Alternative guitarist and All Time Low’s frontman Alex Gaskarth sat down for Billboard’s Behind the Setlist podcast, addressing how the band’s long standing career of classic hits affects their concert setlists, all while creating new music at the same time.
LISTEN NOW: Behind the Setlist - Alex Gaskarth (of All Time Low)
All Time Low was first formed in 2003, and over the course of their career, have accumulated an extensive following. Fans tend to align with certain albums or songs, from 2005’s The Party Scene even up to Tell Me I’m Alive released just this past March. Thus, Gaskarth refers to creating the perfect, all-pleasing setlist as being, “quite a bit of balancing, of spinning plates.”
“That is probably the one thing, at this point, that our band has any legitimate arguments about anymore” the 35-year-old singer revealed. “Twenty years being a band, you kind of work through all the potential issues… but the one that remains is how we agree upon a ninety-minute setlist, which is currently what we’re playing”.
The band is currently on their Tell Me I’m Alive tour for their album, with special guest Mayday Parade. Their goal for this tour was to create a fair setlist that met both old and new criteria, Alex Gaskarth said.
“We wanted to make a show that was sort of spanning the generations and eras of this band, kind of getting it all in while also still recognizing that there’s new music and a new album. Making sure that was still in the forefront and we weren’t shying away from that."
This balance in their setlist ensures that the new songs get the attention they deserve, and that the classics won’t be swept under the rug either. This naturally includes 2008’s pop-punk anthem “Dear Maria, Count Me In”, which went RIAA-certified double platinum in 2021. “Dear Maria” remains not only the band’s stand-out signifier in the public "ear," but the setlist scream-singing closer.
“It’s always been a mainstay in our show, and to be honest, we’re probably closed with it for the better part of fifteen years at this point,” Gaskarth recalled. “It quickly became a definitive song for us in the catalog and we’ve always embraced it.”
Check out the podcast episode as they discuss the Tell Me I’m Alive US Tour, which begins May 7.
Additional Info: Tour dates and locations
SUN, MAY 7 - SunFest 2023, West Palm Beach, FL
THU, MAY 18 - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN: SOLD OUT
FRI, MAY 19 - The Signal, Chattanooga, TN
SAT, MAY 20 - Avondale Brewing Company, Birmingham, AL
TUE, MAY 23 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO: SOLD OUT
WED, MAY 24 - The Union Event Center, Salt Lake City, UT
FRI, MAY 26 - Riverside Municipal Auditorium, Riverside, CA: SOLD OUT
SAT, MAY 27 - Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ: SOLD OUT
SUN, MAY 28 - Revel Entertainment Center, Albuquerque, NM
TUE, MAY 30 - The Aztec Theater, San Antonio, TX
THU, JUN 1 - ACL Live - Moody Theater, Austin, TX
FRI, JUN 2 - The Criterion, Oklahoma City, OK
SAT, JUN 3 - Arvest Bank Theatre At The Midland, Kansas City, MO
SUN, JUN 4 - The Rave / Eagles Club, Milwaukee, WI
TUE, JUN 6 - MegaCorp Pavilion, Newport, KY
WED, JUN 7 - Stage AE Outdoor, Pittsburgh, PA
FRI, JUN 9 - KEMBA Live!, Columbus, OH
SAT, JUN 10 - Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg, PA: SOLD OUT
SUN, JUN 11 - State Theatre, Portland, ME: SOLD OUT
WED, JUN 14 - The National, Richmond, VA: SOLD OUT
FRI, JUN 16 - The Ritz, Raleigh, NC: SOLD OUT
SAT, JUN 17 - House Of Blues Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, SC
THU, JUN 22 - Pepsi Center, Mexico City, Mexico
SAT, JUN 24 - Machaca 2023, Monterrey, Mexico
FRI, JUN 30 - Moody Center, Austin, TX
SAT, JUL 1 - Dos Equis Pavilion, Dallas, TX
SAT, OCT 21 and SUN, OCT 22 - When We Were Young Festival 2023, Las Vegas, NV
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