Internet/Interviews » El Paso Interviews Atom
By: Priscilla Chavez of El Paso Times ♣ January 2008
For Atom Willard, the purpose of Angels & Airwaves, his Southern California pop punk band, is simple.
And it's not what you think.
"We are trying to make it a little different, trying to be something that we believe in," Willard said in a telephone interview on his way to Santa Barbara. "It feels good to go out there with a purpose. We're not just trying to make music and tour and be famous."
But touring and making music is a nice side effect.
Angels & Airwaves will perform with Meg & Dia, The Color Fred and Ace Enders on Thursday at Club 101.
"I think that their music is great, and I'm excited," said fan Oscar Burciaga. "I hope that I get the opportunity to see them, because good bands don't come that often."
The band is fronted by guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge (formerly of Blink-182 and Box Car Racer), with guitarist David Kennedy (Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer), bassist Matt Wachter (30 Seconds to Mars) and drummer Willard (Rocket from the Crypt and Offspring).
"It definitely is a good story because we all came from somewhere else," Willard said. "We all have lots of experience with music and touring, so it adds up to a fun environment. But at the end of the day, if you are not any good, nobody is going to be in love with your music just because you are in some other band. You really need to make some good music for anybody to really get behind you."
The band has released two albums: "We Don't Need to Whisper" (2006) and "I-Empire" (2007). A new single, "Everything's Magic," is getting a lot of air play on cable music video channels.
The album "I-Empire" "was recorded in about six months," Willard said. " 'Everything's Magic' was the first song recorded for it, and it just set the ball rolling and it went a lot quicker than the recording of our first record -- so it's been a lot of fun, because there wasn't a lot of pressure. We were able to relax and let the music happen."
Willard said the band is renaming 2008 "Two-Thousand Great."
"This is the breakout year for Angels & Airwaves," he said. "This is the year where people are going to see and hear more about the band. It's not a brand new band anymore. We believe in our music. I'm sure that every band that you interview says that we are the best thing ever, but actually this time it's kinda true."
The 44-date tour begins Wednesday in Tucson before making its way to El Paso on Thursday. The international tour will conclude April 21 in Paris.
"The live show is the most involved show that we've had so far," Willard said. "There's a lot of interesting segues and interludes between the songs.
"We want to take you on a journey, and we want people to escape with us, basically feel what we are feeling and come on a ride with us."
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