Rant n' Rave With John Nagle

How’s the tour going?

Alex Levine: It’s been awesome. Everything’s been out of control.  All the shows have been bigger than I ever expected to be. It’s really rad.

What does it mean to you as a Jersey boy, to be playing the Stone Pony?

AL: It’s pretty crazy. I’ve been getting picture messages from some of my friends of the marquee who are telling me “I can’t believe you’re playing The Stone Pony.” It’s unbelievable. It’s legendary.  I mean, Bruce (Springsteen) started there you know?

You guys are opening for Bruce.  How did that come up?

AL: I think our management got in touch with his, and he just wanted to play with us.  It’s out of control.

This is your first headlining tour.  What’s it like going from opening act to carrying your own tour?

AL: It’s something that you can’t really get used to, but it’s definitely humbling.  I’m trying to stay humble.

The ’59 Sound has been your breakthrough. The cliché is that you have your whole life to write your first record and six weeks to write your second.  I read an interview where you said the band actually had more time to make the ’59 Sound.  Is that true?

AL: We had more time to record the The ’59 Sound.  We had more time to write Sink or Swim, but we were actually on the road when we were writing The ’59 Sound.  So there were a lot of different elements to the record, like going out to California, staying in California with a producer which made it a whole different animal all together for us.

What’s the songwriting process like?

AL: Well we all put our two cents in.  We don’t really talk much; we just kind of work the song out. (lead singer) Brian (Fallon) usually writes some sort of melody or a skeleton and we just kinda go off that.

The first record had more of a straight-up punk influence, while this one is more jangly.

AL: Yeah. We realized that we all were into different kinds of music than we thought we actually were.  We were into soul music and Motown and more classic sounds from the 60s and 70s.  We tried to incorporate that into The ’59 Sound.

One of the things I noticed about The ’59 Sound was that it had an album cover that actually looked like an album cover.

AL: Yeah, it’s not just a random image.

Is it harder to make a cohesive record now, since so many people are downloading music?

AL: Yeah I think so. A lot of bands don’t care about the record process or vinyl like we do. It is definitely harder with people downloading music illegally.

But you guys have managed to carve out a decent fanbase.

AL: Yeah, I don’t really care how people get our music, I just want them to come to our shows and have fun.

Do you think the live show is the band’s biggest strength?

AL: Oh yeah, that’s where we have the most fun, for sure.

You guys play a lot of club shows, but this summer you are playing a lot of festivals.  What’s the difference between the two?

AL: It’s a big adjustment, especially onstage with monitors, because you are essentially just jumping on there, plugging in and playing.  You aren’t really worried about sound like you would be at a club show.  At a club show, you can soundcheck for 45 minutes.  You can’t do that at a festival.  We’re definitely going to have to adjust accordingly.

Do you prefer the intimacy of a club show?

AL: I would prefer a club show over a festival any day of the week, but festivals are fun too.  It’s a whole different vibe.  It’s basically one big party because you meet a whole bunch of new bands and its cool.

Who are your influences?

AL; The Clash is my favorite band of all time. The Ramones are one of my favorite bands too. Dee Dee Ramone is probably my favorite bass player of all time.  I also dig Zeppelin, The Who, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.  I also like more modern bands like Lucero.

You are from Jersey, and Jersey plays a big part in your music.  What do you think it is about the state of New Jersey that makes it such a big part of the music?

AL: Well, it’s a different world.  Growing up in the Tri-State area, it’s a fast paced world and you have to get yours when you can.  I think that’s how people react in Jersey, especially musicians. It’s a small state, but with a lot of people.  So you either have to go for it big or go home.  That’s the mentality that a lot of Jersey-ites have.  Is that the right word? Jersey-ites? (laughs)

I don’t know. I’m a Baltimorean (laughs).

AL: (laughs) That’s right Baltimorean!  I never know what to say when I go to these different places.

But there is this theme in your music where you talk about breaking free of Jersey, but at the same time it seems like you don’t want to leave.

AL: Well, there is a sense of leaving, but also of going back. I guess it’s kind of a “home is where the heart is” kind of vibe.  Speaking for myself, I would never leave Jersey.  I can’t speak for the other guys obviously.

Well just listening to your music, there is a sense of “Come on girl, let’s leave this town.”

AL: Yeah, like let’s escape to the Jersey Shore.

Do you still go to the Shore?

AL: Oh yeah, when we can. We’re going to be in Europe all summer, but hopefully I’ll get down there sometime in August.

Will this be your first time playing Europe?

AL: Nope. We just got back about three months ago actually.

Are they as receptive over there as they are in the States?

AL: Oh yeah.  It’s happening everywhere for us right now, I’m literally speechless when people ask me about it.

Who would you like to tour with in the future?

AL: Joe Strummer, but unfortunately that’s not possible. I don’t know. That’s a rough one.  Probably Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Have you heard anything from him?

AL: No, no, not at all. That would be cool though.

What’s it like having a big fanbase now?

AL: It’s weird. I still haven’t gotten used to it.  I try to meet everyone and hang out after the show and talk to them as humans. I’m interested in what they have to say to me, I’m interested in why they like my band.

The internet has been a problem with people downloading music, but on the other hand, do you think it makes bands more accessible to the fans?

AL: Yeah. I’d say so.  It’s done a lot of positive and it’s done a lot of negative.  A lot of good music has gotten attention because of the internet and a lot of crappy music has gotten attention because of the internet.  It goes both ways.

So do you interact with the fans through the message board?

AL: Yup.  The message board, Myspace.

So what’s next for you guys, besides touring?

AL: Well, hopefully we’ll start writing in November.  I mean, we’ll all be home in November, so we’ll start recording over the winter and then have a new record early next year.

Have you guys started writing for it?

AL: Yup. We just started actually.

So no stopgap live record or anything like that?

AL: Nope.  I mean, it could happen, but I haven’t heard anything.