Piss and Vinegar

I've experienced all scenarios, from the smallest indie to the biggest major. What I've realized is, there is no difference. Bottom line, the model for a record label is the same on all levels. The goal is to make money off of the records they put out. Var and Jen from No Idea want to make money just as much as Mike and Erin at Fat, just as much as Ed Bronfman Jr. at Warner does. There's nothing wrong with making money off of your work. Var, Jen, Mike, Erin, Ed — they all deserve to make money from CDs they've worked on. But trying to hide the fact that money is an issue behind a flag of punk rock, in my opinion, is disgusting. Do I play music to make money? No. But yes, money is being made. The most important thing to me is following my muse. I've got to keep moving, keep progressing, or I fear I'll lose the passion to write.

How off-subject am I? If we would have been asked to play "Baby, I'm an Anarchist" on Late Night With Conan O'Brien the day after we wrote it, we would have.

drew goren/subwaysleeper.com

Wait, Against Me! actually smiles!

Details

Against Me! performs with Sage Francis, Cobra Skulls, and World/Inferno Friendship Society on Thursday, November 8, at Revolution, 200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. The show starts at 6 p.m., and tickets cost $15. Call 954-727-0950, or visit www.jointherevolution.net or www.ticketmaster.com.

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More About

• Tom Gabel
• Against Me!
• Gainesville
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien
• Punk Rock

I have been listening to your newest album, New Wave; I think it's a great album. When you say "We can control the medium," what medium are you referring to?

Phone answer: In some respects, the Internet. We don't need bands, and we don't need record labels, and we don't need journalists or anything like that to inform us anymore, especially with the Internet and everything like that out there. The power is in our hands. You want to start a band and you want somebody to hear it, then you don't need the record deal; you can put it out there yourself... If you have something to say, you can get it out there. The Internet is free and accessible.

E-mail answer: I guess I was referring to our music. So not "we" in a metaphoric sense, but a literal "we." We wrote the songs, we chose the producer, we recorded the album we wanted to make. We did the artwork. We approve all ads placed in promotion of the album. We choose the bands we tour with. We set the ticket prices (when it's a tour we're headlining). We chose our publicists, we chose the agent, etc. We can't physically do everything ourselves, but we can choose all representatives of the band, all those who work on our behalf and oversee their work. It's our responsibility. Sorry if I was an asshole on the phone.