"This is our fall tour," Reel Big Fish frontman Aaron Barrett said, joking that the new album may be called Rock Your Socks Off, eluding to the fact the band hasn't lost a step. "It's our warm-down from recording the album. We definitely wanted to get out and see people. The album is about growing older in the music business. We're rocking harder now than ever before."
Progressing musically and personally has kept most of Reel Big Fish occupied. Barrett, along with bassist Matt Wong both tied the knot, and side projects like opening act The Littlest Man Band, described as "a piano/soft rock project," have kept them busy, as well.
With so much going on, the band seems to have responded positively to the changes.
"I think we all appreciate our job a little more," Barrett said. "We're happy doing this and we take it more seriously. I think a lot of us are definitely ready for that next step, though."
While they may be more serious about the music, Reel Big Fish still loves to rock out and enjoys playing smaller venues. After a summer tour of Europe, Barrett said he felt there was only one drawback to playing overseas.
"The language barrier," he said jokingly.
"A lot of our shows are about having fun and fooling around on stage and they couldn't understand us so the shows were all about the music, which really sucks. Smaller shows are always fun because the crowd is right there and in your face. The Crowbar is always packed so it's a lot of fun."
Opening act Melee has also been busy after spending the summer on the Vans Warped Tour and promoting their new album, Everyday Behavior.
"We've been promoting the album since June," Melee guitarist Rick Sanberg said. "We were one of the few bands to play the whole [Warped Tour] this summer, which was awesome. It was like a huge rock convention."
As it gains notoriety, Melee has also progressed musically, allowing its many influences to enter new songs. The band never hesitates to give back to charities in its native Orange County, Calif., and elsewhere.
Portions of the proceeds from Everyday Behavior will benefit Orangewood PALS' fight against child abuse. The band contributed a track to the two-disc benefit In Honor: A Compilation to Beat Cancer.
"Those are things that are pretty important to us," Sanberg said. "We don't take anything for granted so being in music gives us a great platform to get exposure for some charities."
And its musical influences?
"I'd say Billy Joel is pretty accurate, U2 is pretty accurate," Sanberg said. "The new album is focused on song structure and melodies. It's a really groovy group of songs."
Having an old ska favorite like Reel Big Fish back in town has generated some buzz around State College. "There are still tickets left," Crowbar general manager Chuck Smitley said.
