ASG Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Feb 15th 2010 3:26PM by Marc Byers
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On a return trip to SXSW, ASG will be bringing their riff-fueled heavy melodic rock to the Tonedeaf Showcase at the Encore. The Wilmington, N.C.-based four-piece has three full-length albums to their credit and are still rolling on a high from their most recent work, 'Win Us Over.' Spinner recently spoke with frontman Jason Shi about the down-and-dirty details behind ASG.

How did you come up with your band name?

Originally we were All Systems Go, and some of our early fans reduced it to ASG. Then, after signing a record contract with Volcom in 2003, there became a copyright issue with the name All Systems Go, so we had to change the meaning of the acronym to Amplification of Self Gratification.

What are your musical influences?

It's really a melting pot. Early on it stemmed mainly from metal like Metallica and Black Sabbath with a little punk-rock attitude, which included a heavy dose of Queens of the Stone Age. After the US tour in 2005, everything changed and our direction became more focused and clear. At that time, two bands, Torche and the Sword, seemed to be light years ahead of us. They had the sound we always wanted, a combination of heaviness and melody.

Which of your albums represents your heart, soul and sound the most and why?

I think our 2008 album 'Win Us Over' is our best effort so far. It still pleases me when I listen to it. It's honest, and we took risks.

Who picks the music you listen to on the road?

The iPod is in control. It covers the group, from Boris to Cat Power to Gerry Rafferty to Townes Van Zandt.

Have you played at SXSW before?

Yes, ASG was a needle in the haystack in 2004. Well, with no hipster-metal cred, anyways. It's nice to be invited back.

What's the craziest thing you've experienced on tour?

In Reno, 2004, during load-out after a show, we were caught in gang-fight crossfire, which blasted out all the windows in our rental van. We all hit the deck and hid behind the tires for safety. We were definitely at the wrong place at the wrong time. The chilly drive over the Tahoe pass to Sacramento to return the van to an angry rental company was not fun.

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