Me Vs Hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hailing from Northwestern parts of England, Me Vs Hero are one of the most exciting pop punk bands around just now. Since forming in August 2007 the band have worked tirelessly getting their name and music heard around the country, and having just been featured in Kerrang it looks like the hard work is starting paying off. Its been another good year for the band so far, with their popularity always growing they continue to be one of the most promising bands in the UK right now. We caught up with Oli a couple of months ago to find out what makes Me Vs Hero so special.

TFS - So you guys have a very unique mix of styles; how would describe your sound?

Oli - I'd describe Me vs Hero as a pop punk band with influences in hardcore and metal. I guess we fit into the "pop-core" or "easy core" thing. I see it as a mix of everything we're all mainly into, pop-punk stuff like New Found Glory, Set Your Goals, Hit The Lights, The Starting Line etc. The usual suspects. Then a few of us are really into stuff like As Blood Runs Black, August Burns Red etc. and then some of us listen to alot of hardcore like Champion, Casey Jones, Gorilla Biscuits, The Steal, Our Time Down Here etc. More and more bands are combining the whole pop-punk with beatdowns and gang vocals thing at the moment, its super super exciting to hear alot of rad bands coming out!

TFS - And on the 21st of this month you guys have a showcase gig; what should fans expectfrom this gig/your live performance in general?

Oli - TOTAL CARNAGE!!!! Haha!!! Just a real good time for everyone that's up for it. There's nothing more fun than writing songs, going out and playing them and having people react in a positive way to it. We try to have as much fun as possible on stage and get everyone into it so if you want to come down and have a good laugh then get on it! It's at The Roadhouse in Manchester and doors are nice and early at 6PM with a 9PM curfew for all you 9-5ers! Please try and make it to check out all the bands, Rumour Has It are main support, they're from Stoke and they're getting a good following around their hometown so check them out!!

TFS - Your band name is really something fresh and original (especially around the currentsea of "the" names at the moment); is therea story at all behind the name?

Oli - It was actually Alex (Tragically Alex passed away around a year ago, to read more about Alex visit Me Vs Hero's blog here) that came up with the name. The story is that when Sam and Alex's old band broke up Sam started writing stuff that eventually became Spice Weasel and Hand Me The Keys To The Massey. Alex wanted in on the band and had been listening to Walls Of Jericho. He mistook some of the lyrics and thought they said "IT'S ME VS HERO!!!!". I forget what the lyrics actually say but either way Sam and Alex were stoked on it, got me and Mike on board (we were still at uni in London at the time, me studying music performance, Mike studying law) and went from there!! Pook came into the picture about 9 months or so later when we decided Sam should just sing and not play guitar at the same time!!

TFS - You've recently spent some time recording up in wales; how did this go?

Oli - It has literally been amazing. Romesh (of Longwave Studios) is the man. He knew exactly what we were going for and pitched in on ideas that were literally 100% spot on. I think the songs still sound like us (beatdowns, gang vox etc), but they're alot tidier, more refined if you will. We just got the mixes back today and we're so so happy with how they've turned out. Seriously if any bands read this, hit up Romesh, he is so so good!!!

TFS - And was this recording for any specific future releases?

Oli - Well we're unsigned at the moment, so we're just working on getting material that we're really happy with at the moment and ramming it down as many peoples ears (in the nicest, most polite was possible of course!!!) as we can. We've got some awesome shows coming up in the next couple of months that we are literally so happy to be a part of. We're just going to keep moving forward as much as possible and getting the word out to as many people who will give us the time of day as we can!!!



TFS - Do you guys have any goals for the summer? Looking to visit/play many festivals?

Oli - Our goals for the Summer are to do nothing but go to work and keep pushing this band as much as possible. We've got a slot at Sonisphere Festival on August 1st. Words cannot describe how psyched we are to be playing this show. We're normally the guys on the other side of the barriers!!! We're also playing The Ataris' two UK dates. How we have ended up sharing the stage with a band that we literally grew up listening to is beyond me, to be honest I think i'll be completely star struck, but it's going to be super fun for definite!!!

TFS - And finally; which bands (other than yourselves of course!) do you think aredestined for big things this year?

Oli - Good question! Summerlin are getting alot of attention on Myspace at the moment, and quite rightly so. Check them out if you've not heard of them. Nice sugary pop punk from the North East with amazing choruses. Definitely ones to look out for. I'm also completely in love with a Southampton band called Our Time Down Here at the moment. They just finished recording a full-length that is going to come out on Banquet I believe. I cannot wait to hear it, just real fast hardcore done so so well.I've just realised they're both UK bands ha! Fireworks are blowing up in the States at the moment and are getting some real real good tours at the moment and they've put out a full length on Triple Crown Records that i'm completely in love with. They just write fantastic pop-punk songs. I am sitting patiently for a UK tour so I can go watch them!!

Thanks alot for asking these questions, it's been awesome answering them!!!

These guys are really awsome, if you havent already then go check them out at their myspace www.myspace.com/mevshero