Photo Credit: Press

As they prepare for their return to the UK after over a decade away, we sat down with Stacy Jones of pop-punk veterans American Hi-Fi to chat about the band’s feelings on touring the UK, some highlights of their time over the last 25 years and their upcoming tour with friends Bowling for Soup and Frank Turner.

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This will be your first UK tour in over 10 years. How excited are you to finally come back?

Stacy: We’re so excited because the UK is one of our favourite places to tour. It was one of the first places that understood the band. We started going there early on, so some of my favourite memories of the band were in the UK. We played our first show at the Barfly in London, I don’t even think our debut album was out at that time. There was a line down the block and we just had a real connection with the fans right from the jump. We played Reading Festival one year, it was one of the most incredible shows we’ve ever had. Ash were on after us, who are one of my favourite bands of all time. But we were going up against Queens of the Stone Age on the main stage, so I was thinking nobody was going to come see us. The tent was packed, people were on the outside of the tent trying to get in. It was insane. We had the rowdiest, amazing show. Yes, we’re very excited.

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Your first shows back are in some outdoor venues across the UK, how does that feel to be playing on a bigger stage after so long away?

Stacy: Playing those types of shows is a different experience compared to playing the Barfly to 150 people. It is a different energy. You have to prepare yourself mentally because those kinds of shows are where you’re going on stage and it is still daylight and the crowd is further away. Ultimately, I am excited to play these songs again and connect with the audience as that is what it is all about. 

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You will be supporting Bowling for Soup and Frank Turner on these big shows, does that add to the excitement?

Stacy: 100%. We’ve never played with Frank so I am looking forward to meeting him and watching him. Bowling for Soup are old friends of ours. We’ve done a tonne of touring together, me and Jaret Reddick have written songs together. We just did a rock n roll cruise in the States with them. We’re super tight with those guys, we love their music, we love them as people, so that makes the whole thing feel even better.

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There are also three headline shows as part of your return to the UK, how different will those shows be?

Stacy: That is going to be a different experience. On the Bowling for Soup and Frank Turner run, we are the first of three, so that will be a shorter set and going on earlier. The headline shows we’ll dig deeper into the catalogue, probably pull out some oldies but goodies, maybe even throw in a cover or two. I’ve been getting set lists prepared and working out how to make those special that extra bit special.

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The self-titled debut album is now 25 years old. What message do you have for your fans that have continued to stick by the band after so long?

Stacy: The fact that we are still able to play music together is incredible. The fans are responsible for that. There has definitely been a full circle moment with that early 00’s rock sound and I am just super grateful to still be able to do this. Having a song like ‘Flavour of the Weak’ that is still standing the test of time and younger people are starting to discover it now. The fans that came up with us are still there. So I am very grateful and I don’t take it for granted at all.

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American Hi-Fi are supporting Bowling for Soup and Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls this summer. Tickets: cuffeandtaylor.com