Against Me! Frontman, Tom Gabel will have his upcoming seven-song solo EP, entitled "Heart Burns," released on CD, digitally and vinyl by Sire Records on October 27th. Inspired by the current political climate and cultural landscape, Gabel began to write new songs in January. Due to the topical and timely subject matter, he wanted to release them around the upcoming US Presidential election.
The centerpiece of the EP is "Anna Is A Stool Pigeon," which Gabel wrote after reading about environmental activist Eric McDavid (
Support Eric McDavid!) who was convicted in 2007 of conspiring to use explosives to damage corporate and government property after being implicated by an undercover FBI informant who posed as an activist. McDavid's defense has argued that he was the victim of entrapment. He currently faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
"What struck me most about the story was a sense of familiarity," Gabel says. "I know the scene he was a part of, I used to be a part of it myself. I've thought the same thoughts, talked the same talk. I've hung out with the same people, gone to similar protests. If Eric could have become the target of an FBI sting operation, then so could I. This could have been me."
"Heart Burns" was recorded late August in Los Angeles on a short two week break in between Against Me! tours. Gabel co-produced the EP along with Billy Bush, while Butch Vig executive produced. The EP contains several guest appearances including Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music) and Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio).
Gabel's solo tour will begin once Against Me! complete their upcoming U.S. tour with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, which begins on October 1st. Against Me! have been touring non-stop in support of their current album, the Butch Vig-produced "New Wave," which was released by Sire Records in July 2007. Called "the most invigorating, zeitgeist-capturing rock album in years" by Spin Magazine, "New Wave" was named the magazine's "Album of the Year," and also appeared in the Top 10 on Rolling Stone, Blender, and MTV.com's year-end "Best Album" lists. "New Wave has spawned two singles, "White People for Peace" and "Thrash Unreal," which became the band's first single to chart in the U.S. when it climbed to No. 11 on the Modern Rock chart.
Track-listing for Heart Burns:
"Random Hearts"
"Conceptual Paths"
"Cowards Sing at Night"
"Amputations"
"Anna Is A Stool Pigeon"
"Harsh Realms"
"100 Years of War"
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Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel Solo EP
