Recently I sat down with Bass guitarist and vocalist Ahren Stringer from The Amity Affliction.
We discussed everything from the bands recent Warped Tour drive to their headlining run on this years “Brothers In Arms” tour featuring Chelsea Grin, Stick To Your Guns and In Hearts Wake to the bands future plans for 2014 and reflecting on the year that has been so far.
There’s some sentimental and reflection when Ahren discusses the meaning of their music to their fans and what it means to him personally.
Let me know what you think:)
The Amity Affliction
04.09.2013 |
Killyourstereo.com catches up with Ahren Stringer of The Amity Affliction. We discuss all things Amity including the band’s recent spot on Warped Tour and thoughts about the upcoming ‘Brothers In Arms’ shows.
Hey Ahren, it’s Simon from Killyourstereo, what’s happening in your world?
Not a lot actually, just enjoying a little down time. Relaxing after the last few months of Warped Tour.
It was a massive summer over there for you guys.
Yeah, it was long but loads of fun.
After touring around in a bus for two months, how bittersweet is it coming home?
Feels great, it’s pretty crazy just living out of a suitcase for two months, showering every second day. It’s pretty brutal, it’s always a lot of fun [though]. It’s great to come back to real life, sleep in a real bed. It’s really quite humbling.
There were a couple of “mishaps” while on tour, what happened there?
Well, second show in Ryan lacerated his eye with his drum stick, he had to go to hospital and get stitches in his eye. We had Chad our drum tech (who was already on the bus) to fill in and it was great because he is already an azmazing drummer. We really lucked out there. Joel had a seizure from alcohol withdrawals, he fell out of the bus on the way to the hospital and basically went stiff as a board and had a fit. We rushed him to hospital and after two days off he came back and was singing by the third day. That was really lucky and that it didn’t get more serious, the doctor said he could’ve died. So he’s off the grog for abit now. Dan also for step throat and went to hospital about a week later. It was like final destination with us. (laughs)
It sounds like it was final destination. You could’ve almost made a documentary just based on all that happening on Warped Tour.
I just wish we had’ve got more footage of it all. (laughs)
How is everyone now?
Everyone is good now and just stoked to be home. Soaking up some of the spring sun.
After doing Warped Tour in America how do you think the Australian tour will go?
There’s nowhere near as many bands as the US one but that’s only because Australia has a smaller population. However, I am sure it’ll do very well. There’s some big names coming like The Used, Parkway Drive, Offspring, Simple Plan and We Came As Romans.
The Amity Affliction are touring Australia soon for the Brothers In Arms tour with Chelsea grin, Stick To Your Guns and In Hearts Wake. What can the fans expect on this run of dates?
We are going to play some different songs but also some of the same that people love. We have some different production things that we are still working on. It’s a good mix of bands on it and I’m stoked.
Do you guys have any other tour dates planned anywhere else in the world between now and the end of the year?
Yeah, we have the European Brothers In Arms Tour. We are headlining and we are bringing out Landscapes, a hardcore band from the UK and In Hearts Wake again. That will be fun, it’ll just be interesting to see how many people actually come to see us in europe headlining.
I’m sure you guys will draw a good crowd as you are growing more popular as a band with each and every album released. Are you guys good mates with the boys from In Hearts Wake?
Yeah we are all good mates so it makes for a fun tour. We met the guys from Stick To Your Guns on Warped and they seem like all nice dudes, So it will be a friendly fun loving tour for everyone.
With Joel staying off the piss too? (laughs)
Yeah I think he’s still off the grog for now (laughs)
Why do you think the bond between The Amity Affliction and your fans is so strong?
I think people can really relate to all the lyrics on different levels. We are one of those bands that have a positive message and it does help kids out a lot who might be struggling with depression. We are one of those bands that relies on the lyrics as much as the music to connect with fans.
I’ve read instances where fans will approach you guys and be like “Hey I have a friend suffering from depression and your music means alot to them”. And you guys have been known to commit a song to that person at a live show in support. Is that something you guys love to do because you feel for them and their situation whatever it may be?
Yeah definitely, I mean personally I’ve never had a big problem or struggled with depression or anything like that but Joel has. Kids do appreciate it alot, we keep getting letters from kids on Warped. Some kids have even gone as far as giving us razor blades saying that they don’t need it anymore, that they aren’t harming themselves anymore which is a great thing. I mean what is more rewarding than actually helping people through your music. It’s just amazing.
Have you read a particular letter from a fan that wasreally inspiring beyond anything else?
Yeah there has been some pretty dark ones that shock you and really open your eyes. It makes you feel better by knowing that on some level you have helped. Some of the kids have had such hard lives and that through our songs we can help them. It’s just a really good feeling. Like Joel says to them, they help him as much as he helps them, so it’s a two way street.
So where to now for Amity? What do you guys want to achieve going into 2014?
Well we are going to try and record a new album next year and try and have it out by the middle of the year. But no promises (laughs). Thats the rough guide. After that we will do another world circuit of touring. We’ve got some plans to go back to america in the fall. But really just write and record and do it all over again.
Have you and Joel sat down and tossed around ideas for it?
We’ve been writing songs by ourselves so far. We haven’t really had that much of a chance to put anything together yet, like lyrics on songs yet. He will write the lyrics and I’ll pick which words go with what songs, but he’s been a bit slack and hasn’t written too many. Nor have I, so we will have to get our arses into gear when we are at home. We deal well under pressure so I’m sure we will be fine. (laughs)
That’s great. I know everyone will be looking forward to more material from you. What have been the most memorable moments from 2013 so far?
Soundwave was a good one, just playing with bands like Blink-182 and Metallica. Meeting Chester from Linkin Park, too many really. Playing Warped Tour was like the highlight of my life. It’s a dream come true, you know as a kid wanting to play Warped Tour and finally it happening, it’s just so amazing. I’d have to say Warped.
What other festivals from around the world would you like to do?
I’d say Rock AM Ring and Download Festival, just the whole European festival circuit really.
Well thanks for taking the time to talk to myself and Killyourstereo Ahren.
Thanks mate and we will see you all soon.
The Amity Affliction headline the ‘Brothers In Arms’ tour, playing nationally this October with Chelsea Grin, Stick To Your Guns and In Hearts Wake. Dates and details here.
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