Phillyist Playlist: AFI at the Electric Factory

Today we were supposed to share with you, dear readers, an interview with guitarist Jade Puget. However, Jade's quotes were rather unfortunately sacrificed to the recordings gods (thanks a lot technology), so we're not able to recount everything we got to talk about, but we can give you some small nuggets of info along with our take on AFI's new album, Crash Love.

This Phillyist isn't the only one whose first impression upon hearing Crash Love was "concept album." The sound and lyrical content of the new disc initially seem to fit the bill, but during the lost interview Jade set us straight: He and Davey (Havok, lead vocalist and lyricist for AFI) did not set out to write a concept album, nor do they believe they ended up with one. The artists admit it's true that a lot of the album explores similar themes, but argue that ultimately not every song revolves around a single idea. As in previous albums Havok's lyrics concentrate on death and self-destruction, but in Crash Love he pushes further, delving into the parallel universe of "Hollow Hollywood" to explore the self-absorbed vapidity of celebrity, and the ridiculousness of worshipping fame that is so fleeting (see: "I Am Trying Very Hard to Be Here").

The complexity of the lyical concepts are punctuated by intricate arrangements smartly guided by Puget, especially on songs such as "Beautiful Theives" and "Darling I want to Destroy You." (PS—anyone else think "Darling I Want to Destroy You" is slower, heavier, less synthy, but still slightly reminiscent of Motion City Soundtrack's "I Fell in Love Without You"?) Jade and Davey's other band, Blaqk Audio, clearly has gotten some of their desire for a more electronic sound out because Crash Love has more guitar, less fuss, and more straight-up rock than Decemberunderground. That doesn't mean there aren't still a ton of effects and unique sounds layered on top of each other. When we spoke to Jade he told us that during the recording process he doesn't worry so much about how to recreate studio elements live on stage, that doing so would inhibit the artistic process. So it's a good thing AFI has some sort of crazy voodoo magic that lets them translate the produced sounds into to a fantastic live show. Actually, it's the reliably good word-of-mouth generated from AFI's live shows that turned this Phillyist on to them to begin with.

Now, Crash Love may be slightly distasteful to fans of the "old," hardcore, AFI; but like Green Day, My Chemical Romance, and Rise Against, they've developed in a more polished mainstream punk act. Mainstream punk may sound like an oxymoron, but the fact is bands like AFI and Green Day have in recent years managed to carve out a new type of genre that transcends a simple definition of either straight rock or pop-punk. These bands that were "more punk," "more hardcore," and "more emo" in their early days continue to mature in style, sound, and performance. And just like Green Day is a far cry from the days of Billy Joe running around on stage in a leopard print thong and a Devil Mask covering Marylin Manson's "Beautiful People," AFI has evolved beyond the sweaty goth-child of Warped Tours past.

Anyone who saw the band on their Decemberunderground Tour will remember the all white A Clockwork Orange inspired styling. According to Jade, this time around we can expect the visuals to be consistent with the album art for Crash Love. The slick performance-based video for the single "Medicate" gives us all a sneak peek at the liquid gold and black tour motif. Jade also makes the setlist himself each night, and he let us know that he definitely tries to incorporate a good mix of older and newer songs. Epic choral opuses "Torch Song" and "Beautiful Thieves," "Too Shy To Scream," with its the killer guitar, hard-hitting drumbeat and vintage handclaps, and the awesomely 80s Cure-esque "Veronica Sawyer Smokes" are our picks off of Crash Love to make the cut (and not just because we're in love with story about how Davey was inspired by how crushed he was when he saw Winona Ryder smoking in the movie Heathers). "Veronica Sawyer Smokes" makes the list because it's quirky and different, just like an AFI show makes our calendar because the straight edge vegetarian/vegan rockers are always brave enough to do things their own way.

A Fire Inside (AFI) w/ Gallows
Thursday, Nov. 12th
Electric Factory (421 North 7th Street)
8 p.m. All Ages.
Tickets: $27.50