Power-pop swings into MSU: All-American Rejects has staying power
The band name picked by the All-American Rejects is darn misleading. After all, there's nothing about these guys that makes them so-called "rejects." The Oklahoma-based group makes classic power-pop, both charming and fresh, and they guys have sold over two million albums since 1999.
Yes, AAR is purpose-built for the young, alt-rock crowd. Those fans will have the chance to see the band Tuesday at the MSU Concert Auditorium. It's a co-headlining show with Taking Back Sunday. (See story, Page XX.)
We chatted with guitarist Mike Kennerty, who had a hand in writing hits like "Dirty Little Secret," "Move Along" and "Swing, Swing."
• NOISE: What was it like breaking out of your small town of Stillwater?
Kennerty: It was very cool. We were just some kids content on playing shows and getting by as meagerly as we could, so getting to this point is awesome. It was just a crazy experience to be thrust into the music world and to play huge venues and get on TV shows, and we wouldn't trade it for anything.
• What's your favorite thing about this whole experience?
Getting to make music and play live over and over for your job is the most amazing feeling.
• "When the World Comes Down," is your current CD. How did you come up with that title?
It comes from lyrics in the song "Mona Lisa." It has a double meaning. It sounds negative if you just read it, but listen to the song and it's saying that even when things are at the worst, you have that one person standing by you, and that person makes everything good again.
• You guys have a good amount of staying power in a genre that isn't always known for that.
I think we lucked out in that a lot of bands get big and more popular for their fame more than their music or talent. We're not a tabloid band. You're not going to see us on the cover of every magazine in a scandal. We're being judged solely on the music and I think that has helped make us last for three records.
• You guys headlined the Chevy 400 NASCAR pre-race show this year. Are you a big NASCAR fan?
(He laughs) It was cool, but none of us are NASCAR people, so we had never been to one. It was fun to see what that experience is like and to see how many people come together for something like that. And we got to meet Tom Cruise, which was random and interesting.
• Do you have any ties to Michigan, as a band?
Well, we've been playing in Michigan since our beginning. We started in 2002 at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. We've always had great shows in Detroit, too. When we were on the Warped Tour in 2003, we got such a great response on the Detroit show, and that was the first time we were like, 'Wow, we're actually popular.' Michigan helped us see that.
• I see you're big on Twitter (@mikeaar).
Yeah. (He laughs) I try to save it for when I have important stuff to say or if I have a picture to post. There's this Web site called Tweetgrade.com and it rates your Twitter page, and I got an A-, so I thought that was pretty good.
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