MxPx are one of those bands who hit the scene on the back of the punk rock explosion of the mid 90s. With catchy hooks and pop punk roots, the band were instantly a favourite not just down here but around the world. Twenty years on and the guys are still bashing out those chords, albeit with a different line up, but still fronted by main songwriter, bassist and vocalist Mike Herrera. I caught up with Mike to chat about the reasons for the line up changes, his memories of Australian tours and why he thinks Soundwave is one of the best festivals in the world.
How's your day been so far?
I've actually been answering some questions for an online zine in Australia.
Well now you get to do it all over again for us!
I was actually in the studio earlier doing lots of weird things, but seeing as we're about to head to Australia soon I don't want to start to many projects before a tour.
What have you been doing in the studio? Is it stuff for MxPx or stuff for Tumbledown? (Mike's country band)
Kind of everything. Sometimes I'll go in with one of my buddies and just jam and make up songs and then I'll listen to them later and decide where they are going to go. It's just a creative process to get things started. For me it's important to not be doing tests and tests and let myself go in a bit of free form.
You're heading back down for another tour, which is become almost an yearly basis for MxPx, what keeps bringing you guys down here to play?
The style of music we do, with that counter culture of skating and surfing, seems to be really huge down there. Plus you guys have been a huge influence in rock n roll with AC/DC and those kind of bands. You have rock n roll in your blood down there. Australia has great fans and is pretty solid not just musically but as people too. I'm always welcomed down there.
What's been one of the most memorable tours or shows you've had down here?
So many good times! The first time we came down we opened for No Fun At All from Sweden and that was our introduction to all things Australia. And it's one of those things - once you go, you want to keep on coming back.
First time we came we got to go to the outback and see kangaroos in the wild, not in a wildlife park. It was a trip to see them in the outback!
Are Tom and Yuri making it out for this tour, I know they have pretty restricted schedules nowadays?
Yeah they're on very restricted schedules. Tom is more likely too. The way we play a lot of these tours is I'll book in whatever tour and if they can make it so be it. Yuri pretty much doesn't tour anymore and will do a show a year and Tom will do it when he can. So at the moment Tom may or may not be able to go, but I'd say on the side of caution he'll probably not make it.
It's a weird thing having multiple bands (MxPx Allstars which has a rotating line up) and the bands are awesome. It's been really cool to have other musicians and friends come out to play.
So do you consider Tom and Yuri still in the band?
Yeah they are. We just put out a record Plans Within Plans and they played on the record and played in the videos, they just can't tour because they have full time jobs because of the financial situation. Once you have a family you have more bills to pay and as a average touring musician it doesn't really pay all that great.
Did the thought cross your mind to fold up MxPx and start a new band?
Yeah definitely! Those guys have kind of left it up to me to do whatever I want. So what I decided to do is just see where it goes. If it isn't fun and people are not coming out to the shows then that's something I'd decide on but I thought about it many times over the years but what it comes down to is the fans. They'd get super bummed and I guess it's kind of like a band aid slowly peeling it off over the years....one of these days I may have to rip it off, but who knows.
I'm sure at some point we will cease to exist as a band but people are still discovering the band and the music and its not about whose playing what and when. It's all family. All the friends that I play with in MxPx Allstars are friends with Tom and Yuri and that's the cool thing. With my other band Tumbledown we all hang out together and they will come hang at a MxPx show. I have Jack, Tumbledown's guitarist on stage with Tom. Usually you have everyone fighting and egos and in fighting but that's not the case with us. They just can't tour.
Plus I don't want to get a real job so thank you Australia to allow me to be a full time touring musician!
You're welcome! I think that's the thing with MxPx is that the music resonates with the fans so much it doesn't matter whose playing the instruments, we just want to hear the songs.
Yeah with the Allstars we did that tour of Australia with The Ataris and that was the first time I'd done that and it was really fun but I thought next time when we toured Europe and America and South America we had to give something you wouldn't get with Tom and Yuri and it has to be way better. We have to give it some heart. It can't be just people playing the songs really well, so I've been working on that. To give the best experience even to the hardcore fans!
How do you see future MxPx albums. Are you up in the air about recording new material for the band?
I don't know. I haven't a reason to think they wouldn't be a new MxPx album but I have to do it when it feels right and when people are ready to hear new MxPx songs. It's not going to be every year we put out a record. If I have songs I'll put them out. I do t like to write songs because I feel I have to. I like to write when I feel the urge to get something out. It's a bit of a hippy way to look at it. Some bands are strategic about the albums they put out and the sound of them. I may need some business advice when it comes to that maybe but at the very least I enjoy making records and touring.
You've been writing music now for over twenty years have you ever worried that you may run out of ideas for new songs?
Sometimes but I think the more I write and the more I put out proves to myself that I have the songs in me. If I worry I have nothing I can look back and go okay this is how I did it last time. The truth is it'll come back when you have certain life experiences and when you get your head right and you mentally redirect where you are going. I think as humans we are always improving. I also think the reason why classic bands like Bon Jovi, they put out that amazing Slippery When Wet record, which is super popular and strong album and after 34 years their new stuff is pretty watered down and I guess that happens because people get really comfortable. Obviously money comes down to it too. More money more problems *laughs*....but I think the focus gets taken off the music when you have that success. For us we've been moderately successful but we've still had a really fun life and have stayed somewhat interesting.
It's a valid point that make.
But I'd still take a winning lottery ticket any day of the week hahaha
Of course you're never going to knock back any money!
Nope *laughs*
I wanted to know your opinion on the Warped tour, which you've played a few times now and our own Soundwave tour and how they compare?
Warped tour has been going for so long now and has done well but Soundwave really came up quick. We did the first one which was only in Perth and the amount it has grown is absolutely staggering, I've never seen any other festival come up so fast. It's well put together. The people are awesome and do a great job. They must go 'my dream festival would be this' and then make it happen! You don't see that anywhere as a traveling festival and maybe it wouldn't work in a lot of other markets but in Australia it works.
We actually did a Warped tour in Australia back in the 90's.
I was only thinking about that the other day when I stumbled on some old photos I took from one of the shows and it stunned me that was like fifteen years ago!
Yeah I think there was Pennywise, Frenzal Rhomb. Some big Australian punk bands. It was a good few weeks we spent down there too. We learned from Warped how to act around other bands!
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MxPx Tour Dates
6th – The Zoo, Brisbane [18+]
7th – Manning Bar, Sydney [18+]
8th – Fowlers Live, Adelaide [18+]
9th – Forest Edge Festival, Melbourne
10th – Corner Hotel, Melbourne [18+]
