Ace Enders rocks the grill

Ace Enders and a million different instruments (Credit: Adam Elmakias)

“We’re all here together, over an open flame.” Philosophical words from Ace Enders, an up-and-coming rock star and genius behind “The BBQ Across America Tour.” Not content just to headline another summer emo-punk tour, Enders and his band A Million Different People will host a pre-show barbeque for presale ticket buyers in nearly every city he plays over the next two months, followed by a post-show trip to Denny’s for anyone who wants to join in (he’s not paying, but you’re welcome to stop by).

It’s a monumental project, but nothing new for the soft-spoken Enders, who remains one of the most ambitious musicians in the punk rock world. We spoke with the singer about the joys of grilling, his old band the Early November (who once released a triple album), why bands should give away free music and how, in the end, it’s all about the people.

How did the idea of doing a concert tour with a pre-show barbeque and post-show Denny’s trip come about?
I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, actually. Grilling is one of my favorite hobbies. This is the first time I’ve been able to pull it off.

And are you paying for this?
We’re not funding the grilling—it’ll be a donation type of thing. You come, you donate, you provide food. I think it’s great, because everybody can be a part of grilling. We don’t judge, either—you can grill meat or something vegetarian, it doesn’t matter.

Will you let the fans grill? Isn’t that an insurance issue?
We are letting them grill. We’ll hopefully have something planned out so it’s not a problem.

What if it rains?
I guess it’ll have to be postponed.

Let’s discuss the post-show shenanigans. Why Denny’s?
It’s one of those places that’s always open. We end up there almost every night on tour, anyway.

Do you have a favorite? Like, maybe, Moons Over My Hammy?
I like the Super Burger [burger with bacon, cheese, onions, pickles and lettuce]. And Moons Over My Hammy, sure.

You have several ambitious projects in the works. One is an online music network called “The Sound of Evolution.” What’s that about?
It’s basically a way for people to choose to pay what they want for music. It’s creating a community of fans and musicians who have the same ideals. The industry is crashing and burning. This is a way for newer bands to develop a relationship, and for recognizing that music is an art. Fans can go, get music, and if they don’t have a lot of money, for example, they could pay two dollars or donate later.

Your old band, the Early November, once put out a triple-CD concept record. How did you get that approved?
Actually, the hardest part was just doing it. It’s pretty tricky; it all has to flow together and be a good listening experience. Sometimes I look back and wonder why I pulled my hair out for a couple of years, and that maybe just doing another regular record could have meant the band stayed together. But it taught me a lot about music and life.

You’re used to doing things differently. In the end, what are your hopes for the tour?
I think the barbeque thing all comes down to money. We’ll play it by ear. This hasn’t been done before. If people do show up and donate food or whatever, it’ll be awesome. But it’s up to the people.