ASG does not play indie rock. They do not play electro-pop,
dance-punk, screamo, or metalcore. Thankfully, in our increasingly stratified
music culture, ASG remains one of the few bands left that plays loud,
gut-level, balls-out rock ‘n’ roll. No subgenres, no detours, no bullshit. “We
consider ourselves a heavy rock band,” lead singer/guitarist Jason Shi says.
“Which is rare today in this age of extremes.” ESM checked in with longtime compadre Shi about maturity, the Wilmington,
NC, music scene, and the necessity of touring.
ESM: Alright Jason, give us the lowdown on
how ASG came together. And what the hell does the acronym stand for?
Jason Shi: ASG first starting playing music
together sometime around 2001. We were originally called All Systems Go,
which was shortened to the acronym by the small fanbase we had at the
time. Later, when we signed a record contract with Volcom in 2003, we had
to change it due to a copyright issue. So rather than start over with a
different name, we just changed what ASG stood for. Amplification of Self-Gratification came
about somehow — probably after a few cocktails — and it made
sense to us. We were happy to be playing music; it was gratifying.
ESM: You guys started out in Wilmington. What
was the scene like then and how has it changed today?
JS: We came out of Wrightsville Beach to be
specific. We played the beach bars and house parties for a few years, and once
we ventured off the beach to play downtown in Wilmington, it was a big
step for us… or so we thought. Back then there weren’t many places to
play, and there were fewer bands in general. Now there are several
nationally touring bands from Wilmington and a plethora of venues to choose from.
ESM: ASG started out as an instrumental band,
but eventually you stepped up to become lead singer as well as guitarist. Is it
tough to do both at once?
JS: Yeah, we started out as a three-piece
with no specific vocalist. We were all a little shy about approaching a
microphone, but eventually I gave it a shot. In the early days, there was
a lot more yelling than singing, but over the years I’ve gotten better. As
far as playing guitar and singing at once, it isn’t easy, and I do
get burned out sometimes. But what am I gonna do, quit? No.
ESM: What kind of influences does ASG draw
from?
JS: We certainly have a wide variety of
influences, but we never really wanted to be in a certain genre of music or
play just one specific style. We consider ourselves a heavy rock band,
which is rare today in this age of extremes. I think we finally combined
all of our influences in the best-tasting melting pot on Win Us Over.
ESM: That was your 2008 release, the band’s
fourth. What makes Win Us Over stand
out?
JS: I think that on Win Us Over all
the pieces came together for us. The band was playing very well, we had a lot
of different songs with different vibes coming out… it’s by far the most
creative record we’ve done to date. We took some risks and did some mellow
tunes but also wrote some of our heaviest songs, as well. It was a well-rounded
record, and I can still listen to it front to back without too much self-criticism.
ESM: You guys tour like hellions. What keeps
you motivated to stay on the road?
JS: ASG probably tours four months each
year — it’s the only way to make some money these days. The record
industry is falling apart, and no one sells records anymore. We live in
the era of iTunes, mp3s, and burning CDs — none of that makes for selling
a lot of albums. So we have to get in the van and tour, selling T-shirts
and CDs to keep gas in the van and some lunch money in our pockets.
ESM: Tell us about the band’s longtime
relationship with Volcom Entertainment.
JS: Volcom has been very good to us. It’s
been a good fit for over five years now. It made sense for us to work
with them, and I think they thought the same, from both a marketing standpoint
and a band development outlook. They were patient with us and helped us
out a lot. There are also a lot of creative people at that company, which makes
for a good environment to be a part of.
ESM: You guys play
every Surf Expo, every fundraiser, every skate jam… do you ever feel like
you’re boxed in touring the coasts and performing mainly to a surf/skate/snow
crowd?
JS: Being beach kids and having Volcom as a
label, it made sense to tour the East and west coasts to start developing a fan
base. And we always have the surfboards and fishing rods in the van, so we’re
prepared. The surf/skate scene was a good place for us to start to grow,
and now we’ve been able to expand out of that. So I don’t feel like we’re
boxed in — and even if we were, it’s not a bad box to be in!
ESM: Do you guys get a chance to surf while
on tour? Any sessions stick out in your mind?
JS: We’ve caught a lot of waves between
shows over the years, on the East and west coasts and in Puerto Rico and
Hawaii. I’d say the standouts are the Newport jetties, Costa Mesa, Spanish
House, Ponce Inlet, Outer Banks, New Smyrna, and Lake Worth Pier when it’s
on. At the end of the day, if we can get a surf in to wash the crud off
from the night before, then we’re all happy campers.
ESM: Where can we find ASG when you guys are
at home in Wilmington/ Wrightsville Beach?
JS: At home we live and breathe in the King Neptune Bar. We
skate at the Skate Barn, and we only surf at C-Street with all the donkeys from
Jersey who come down here and stink up the lineup [laughs]. Just kidding — we love the Garden State!
ESM: What’s on tap for ASG in 2009?
JS: ASG has a four-song split CD coming out
in June. We have four songs on it, and our good friends Black Tusk, swamp punks
from Savannah, GA, have four songs, as well. Then we plan on doing another
full-length album in early 2010 with Volcom. Keep your eyes and ears
peeled!
Upcoming ASG tour dates:
6/5
6/12
6/19
6/20
6/21
6/22
6/23
6/24
6/25
6/27
6/28
6/29
6/30
7/1
7/2
7/3
7/4
7/23
7/24
|
The Palm Room................................... Wilmington,
NC
Shooters ABLIVE.com.......................... Atlantic Beach, NC
Peppermint Beach Club......................... Virginia
Beach, VA
The Pit................................................. Kill
Devil Hills, NC
Wild Ocean........................................... Wildwood,
NJ
Talking Head @ Sonar.......................... Baltimore,
MD
The Charleston.................................... Brooklyn,
NY
The Note............................................. West
Chester, PA
Monty’s Crown..................................... Rochester,
NY
Zumiez Couch Tour,
Monmouth Mall...... Eatontown, NJ
Zumiez Couch Tour,
Crossgates Mall..... Albany,
NY
Garfield Artworks.................................. Pittsburgh,
PA
Beachland Tavern................................. Cleveland,
OH
The Cobra............................................ Chicago, IL
Double 00 Pub..................................... Chicago, IL
Ravari Room....................................... Columbus,
OH
The Hideaway...................................... Johnson
City, TN
Emo's................................................ Austin, TX
Granada Theatre.................................. Austin, TX
|
|
7/25
7/26
7/28
7/29
7/30
7/31
8/1
8/2
8/3
8/5
8/6
8/7
8/8
8/9
8/10
8/11
8/12
8/13
8/14
8/15 |
The White Rabbit........................... San Antonio, TX
The Meridian................................. Houston, TX
The Culture Room......................... Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The Social ................................... Orlando, FL
Jannus Landing............................ St. Petersburg, FL
The Loft....................................... Atlanta, GA
Pop's........................................... Sauget, IL
The Rave..................................... Milwaukee, WI
Station 4...................................... St. Paul, MN
House Of Blues............................. Chicago, IL
Peabody's..................................... Cleveland, OH
St. Andrews Hall............................ Detroit, MI
Mr Smalls Theatre.......................... Pittsburgh, PA
Xtreme Wheels.............................. Buffalo, NY
Recher Theatre.............................. Towson, MD
The Norva...................................... Norfolk, VA
The Velvet Lounge......................... Washington, DC
Blender Theatre.............................. New York, NY
Paradise Rock Club......................... Boston, MA
Theatre Of Living Arts...................... Philadelphia, PA |
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For all things ASG, visit www.asgnation.com,
www.myspace.com/asgmusic, and www.volcoment.com
