Memo to The All-American Rejects: When your latest album, “Move Along,” debuts at No. 6 on the Billboard Chart, you aren’t being rejected anymore. But these guys are already too committed to their band name–not to mention to crafting catchy pop-rock tunes that appeal to a wider audience than just depressed teenagers–to care much about labels.
And, yeah, they like to do a little bit of drinking too.
On the phone from Oklahoma City during a rare stop at home, guitarist Mike Kennerty tells us why these twentysomething
Rejects are so darn happy.
What’s the craziest night you’ve had on tour?
There was one night when we were in Springfield, Mo.; we were bored out of our minds and everyone got wasted. I was sitting on the bus, and it was like three in the morning. I’m watching TV in the lounge, and the door to the bunks is open. I hear this splash sound and I look over. [Guitarist Nick Wheeler] is in his bunk with the curtain closed. He’s vomiting in his sleep, and it’s such a hard, projectile vomit it’s flying his curtain open, and he’s puking on the floor. And he wouldn’t wake up. He had no clue it was happening. I had to clean it all up.
How do you get ready to play the next morning after a night like that?
Usually we plan it so we don’t have to. At least I do; I don’t know about the other guys. I think they’ve had a couple times they’ve had to just suck it up, drink some coffee and wake up.
Have you taken to the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle?
Not particularly. We had our moments when we first started touring and first started having some success. There were some people in the band that partook in the excesses a little bit, but now it’s kinda like, “been there, done that.”
So you’ve reached veteran status at your early- to mid-20s?
Kind of. I think we’re almost calming down because we’re getting to the age that, had we gone the normal route, we’d probably be graduating college and getting real jobs. I think it’s just the natural evolution. We’d be calming down, anyway.
Are you worried that when the tour hits Europe, people will have a problem with the All-American name?
This will be the second time we go. I was a little bit concerned last time. I think this time will be good, and the name is so self-deprecating that it probably seems like it’s making fun of the American thing more than anything, I hope.
Any thought of presenting the band as the All-European Rejects?
No. [Laughs] We’ll stick with the name.
What’s the message in your “Dirty Little Secrets” video?
Everyone’s got a weird, dirty little secret. You’re not alone, I guess?
Any dirty little secrets about the band you’d like to reveal?
Aside from the projectile vomiting, I don’t know if there’s really anything too weird about us. We’re pretty normal dudes.
The All-American Rejects
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.
Tickets: $18.50
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mpais@tribune.com
