When I think of Columbus and pop-punk one band comes to mind, We are the Movies. Sorry peeps that it isn’t City Lights. They were before my pop-punk days here in Columbus. Over the last three years no pop-punk band in Columbus has killed and owned it the way this five piece has. From the their live shows, which are becoming legendary, to their albums, no one in the pop-punk scene can touch them, and I highly doubt anyone will for a while. They are the kings of Columbus pop-punk. And if you don’t believe me, be sure to checkout their set on Sunday January 20^th. RSVP here.

TUNED UP: Can you please introduce yourself?

We are the Movies: My name is Mike O’Leary, and I play guitar and sing/yell for We are the Movies.

What made you and your band want to participate in this festival?

Tony and the dudes from Zoo Trippin’ are such wonderful ambassadors for local music, and we got really excited to join them in supporting our scene. I really appreciate the “love letter” approach to having local bands cover other local bands. It gives everyone the chance to see bands and make friends that they normally wouldn’t if they stuck to their favorite genre, and I think there’s always room for more connections.

What is next for you and your band?

We released our latest record last fall, so we will be playing in support of that for a while as we write new material. Looking to do an album of unplugged versions of our more popular songs as well as re-release our last two albums (Get Busy Living and …Or Get Busy Dying) as a vinyl album, and, depending on how productive we are, release a few singles by the end of the year. We’re also working on playing more shows in different cities, so we have some gigs in Dayton, and we’re setting up a mini-tour with some friends and are looking to make that happen in late March.

What is your favorite venue to play in Columbus? Hidden Gem?

We’ve had a blast playing at Columbus venues—they all have pros and cons, but we’ve been really fortunate to have good experiences at most places. One venue that always sticks out to me is Rumba Café because of how good the sound is for such a small place. Big Room Bar feels like a second home to us—the energy there is always positive. My hidden gem would definitely be Donatos Basement—it has the intimacy and energy of a house show, and, you know, there’s pizza there. I haven’t been there since it got renovated, but I’m stoked to play there in March!

If there were a Columbus Music Hall of Fame, what three acts would you induct?

Whoa… of music *I* listen to, or based on popularity?? I mean Beartooth, 21 Pilots, and Rascal Flatts are the ones that really “made it,” but personally, I’d have to go with City Lights, Six Gallery, and The End of the Ocean.

Who are some local acts our readers should be listening to?

Bilmuri for sure—dude sounds like if Deftones did slow jams, and it’s incredible.

Overgrow—so emotional, so powerful, so life-affirming!

No Dice—I can’t wrap my brain around how good they’re getting. They do emo right!

Honorable mention to Forever Unknown, based solely on the fact that they’re all 16 and already better than half the bands in town. That’s not a dig to any other bands—that’s just how good they’re getting!

What is your favorite winter drink?

Whiskey

What is your favorite winter activity?

Drinking whiskey

TUNED UP: I am a huge fan of covers; what is your all-time favorite cover?

Dang—can I pick more than one? Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt” always tugs my heartstrings; The Ramones’ “California Sun” cover is so much fun and manages to be better than the original; and The Clash doing “I Fought the Law” is perfect.

I also have a few songs that I feel should never be covered; do you have any songs that you feel should not, and if so what are they?

I used to be way more snobby about this, especially with stuff like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd because their songs are played so flawlessly and distinctively. But really, I don’t know if any song is truly off-limits. If you have the courage to try and recreate an iconic song and honor it and/or make it your own, then go for it! Playing other people’s songs is how we learn to play our instruments and discover our vocal ranges, so I say don’t hold back!

If you had to eat one sandwich for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Whiskey. 

I’m kidding—definitely the hot chicken sandwich from Royals in Louisville. 

No, it’s whiskey.