[ WEEKEND ]

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By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

T hrough thick and thin, in exhilarating good times and awkward bad times, you can count on Jimmy Eat World to be there for you.

In spirit, at least -- after all, they are supposed to be rock superstars, although you'd be hard-pressed to find a more dressed-down bunch of regular guys who just happen to be one of last year's breakout rock bands.

Jimmy Eat World With local opening band The Haunted Pines Where: Pipeline Cafe, 805 Pohukaina St. When: 7 p.m. today, doors open at 6; all ages welcome Tickets: $20 Call: 296-1019

When the band made its Honolulu debut last March, its can-do anthem "The Middle" was just beginning to get wide exposure, although the audience went wild when they recognized the song's opening notes and heartily sang along with the hooky chorus.

The song has gone on to become one of the top singles of 2002 for listeners and critics and, according to mp3.com, remains one of the most heavily downloaded songs.

The band's latest single and video, "Sweetness," is more representative of the band's bracing combination of emotionally direct, if rather obtuse, lyrics packed into a concise sonic attack. The video itself is a smart encapsulation of Jimmy Eat World's journey from a home basement band in Mesa, Ariz., to large international venues.

The band -- comprising of frontman Jim Adkins, Tom Linton, Rick Burch and Zach Lind -- will let the music do the talking tonight in the intimate environs of Pipeline Cafe. The band is on its way back to the states fresh from a tour of Australia.

In the meantime, fans who've already bought a recently released stopgap DVD-EP of the band's filled with videos and performances are awaiting a full-length DVD entitled "Believe In What You Want" that will be released before the band returns to the recording studio.

COURTESY OF NASTY LITTLE MAN The group consists of, from left, drummer Zach Lind, singer/ guitarist Jim Adkins, bassist Rick Burch and guitarist Tom Linton.

WE SPOKE TO Adkins early last month before he left Mesa for Australia, and he said "not much has changed for us in the overall way we approach our music.

"The only significant change has been in the way we operate -- we have an actual sound person with us on the road now. It's more professional to tour, with a higher budget, and it's nice that way.

"But, ideally, it's still the same show we've done for years, and it's still important to us to make the same kind of record from a fan's perspective."

Despite the extensive touring, it's evident Adkins still finds solace in returning home. "Mesa has never been considered as a happening place for music, although there are a few bands here, including ourselves, that are passionate enough to sustain a small scene. Otherwise, I feel grounded here, surrounded by family and good friends."

One of the band's strengths is its broad appeal that doesn't sacrifice originality for safe blandness. "Our songs aren't meant to be gender-specific," explained Adkins. "Women can read into the subject matter with the same objectivity as men."

And while "The Middle" was on the band's list of first singles off their major label debut, "the song was so well-received that it exceeded our expectations. We didn't expect it to be the runaway hit it's become.

"You would think it would be difficult to play it fresh every night on tour, but the song gets such a good reaction that it's easy for us to maintain a consistent performance every night. People identify so much with the song.

"And even though we play live months on end, the audience dynamic at each tour stop always makes for a fresh and new show for us."

Adkins shows an equal enthusiasm for a sold-out London's Brixton Academy performance and a small weekend show back home with his musical side project Go Big Casino.

"They're both fun to do, and the only big distinction between it and Jimmy is that I don't need earplugs when I do "Go Big Casino," he said.

The opposite will probably be true tonight.

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