Drummer Adam Carson talk touring with Green Day, AFI’s new record and why they still get nervous thirty years in
When AFI’s Adam Carson appears across my laptop screen, I am frantically typing my questions into my keypad. Trying not to miss out on anything, a publicist waits on the other end of the line making sure I am ready. Which, at the time, I felt like I was not.
“Nice to meet you” Carson says in a voice so soothing it sounds like it could be in a meditation YouTube video. It immediately puts me right at ease. Armed with a warm grin, from then on I knew I would be fine.
In just a few hours, Carson alongside the rest of the band would board a flight bound for Australia. There, they will be joining Green Day for a highly anticipated stadium tour. Alongside that, AFI will also perform a few headline shows of their own. It’s a bittersweet return.
“We haven’t been to Australia in eleven years” Carson remaks. “It’s one of my favourite places to visit outside the US.”
AFI have been going for over thirty years now. Having released eleven albums, been nominated for Grammy awards and toured with some of the biggest bands in the world, their trajectory has been a never- ending ascension. With a huge back catalogue in tow, I ask Carson which songs they will be bringing down under.
“We have songs we know people want to hear,” he begins thoughtfully. “And then there are the ones that are less known but still bring us joy. Long ago, we gave up trying to make everyone happy. We just aim to make sure it’s a good show.”
It’s a philosophy that has defined AFI’s approach to music for years: authenticity above all. Carson explains, “I think it’s always been our MO. We make music for ourselves first, and if people like it, great. If not, that’s fine too. Trying to cater to what others want would feel disingenuous.”
The band’s live shows are a direct reflection of that honesty. I share a story with Carson about a recent concert I attended, where the artist seemed to be going through the motions just to receive a paycheck. AFI, in contrast, are always intent on giving their all at every show.
“There’s no song that ever gets old for me,” Carson continues, his voice quiet but firm. “Something about playing them over and over makes them feel fresh. Maybe it’s just the mechanics of it—how you play, how you feel, how you make it unique every time. We have 11 records now, and I know we can’t please everyone. But we try.”
“I don’t understand how people can just phone it in,” he says, a hint of disbelief in his voice after I recount the story and the artist. “You have a responsibility to stop if you’re not enjoying it. The stage is sacred in that way.”
Thirty years in, Carson also continues to remain passionate about the artform itself. When I ask him blankly if there has ever been a moment where he has felt like walking away, he replies almost instantly.
“Honestly no. I knew I wanted to be in a band when I was 7 or 8 years old. I didn’t know what it meant. Maybe it says something about me or my personality, but I’ve never had reason to want to do anything else.”
This hunger for reinvention is also what keeps AFI’s music feeling fresh. Carson explains, “We have a core group of influences, sure. But we’re always on a trajectory where we explore new territory. We become a new band with the same guys.”
This year the band is also set to be releasing a new album. Something that has been widely reported on in the media. Though when I push Carson for details, he stays fairly mum.
“It’s a matter of trying to figure out where it slots into the year. As far as recording, it’s done and I’m excited.”
When I ask him how this album stands apart from the rest, Carson’s face lights up with boyish enthusiasm. Like it’s the first time he’s ever promoted a record. “It’s the first time we’ve made a focused record. We leaned into post-punk influences, and it feels cohesive. From start to finish, it’s got a natural flow—a specific time, a specific place.”
Perhaps the most exciting part of this next phase will be seeing the band share some of their new material with fans on tour. Perhaps Australia will soon get a glimpse of the record on their upcoming tour.
When asked about the upcoming tour, the surrealness of the question washes over Carson’s face.
“You know one of the first shows I ever went to was Green Day,” Carson recalls. “924 Gilman St in Berkeley. Those guys are the greatest—some of the best people I know. They were like the elders of our scene. Without their hard work in establishing that scene, who knows where we’d be today? If they hadn’t exploded and brought punk back into the spotlight, we might not still be doing this.”
Carson’s respect for Green Day runs deep, and he’s become increasingly aware of their lasting influence. “The impact of Green Day is still felt in so many up-and-coming bands, even if it’s not talked about much,” he says, nodding thoughtfully.
But even with all this experience, the nerves still surface. AFI will be playing to huge crowds on the Green Day tour—stadiums filled with tens of thousands of people. Yet Carson, despite his years of experience, still feels the weight of it.
“Yes, I get nervous,” he admits, a little laugh escaping. “But there’s also the confidence that comes from doing it thousands of times. When there are 30,000 people out there, sure, you can get nervous. But the key is this: whether you’re nervous or excited, your body’s doing the same thing. So, I try to channel that nervousness into excitement.”
AFI are touring Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with Green Day. They will also be performing their own headline shows in Sydney and Brisbane. Tickets can be purchased here.
MORE IN Features
