MxPx Chat with ChartAttack.com

Tucked neatly away in the depths of The Guvernment in Toronto lies a fab room chock full of fun-fur furniture and mirrored ceilings. Somewhere amid all the cushions, I found three not-so-typical punks hanging out.

Collectively known as MxPx, the guys — Mike Herrera, Tom Wisniewski and Yuri Ruley — took some time out of their hectic schedules to hunker down for a chat with ChartAttack.com.

The band is on the brink of releasing their new disc, The Ever Passing Moment, which they are supporting with a month-long tour along with finalizing their Vans Warped Tour 2000 plans.

The down to earth guys dished on a variety of topics, creating a laid-back and comfy atmosphere.

With over five albums under their belts, MxPx feel they have made it. Regardless of the little help from outside media outlets such as TV and radio, success has reached them.

As Tom puts it, "You blow up on your first record with your first single and sure you ride the rollercoaster for a while and people like you, but it's fickle and fades really fast. So if you're around for a bunch of years it's more gradual and that has a lot more staying power."

Adds Mike, "We're gonna make records the way we wanna make records. If radio does embrace a song, it's gonna be a good MxPx song, it's not gonna be a radio pop hit that doesn't sound like us."

Since they've made the records, created a worldwide fanbase and filled their bank accounts, has "O.K., we've done enough! Let's just stop now ever crossed their minds?"

In unison the answer that filters through the laughter is "NO!!"

"We haven't filled our bank accounts yet — would you like to fill it for us?" Tom says that he has plenty of goals and hasn't done enough.

Both he and Mike agree that they "just wanna go to Thailand and play there so we have an excuse to go and get some Thai food!

"You've got to wonder what stands behind these guys to keep their intensity going - other than their cravings for Thai!

"Why go out there and just do it halfway? What's the point? It could be the last time you do it," quips Tom. "We have a responsibility and care about what we're doing.

"Plus we totally feed off the crowd," Mike throws in.

As interesting as that may sound, MxPx really do act off the crowd's vibe. After all, it is the fan support that has kept them on the map all these years and hopefully all the years to come.