The rock bands of this year’s Art Attack come from all parts of the North Atlantic, but all three converge in College Park today along with local rapper DK and The Roots’ beat-boxer Rahzel for the SEE-hosted annual concert. The Diamondback spoke with members of The All-American Rejects, Washington Social Club and Die Mannequin about the band’s respective local music scenes and upcoming projects.
Despite multi-platinum success, The All-American Rejects still keep in touch with its local music scene in home-state Oklahoma.
“We’ve got a lot of friends who still play in local bands in Oklahoma,” said drummer Chris Gaylor. “And we’re playing there over the summer too.”
The power-pop band was recently overseas in Europe on tour, but Gaylor said the jet-setting band will sometimes meet its Oklahoma colleagues in far away places.
“We actually ran into the Flaming Lips while in an airport’s luggage claim in Europe once, and they’re from Oklahoma too, but we had never met them before,” Gaylor admitted. “So we went over to them and introduced ourselves. It was funny. We felt like dorks.”
On the other hand, Washington Social Club’s front-man Martin Royle has been a witness to the recent revival of the Washington music scene since moving to the area in 2001.
Recently, he thought much of the scene might come crashing down when earlier this year, Washington council member Jim Graham proposed a bill banning all people under 21 from Washington nightclubs. The bill failed, but an amended proposal is currently under consideration.
“It’s stupid – it’s just awfully shortsighted,” exclaimed Royle at the mention the proposal. “I was at a meeting, and all the local guys like Ian MacKaye (The Evens/Fugazi) and the owner of the Black Cat stood up in protest. It’s all pretty ridiculous.”
The local indie-rock band includes two university alumni in brothers/guitarists Evan and Jared Featherstone. The whole five-member band is preparing for the release of its second full-length album, and Royle is also excited about the change in look of the local music landscape since the release of its 2004 debut. “A few years ago, I would have said the music scene in D.C. is kind of dead,” explained Royle. “But right now, it’s not just leftover Dischord stuff anymore. A lot of local bands like the Dance Party, Army of Me, Mass Movement of the Moth and others have been really active and getting the chance to play at places like the 9:30 Club. Different kinds of music too, not just hardcore – more pop bands.”
The members of the Canadian alternative-rock band Die Mannequin have had a similar experience at home in Toronto.
“The music scene is lacking,” said the band’s 21-year-old female lead vocalist who goes by the pseudonym of Care Failure. “I would want it to be a community, helping each other, watching each others backs, but I don’t feel that. I think that bands like the Blood Brothers and Billy Talent though, and others are going to cause a revolution over the next few years.”
Its first EP is called How to Kill, and together, the band has started its own music label, How to Kill Music, which is distributed by Warner Music Canada. The also plans to release a full-length album by next year, Failure said.
The All-American Rejects’ plans for next year are less hectic and more relaxing, having just finished a headline tour and some smaller projects, Gaylor said.
“We were asked to do a single called ‘The Future has Arrived’ for that animated movie Meet the Robinsons, which was a lot of fun,” Gaylor said. “We’ve also been working on editing for a new DVD, after that, we’re definitely going to take it easy for a while before starting to record a third album.”
While The All-American Rejects are just finishing things up, both Washington Social Club and Die Mannequin are excited in anticipation for new releases.
Washington Social Club is having its own record release party in June at the 9:30 Club for its second album Bigger Than Your Boyfriend. While Royle is enjoying the local music scene, he said the album is more influenced by life experiences than by scenes or genres.
“Like one of our new songs called ‘The Breakup’ is in part about debating whether or not to keep this band going – we definitely thought about breaking up,” Royle elaborated. “You stick five people in a van for four months and it gets tough, but hey, inspiration comes from being taken out of your comfort zone – that’s where the good stuff comes from. So, each song on the album has its own story.”
When asked what kinds of influences are going into the new Die Mannequin release, Failure responded, “You mean besides alcohol, drugs and sex? I guess some Sonic Youth, Blonde Redhead, and older stuff like The Stooges, and definitely lots of local bands.”
The new EP Slaughter Daughter is scheduled to be released in late June or early July, Failure said, and will feature Die Mannequin’s usual brand of slaughter death ballad rock music – as Failure calls it.
Failure also said she’s excited for tonight’s show.
“It was one of those things where if you build it, we will come, even from up here in Buffalo where we are now,” Failure said.
The All-American Rejects are also looking forward to playing for a college crowd.
“Some days you feel like playing in a club – it’s just more intimate that way,” explained Gaylor. “Sometimes though you feel like playing in a stadium or arena. There’s just a thrill about it. Some of these college shows are pretty big, and there’s nothing like it.”
Doors for Art Attack at Byrd Stadium will open at 4:30 p.m. today, with the show starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are free to university students and are available at the Hoff Theater box office. Tickets for non-students are $15.
Contact reporter Adam Z. Winer at winerdbk@gmail.com.
