The All-American Rejects don't think they're an MTV band.
Then again, it all depends on what your definition of "MTV band" is.
For some, it's a band with heavily produced, major-label music that gets promoted with eye-catching million-dollar videos serving the most basic and immediate of pop needs.
For Rejects drummer Chris Gaylor, 27, an "MTV band" translates into the goth-punk-emo movement of the moment, and although he mentioned no specifics, it's hard not to think of bands like 30 Seconds to Mars and My Chemical Romance.
"To me, 'just another MTV rock band' is all those bands out there who wear all black and mascara and sing about spiders and the bleeding hearts," he said. "We're just four regular dudes playing music."
For four regular dudes who also recently won the Best Group Video and performed at the MTV Video Music Awards, they've had some impressive fortune.
People are also reading…
The pop-rock band broke out in 2003 with the hit single "Swing Swing," which seemed inescapable at the time on certain video-music channels and popular local radio outlets.
You may also be familiar with tracks from their most recent album, "Move Along," like "Dirty Little Secret," which is so catchy you almost get angry the band would craft such a devilish hook designed to crawl into your head and take up residency —but that's kind of the point.
"If people said we were a one-hit wonder on the first record . . . well, now I guess we're a four-hit wonder," he said.
It's not just the singles, either. Both of the band's albums, the self-titled release on DreamWorks in 2003 and "Move Along," released in 2005, have sold more than a million copies.
The group's sound visits crunchy guitars, mall-punk tempos and melodic breakdowns —it's pure pop so squeaky clean you can almost smell the Colgate on the band's teeth. But if this is a teen's first favorite rock band, he or she could probably do worse.
The band, which hails from Stillwater, Okla., was formed in 1999 by bassist, singer and now teen pinup Tyson Ritter and guitarist Nick Wheeler.
The group eventually picked up guitarist Mike Kennerty and Gaylor a few years ago. Before that, the Rejects employed a drum machine — which Gaylor said he wasn't too concerned about potentially losing his job to if things go downhill.
Drum machines also can't enjoy the rock-star lifestyle the band has been perfecting, complete with arena tours, clothing lines and swimsuit-model girlfriends: Ritter is dating supermodel Kim Smith.
If things hold, the Rejects should be on their way to even larger status.
Currently on the road in their biggest headlining tour to date with a pop-punk-tastic lineup, Gaylor said he's not afraid of the band getting huge, which can become the tipping point when many lose focus.
"We really don't take ourselves too seriously," Gaylor said.
What: The All-American Rejects with Motion City Soundtrack, the Starting Line, the Format, and Gym Class Heroes.
When: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27.
Where: Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave.
Tickets: $25 via ticketmaster.com or 321-1000.
Get there early . . .
No need to tell those who already have tickets, but for $25 you're surely getting the most for it with a lineup of openers that includes Arizona's own the Format. The band has received acclaim for its new album, "Dog Problems," from such unlikely sources as National Public Radio.
