Check out our interview with Fever 333 vocalist Jason Aalon Butler
The 2017 Super Bowl ended with the New England Patriots defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28. At the home of super-producer and Midas John Feldman , Travis Barker (of Blink-182 ) and Jason Aalon Butler (at the time, vocalist of LetLive ) were together. The post-game conversation flowed, and an idea emerged. Jason and Travis felt a lack of bands with attitude, social engagement, and a clear purpose to revolutionize not only music but also society.
Jason Butler left there with a fixed idea. In the following days, he called his colleagues Stephen Harrison and Aric Improta. The latter was a colleague from LetLive. That's how Fever 333 , a new band that released its first album, Strength In Numb333rs, in early 2019.
Since their 2018 EP Made An America , music critics have described Fever as a mix of Rage Against The Machine and Linkin Park . The influences of metal and rap, along with their social engagement, explain this hasty comparison. Time has proven, however, that the band is not merely a blend of pre-existing concepts, but something new.
The first disc begins with sounds of a kind of political demonstration. A reporter interviews one of those present, who explains that this is a revolutionary rock show. Political engagement is central to the band.
“I grew up in a community in Inglewood, California. Since I was a child, I noticed that there was something different about that place. Why didn't the people there have the same possessions as those in neighboring areas? Why did my parents earn less than other adults? Why was our skin tone different?” Jason said in an interview with Wikimetal.
“This isn’t just my opinion, it’s a matter of public policy. I’ve had experiences that have opened my eyes to these differences. This has inspired me to be an artist who fights against all prejudice.”.
Jason sees music as a path to revolution. “Art has preceded every kind of revolution in world history. Be it sexual, intellectual, or social. It’s because it speaks to these people in a way that no other type of communication can. Music makes you think, discuss, want to act. We have a primal relationship with music. It is one of the most powerful tools for change.”
Openly left-leaning, Jason believes in radical ideas, but not in exclusion. “I’m not saying people have to agree with me. But I think we can achieve some kind of progress if we talk. Left-wing ideas are more solution-based, but there’s a place, if not in the middle of the political spectrum, then in the middle of the communication spectrum, where we can debate what’s best.”
From the name itself, Fever's purpose is very clear. 333 refers to the triple repetition of the third letter of the alphabet, C. Community, Charity, and Change stand for Community, Charity, and Change. “The central goal of the band is for people to recognize the power they have. I want them to know that they have a place in this world, a role to play. Women, gays, blacks, Latinos, Muslims…”
Like a fever, Fever's message has been spreading around the world. A radical seed that tends to bear fruit even in Brazil, where the band will play two shows in early April. “The conservative wave has been spreading across the globe. Trump represents that in the US, Bolsonaro in Brazil,” he compares. “Our mistake was letting it go too far. Nobody expected them to win, because it's obvious they would be terrible presidents. We have to stop this. A guy who has homophobic, sexist, eugenicist, Islamophobic ideas cannot preside over a country.”
Brazilian fans will be able to witness the fury of Fever 333 up close at Lollapalooza. And Jason seems excited to meet them. “I’m honestly very much looking forward to the South American tour, especially in Brazil. The music is very intrinsic to Brazilian culture. You respect the music, it’s spectacular. I feel very lucky,” he confessed. “Let’s go together for the revolution. Power to all people!”
Fever 333 will be performing at Lollapalooza 2019, click here to buy tickets.