How are you doin? Have a good Valentine’s Day?

Yeah. (laughs) A pretty fair Valentine’s Day

Good deal. So your new album “The Misery Index: Notes From the Plague Years” is set to release soon. Tell me how you guys feel about the new album.

Feel good about it, fortunately you know.

I just read today that the date was pushed back, when can we finally expect the release?

March 22^nd, yea the reason is because there was a printer error. They had to redo it all and they weren’t able to get the finished product to the distributor in time so we had to push it back.

Well, that’s unfortunate. I also read in the update that you guys are including a DVD in the first pressing. What’s on this DVD?

It’s actually a show we did in Koln in Germany, it started as only being on the European version, which Burning Heart is doing, but we decided to have it on this also, I mean, why not.

How did that show go?

It was a really good show. We did a really long set, an hour and a half, we had an acoustic thing in the middle also.

Awesome, well would you say that the boysetsfire sound has changed or evolved since the last record?

I hope so, with every album we hope to change and evolve. Some people think that it’s a bad thing, but we think it’s a good thing. I mean I like Bad Religion too, and their albums are all the same, which are still good. But some people think it’s better to stay the same but that’s not what we want.

I like a good change between albums also. It’s a pretty long album title, what’s the meaning behind it?

We just wanted to make something long (laughs).No, it just deals with what we’ve had to deal with the last three years like recording the new album, things in the music industry, dealing with the last label, again with political things and also personal things as well. A lot of things seemed to be falling apart for us at the time and the title encompasses it all.

Have you guys shot a video for the new album yet?

Yea, we shot the video in Sweden for “Requiem”.

Really? What’s the concept behind that video?

The concept is sort of what the song is about. You have the live shots but then also scenes of a girl walkin down a street passing people and its got this weird Jacob Ladder vibe. She walks and the people turn and you see their eyes go black, and then towards the end the girl sees the same thing in herself. The whole concept of it is about seeing hope from a miserable position, from a depressed situation. It’s not about yea we can do it! It’s more like can we? Its about trying to find the hope within something.

Sounds interesting, well you guys have always been known as a very politically-charged band. Are you still sending the message?

Yea. Are we?…yeah (laughs).

How are your political opinions expressed on the new album?

I guess once again, like usual, we have the obligatory Bush reference song, which is “Empire”. Then we have other things, and we always tend to have our fight song like “After the Eulogy” with its unnamed anger. It’s a let’s go get em guys, cheerleader kind of mentality (laughs). We also have songs like “A Far Cry” which is from the perspective of someone who is in the middle of a war and about the confusion, frustration, and insanity that goes on in someone’s head during that type of thing. Just the position of that person and the people who send them there.

Well, what did you think about the State of the Union address?

I didn’t think much of it. Every time since I was young that I’ve watched it, it has always seemed like a good deal of bullshit. You can tell they’re tryin to say the right things and nothing’s gonna get done again. He was talking about tryin to change our addiction to foreign oil and making plans for 2025. You won’t be here so why are you saying that and why are they listening. When you’re telling people we need to change our addiction, and by 2025, are you kidding me? It’s like handing it down to the next administration. That happens around this time every State of the Union. And even with the other presidents, they have all these promises and great ideas right when they leave so that they don’t have to do it.

You know, I see the exact same thing. So, the band has been around a long time and have always been outspoken with a strong political view. Do you find it hard to survive in the music industry today while stepping on the toes of politicians and their supporters?

Oh yea, it was a big struggle with our last record and with our label, we actually got a lot of crap. This is what our record label owners said verbatim “you guys need to go easy on the president” and “why are you being so hard.” That was right after 9/11 when everyone was scared shitless to say anything, but we did. Maybe not the smartest business move you know, but that’s not who we are.

So what advice would you give other bands who are trying to get their own messages out in the quieting environment of the music industry today?

Work your ass off. Don’t listen to other people. And whatever you do, don’t listen to people’s opinions on the internet. I’ve done it and I’ve seen it recently. Someone was talking shit on me and saying something untrue so I would get pissed and respond you know, and then realize I am on the computer (laughs). Then I think, I need to do something positive and I go read a book or something.

That’s an excellent way to release your anger, reading a book (laughs). Once again, you guys have changed between labels, now signed with Equal Vision. It’s been a “one record, one label” trend with the band. Do you think things might be different this time around?

We’ll see what happens, I hope so. I really like Equal Vision so we hope it works out. We’ve had the full length curse. Every time we do an EP things have gone well, but once we do a full length, we are outta there.

I’ve heard a lot about your live shows. Boysetsfire has been known for its high energy and active live performance. What do you think sets you guys apart from other similar acts out there in your live performance?

I don’t know what sets us apart. I know that we have a great deal of unity when were on stage, we have that bond that brings us together and people can see that we are all together. Like everyone in the band is singing along with me and there’s a complete package. Everyone’s into it and we’re and enjoying ourselves and interacting with each other having a good time.

So do you do anything to warm up before the shows?

Drink heavily.

Any drink of choice?

Usually whatever we can get (laughs). My personal favorite is Pabst Blue Ribbon and any whiskey. I’ve been told to stay away from the crown liquor, but I don’t (laughs). We stretch a little, I guess, we’re big dorks about it…not really. Actually most bands make sure that they don’t get too drunk, they stretch out and eat healthy and we’re eating candy bars, drinking, and sitting around.

Well you gotta be yourselves. How are the crowds reacting to your newer music?

Pretty well so far. You always have that dude that sings along to the new songs although you know damn well that no one has heard that song and you’re like, what the hell are you doing? (laughs) But you let em go and youre’ like alright rock! Everybody is responding really well, you know they’re not losing their minds, but in the end they listen and it seems like they like em.

Now, I read a review that said you guys had a sort of good vs. evil battle between you guys and another band with a following of thugs who were starting trouble in the crowds at a show back in November. Care to share a brief story about that?

Sure why not. We have a history of endin up in trouble somewhat (laughs). So they were just like we don’t like these guys, and I don’t think its cool, and I’ve been called out on this so many times from people sayin “I thought you guys were against violence”. It’s not that I’m against violence, sometimes it’s okay. I don’t think its okay to instigate for no reason just to be cool or tough. But if you’re defending yourself or challenging someone who is doing something wrong it’s fine. But they just went out of their way and they were doin the whole “faggots, and bitches” thing. Honestly, I’m over it, it’s fine, it’s more laughable or whatever. I don’t care if they say that kind of stuff, but it is a problem when people are inciting their friends to beat up people in the audience. It’s a “my dick is bigger than yours thing” and it’s disrespectful and stupid. You know what, if you have a good reason to commit violence, let us know. If you want to start a riot in the streets for a good reason, let us know. But just beatin up fifteen year old kids for no reason is not cool. So I said something about it, well, said a lot about it, I actually made a big stink about it and one of our roadies came up and said there were like twenty guys outside waiting to kick my ass. It was the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard when I’m up front with a mic in front of 500 people. Its not a smart move, the numbers are off, come on guys. So I got up and was like I am sick of this shit, if you all are too, it’s your scene and you should do something. I said if you wanna take care of this after we’re done I’m walkin outside and I’m gonna do what I need to do. What I did, the big crowd followed. Then the cops came and it got broken up you know. From there on the shit talking started and I’ve heard that I’m a big jerk cause I started the whole thing and they’ve said they’re gonna kick my ass at the next show. It gets so boring and old.

I know what you mean, it sure makes a good story though. But what do you guys have set up for touring this year? When? Who with?

Yea, we are going out in Europe with Hell is for Heroes and Another Tribute to Nothing starting March 8. Then we come back and do the states from April 22^nd I think to the end of May, which I believe is going to be with Versus the Mirror, Haste the Day, and The Fully Down. I am not positive on that, and it’s not for sure, but that’s what’s being set up right now.

I heard you guys are playin at the Warped tour this summer. Is this true?

Yea I think we’re playin 12 dates on the Smart Punk stage.

Anything else you guys wanna tell fans?

Nope. But peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwich is the best

Really? Marshmallow fluff?

Yea you gotta try it. Put both of those on toast. It’s the best.

Will do. Thanks for your time man.

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