If you aren’t hitting up the punk-rock summer camp known as Warped Tour this year, you’re missing out on Hey Monday playing some brand new songs from their upcoming album Beneath It All. We caught up with guitarist Alex Lipshaw to talk about the new album and Warped Tour!Tell a secret about yourself and everyone in the band.
I have kind of like weird anxieties. I’m super, super afraid of throwing up. That’s kind of weird.
Jersey’s the oldest, but the youngest in his mind. He’s out of control.
Mike is just insane. He’s a year older than me, but he’s just crazy.
Cassadee is a female. She’s really good at singing. She’s really nice. I can’t say anything that horrible about Cassadee.
And our drummer, he’s not really in the band, his name’s Pat. He used to be in my old band and we picked him when our drummer quit.
Beneath It All comes out next month. What can fans expect for that album?
Beneath It All is a little bit more organic, more diverse, it’s a little bit more mature sounding too I think. We just played what we wanted to play, and what we like to play. It comes out on August 17th, so you should check it out.
How long did it take to write and record?
Probably about three months. But then again when it comes to recording the people that we work with are perfectionists, so there’s still stuff being fixed as we speak, so it could take up to six or eight months.
Who did you record it with and how was this recording process different than the one for Hold On Tight?
It was recorded with Sam and Dave in a studio called Fresh Kills Studio in New York City. As for co-writes, the co-writes might have been a little different, but then again Butch Walker was on our first album. So the process was just like, two years later. So just like two more years of college, we’re putting out this album two years later. It’s about the only difference.
Do you have any guest vocalists or surprises on the album?
No guest vocalists. As for the album surprise wise, I think you’ll be surprised maybe. It’s nothing too special, it’s just us.
You guys shot up success wise pretty fast. You went on your first headlining tour after less than a year of touring. Did you expect that at all?
I joined the band because I thought they were playing Warped Tour ’08. And then I found out “Oh my God this band is getting signed to Columbia Records” and “Oh my God this band is getting signed to Decaydance Records too!” “Oh my God we’re not playing Warped Tour ’08!” So yeah, it was kind of insane. I can’t even really explain how it makes me feel, but we’re really fortunate.
So now that you’re on Warped Tour 2010, how’s it been so far?
It’s been amazing. It’s one of my favorite tours so far.
What city has had the best crowd for you guys?
Today was pretty sick! Pittsburgh was insane. Everyday really, we haven’t really had a bad show.
So there’s a rumor going around that you guys will be going on tour with Cartel this fall. Is that true?
That’s still a rumor to me. I don’t really know. I hope so! That would be sick!
Any definite plans for after Warped Tour?
Nothing definite yet. I know we’re doing a little press, and the album comes out two days after Warped Tour, but there’s nothing for sure yet.
Are you going to be out in the fall?
Yeah, we’ll definitely be touring.
What is the main goal you want to reach in the band?
I would like to be forty-years-old and being a guitarist, but who knows! I’d like to tour the world a few more times, and just see where it takes me.
What countries haven’t you toured in yet that you want to?
We’ve never actually played a show in China, and we’ve never actually played shows throughout Europe, we’ve only done the UK. So I definitely want to go to Europe. France, Sweden, that whole area.
So that’s pretty much it, do you have anything else you’d like to say to your fans?
The new album comes out August 17th, so check it out!
