Against Me! Frontman to Launch Tour, Video Diary

In support of his new solo project, Against Me!'s front man, Tom Gabel, will embark on a tour with colleagues Chuck Ragan, Hot Water Music; Ben Nichols, Lucero; and Tim Barry, Avail. The Revival Tour starts October 31 in Pomona, California, and will feature solo sets from all four artists.

Additionally, Gabel has committed to posting one video per week on his myspace page.

Sire Records will release Gabel's solo album "Heart Burns" on October 28th.

The Subways Tunneling Out

It seems that British trio The Subways will not be underground for long, as their second album on Sire Records was produced by Butch Vig; known for his work with Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Smashing Pumpkins.

Butch Vig “was the nicest guy I’ve ever met, and that’s no exaggeration. Anyone could get along with him, and if anyone doesn’t like him, there’s something wrong with them,” drummer Josh Morgan said. “We’re just so proud” to have worked with him.

The Subways’ new album, All or Nothing, which is set to for release in the US on September 9, may have some surprises in store for fans.

The extended 14-track UK version has a song that contains a rap.

It is “called ‘This is the Club for People Who Hate People’ and it’s pretty crazy,” Morgan said. “It’s very quirky, but it’s nothing we’ve ever done before.”

And Butch Vig is not the only thing that The Subways have in common with Sonic Youth and the Smashing Pumpkins. Charlotte Cooper has joined the ranks of Kim Gordon and D’arcy Wretzky as a female, rock bassist.

“I respect [Charlotte] as a musician,” Morgan said. “She’s the best bassist I’ve ever heard in my life….She’s more rock and roll than me and” Billy Lunn (guitar/vocals).

The Subways just finished a US tour, which provided a series of non-musical trials for the band.

“The whole tour has been a crazy, bizarre process,” Morgan said before detailing how both the band’s tour manager and guitar tech were unable to attend almost all of the tour due to issues with their visas. Other issues along the way include cancelled flights, a detour to Dallas on the way to Seattle from New York and broken and lost equipment.

“We just laughed,” Morgan said. “The last two or three shows have been quite smooth; apart from we all get on each other’s nerves a bit.”

A few arguments here and there can be expected, though, especially considering the band, which contains two brothers, has endured a romantic breakup between Cooper and Lunn, and Lunn’s very serious vocal chord surgery.

The rest of the tour will be taking place in Japan and Europe. Morgan said he does not have a favorite place to perform.

“Generally I love playing everywhere. I believe music is based on touring.”

The crowds differ everywhere, according to Morgan who said that Europeans, tend to ask the strangest questions.

And although he has never accepted one he said, “The marriage proposals are quite cute, though, I like them.”

Photo Credit: aversion.com