the AU interview: Adam Carson of AFI (Drummer, USA)

If there’s one success story worth looking into, it’s that of A
Fire Inside (AFI), a Californian alternative rock band who exploded into worldwide prominence in 2003. Little do many know, however, that this happened 12 years after they’d formed. But they’ve been unstoppable since.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with drummer Adam Carson, ahead of their February Soundwave tour across the country – and found him to be one of the most honestly likable musicians I’d ever had the opportunity to interview. 

In the following, he passes on advice to up-and-coming bands, makes Australians blush by telling us how amazing we are – and reveals the difficulties of playing the tambourine. Oh and I think he’s a pretty big Gallows fan, as well.

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Adam: It’s not a problem.

One of the focus points of our publication is on the up and coming bands in Australia, and you’re one such example of a band who went through many years of being unknown – almost a decade in fact – to eventually reach worldwide prominence. That being said, what kept you guys going in the early days? A word of inspiration to those who are struggling along, perhaps…

When we (Davey and Adam) started the band, we had no expectations – we didn’t even think it possible to grow into anything; a huge worldwide touring band. We simply wanted to play shows and write music that we thought was good and wanted to play in front of people. We always had really realistic goals – we wanted to record a couple of songs and release it as a 7” on our own record, and then when we did that we thought we were the luckiest band in the world. Then we wanted to play shows, and we thought if we could string enough shows together we could call it a tour. And we accomplished that.

I think bands have problems when they form and then they say, “OK, we want to have a number one selling record”. Because everything is a disappointment until that happens, and it really doesn’t happen for a lot of bands. So by constantly being focused on smaller achievable goals, we were able to remain inspired – and we always felt like we were winning, we never felt like we weren’t accomplishing things, or we were coming up short. 

So my recommendation for bands is to first of all, really enjoy what you’re doing. Because if you don’t enjoy it, then why are you bothering? And past that, really take a step back and realise that simply playing a handful of shows in front of people that care is tremendously rewarding. And then everything else is just a bonus. 

Set realistic goals and then work hard at it.

That’s good advice for anyone I think. Do you remember when you first thought – oh shit, we’re actually making it…?

Um, well there’s certainly been moments where I’ve been really excited about what’s happening. There’s been moments that have been surreal. I don’t think I’ve ever said, “oh shit, we’re making it” – because I think when you say that you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. 

You know, certainly when our first record came out on Dreamworks (Sing the Sorrow, 2003) and was received so well, that was a moment that really resonated with me.

When Decemberunderground came out, it was #1 on the Billboard charts the first week. And that was something that, even when I became comfortable with the fact we were a certain size – one of the larger bands around at the moment – I still never ever thought that was going to happen. So that was certainly a moment where I went… Oh shit…that’s pretty cool. 

And you were #1 down here as well, so it travelled the world!

Exactly.

And speaking of albums, you released Crash Love last year, which you guys spent a good 2 years working on?

Yeah, I guess when you add it all up it was close to 2 years.

It seemed like there was a lot going on in that period, too – producer changes, a YouTube competition, and that whole untitled EP thing – was it a bit of a hectic period for the band? Or a gradual process?

I think it was pretty gradual. I think that we certainly didn’t rush ourselves… we probably would have been better off if we had, a little bit. Maybe in the future we’ll learn from that, and perhaps get things out in a timely manner. We certainly weren’t taking our time, but we weren’t rushing ourselves either. 

You came off the back of quite extensive touring, as well, so no one could blame you for not rushing…

Yeah there was a bit of a decompression that happened. Davey and Jade did a side project (Blaqk Audio) and then a couple of months later we regrouped and restarted – but we’ve never been a band who takes a lot of breaks. But yeah, we did have a couple of months where we (briefly) went our separate ways.

It’s been said by many that you’ve once again evolved to a new stylistic level with Crash Love – as seems to happen with all your albums. Is there a philosophy behind these changes, or is it the outcome of changing as a band over 2 years in the recording studio?

The stylistic changes usually just happen. We’re not a band to preconcieve a sound. When we start writing music, and if things start sounding like songs that we’ve done before, or explored stylistically before, we all find that we get kind of bored. So we have a built in filter, that doesn’t allow us to repeat ourselves very much. So for that reason we can write an entire record and have it sound different – without having to step back and think, “Ok, we’re going to have to make THIS type of record.” It’s an organic process.

A similar time has passed between visits to Australia, about 3 years I believe. Do you feel your live show has changed at all in that time? And most importantly, what can fans expect on your next visit for the Soundwave tour?

Well, I guess the live show evolves the same way the music does. When we play certain songs live, we’re just sort of interpreting them on the stage. The spirit of the band always remains the same, and we always try to put on a really energetic and interactive show. But I think if people have seen us before and enjoyed it, then I think they’ll continue to enjoy our live show. 

As Spin Magazine named you one of the 25 greatest live acts of all time, I think most are indeed impressed.

Yeah, I’m impressed. I didn’t even hear about it.

Do statements like that still surprise you at all?

Yeah, I mean I wonder if the guy was to rewrite the article today, if we’d still be included. For instance, if you asked me what my favourite band was today, it’d be The Clash – and tomorrow I might say it’s The Police. So I’m honoured that we were included at all.

Looking back to Australia, how have your past experiences been down here?

They’ve been great. I wish we could find a way to come back quicker than every 3 years. Australia’s one of the few places where the first time we ever set foot in a venue to play a show, we had an incredible response. There’s places in the States where we have great shows – but it’s because we’ve come back over and over and built up the fan base. And I don’t know why, but from day 1 we’ve had great shows in Australia. And I think it says a lot about Australians – it’s so refreshing to play to people who WANT to hear guitar based rock music. Cause that doesn’t happen everywhere. 

Speaking of rock music, Gallows are supporting your sideshows for the Soundwave tour. Have you had the opportunity to play with those boys before?

Yeah, we did a full US tour with them – or at least a month or two – with them as support. They’re great. They’re so much fun to watch. It’s so great to hear a modern hardcore band that is engaging. They’re truly great to watch, and great songs, and great execution. 

So it’ll be a bit of reunion then?

Yeah definitely. 

I’d like to talk more about touring in general now. There are obvious limitations when you bring the show down under – less headline shows means less money means less equipment means less production etc. etc. – A trait about this isolated country which has always been frustrating for fans and artists alike – has this been a fact that has affected your tours down here at all?

I’m not quite sure. I know we brought a pretty sizable production for the Decemberunderground tour, but we’ve kind of been touring in a stripped back fashion since, in the same way that Crash Love is a stripped back rock record… Simply because it doesn’t call for that sort of production. We’ve still got a tonne of lights, and we still feel the show is executed well, but I guess what I’m trying to say is that the show people see when we come down to Australia in February, will look pretty consistant to what we’ve been playing up here in the States.

And finally, the question I ask every drummer who speaks with us at the AU review – what’s your favourite percussion instrument?

I like the tambourine. I know it’s a bit of a pedestrian instrument as far as percussion goes, but it’s really hard to play. With most percussion instruments, you have to focus on being right on the beat, but tambourines – I don’t know if it’s the difference in the size of the cymbals, or the sway of the cymbal motion – but it’s one instrument where you really have to feel it. Where to get to the cymbals to chime right on the one you have to be ahead of the beat, and sometimes you have to be behind it. And if you want to add some swing to it, you have to be even further off the one. 

It’s a really challenging instrument for drummers to play. In fact, I think guitarists are often times better at tambourine than drummers are, because they’re used to having that flow. 

That’s honestly the first time I’ve ever heard someone say this. It makes me feel a lot better about my own difficulties with the tambourine!

Well drummers are just so fixated with playing right on the beat – it’s weird to have an instrument that forces them to be off it. I find that when I play tambourine on record, I play better left handed than I do right handed, and I’m right handed. So it’s like giving the tamborine to my less precise hand, that allows me to play it better. It’s quite fascinating if you really think about it.

… and by that I mean it’s only fascinating to other drummers. *laughs*

We’ll leave it at that mate – thanks again for talking to us, and we look forward to seeing you down here next month!

Yeah, thank you very much!

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