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Exclusive Stream: New Found Glory’s ‘Resurrection’

American pop punk band New Found Glory’s guitarist, Chad Gilbert, on what went into making their latest album ‘Resurrection’, lineup changes and a possible India show

Oct 06, 2014
New Found Glory | Photo Credit: Lindsey Brynes  (from left) Cyrus Bolooki, Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka and Chad Gilbert

New Found Glory | Photo Credit: Lindsey Brynes
(from left) Cyrus Bolooki, Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka and Chad Gilbert

When bands go in for a makeover, it doesn’t usually involve getting a decade (or two) younger. But that’s what American pop punk rockers New Found Glory [NFG] had in mind for the music video for their latest single “Ready and Willing,” off their just-released eighth album Resurrection. The four-member band from Florida only make cameo appearances in the video which follows the exploits of a young punk rock band, from glamorous photoshoots to secret hook-ups. Guitarist and founding member Chad Gilbert says the band came up with the concept for the video, but didn’t actually aim to recreate real experiences. Says Gilbert over the phone from his Los Angeles home, “We were kinda creating our own famous version of ourselves.”

Beyond the visual overhaul seen in the video, there’s also the sonic makeover for NFG, after parting with founding member and rhythm guitarist Steve Klein. The band fell out with him due to personal differences over an on-going criminal case in December last year. With Gilbert leading the riffs in the band, there’s much more emphasis on big melodies, according to the guitarist. That’s immediately evident on their two singles on Resurrection, including “Ready and Willing” and “Selfless,” which feature chunkier guitars set to even catchier pop punk. Says Gilbert, “If you’re a fan, wondering what era of NFG [the band was formed in 1997], it’s a new era, it’s a new sound ”” it’s one guitar, one bass, riffing together and creating a new sound and big melodies.”

Sonically, Resurrection is a new era for the band, according to Gilbert. The guitarist invokes NFG’s mid-2000s records, when pop punk was at its peak, saying, “There’s a bunch of songs that remind of Sticks and Stones [2002] and Catalyst [2004]. There’s one song with a riff that reminds me of our first album, Nothing Gold Can Stay [1999].” In terms of themes, though, Resurrection is a far cry from young angst and girl problems addressed on their best hits such as “It’s Not Your Fault,” or “All Downhill From Here” and “My Friends Over You.” The guitarist says the band talks about everything they’ve been through in the last year-and-a-half on Resurrection. Says Gilbert, “Lyrically, it’s inspiring, because it’s an open book.” Although Gilbert doesn’t mention Klein even once during the interview, he does believe losing a member put them in a spot. “When you’re under the gun, you sort of challenge yourself to do better. I think we come up with our best record.” But Gilbert  wasn’t worried so much about the music, since Resurrection was the band’s first new material since 2011’s Radiosurgery, as he was about fans who were concerned how NFG would go on as a four-piece unit. Gilbert says when the band headed into the jam room without Klein, “nothing sounded bad.” The guitarist adds, “It doesn’t lack. If anything, you hear the parts more, because the bass guitar and the drums are so locked in now.”

The band feels that even their older material won’t sound too different when they perform without an additional guitarist. Gilbert feels fans will surely notice a visual change, but the level of passion remains the same. Says Gilbert, “I feel when you have that kind of passion, it’s infectious. Once fans see us and experience our live show, they’ll love the band even more. They’re behind us even more.”

New Found Glory are taking that inspiration with them when they launch Resurrection this month on Hopeless Records, with their Glamour Kills tour in the US, followed by shows in Europe until December. Gilbert says for their headline US tour, they’re also playing acoustic shows in record stores followed by concert venues at night. He adds, “We’ve been around for a while but we still love performing. I feel like we’re every record label’s dream. Most bands might feel pressured [to play so many shows], but we’re just like ”˜Yeah. We don’t mind playing. Let’s go play here, let’s go play record stores.’”

After wrapping up Europe shows in December, New Found Glory will take a year-end break and then head out to do Australia shows in February. When we remind him that Australia isn’t too far from India, Gilbert agrees and says that an India show might be in the works. Says Gilbert, “Playing different countries, we love that. We want to play everywhere we can.”

 

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