American Hi-Fi music spans the ocean

Things worth considering: you are alive for an average of 660,000 hours; teenage is only a phase, an unpleasant growing up episode that strangely gets affected by rock/pop music. The trouble is that most of it is usually crap concocted by suits inspired by the Wall Street chimes. Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Blink 182, The Dandy Warhols, Nickelback, Sum 41… are only hype-induced temporarily acquired taste that appears to compliment zits and angst…

There are some other bands that get a rougher deal because they don’t fit the (fickle) hystérie-de-jour. We can think of number of suchlike bands, hopefully history will rectify their standing in the rocking order, but the subject of today’s focus is American Hi-Fi, a solid outfit with a backpack of the past. Follow-up to the AHF’s 2001 debut, ‘The Art Of Losing’, has already been toured Europe-wise and the band will make a return visit for numerous summer appearances.

We hook up with guitarist Jamie Arentzen to update us on the band’s activities.

“We are busy finishing a song for a film soundtrack,” Arentzen informs us excitedly. “We’ve recorded ‘Message In A Bottle’ by The Police, a more aggressive version, that is going to be used in a kids-movie, ‘Rugrats’. It was fun recording it and we like doing music for movies and have had songs in ‘American Pie 2’, ‘Insomnia’ and few other (minor) movies. We like doing it because it is great fun and it is a good exposure for the band, it introduces the name to new audiences.”

“I know this for a fact because our song ‘Vertigo’ is only available on ‘American Pie 2’ soundtrack but people keep on requesting it all the time. It is also good on the financial side,” guitarist continues explaining, “because it makes you less dependent on the label. The less money they have to budget for your album, the more freedom you have to be creative without any interference. ”

Strong flavour

American Hi-Fi were formed by guitarist and vocalist Stacy Jones, who did a (Dave) ‘Grohl’: from drumming in Veruca Salt and Letters To Cleo he moved upfront to lead a band of Arentzen, bassist Drew Persons and drummer Brian Nolan. The vocabulary the band employs in their music is diverse and stretches from raw power-rock to a reggae-rhythm’d ‘The Breakup Song’ which qualified them well to handle the Police’s track. However, “We were drawing more from The Clash style of reggae,” guitarist corrects the assumption.

Being based in Boston, it is surprising that the band’s main influences are largely British – in the tradition of Adam Ant (title track), Buzzcocks, The Clash – without failing to be touched by the late greatness of The Ramones.

“Yeah, people have told us that before,” Arentzen admits, “and that may be the reason that we have such a strong following in the UK. The last time we were there it was really insane will people invading the stage, surfing the crowd, going mental full-time! It was amazing and what is even more amazing is to be in a band from so far off and still be known there, have such a strong, hardcore following. Truly awe inspiring.”

“We all feel very lucky to be in this position and we simply do what we do. Band members’ tastes are very diverse and we incorporate a lot of it in our music and will keep doing that because we need to, it is part of who we are. For Brit-influence being major in our music, you are right; and, the American influences we have are a lot of the bands from the ‘90s who also were influenced by Brits. We love bands like Oasis, Coldplay, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine…”

Heart of the matter

The band’s songs are personal, human conditions gone wrong, mainly, while keeping away from political issues; has music prostituted itself so much that it is hypocritical to voice out beliefs and criticize the government?

“I think it is okay for some bands to do just that,” guitarist states with conviction, “but that is not us, we don’t have any political or social messages. We believe that music should be an entertainment and provide people with a platform to forget everything else in their life.”

The Beastie Boys called for youth to unite and oust G. W. Bush from the Office at the recent Coachella Festival; would you join them, secretly, at least?

“I’m not sure about that,” a hesitant answer ensues, “I don’t think musicians should go that far… We’d rather play live and bring joy to people and are really looking forward to touring Japan, America (with Matchbox 20 and Sugar Ray) and be back in Europe for July.”

A lot of work planned although the title of the album hints at pessimism…

“Well, maybe but we look at it more positively; it is about not being afraid to be different, to follow your heart rather than the crowd, and enjoy what really gets you.”

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