Quirkily fun is an understatement when describing the guys from All Time Low. The quartet harbors a glaring amount of energy both on and off stage. They do not pretend to have a cloud of dismalness swirling around them, as most punk rock bands tend to convey through their bruised, but tough egos. Yes, All Time Low still has a sensitive side, so you can still say “aw” if they say something adorable, but this rock pop band predominantly is about letting loose and having a good old time with their music.
All Time Low formed in 2003 with co-founders singer and guitarist Alex Gaskarth and guitarist Jack Barakat. Bassist, Zack Merrick and drummer, Rian Dawson later completed the group. While still being your average teenagers, the group was able to issue a four song EP in 2004, The Three Words to Remember in Dealing with the End. Pretty impressive, considering as high-school-ers we had a tough time juggling homework and after school activities.
Since those younger years, All Time Low has established themselves as a band to watch out for. Signed to Hopeless in 2006, the quartet released two full-length albums through the record label, Put Up or Shut Up and Nothing Personal. Their most recent album, Dirty Work, will mark the band’s first release through a major music label, Interscope Records. All Time Low has musically gotten around and deserves all the praise that is coming their way.
We had the opportunity to chat with All Time Low’s guitarist, Jack Barakat and the conversation never lost its spark thanks to Barakat’s upbeat and eager to talk personality. Check out our interview with him about his upcoming album, Dirty Work, and their current life on the road for their ‘Dirty Work Tour.’
What do you think separates your upcoming album, Dirty Work, from your prior albums?
We have a lot of rock songs. We have a lot of pop songs. And nothing in between.
What is the story behind the album’s title?
The title came one day when me and Alex were sitting in a field in Missouri. We were just discussing album titles, just going over different titles. Alex suggested and created the album title, Dirty Work, because balancing relationships and friendships while touring the world has been difficult. So from this scenario we got the title Dirty Work.
The cover art of the album is awesome. What were you guys going for when you shot this?
It is actually interesting. When we shot the whole artwork for the album, we basically threw a fake party at our friend’s house. We got a keg. We got some drinks. We got some hired extras and our friends. The fake party turned into a real party. So shooting it actually became quite difficult because we were doing work and having an actual party. So Alex said lets go outside and actually shoot the cover so we have some material, other than just us partying. Alex was like I am going to do something crazy and you guys just stand there and act like you are really serious. Not a lot of thought into it, but I think it turned out really well.
Was it supposed to be shot at the party or did it just kind of happen?
It was supposed to be shot, but it was the kind of thing where you talk about it and plan it, but you can’t really plan a party all the way. So, it was a like a spur of the moment type of stuff.
The first single off the album, “I Feel Like Dancin'” is a party in track. What is the story behind the track?
One day me and Alex over to Rivers Cuomo’s house in Santa Monica and we went back to basically his pool house. Me and Alex sat in the room and Rivers walked in. In about 30 minutes, the song was created. Rivers started playing the song, just chords on the guitar and Alex pulled out his iPhone pressed record and basically we wrote a song about partying.
Do you guys ever dance to your tunes like this one or stick to the singing and playing your instruments?
We are really good dancers. We grew up dancing and nothing has really changed. We just got really good at it. But we like to have a good time. You know what I mean?
Yeah, got to see you guys on Warped Tour. Can fans expect to hear both pop and rock elements throughout the album?
“Time Bomb” and “I Feel Like Dancin'” are more of pop and dance tracks of the album. There is definitely a lot more rock aspects to the album, we haven’t really released yet. When we release “Under A Paper Moon”, I think people will get more of a rock feel.
Is that the next single coming out?
The first single is “I Feel Like Dancin’,” but we haven’t decided the second single yet. We released “I Feel Like Dancin'” as an album teaser track. I’d say the album is 50/50 down the middle. Half pop, half rock and half love making. So, 150 percent.
How has it been being on your ‘Dirty Work Tour?’ Enjoying the audience’s feedback?
We honestly couldn’t expect better feedback. I feel that “I Feel Like Dancin'” goes better every night. “Time Bomb” goes down really well. It is a cool time for music with all the You Tube phenomenon. We can play these songs live for the first time and the next day the kids already know the lyrics.
Do you like singing your new tracks off Dirty Work or your older tunes?
It is refreshing to play new stuff because we have been playing the same songs for a while now. We have been playing Coffee Shop Soundtrack, since we were 16.
Are you guys wild on stage?
Yes, we are very wild. We love to have controversial conversations on stage.
What’s your relationship like off stage?
Great! We are all best friends. Me and Alex live together and we have parties every week. We are all there. The way we actually sing is very natural and very telling of how we are. We are not actors. We are shit actors.
What do you think your music will be like in the future?
We are always going to kind of have a pop aspect to our band. We grew up listening to SUM 41, Good Charlotte and Green Day. With that being said we are growing up. We are 22 and 23 years old now and our music influences are changing, but we are always going to have, in my opinion, catchy choruses and verses and pop aspects to our music.
Any information you could give us about the tour or the album that isn’t already released?
We did add a new track to our album, so it is now going to be 12 songs instead of 11. That is something no one knows.
Anything else you want your fans to know about your upcoming album?
Buy it or your kids might not graduate college.
by Lonnie Nemiroff
