AWOLNATION-Interview

Jenn Cohen | September 5, 2012 | 0 Comments

by Jenn Cohen

Photo: Facebook

With two shows coming up at the Summit Music Hall in September, as well as possibly making a short film about the shows, AWOLNATION’s front man, Aaron Bruno, talked with CMB about his favorite show, and how the crowds can make or break a show.

AWOLNATION’S last show in Colorado was, KTCL’s Kegs and Eggs. “It was really fun, people were just smashed already, by the time we played, and I didn’t have a chance to drink, so it was nice to be the only sober person in the room. I felt like I had super powers because everyone else was just hammered.”

With at least one of the shows selling out almost immediately, Bruno says, “Colorado is so beautiful, and the shows go nuts every time we’re there, so we’re looking forward to it for sure. To play two shows in one city blows my mind, so I’m just psyched about it. Denver wins, if not the number one, definitely the top three very best cities for us.”

The band prefers being close with the crowd. “We don’t feel like we’re on the stage, and everybody is below us, it doesn’t ever feel like that; in fact, anytime there’s a stage that we play where the stage is too high, I feel really disconnected. At some of the bigger festivals that we’ve been doing, where the barrier is so far away from the stage, you just feel like you have no interaction and it’s a little uncomfortable, you feel like you’re on display instead of all part of the same goal. [Essentially], it’s always all about the crowd. You can have any sort of strange environment, but if the crowd goes nuts, it’s always a great time, no matter what. It isn’t how wonderful the stage sounds, or how big the PA system is, or even how many people are there, it’s all about the interaction and the intimacy, the closer the better.”

One of Bruno’s most memorable shows was in Poland. “We played a show in Poland, and 50% of the PA system was out, so it was hard for people to hear. It started raining, and we played on, and people went even crazier. It was a moment I’ll never forget. It wasn’t the hugest show we’ve ever played, but it was a good amount of people, and just the elements that added up, and the accidents or imperfections made it that much more relatable and one of a kind.”

Bruno does all the songwriting, so I asked him if there was a song that was hard to create. He says, “The songs that are the most difficult are the songs I don’t complete, and no one ends up hearing. Important songs that people don’t get to hear. Some songs take longer to complete, like “Nights of Shame,” which is a 12 and a half-minute song. But considering what it ended up becoming, I don’t feel like it took that long. Anytime there’s a song where I sort of hit a wall, I just go away from it and work on something else that feels more natural. Then, by the time I go back to it, I seem to know what to do.”

As far as Bruno’s favorite AWOL song? “It’s a tough question, it’s like asking which one of your kids you like the most, or which family member you like the most. I’m really proud of the whole record, but I would say “Nights of Shame” is the one I’m most proud of because of the journey it takes you through. [It’s] a longer song that can keep your attention, and doesn’t bore you with three-minute guitar solos.”

Not intending to make Bruno feel uncomfortable, I asked about the best compliment he’s ever received concerning his music. “That’s a really uncomfortable question, you know? Let’s just say this, people have said some nice things to me, and they’ve said some of the most flattering things I’ve ever wanted to hear about being a songwriter or a performer. I’m really, really grateful that I’ve had the opportunity for this many ears to hear these songs I actually wrote. God knows, I’ve been writing songs for a long time and not as many ears got to hear it and give it a fair chance. On a physical level, a lot of people seem to be getting more and more tattoos based on lyrics and artwork, and that’s extremely flattering because it’s forever. It’s also pretty heavy, because it’s like—I hope you don’t end up hating our band.”

Check out AWOLNATION with Imagine Dragons for two nights at the Summit Music Hall, Sept. 27 and 28. And grab the new two-song EP I’ve Been Dreaming.

Online: awolnationmusic.com