Punk rock bands hit El Paso tomorrow

After a decade together, the members of California band A Fire Inside - better known as AFI - know exactly what their niche is: playing music that transcends genres. "It's an unspoken rule that we don't put ourselves in a box," drummer Adam Carson said Saturday. "We don't really classify ourselves." AFI - featuring Carson, vocalist Davey Havok, guitarist Jade Puget and bassist Hunter - is predominately known as a punk band, but the members don't necessarily stick to just that. The diversity of the band has, in part, led to its success. Another factor that has made AFI successful is the members have been touring almost constantly since they first began recording. "We've built a large fan base in 10 years," Carson said. "We're always out there." AFI has headlined tours and has made several appearances in the Van's Warped Tour. The band is currently touring in support of its latest album Sing the Sorrow (Dreamworks) and will play in El Paso tomorrow night. Since Sing the Sorrow was released in March, AFI has enjoyed increased popularity, receiving more radio airplay, as well as a boost in album sales. This could be due partly to the fact that the album is the major label debut of the band. But just because AFI is on a major label doesn't mean the band has changed. "We're not a sensation," Carson said. He said, having been together so long, the band is set in how it does things and hasn't changed for the label or the fans. "When we write, play and record, we still do what we like," Carson said. "We play what we're comfortable with; if we played what people expected us to, we couldn't do it." The band members play music they are inspired to play. "I can play a drum beat inspired by someone light years away from what I'm playing," Carson said. He said they also draw inspiration from non-musical things. "It can come from a cloudy day, a melancholy mood, literature or movies," he said. "It comes from a variety of things." Since the band is on tour, there isn't a lot of time to write at the moment. "We have to stay pretty focused on the music we're playing," Carson said. The members have written a few things, but Carson said "they aren't worth mentioning yet." The band is set to go back in the studio after the tour is over. "It's an endless cycle," Carson said. Carson said he and the members of the band love what they do. "The act of playing music is the most passionate thing," he said. "Nothing really touches me like it does." AFI will play tomorrow night at Club 101 in El Paso along with Hot Water Music and Bleeding Through. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16.

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