Bands on Bands: Mat Kerekes (Citizen) on New Found Glory's Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones


Run For Cover Records will release Young States, the debut EP from Ohio/Michigan indie rockers Citizen on October 23.  The EP, a follow up to this spring’s split with Virginia Beach’s Turnover, shows a measure of growth for a band who effortlessly blurs the lines between post-hardcore and emo, reinvigorating time tested sounds with Midwestern flare.
Ghettoblaster recently caught up with Citizen’s Mat Kerekes as he prepared for a vigorous fall and winter routing to ask about his favorite record, New Found Glory’s major label debut Sticks and Stones.  Here is what he said about it…
What is your favorite album? 
Sticks and Stones
Do you remember when you received or purchased the album? 
Yes, I was on my way to Canada for a family reunion when I heard a single from it on the radio. I bought the album later that night.
What is your favorite song on the album?  
“Never Give Up.”
What is it about the song that resonates with you? 
It has a good meaning and it’s a catchy song.
Have you ever covered a song from the album?  
 I have not.
What is it about the album that makes it stand out against the band’s other output?  
I think that it stands out because they matured their sound up a bit since the self titled album they put out prior to it. It’s still New Found Glory but you can tell they tried new things and I think that’s great.
Have you ever given a copy of this record to anyone?  What were the circumstances? 
I have not.
Which of the records that you’ve performed on is your favorite?  
The split EP with Turnover that we just put out.
What is your favorite song on the album and why?  
“I’m Sick of Waiting” because it’s very personal and I enjoy singing it.
(Catch Citizen at one of these dates:
Citizen w/ Aficionado and Mixtapes (Support)
Thu Sept 27th  Indianapolis, IN @ Hoosier Dome 
Fri Sept 28th  St Louis, MO @ Cicero’s 
Sat Sept 29th  Tulsa, OK @ Eclipse 
Sun Sept 30th  Austin, TX @ Mohawk 
Mon Oct 1st  El Paso, TX @ Open Gate Church 
Tues Oct 2nd  Albuquerque, NM @ The Gasworks 
Wed Oct 3rd  Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Underground 
Thu Oct 4th  San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe
Fri Oct 5th  Tijuanaja, Mexico @ You Revolution 
Sat Oct 6th  Pomona, CA @ Aladdin Jr’s 
Sun Oct 7th  Fresno, CA @ Chinatown Youth 
Mon Oct 8th  San Jose, CA @ Musik INC
Tues Oct 9th  Reno, NV @ Fort Ryland 2000 
Wed Oct 10th  Portland, OR @ Minus World 
Thur Oct 11th  Seattle, WA @ El Corazon Lounge 
Fri Oct 12th  Boise, ID @ The Venue 
Sat Oct 13th  Ogden, UT @ Mojo’s 
Sun Oct 14th  Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater 
Tues Oct 16th  Chicago IL @ SubT  
Citizen w / Such Gold, Mixtapes and Raindance (support)
Wed, Oct 17th Altoona, PA @ VFW Fort Apache 
Thur Oct 18th Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground
Fri Oct 19th  Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes 
Sat Oct 20th  Syracuse, NY @ The Lost Horizon ( w PBC)
Sun Oct 21st  Garden City NY @ Ethical Humane Society ( w Transit)
Mon Oct 22nd  Washington D.C @ Ras Hall 
Wed Oct 24th Greensboro, NC @ Green Street Music Hall
Thur Oct 25th  Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern 
Fri Oct 26th  Melbourne, FL @ Black Box Studio
Sat Oct 27th  Gainesville, FL @ THE FEST 11 @ The Atlantic 
Sun Oct 28th  Nashville, TN @ Rocket Town (headline show small room)
Tues Oct 30th  Ft Wright, KY @ Shimmers Ballroom 
Wed Oct 31st  Louisville, KY @ Spinellis Pizza 
Thur Nov 1st Indianapolis, IN @ Hoosier Dome 
Friday Nov 2nd Toledo, OH @ Micky Finn’s 
Sat Nov 3rd  Lansing, MI @ The Loft 
Citizen w State Champs, Candy Hearts (headline) 
Thur Nov 8th  St Catherine, ON @ TBA 
Fri Nov 9th  Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee’s 
Sat Nov 10th  Ottawa, ON @ Pressed 
Mon Nov 12th  Montreal, QB @ L’ESCO 
Tues Nov 13th  Portland, ME @ Studio 250 
Wed Nov 14th  Worcester, MA @ The Palladium (upstairs)
Thur Nov 15th  Hoboken, NJ @ The Stevenson Institute 
Friday Nov 16th  Allentown, PA @ Fearless Fire Company 
Sat Nov 17th  Stanhope, NJ @ The Stanhope House 
Sun Nov 18th  Pittsburgh, PA @ The Smiling Moose (upstairs)
Mon Nov 19th  Columbus, OH @ TBA  )