in the studio on the 27th to 30th of this month (August) to finally finalise everything for the album.
I guess taking a positive view on the computer crash, it has probably given you guys a good chance to sit back and listen over things a bit more whilst out on tour?
Yes definitely it gave us a bit more time to listen over things, but I guess you don’t want to second guess yourself too much.
Recognising that effectively the core song writing team still remains in the band, looking at the song writing for this album, how much has that process actually changed this time around?
As you said, the core as far as the song writing goes was primarily Kevin Hanson and myself, we are the two original members left in the band. As far as the song writing goes its pretty much the way it’s always been. With having Hance in the band and having a whole album with him on it to see how he writes as a lyricist as opposed to some of the past members, it was definitely good. It was a lot more laid back and we are all on the same page with what we wanted sound wise so made it very easy to work towards a common goal.
For those fans that obviously are familiar with you from Numbers, how would you compare where the band has evolved to and what we will hear on this new album?
It’s definitely a whole new side to us as a band. It’s still the same guys basically who wrote Numbers, aside from our original guitarist Tim Sherill who also had a big influence on that album, but this album is a whole new side of us. It’s a lot more positive, the music is definitely giving off a strong message, we want to show people there’s other ways to handle things as opposed to violence or dwelling on things, instead be strong and stand up for what you believe in, that’s definitely what we are pushing for. The music definitely has a lot more of a fun aspect, get together with your friends that make you happy and back you up. It kind of gives you that whole big sing along feel where you just want to go and have a good time at our shows. When we watch other bands such as A Day To Remember, they go and have a lot of fun at their shows and that’s kind of what we’ve tried to now do.
Now, the reason why we are chatting comes following the announcement of the Soundwave 2013 lineup, you guys must be pretty pumped, what have you guys heard about Soundwave previously?
Yes it’s awesome! It’s been something we’ve been looking forward to do. A lot of people kind of relate to Soundwave as being the Australian Warped tour. People we know who have been on it compare it to that and say its a crazy Festival and all that kind of stuff and I hope that’s exactly what it is. I’m looking forward to that for sure!
Have you had a chance to check out the lineup?
Of course I’m aware of the major headliners such as Metallica, Linkin Park and a bunch of others that I grew up as a kid listening to that I’m really excited for. Then there are other bands we’ve toured with in the past that I’m excited to share an international experience with as a band and hang out in another country. Hopefully we won’t get into too much trouble, but also get a chance to do a bunch of things we don’t get to do over here in the States. I’m super stoked and going to get the chance to watch a lot of different bands and enjoy it!
You also have a bunch of your Rise Records label mates on the lineup too, which is probably who you were just referring to when you mentioned bands you’ve previously toured with?
Rise has a very good streak as far as bands representing them, whether it be on a Vans Warped tour or festivals such as this. It’s kind of cool to take a big portion of what you consider home and get to showcase it in another country. We are excited for that, for sure and I know Rise is as well.
So what are your expectations of coming Down Under, I guess the level of interest in the band is probably a bit hard to gauge given it’s your first visit?
I honestly have no idea! There has certainly been a large response online for us to come over there and we never thought it would happen this soon. We’ve only got one record out, been touring it for two years and only been a band a bit longer than that, so its crazy for us to have this all of a sudden come up and it just blows us away. Even for someone to know what our name is and to be on this tour, that’s huge for us!
In contrast, what can we expect from Woe, Is Me as far as your live performance, how would you describe it?
Well we are going into some bigger tours and it’s the first time we will have been able to do things our way and do the whole show and production and stuff. That’s something we’re really excited to be able to do, we’re really excited to be able to present the whole story behind the new album and Woe, Is Me in general and put it into a whole production on stage. We want it to also be fun, so right now we’re sitting down looking at maybe what some of the odd things were that might have been done in the past by bands such as New Found Glory and all those guys who just did ridiculous things on stage and incorporate that whole aspect into a live show.
So as far as plans for the next 6 months or so, what’s in store…I dare say finishing off the album will be the big focus?
Yes definitely we’ve got an album to finish, more touring ahead, the trip to Australia and more things than we could ever imagine to be happening and I can’t wait to get that all out to everyone. If it was up to me I would tell you everything right here and now, but I would probably get my ass kicked for it (laughs)!
Essential Information
From: Atlanta, USA
Band members: Hance Alligood, Doriano Magliano –Vocals, Austin Thornton –Drums, Kevin Hanson –Guitars, Andrew Paiano -Guitars, Brian Medley -Bass
Website: www.woeisofficial.com
Latest release: Number(s) – (Rise Records)
SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL 2013
METALLICA, LINKIN PARK, BLINK 182
A PERFECT CIRCLE / THE OFFSPRING / PARAMORE / SLAYER / GARBAGE / CYPRESS HILL / BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE / TOMAHAWK / STONE SOUR / BRING ME THE HORIZON / KYUSS LIVES / ANTHRAX / SUM 41 / DRAGONFORCE / ALL TIME LOW / FLOGGING MOLLY / GHOST / DUFF McKAGAN’S LOADED / BILLY TALENT / MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK / MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE / THE AMITY AFFLICTION / SICK OF IT ALL / KINGDOM OF SORROW / FOZZY / THE LAWRENCE ARMS / SLEEPING WITH SIRENS / CANCER BATS / THE BLACKOUT / GALLOWS / MADBALL / FUCKED UP / VISION OF DISORDER / PIERCE THE VEIL / PERIPHERY / SHAI HALUD / OF MICE & MEN / THIS IS HELL / MISS MAY I / DANKO JONES / LUCERO / WOE, IS ME / THE WONDER YEARS / POLAR BEAR CLUB / WHILE SHE SLEEPS / CEREBRAL BALLZY / THE EARLY NOVEMBER / SUCH GOLD / SIX FEET UNDER / THE DEAR HUNTER / DEAF HAVANA / RED FANG / VERSUS THE WORLD / BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR / CONFESSION / CHUNK! NO, CAPTAIN CHUNK! / SYLOSIS / MEMPHIS MAY FIRE / CROSS FAITH
SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL VENUES AND DATES
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013
SATURDAY 23 BRISBANE, RNA SHOWGROUNDS – SOLD OUT!
SUNDAY 24 SYDNEY, OLYMPIC PARK – SOLD OUT!
FRIDAY 1 MELBOURNE, FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE – SOLD OUT!
SATURDAY 2 ADELAIDE, BONYTHON PARK
MONDAY 4 PERTH, CLAREMONT SHOWGROUNDS
General Public tickets on sale now through www.soundwavefestival.com www.oztix.com.au & Oztix outlets.
*All shows are licensed and all ages / *Venue and lineup subject to change
For more information head to www.soundwavefestival.com
