With the force of a speeding L train, Chicago's Fallout Boy has emerged on the scene, providing the catchiest slightly hardcore-tinted pop punk you'll hear. With cleverly written lyrics and a live performance that is relentlessly energetic, the band has quickly gained a large grassroots fanbase through constant touring.
Recently signed to Island record - home of bands like Thrice, Thursday, Hoobastank, Andrew WK and Sum 41 - Fallout Boy is rapidly starting to turn heads by claiming an opening spot for Less Than Jake's headlining tour late last year and grabbing a much sought-after spot on the main stage for part of the 2004 Warped Tour. The Eagle caught up with Fallout Boy's bassist/songwriter Pete Wentz when the band opened for Mest at the 9:30 club last Sunday.
The Eagle: What is up for Fallout Boy in 2004?
Pete Wentz: We're putting out an acoustic EP/DVD on May 18 and it will have five acoustic songs and a DVD that chronicles the band, and then we're going to put out a new record probably in the fall and we're going to tour a bunch.
Eagle: Is the EP going to have new songs?
Wentz: Yeah two new songs - an exclusive song, a cover of "Level Terrace Park" by Joy Division, and an old song.
Eagle: How long is the DVD going to be? What's on it?
Wentz: The story is 40 minutes, that's the bulk of it. It just chronicles the beginning of the band to where we are now. Then there are extras, outtakes, live performances, upcoming Fueled By Ramen records bands. There's a lot of stuff.
Eagle: What kind of inspirations did you tap on for your new record?
Wentz: Well we haven't really finished the new record yet, but we've written and demoed four songs. It's definitely a progression. We're looking at more like Joy Division, the Cure, things like that as our inspirations.
Eagle: What bands are your inspirations?
Wentz: Lifetime, Joy Division, Archers of Loaf, the Descendents.
Eagle: You're really energetic onstage. Is it hard to keep up that energy?
Wentz: No, I would say that if we sat around on stage and did whatever the Strokes do, it would be contrived for us because no matter what, we would never be able to play the way we play on the CD, so we just try to have a good time.
Eagle: Who has been the coolest person among your peers who has liked you?
Wentz: I think the coolest was, we were sending out our demo to all these labels and no one showed interest at all, and then Kris Roe from the Ataris called us up out of the blue and was like, "Your demo was amazing," and all that stuff. He was the first person to give a shit about our band.
Eagle: But it didn't work out to get on Kung Fu (the Ataris' label at the time)?
Wentz: Yeah they were interested and they wanted us to come out to California to play a showcase, but it wasn't like they were going to fly us out there. We would have had to drive there.
Eagle: How far did you have to go to get on Fueled By Ramen? All the way to Florida?
Wentz: No, they wanted us really bad so it was more like us deciding to sign with them. They're awesome guys though. I have nothing but good stuff to say about them.
Eagle: If you could go with anyone on tour, who would it be?
Wentz: Lifetime, the Cure, Joy Division, and Kent.
Eagle: What are you listening to lately, old or new?
Wentz: Archers of Loaf, Give up the Ghost, this band the Academy from Chicago, this band June from Chicago. That's about it.
Eagle: How is this tour with Mest been?
Wentz: It's cool because we're playing a more diverse crowd. We're playing for kids that might not have normally liked us. It's a good ego check for our band; it makes you realize you are not as big as you think you are.
Eagle: Have the kids been digging your stuff?
Wentz: Seems like they do. At the same time we have a hardcore dedicated fan base who we see in every town. So it's usually good no matter what. But we have been seeing overall good reactions. People react to sincere music usually and I hope that people see that we are sincere.
Eagle: Since you guys are named after a "Simpsons" character, do you like the "Simpsons"?
Wentz: Ah hah! Our name's not from "The Simpsons." Not technically. We didn't get it from "The Simpsons." Someone at some point got it from "The Simpsons." The problem is, when you are named after something, that's all you're asked about or talked about. You develop a distaste for it. I haven't watched it in a long time though. But I haven't watched TV in general in a long time.
Eagle: Do you have any guilty pleasures?
Wentz: Plenty of bands. Obviously, "Justified," by Justin Timberlake. Also R. Kelly. Probably a lot of guilty pleasure bands I listen to are a lot of bands that we play with so I wouldn't be comfortable naming most of them. I don't think that there is anything wrong with guilty pleasures if you like it. I don't think it would be a good idea for me to say that, you know, guilty pleasure usually implies that you like, but are somewhat ashamed of liking, so I don't want to say that. I'll just say that I like a lot of standard pop punk.
