THE DRAFT

Ryan Adams (above) is back with a new album, Easy Tiger, and likely another drug habit or two. We gave it “B.” The drug habit gets a “C.”

THE UNSEEN – INTERNAL SALVATION (Hellcat) & GALLOWS – ORCHESTRA OF WOLVES (Epitaph) Hardcore new and old

BUFFALO TOM – THREE EASY PIECES (New West) Revival of the fittest

MUSIC INTERVIEW FAR FROM ROUGH The Draft Expand On Their Former Band’s Sound

HE DEMISE OF POSTHARDCORE band Hot Water Music last year came as a surprise to just about no one, but that didn’t make the breakup any easier. What did make it a bit easier was the competing records that have come out since the group called it quits. Former HWM singer Chuck Ragan released a powerfully emotional solo disc and The Draft, comprised of three/fourths of HWM, turned in their brilliant debut, In a Million Pieces. Just after the split, former HWM bassist Jason Black, drummer George Rebelo and guitarist-turnedsinger Chris Wollard started their own band. A few songs into their new group they added their longtime buddy, guitarist Todd Rockhill. The Draft’s songs, though just as aggressive as anything HWM ever put out, are complemented with a more melodic sound. Their debut album was immediately embraced by fans of their old band, and they continue to build a larger following with each stop on their current club tour. True to the working class punk-rock they’re known for, the band has a blue collar work ethic that’s just as strong. Less than a year after completing their debut, The Draft just released a 4-song, digital-only EP and are nearly halfway into recording another full length album. On the eve of an Australian tour opening for Gainesville scene-mates Against Me!, Black talked to us briefly about the end of HWM, the need for two guitarists and the cost of making CDs. T BY JOHN B. MOORE

Once HWM broke up, how long before you decided to put together The Draft? Chris, George and myself were already working on some of these songs while HWM was still together. We didn’t have a particular destination in mind for the songs. As far as we knew, they’d end up being new HWM material. Things went how they did, and we ended up with the first few songs for The Draft.

Did you consider keeping the band a trio? Yes, but not for too long. Right away, we knew we’d definitely need more than three musicians for shows. We don’t really write songs for one guitar.

Was there a conscious deci sion not to sound exactly like HWM? Yes and no. We wanted to step out as much as we could, but we didn’t want to force anything and end up making dishonest music. The next record, now that Todd will be involved in the writing from the ground up, will definitely show a new side to the band that’s much farther away from HWM. Here and there. We don’t have a whole ton of time to catch up as we’re both pretty busy with shows and all.

Anything happening to you guys, or around you, that had a big influence on the songs off “In a Mil lion Pieces”? Well, three of us had our way of life for the past 10 or so years drastically altered, so I’m pretty certain that snuck its way on to the record a bit.

Got it. Any musical influences that you drew on for this record that would surprise people? I doubt it. At least, I hope not. I think anyone that’s familiar with anything the four of us have been involved in knows we listen to pretty much everything under the sun. It’d be really hard to pinpoint an artist or a record that had a massive impact on “ In a Million Pieces,” for sure. same. Releasing the songs digitally cost us enough, and enabled us to price the EP for way less than we would’ve had to if it were a CD. We also think CD EPs pretty much blow. While we’re on the topic, people won’t even be buying CDs in another 2 years, so...

I caught your show in Atlanta with Tim Barry and Smoke or Fire and it was amazing. Thanks!

What other tour plans do you have this summer? We’re heading down to Australia and New Zealand with Against Me! in June, and we’ll be heading back over to Europe to headline and do some festivals in the end of August. The rest of the summer is reserved for working on the new record and watching baseball.

I asked Tom from Against Me! This same question recently and was interested in your take; why is Gainesville such a breeding ground for great punk bands? Well, it’s cheap to live here and everyone kind of exists in this bizarre state of suspended adolescence. We also have a built-in outlet in No Idea Records that really, really is the linchpin of the whole operation, if you ask me.