New York emo-hardcore veterans From Autumn To Ashes are out on tour with Hundred Reasons in the UK for a few weeks before heading off to Europe. The Dreaded Press caught up with the band in the curious little venue that is Southampton Student Union, and managed to have a chat with prodigal bass-player Mike Pilato.
Mike is a friendly guy with an easy smile and a quick laugh, and a mellow New York coffee-house accent that contrasts sharply with the fierce music his band makes. The Dreaded Press asked him about what kept From Autumn To Ashes going through the tough times, and what brought him back to the fold.
TDP: Hi, Mike – how’s the tour going so far?Mike Pilato: Oh, it’s great! I mean, it’s been a while since I’ve been here, I was out of the band for a little bit. So it’s great to be back, playing with these great bands that we’re with.
TDP: Do you find UK audiences any different to US fans?
Mike Pilato: Not big differences, no. I think that since bands don’t get over here so often, UK fans are a lot more responsive. They’re just a lot more happy that we can get over here and perform. Maybe there’s a little bit of a different feel as far as the crowd goes, but not too much.
TDP: Where’s your favourite place to play?
Mike Pilato: Ever? [thinks] Actually, I guess it’s Japan …
TDP: [laughs] Everyone says Japan!
Mike Pilato: Well, there’s a big difference in audience in Japan. They’re, like … crazy. In a great way! But it’s just insane. Maybe it’s just the whole shock-value thing, y’know, “here’s me playing in Japan” …
But also definitely a bunch of places in the States, and we’re about to go to Australia. I’ve never been there before, so I can’t even imagine that … that’ll probably be my next best! [laughs] But who knows.
TDP: Are you fans of Hundred Reasons?
Mike Pilato: Well, we only just met them. We had a whole tour booked over here, a headlining tour, but something happened with that. And then we found out that Hundred Reasons were going on tour as well, so we hooked that up just for the UK dates. Later we’re going to Europe, where we’re going to headline ourselves … but yeah, we pretty much just met them. We’ve heard of them, though, so it’s really cool; they’re a great band.
TDP: What material are you playing in your set?
Mike Pilato: We’re playing quite a few songs from the last record that came out, Holding A Wolf By The Ears … probably four songs off there. And then a bunch of older ones, too, a big mix from all of the other records.
It’s not the longest set, so we try to throw as much as we can in there from every record. As far as brand new stuff goes, we just started writing, but nothing’s complete yet.
TDP: So there’s no slated date for a new album?
Mike Pilato: Not right now. We’re pretty much just having great ideas for songs right now, and once we get home from touring we’ll discuss when we’re going to go into the studio, write some more songs. Hopefully as soon as possible – we want to get it done!
TDP: How do songs start for you guys – where do the ideas come from?
Mike Pilato: Well, we practice maybe four times a week, sometimes more if we can. And when we’re there, some of the guys will bring in ideas and we’ll kind of step off from that. Everyone has their input, and if they have an idea they can throw it out there, and if it’s working, we’ll roll with it. Otherwise, we’ll scratch it.
TDP: So no one has an overall veto?
Mike Pilato: Well, if we’re not feeling it, y’know … I mean, some of the guys bring more ideas than others, but we all pretty much do what we can. And if it works, hopefully it’ll form into a full song somehow!
TDP: How is the new material different to the older stuff?
Mike Pilato: It’s a bit different, yeah. I guess it’s kind of stemming off from Holding A Wolf By The Ears … it’s pretty heavy! Again, it’s still all just ideas that we have going. There’s one semi-full song … but there are other elements in there. Expect a heavy record.
TDP: Has anything in particular been influencing the sound?
Mike Pilato: No, not really. Nothing specific, as far as when we’re writing is concerned. When we’re in there, it’s just whatever comes out at the time. We all like a full range of music, so you never know what’s going to come out at practice, really.
TDP: What’s the one thing on your iPod that people would least expect to find there?
Mike Pilato: Probably one of my favourite bands, The Magnetic Fields. I think they’ve been over here in Europe recently, they have a lot of side-projects too. They use a wide range of instruments, and it’s pretty crazy stuff.
When I show people that, they’re usually a little confused that I listen to it. But like I said, all of us in From Autumn To Ashes listen to such different music.
TDP: That figures, with you coming from New York. There’s a really lively scene there, are you guys quite connected to all that?
Mike Pilato: Yeah, we are. Though we haven’t played in New York for a while, and we’re really looking forward to it; we did a little thing in a record store, but it wasn’t like a regular show.
But yeah, home is home and the fans there have done a lot for us. Hopefully we can get another show soon … where I was out of the band for a bit, I’m dying to play New York again!
TDP: What brought you back to the band?
Mike Pilato: Well, this! [gestures around the backstage, laughs] I guess while I was out of the band it was a reflective time. I was in school for a little bit, working for a little bit, just thinking things over. And then when I heard there was this opening to come back to the band I jumped right on it.
I’d missed it – I’d figured out that this is where I really need to be. I mean, the fact that I’m talking to you right now, that’s why I’m here, doing this! It’s the best!
TDP: What do you think kept the others going? What’s the driving force that keeps you all coming back to it?
Mike Pilato: What we’ve gone through, what we’ve done, it’s been so special. Not a lot of bands get to do this, and you can’t forget that. And a lot of bands probably deserve to be doing this, but for some reason they’re not … but we know we’re here, we know what we need to do, and that’s probably what kept them going through the line-up changes.
There were probably some lower points during the time when I was gone, and I don’t have the full story on that … but I know it’s full force now, we really know where we’re at, why we’re here and what we’re doing. That’s on everybody’s mind.
TDP: What would you say is your biggest limitation as a band?
Mike Pilato: We don’t try and think about our limitations so much. It’s never really been discussed!
TDP: What are your feelings about the political situation over in the US at the moment?
Mike Pilato: Well, I’m pretty apolitical. I can see there being a big change with all the stuff that’s going on right now, that’s probably 100% sure.
TDP: What have you been listening to on the tour-bus between shows?
Mike Pilato: One of my all-time favourite bands just released Hvarf/Heim, a new album of older stuff, like B-sides that they’d never released before – a band called Sigur Rós.
That’s pretty much been my most played album recently, especially at night – it’s nice and relaxing, y’know? I guess when you’re playing heavier music on the road you like to mellow out a little bit between the shows!
TDP: OK Mike, I’d better leave you to chill out before this particular show – thanks for your time, and good luck with the tour!
Mike Pilato: Hey, no problem!
[Don't forget to check out The Dreaded Press review of From Autumn To Ashes' live set.]
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