A Fiery Message

In a career highlighted by relentless touring, die-hard fans and extremely successful records, it's surprising to find what really gets the revolution-minded, hardcore rock kings Boy Sets Fire excited - comic books.

"I grew up loving Batman and Daredevil, superheroes who didn't really need amazing superpowers," said vocalist Nathan Gray. "Our manager called up Matt (Krupanski, drummer of Boy Sets Fire) one day and told him we had an offer to be on the 'Daredevil' soundtrack ...We were like little kids at that point, collectively saying, 'That's amazing.'"

Everything is falling into place faster than ever for the political rockers from Newark, Del., released their new album "Tomorrow Come Today" April 4. Coupled with a nationwide tour alongside The Hope Conspiracy and Vaux that lands at the Showplace Theatre Tuesday evening, the new album is just one element the band has in its favor now.

With a history of non-stop touring and sleeping on fans' floors, Boy Sets Fire has made a living doing anything it takes to get their music and their ideas known to as many people as possible.

Their 1997 Initial Records release, "The Day The Sun Went Out," was a riveting, brutally honest, and emotional record that tore up the pages that delineated what was hardcore at the time. Gray's powerful voice and guttural screams provide context for a career that exploded further with the more melodic "After The Eulogy," released in 2000 on Victory Records.

Following the transition from a smaller record company to major label Wind-up Records, a career move not usually favored by hardcore fans, the band ran the risk of alienating those who preferred smaller shows.

"Wind-Up has done the things for us, such as name recognition and distribution that wasn't possible with our other labels," said Gray. "Our views are far more reaching. Kids who normally wouldn't have heard us are coming out and buying the record."

The label has fully supported the band, releasing the "Live For Today" EP in September as a precursor to "Tomorrow Come Today." Keeping their distance from the band and their extremely liberal views, Wind-Up put a disclaimer sticker on the back of the album that states their separation from Boy Sets Fire's opinions.

"We didn't think too much of that," Gray said. "I feel bad for labels that take us on. We have a history of going in and immediately causing trouble. We are the bane of label existence."

The new label is not the only progression for the band. Their new release continues to move in a more melodic pattern. Songs like "Handful of Redemption" work in the same fashion as previous hits like "Rookie" and "My Life In The Knife Trade." However, this development was far from intentional.

"It's hard to say when we wrote things, but we aren't conscientious of whether what we're writing is 'core' enough, or if there is more screaming or singing," Gray said. "We're just focusing on getting our points across, that we need a revolution, a new majority thinking."

Boy Sets Fire's unceasing touring schedule has propelled their live show into a mixture of passion and chaos. Apart from multiple tours with The Hope Conspiracy, they've circled the globe with Snapcase, Glassjaw, Avail and Sick of It All, to name a few.

The band consistently spreads their beliefs and ideas to as many people as possible, raising awareness about domestic abuse and animal rights. Distributing literature while on tour, they have worked with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and radical book publishers AK Press to relay their messages of goodwill.

Gray expressed passionate concern over the war, saying, "The only way to support the troops is to get them home as soon as possible. You have a bunch of 18-year-old kids who, pre-9/11, never thought there would be a war and signed up for the military expecting college money. Now they are in Iraq with gas masks and weaponry."

The band has made a point of taking time in between their songs at shows to speak to audiences about such issues as church and governmental corruption. The war in Iraq has only added fuel to the fire and Gray speaks fervently about little known issues such as U.N. Weapons Inspectors' progress before Sept. 11, 2001, and relaying little quotes from interviews with workers at the factories.

"Tomorrow Come Today" was issued with a limited edition DVD that includes behind-the-scenes footage and an entire show, complete with their brand of banter. The disc only further supports their power on stage and is visible proof that attendance at Tuesday's show should be mandatory to fans and newcomers alike.