About to Pop: Set Your Goals

Who: Set Your Goals
Album: 'This Will Be the Death of Us'
Video: 'This Will Be the Death of Us'
Hails From: San Francisco, CA
For Fans Of: Saves the Day and Lifetime
Why They're About to Pop: The Bay Area's Set Your Goals formed in 2004, releasing their first self-titled EP on Straight On Records, which was re-released two years later when the band signed with Eulogy Recordings. In July 2006, the band put out their debut album, 'Mutiny!,' which established the band's fiercely loyal fanbase. The following spring, Set Your Goals toured with Alexisonfire on Anti-Flag's headlining tour and hit the road with the Bamboozle Roadshow in 2008. There, they shared the stage with the likes of Saves the Day, Armor for Sleep, Valencia and Metro Station before embarking on the entirety of the 2008 Vans Warped Tour. After separating from their label, the band signed with Epitaph Records on which they will release their sophomore album, 'This Will Be the Death of Us.' Straddling the hardcore and pop-punk genres, Set Your Goals are keeping things fresh on their second release, which features guest vocals by Paramore's Hayley Williams and New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert. The band is currently on tour with Four Year Strong and Fireworks through August 26.

Once, in Idaho, we were driving through the snow at about six in the morning and we hit black ice. We did three complete spins and hit the median before stopping, facing the opposite direction of traffic with semis racing around the nearby turn at 50+ MPH. We came dangerously close to knocking into the guard rail, which would've caused us to careen down the hill and into the icy creek on the other side. We luckily made it to the nearest exit relatively unharmed, but we were stranded in Kellogg, Idaho for a week. After that, we decided not to tour the U.S. in the winter any more.

We toured with Paramore on the "Riot!" tour in 2007 and have remained friends ever since. Chad Gilbert lives two blocks from Mike Green's studio, so he would come hang out every now and then during recording, and when Hayley came out to visit him, she'd come along too. They were there one day while we were recording the crew vocals and we asked them if they'd like to do their own parts. They were stoked to do it and we think it turned out great!

Honestly, it's changed like four times. Right now, my favorite song is 'Gaia Bleeds' because I've had the most fun with it at practice, and it's the most fun to play live!

The last track on the record was the biggest challenge to put together vocally, but I think our hard work paid off because it's turned out to be one of my favorites.

Jordan and I both write all of the vocal melodies and the lyrics together so we try to split it evenly, and in a way that the dueling vocals complement each other. So to answer your question, we both switch off leads.

We draw influence from all kinds of sources but musically I think the most evident would probably be Lifetime, Gorilla Biscuits, New Found Glory, and early Saves The Day. The latest records from Trapped Under Ice, Fireworks, New Found Glory, and Reign Supreme are all excellent and have been getting heavy rotation from all of us lately.

We just want to spread our music across the globe and have fun in the process. We hope to play as many places as we possibly can, regardless of size.