BOYSTRYPERSFIRE…
(And lives to tell about it!)
Boy Sets Fire front man/voice Nathan Gray dishes on hiring song writers and why he voted for W…or not.
By: Sean Delanty

Boy Sets Fire has been a staple for post-hardcore for more than 10 years paying their dues in every aspect imaginable and playing a huge roll in the way some of their fans think politically so I really had no idea what to expect when I called front man Nathan Grey. Was he writing another politically driven song? No. Was he watching CNN? No. Was viewing his copy of The Longest Yard starting Adam Sandler in his living room somewhere in Delaware? Yes. I have been a huge fan of BSF since “The Day The Sun Went Out” (Initial 1996) I had a ton of questions I wanted to ask Nathan but only stuck to the basics. It went something like this.

SM: It’s been over 10 years since BSF started. How have you guys managed to stay on the same course all these years?
NG: (laughs) We look at each other all the time and just ask ourselves why are we still together I mean come guys on its been 10 years what are we doing here. No, really though we are on our 3rd bass player so that keeps things interesting and new. I would say we are a dysfunctional family. We aren’t friends we are a family that has its typical family problems that you eventually work through. We also have a common enemy with some of the labels we have been on. We are all very stubborn people (laughs) .

SM: Speaking of common enemies among record labels. What was the deal with BSF leaving Wind Up Records which is considered a major and going to Equal Vision Records? What happened there?
NG: Well Wind Up was just a fucking mess. When we put out Tomorrow Comes Today, which was our debut with them, we were told not to put anymore politics in our music on the next one. That is something we can’t do. Wind Up also wanted a “hit” and wanted us to hire song writers (laughs) I told them no thank you we have song writers. BSF is not a band that would hire a song writer for any reason. From there we just agreed we weren’t seeing eye to eye on any kind of creative aspect so we parted ways with them. I love the people at Wind Up and have no hard feelings we just aren’t going to change something we love for anyone.
SM: How did the Equal Vision thing come about?
NG: We talked to a lot of labels and had worked with EVR for years on merch and stuff. The people at EVR just love music and have the most respect for all of their bands. They are just really good people and good friends to us.
SM: So what is the new record and when does it come out?
NG: It’s called “The Misery Index, Notes from the Plague Years,” it comes out February, 7th.
SM: Damn! That’s a long title, does it have any meaning behind it?
NG: It’s pretty much what BSF has gone through the past few years, I mean we saw 9/11 and another Bush administration, record label problems. There hasn’t been a lot of hope lately yah know?
SM: I know what you mean, shit is suckin. So what can we expect on this new record? Is it a political record?
NG: It’s not as much politically driven then it is personal. I would say it reflects back to The Day The Sun Went Out. We got really creative on this record musically. See, with our last record it seemed to have a “ Nu Metal “ feel to it and we couldn’t really except that so we went all out on this one. Like the heavy parts on the new one are pretty much a fucking train wreck, loud, fast, noisy, just ridiculous, it’s amazing. We had a lot of fun with this record we even added horns on heavy parts, cellos, pianos. I even experimented with different styles of singing on this record. We are so excited about it.
SM: Speaking of the political side of BSF, what made BSF such a political band?
NG: Well BSF started as a political band. Chad and Josh started the band I was already in another local band at the time and had strong political beliefs with it. That band was really into that so I left then and hooked up with Chad and Josh and we became BSF.
SM: What made you become so political?
NG: I kind of grew up with it around me. My dad was a conservative republican. When I was in high school I read a book by Abby Hoffman that completely shocked my whole world and now I’m 33 and I still feel the same way. It’s just who I am I guess.
SM: How does it make you feel to know that BSF is one of the most influential bands around among the newer post-hardcore (screamo) bands?
NG: It’s always an honor to hear that. It’s funny because no one really understands the impact your making until you haven’t done anything in almost a year but people still come up to you and tell you how they cant wait for the next BSF record. It’s always cool to hear. I think with our style we need to give Grade a lot of credit also. They and we were really the only bands at that time doing what we do with the whole screaming/singing thing. They were a huge influence with what we hear today.
SM: What do you think of the influx of hardcore going so mainstream these days?
NG: I think its amazing how a lot of these bands have somehow created their own scenes. It happens to all genres eventually, like the hippies, hair metal anything eventually gets its chance. Its better not to even really worry about and just keep doing what you doing and what feels right to you. It is what it is. It’s radio it’s MTV I mean these bands have so much access now. BSF would love to have a video played on rotation on MTV. I think with radio they should pick at least 3 songs from a band and play those instead of beating the shit out of one song that might not even reflect who the band is.
SM: Does BSF have that “one” song they want to push to radio?
NG: We have nothing on the record that we are stressing to be a “hit” single. We don’t give a shit really. We just want things to happen naturally. If it happens it happens, it’s just not a big deal to us, never has been.
SM: This is random. MySpace. Love it or hate it?
NG: We have one and it helps spread the word a little. I know about the drama it causes some people (laughs) it’s just a more extended network to make drama worse.
SM: That’s the best description I have ever heard of MySpace. Thank you.
NG: Anytime. (laughs)
SM: Okay so we’ve gotta know, what’s the most meaningful record BSF has put out?
NG: (laughs) That’s hard to answer. They have all played some roll in who we are as a band and as people in general. Like, “The Day The Sun Went Out” was a very passionate and emotional record for me. “After The Eulogy” was very diverse and showed that side of us. “Tomorrow Comes Today” just got all screwed up with the production and other shit, I mean I loved the songs we just think that it kind of took away a little of what we had on “After The Eulogy.”
SM: Are you guys looking forward to touring with From Autumn to Ashes? When does that start?
NG: Hell yeah we can’t wait. We can’t wait to get off our asses and get back to doing what we do.
SM: Where and when do you start?
NG: (silence)
NG: hmmm
NG: You know I don’t know where it starts I know its kicks of on November 1st for the East Coast
SM: Whoa ! What about the West Coast dude?
NG: (laughs) Well we are doing the East Coast then off to Europe. Then after the release of the new record in February we will follow it up with a national tour.
SM: Okay I want to know what you listen to these days.
NG: I have been listening to a lot of old country (laughs) I also went out the other day and bought a couple Stryper records. That shit is amazing. Oh yeah and a lot of Black Flag and Fear.
SM: I can’t believe you just said Stryper.
NG: Me either but its good shit.
SM: Well I’ll let you get back to the movie. Its been a pleasure talking to you.
NG: (laughs) You too and thank you.