Take Action Tour
2008's Take Action Tour Just Started. We thought we'd get a fresh take on this year's tour, by interviewing most of the bands involved. Check it out:
August Burns Red (Answers by guitarist JB Brubaker)
Why did your band sign on for this year's Take Action Tour?
The decision to do this year's Take Action Tour was a no-brainer. We've always thought it would be cool to be a part of a tour that was a little more than just "a tour" and the charity and cause that Take Action! supports is awesome. Also, we have been fans of Every Time I Die for years and have always wanted to tour with them. This was just a good example of things just naturally coming together. We're super excited for this thing.
How do you personally Take Action?
A couple months ago a close friend of mine, Jeremy Weiss and I were talking about how cool it would be to do a play on the Product Red campaign made popular by companies like GAP, Apple, etc, since the word "red" was in our band name. We designed August Burns Red shirts that were in the style of shirts you would find at GAP for the Product Red campaign. We then set aside $5 from every (Red) shirt we sold to donate to the Global Fund, which is a non-profit that helps fight aids in Africa. Unfortunately our shirt was discontinued due to copyright infringement with the Product Red campaign but we managed to raise a couple thousands dollars before we were forced to stop.
Aside from Take Action Tour and this year's charity partner, Do Something, does your band support any other charitable causes?
hmm, I guess I just answered this question with my previous answer.
What are you looking forward to most about being on this year's Take Action Tour?
I'm really excited to be playing some awesome clubs that we've never gotten a chance to play before. This tour is stopping at some fairly prestigious venues and it will be cool to experience them and see some new places. Also, we've never toured with any of the bands on this year's Take Action! Tour and it'll be cool to make friends with a bunch of new bands. I'm also looking forward to (hopefully) play in front of some people who have never seen August Burns Red before. The opportunity to try and win over new listeners is fun and exciting for us.
What can fans expect from your set on this year's tour?
I'm not sure how much time we have to play but we're guessing it won't be more than a half hour so we're planning on trying to bang out as many songs as we can in that time. We'll be playing our favorites off of our record Messengers as well as a couple tracks off our first full length Thrill Seeker. Expect a super intense set with very little time to breathe. We're going to make the most of our time.
Every Time I Die (Answers by Keith Buckley)
Why did your band sign on for this year's Take Action Tour?
We felt after years of debauchery and personal gain, it was time to do something for those less fortunate. Not like this will be our first time doing something charitable. One time we made a homeless man a ham sandwich. Then he told us he didnt like ham.
How do you personally Take Action?
On Warped Tour we did some clean up relief for victims of hurricane Katrina and as aforementioned, we make homeless people sandwiches.
Aside from Take Action Tour and this year's charity partner, Do Something, does your band support any other charitable causes?
we obviously support any and every charitable cause but this will be our first real opportunity to give money and be active about a specific one.
What are you looking forward to most about being on this year's Take Action Tour?
The spectrum of kids coming out. I think this line up will bring out alot of different kids that wouldn't otherwise know of dosomething.org
What can fans expect from your set on this year's tour?
It'll be loud and hard. Like passing a kidney stone.
From First To Last (Answers by Matt Good)
Why did your band sign on for this year's Take Action Tour?
Cause its a sick tour with a bunch of old friends that is supporting some great causes so it was just something we really wanted to be involved in.
How do you personally Take Action?
I like to make the most of the voice were given by the band to always spread a positive message and I hope to be able to endulge in that more as the band grows and we grow as people
Aside from Take Action Tour and this year's charity partner, Do Something, does your band support any other charitable causes?
Donating to the Ron Paul campaign
What are you looking forward to most about being on this year's Take Action Tour?
Being able to play a bunch of really awesome shows with a bunch of friends to a bunch of kids waiting to have fun, cant ask for anything better than that!
What can fans expect from your set on this year's tour?
Lots of shred! hahaha
The Human Abstract (Answered by singer Nathan Ells)
Why did your band sign on for this year's Take Action Tour?
We were really excited about being able to tour with Every Time I Die. We'd played with them once before at Dirtfest in Michigan on an off date a little over a year ago, and were totally down to do an entire tour with them when we got the offer to do so.
How do you personally Take Action?
The Human Abstract lives and breathes "taking action" in all forms. We each have our strengths and weaknesses, but one common thread we all share is an incredible, seemingly unstoppable drive. It's what I've always loved and respected the most about the group, the constant state of urgency that is so necessary in order to make it somewhere in today's music world.
Aside from Take Action Tour and this year's charity partner, Do Something, does your band support any other charitable causes?
We'd initially wanted to release Nocturne, our first record on Sub City, Hopeless Records charity label, but were strongly advised to wait until the second or third record to do so, by the label themselves. We definitely believe in giving back to a world we're feeling increasingly blessed by, but we are indeed still a young band, struggling to keep our heads above water, and make good art in the meantime.
What are you looking forward to most about being on this year's Take Action Tour?
Free Red Bull mixed drink bar in the backstage area, every night! heh In all seriousness, though, personally, I'm looking forward to seeing so many amazing people again that I've met touring the US and Canada. I've managed to string myself out across an entire continent of people, and no matter where I go, I always seem to be missing someone. I can't wait to reunite with all of my friends, and make tons of new ones..
What can fans expect from your set on this year's tour?
We're going to debut a couple of new songs, soon to be released on our sophomore album (pending release in August), but we're definitely going to blast out the old favorites, like "Crossing the Rubicon" and "Vela," "Together We Await the Storm," in particular. "Vela," especially, is a song that is so real to me, every time we do it, and lately there's been something magical and almost creepy (in the best way) about the crowd unity when we play it. I'll throw myself into a crowd screaming of lost friendships and loves, and I'm surrounded by kindred spirits. Its the most bittersweet feeling ever. It's like this ache that I'm addicted to feeling.. a unity of hardship.
Here is a brief interview with Louis Posen by August Burns Red (Louis Posen is president of Hopeless/ Sub City Records and founder of the Take Action Tour)
ABR: How do you go about picking a charity for the take action tour each year and what made you pick do something for this year's charity?
LP: This year each of us at Hopeless/Sub City did research on various non profit organizations we thought would connect with Take Action fans. In addition to creating a long list of great organizations we asked bands,friends, family and business partners what organization they would like to see benefit from the tour. It became clear that Do Something had the same philosophy and goals as us in believing in and empowering young people to make a difference. We believe the new generation are the hope to solve the problems we and our ancestors either could not solve or problems which we created ourselves.
Additionally, Take Action has always been about valuing each persons passions. The partnership with Do Something allows bands and tour partners to highlight causes important to them as an example of taking action and doing something instead of telling people what to be passionate about.
ABR: What are 5 CDs you've been spinning as of late?
LP: The music I listen to tends to be separated into five major categories: listening to unsigned bands to potentially work with, listening to Hopeless/Sub city artists, catching up on what is new in all genres, old favorites that elicit old feelings and kids music with my 7 month old. Here is one from each category:
Tomorrow Breathe Highland (this is a mix of several bands), All Time Low, Silversun Pickups, School House Rock, The Ramones box set.
ABR: What are 3 goals you have for 2008, for the label or for yourself?
LP: I do set personal and professional goals each year and try to reevaluate them on a regular bases throughout the year. I start with a mission statement to be sure my goals stay in harmony with my personal and the company vision. Personal mission statement: Bettering myself, my loved ones and humanity through living a life of integrity, clarity, courage, humility and love. Hopeless mission statement: Making a positive impact. Here are three of many goals: Finding more energy to accomplish more of my goals through taking care of my body and mind. Learning how and creating a wonderful, nurturing and loving environment for our 7 month old daughter. Finding new ways our company can connect our resources, talents and energy to make a positive impact in the world. Bonus goal. Be grateful and Enjoy the process!
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