Bayside

Mon 19th Jan, 2009 in Features

Out of the 55 bands listed on the Soundwave website for 2009’s lineup, Bayside feature 43rd. Being 43rd out of 55 may make this melodic hardcore band from New York look like small fries, but that’s what they’re not. FL spoke to Anthony Raneri – the band’s lead singer and rhythm guitarist – whose distinctive vocal style is one of Bayside’s defining characteristics.

Bayside have five albums under their belt, the most recent being a studio album Shudder and a live album Live at the Bayside Social Club. They have sold over a quarter of a million albums and have even played on the coveted Late Night with Conan O’Brien, among other TV shows.

The only other time Bayside toured here was last year when they supported Funeral for a Friend. Their set was tight and a good mix of new and old. Anthony’s voice perks up as he talks about it. “We had no idea if anybody was going to know us at all…but all the reactions we got from all the shows on that tour were way better than we thought. We thought we were going to go over there for the first time and no one was going to know who we were!”

Landing Feet First, from their 2005 album The Walking Wounded, really lends itself to a mass sing-along. When you listen to it you can picture the teems of American kids screaming out the words. “We always do that song in the US and it’s definitely a really big sing along song for sure.” But in Australia they didn’t even play the song, let alone get a sing-along going. It’s odd hearing the change in Anthony’s voice as he talks about the American shows – he’s an old pro, he knows his way around. Yet when we talk about touring Australia, he’s excited – you can hear the anticipation of a new challenge.

With so many festival stories of bands not getting along or spending the entire time in a hotel room, I ask Anthony if he watches other bands. “Oh yeah always, that’s just kind of how we are anyway. Even when we’re not on tour, when we play normal shows we watch the other bands.”

Funeral for a Friend are just one of the bands that Bayside are friends with on the Soundwave tour. “We’re good friends with a lot of the other bands like Alkaline Trio, New Found Glory, I am the Avalanche, Anberlin.” Anthony draws a comparison between Soundwave and the Warped tour in the USA. “Everybody says it’s a lot like Warped tour, which is totally fine by me…In the sense that the camaraderie between bands is really similar. It’s like a giant camping trip more than a tour.”

This is exactly what’s great about the punk scene: the friendship between bands. It’s interesting to find out just how far the bonds go. “You’re at this festival ground and you can’t really leave,” Anthony elaborates. “You’re just in this big backstage area that’s shared by all the bands and you’ve really got nothing else to do – œcept sit around talk, have a beer and get to know the other bands.”

Bayside has always had a reputation as the nice guys of the punk scene. And yes they may be nice people, but that doesn’t mean they don’t become party animals on tour, does it? “We’re not really party guys so much. We definitely like to sight-see, especially in Australia where it’s such a beautiful country. I like to try and find good food and good coffee, which is actually easier than Europe. I hate the food in Europe! I like the food in Australia a lot better.”

Anthony sounds really pleased about finally playing big shows in Australia for Soundwave. “I’m sure we will enjoy ourselves, I think it will be a lot of fun…It’s always fun to play when people know who you are.”

Bayside touch down in Australia next month for the mighty Soundwave Festival circuit.

Saturday February 21st – Brisbane RNA
Sunday February 22nd – Sydney – Eastern Creek Raceway
Friday February 27th – Melbourne Showgrounds
Saturday February 28th – Adelaide – Bonython Park
Monday March 2nd – Perth – Steel Blue Oval