August Burns Red | Home Invasion
ive years ago I stepped into The Venue, in Boise Idaho, to watch, what was then, a fairly new act. Having just signed with Solid State Records it was me and roughly twenty other kids in The Venue that noticed August Burns Red pop up on the roster just months before. Not really knowing what to expect, most stood like me, mesmerized by the technicality of the instrumentation and the ferocity of the vocalist. That twenty kids turned into 200 their next pass through and that 200 turned into a sold out house the time after that. And that ever growing popularity has turned into the opportunity to record a live DVD in their hometown with over 1,200 amped fans in attendance.
Drummer and founding member Matt Greiner took some time out of his trip to Austria with front man Jake Luhrs where they are listening to fan testimonies, to talk to us about the ins and outs of this incredible DVD. If you haven’t gotten your hands on it yet, you are going to want to make that happen.
What made you guys want to do this live recording?
Matt Greiner: It’s always been a goal of ours to release a DVD of our live show. When we were presented with the idea of having a video guy on tour with us documenting everyday life on the road, we were thrilled!
Also, YouTube has become such an enormous medium to be reckoned with and we felt like giving our friends/fans a professional show from start to finish is overdue!
Tell us a little about the location and how you all went about choosing that.
MG: Well, August Burns Red was birthed in little Manheim, Pennsylvania. Naturally we couldn’t think of a better place to pay tribute to the many fans who supported us in the very beginning, and what better way to commemorate our hometown!
A gentlemen by the name of Brian Rohrer runs the youth ministry at a church called Manheim Brethren in Christ, right outside of town. He has always been very supportive of the band and was thrilled when we discussed with him the option of shooting the DVD in the youth building at his church. I am very proud of Brian and everything Manheim BIC has accomplished and am happy to represent them on this DVD.
I heard that upwards of 1,200 fans showed up to be involved in this recording, how did that make you guys feel?
MG: Humbled! I received an email from a fan in Amsterdam who had already booked his ticket to a very small airport in Lancaster, PA and needed transportation from the airport to Manheim. His main concern was a place to sleep as he tried searching for hotels in Manheim and found nothing! Talk about a small town, what a conversation that was, trying to explain where the two hotels were on the main road that runs through town.
Was it any different, before or during the show, knowing that your performance would be recorded and put onto this DVD?
MG: Oh, it made a world of a difference. We rehearsed for several days prior to the show, working out on the transitions and tweaking every minute of each song. What you see is what you get at a DVD shoot and we knew that going into it. We all played at the top of our game and are proud about the final project.
In putting this sort of a live production together, what did you feel was the most difficult aspect?
MG: To be honest, I can’t think of a ‘difficult’ step per say. We worked really hard making sure each detail was taken care of and had ample help in doing so. There were people delegated with each step of the process, many hands make light work, you know?
Our job as musicians was to play the songs, and play them well. We were not only focused on entertaining the crowd, but producing a visually stimulating DVD that had great sounding audio to accompany it.
Was it hard having to sift through three records worth of songs and choose only fifteen to play? What was your process?
MG: No, on the contrary it was rather difficult to pick 15 songs that we all felt like playing! Our longest set-list to date was 14 songs, and that is a very long performance for a metal band.
We wanted to make sure that the show didn’t drag on but to also make it worth everyone’s money, both at the show and at home on your TV. We picked all the hits, included a few obscure songs that don’t frequently get played, and even pulled out a surprise or two (Meridian.)
And along with the DVD comes a documentary as well…
MG: Our goal for ‘Home’ was to capture the present tense perspective of August Burns Red. We didn’t want to dwell on the history of the band, the line-up changes, the different CD’s and record labels. We were really adamant about getting the ‘here and now’ of August Burns Red, a first hand view at who we are and what we stand for and how all of that looks on tour.
There were moments when I was fed up with a camera in my face while on tour with Doug Spangenberg, the videographer and producer of Home. He literally toured with us for over a week on the east coast and a few days on the west coast as well, capturing all that encompasses touring the U.S. He recorded us eating, sleeping, fighting and performing. He captured us at our wits end with each other, as well as the “cloud 9” moments.
I have heard rumor that you are beginning to write for a new record, can you indulge us with any details about the direction of that record or info about when we might see that release?
MG: I am never really sure how to describe new songs until I’ve heard them recorded. I can tell you that yes we are currently writing the new CD and yes it sounds like August Burns Red. Get excited folks!
Those that are only getting their first live taste of ABR, via this DVD, where will they be able to catch you guys next?
MG: We are currently touring Europe with Bless The Fall and Of Mice And Men and will be heading back to the US to begin a co-headline tour with Bring Me The Horizon. Check out www.myspace.com/augustburnsred for details!
Any extra thoughts you wanted to share?
MG: Thanks for reading. Pursue God and you will find joy abounding in his presence. Best, MATT 
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