Jimmy Eat World still amazed, amazing

Even after 15 years, Tom Linton isn't allowing himself to take anything for granted.

It still amazes him that he and his fellow band members in the multi-platinum band Jimmy Eat World are able to touch people with their music.

The guitarist and vocalist never wants that to be a "given." "Even seeing people show up for our shows is still amazing to me," he laughs. "We started playing in front of a couple people in a bar. I'm still kind of amazed we are able to play to so many people. I'm still kind of getting used to it, as weird as it sounds."

That's why watching a crowd react to their music — "singing along to the lyrics and dancing around" — is the best part of playing live for Linton.

He should be seeing that scene played out many times this year as Jimmy Eat World, road veterans all, once again takes its music to the people, including a 7 p.m. concert April 30 at Paul Tsongas Arena, Lowell, Mass. Paramore is the guest. In the process they will be introducing their new album, "Chase This Light," which Linton believes is the best the guitar-based Arizona rockers have made so far.

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To those just experiencing the band for the first time this year, Linton said simply, "We're a bunch of friends who got together and started playing music."

Vocalist-guitarist Jim Adkins writes lyrics to which people can relate, he said, "and we try to make each song different, each one stand out on a record."

"We are all about rock music from an honest place," added bassist Rick Burch. "We never tried to create any sub genres or to be the founders of anything. We just try to make music with substance and honesty."

That philosophy has served Jimmy Eat World well through a career filled with challenges that they have survived. It all began with the group building a loyal fan base through tireless road treks.

Some consider 1999's "Clarity," a pioneering CD that spoke to those who needed some substance with their rock'n'roll.

Their break through was the pop single, "The Middle," the summer smash of 2002. It catapulted their 2001 CD, "Jimmy Eat World" (originally titled "Bleed American" but changed after 9/11) to millions in sales, an appearance on Saturday Night Live, an MTV Video Award nomination, invitations to tour with Green Day, Weezer and Blink-182 and critical acclaim in the year-end polls of Spin, Rolling Stone, USA Today, Blender and Alternative Press.

"We are in a good place, lots of loyal fans and making new fans too," said Burch. "Whatever anyone personally takes away from our music is what we hope for them to take away. We hope they make it their own."

Everyone in the band feels they are playing the best they ever have, added Linton. "We get better with each record we put out."

He appreciates that 15 years can be an eternity in rock 'n roll. "Yes, it is a long time, and we all still have a lot of fun on and offstage. That kind of shows in the music."

Fan input is no small part of it, Burch said. "Hearing from our fans how our music is a part of their lives is a big motivation. It makes us want to keep challenging ourselves making new music," he explained.

"The people have always been the thing that is really important to us," Linton agreed. That's one of the reasons Jimmy Eat World has played a lot of smaller cities this year, taking their music to people wherever they are, he implied.

"When we play live we hope people tend to forget about whatever is bugging them, their job or school, and hopefully have a good time. They can get away for that hour and a half and forget about their troubles and just have fun," he said.

He suggested it was a fun time making the new CD.

For "Chase This Light" they recorded for the first time in their home studio in Arizona. "When we start recording we don't sit down and strategize and say, 'We've got to make this kind of record or this theme.' We go in and try to make the best one we can and end up with 20 to 25 songs."

Then it was a matter of picking the best songs for the album. Being able to record in their own studio, close to home, provided a lot more time to work out any problems, he said. That also made the songwriting somewhat easier, he added.

He believes this CD represents growth.

Jimmy Eat World tries not to limit itself in the creative process, Burch said. "We have learned a lot over the years and try to use those experiences while making new music. Our creative process has evolved."

The bottom line, he added: "Our music means good times."

(TICKETS: $30. The Tsongas Arena is at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell, Mass. Box Office: 978-848-6938. www.paultsongasarena.com)