It’s no surprise that singer Justin Young was quick to identify the spirit animal for The Vaccines as a dog or wolf. For a group with a song entirely named after the animals (“Run with the wolves / Calling all the wolf pack / When did you go and when did you get back?”), it makes perfect sense that he likens the four-piece band to these creatures.
“You know, they’re very loyal,” Young said in an interview with the Daily Cardinal. “They like to band together, stay in packs when they roam.”
Young checked-in during the band's three-day jaunt across the country, where they’re fresh off of a string of California shows. He was somewhere in Wyoming when he called, on a tour bus with the rest of the clan: Freddie Cowan, Árni Árnason and Pete Robertson.
The band has been steadily gaining attention since the time of their debut What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? back in early 2011. They’ve since released another full length, Come of Age, and a very recent EP, Melody Calling. When asked about how it feels to have some fame and relevance, Young paused for a bit before answering.
“Well, I wouldn’t say we’re famous,” Young said. “But it’s quite weird to have a reputation that precedes you. People have this preconceived notion of you based on how you’re talked about in the media.”
However, he quickly added that he’s not complaining about it by any means. Young seems to be the epitome of a down-to-earth, fairly quiet artist type. During down times or when he’s not touring, he likes to go to the movies several times a week to see nearly everything that hits theaters, among other low key activities.
As for touring, he says he loves the variety it adds to life. The Vaccines played Glastonbury Festival, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza this summer, to name a few, but Young says he has a special regard for smaller stops along the way.
“I think smaller towns and college towns are actually more exciting to go to than the big cities,” Young said.
So, what exactly can concertgoers expect from The Vaccines?
“When we’re doing a show, we leave every drop of sweat we have on the stage,” Young said. “Whether it’s for 50,000 people or 50 people, we just do what we do.”
If you want to feel those drops of sweat rain down on you in person, The Vaccines take the stage at the Majestic Theatre tonight after The Living Statues. The show starts at 9 p.m., the doors open at 8.
