Against Me!

In “Piss and Vinegar,” a new song by Against Me! (currently touring with David Dondero and Matt & Kim), lead singer Tom Gabel advises music commentators to be “a little less professional, a little more up front and confrontational.” On August 14, he may have taken a similar approach during a visit to a Florida coffee shop. Gabel reportedly became incensed upon seeing an Against Me! flier that had been defaced and took his anger out on 22-year-old customer Jared Smith, precipitating an assault charge. There’s no telling at this point exactly how the incident went down — Gabel denies hitting Smith — but there’s no lack of aggression on New Wave, the group’s major-label debut. Sleekly produced by Butch Vig, who was behind the boards on Nirvana’s Nevermind, the disc is thoroughly old-school punk with anthemic lyrics. For instance, “White People for Peace” features Gabel saluting “protest songs to stop the soldier’s gun.” Perhaps he should give peace a chance in his personal life, too.