by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Strung Out have seen all of the pitfalls and successes of punk rock. Having sold a more than respectable amount of records throughout their career, the band has stuck to their guns and remained true to their music, and they attribute their success to good ol' hard work. The Mirror spoke to guitarist Jake Kiley over the phone during a tour stop in Boston.

Mirror: We've been seeing a lot of manufactured punk rock coming from major labels lately. Do you go out of your way to distance yourself from that?

Jake Kiley: We've been at this for a while and we still have the same ethics we've always had. We've stayed away from the cheesy corporate sponsorships that a lot of major-label punk bands seem to embrace. The thing that really bums me out about it is when the kids seem to buy into it. I don't blame the major labels or even the bands for signing on, but when the kids perpetuate it, that just makes it harder for underground bands that have been doing it their whole lives, their own way. Like every trend, when something gets overexposed it decreases the shelf life, so in the end everything works out. I have seen every trend come and go since we started this band, so I don't really get phased by it anymore. We just steer our course and ignore the other things. It means a lot more when you have to earn your success as opposed to some manager handing it over to you.

M: You've sold a lot of records. You must have had a lot of majors approaching you.

JK: Not really, but we don't go looking for that either. We have a great relationship with Fat Wreck. I feel that we have something really special within the music industry. I've seen bands that have label priority with majors and then, after two years, they're nowhere.

M: What are some of the bands you're listening to now?

JK: I'm into Poison the Well, Thrice, Boy Sets Fire, Rise Against and Hymn from Finland.

M: I'm surprised you didn't mention any metal, as I can really hear a metal influence in your music.

JK: Oh God, yeah. Trust me, there is not a day that goes by on tour where we don't play Slayer, Metallica or Sepultura on the bus. I just can't get into too much new stuff other than maybe Meshugga. It's a lot like the punk scene, where a lot of new bands just seem like third rate, second generation shit.

M: It seems like touring punk bands always have a soft spot for Montreal.

JK: Absolutely. Montreal really sticks out. It's always been the strong point of our North American tours and it was definitely the highlight of our first tour - we were getting 100 to 200 kids a night, but in Montreal, we played to 1,000. I am so stoked to get back there again.

All ages show with Eighteen Visions, Static Lullaby and the Getaway at the Medley on Saturday, August 23, 7PM, $18-$20

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