4 COVERSTORY Patrick Sidetracks | Stump Fall Out Boy falls out on lead singer & Glenview native channels ’80s pop vibe on new solo disc, ‘Soul Punk’ ursday, November 10, 2011 his own By ROB CARROLL • [email protected] f you ask Patrick Stump, he is in the second stage of his career. The first act was as the lead singer of the pop-punk band Fall Out Boy. I With that gig on hiatus, Stump is looking to move for- ward on his own with the release of his full-length solo debut, “Soul Punk.” Stump, who grew up in Glenview, moves away from the Fall Out Boy sound on the release, trading it in for an ’80s pop vibe. The 27-year-old singer recently talked about his new album, what it means for him to play Metro in Chicago on Nov. 11 and getting a chance to write lyr- ics, something bass player Pete Wentz took care of for Fall Out Boy. Herald / NWHerald.com/sidetracks • Th Is the experience of touring much different as a solo My band now artist? Is it more hectic? is awesome, Patrick Stump It’s actually a lot easier, I think, because and we have Northwest with Rockie Fresh and Mark Rose there’s nobody to wait on. When you show up a blast WHEN: 7 p.m. (6:30 p.m. doors) in the [hotel] lobby is when you leave ... [With every night Nov. 11 a band] somebody is always late. Never the ... There’s WHERE: Metro, 3730 N. Clark, same guy. no other Chicago venue I’d What kind of influences are behind your album, rather TICKETS: $24, at www.etix.com “Soul Punk”? play. INFO: www.metrochicago.com I wasn’t really cognizant of trying to or www.patrickstump.com include influences, per sé. And I wasn’t trying Do you have to not sound like anything ... Masculine ’80s much contact pop seems to be the thing ... I think the lyrics with the guys are more folk music-inspired than [David] from Fall Out Boy? Bowie or Prince. You’re only as close with anybody as you are on the Were there things you were able to express differ- road. I mean, I haven’t talked ently as a solo artist when writing these songs? to my parents in a hot minute because I’m on Not so much. The biggest difference is the road. I write the lyrics ... That’s the biggest dif- ference is being a lyricist. Now I have an What do you think is the next step in your career outlet ... I’d get up in the middle of the now that your album has been released? night (with a good lyric), but didn’t have Really, I’m just working as hard as I can to an outlet for it. So, I’d go back to sleep. keep this going ... I really love this band. You’ll be playing at Metro in Chicago on Nov. 11. Is Looking back, it seems as though you’ve always had it still special for you to be playing in Chicago? music in your life. Is what you’re doing now what So special. And so special to be playing you have always wanted to do or are you always at Metro. If you could go back in time (when evolving as an artist? Fall Out Boy started as a band) and ask any Not necessarily. I always wanted to write of us, we were a bad band, but we didn’t care. my own songs, but I think a lot of people But we really liked each other and before around me knew I was going to do it before we knew it, we were playing Metro. For me, I did. And I was like, “oh no, I won’t do Metro was a big turning point in my career ... that.”.