Gym Class Heroes pump it up – New CD energizes fans

“From start to finish, the guys took control of the venue, the crowd [was] packed in … clapping and tapping in unison,” wrote a critic for MTV UK after a recent London show. “As expected, the audience comprised of a large spectrum of music fans, encompassing all things resistant and energetic.”

Drummer Matt McGinley, who co-founded the band with front man Travis “Schleprok” McCoy after the two met — yes, in a gym class — in high school in Geneva, N.Y., credits much of that energy to producers that include hip hop A-listers Cool & Dre and Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump. Well known as a guitarist for Fall Out Boy, Stump brought energy and insights to the band that moved the songs into a higher level of quality.

“Patrick, in my opinion, will always be one of the great producers,” said McGinley. “He is a touring musician and that allows him to bring in a lot of elements that other producers just can’t deliver.”

Of course the band members have grown professionally since their 2001 debut album “For the Kids.” That growth combined with extensive pre-production work and Stump’s input resulted in a “raw, organic,” album, said McGinley. “Certainly this album has a lot more depth than our previous efforts. We have definitely made great strides in a really, really positive direction while still making music that is really accessible and fun to listen to.”

Like other musicians that have watched their music evolve only to lose fans, McGinley laments fans’ displeasure hoping they will rejoin the band’s listeners when they hear the new album, which includes high-powered guests including Busta Rhymes.

“I am certainly guilty of being a student who listened to a band one year and then stopped because they suddenly became popular,” McGinley said. “But I think if you make music that’s true and relevant and good…you will receive incredible support.”

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