Join The Click

If there’s any indication Pinoys love their pop, it’s The Click Five. Just seven months after we saw them perform here live, the quintet is set to play for a massive audience of shrieking Filipino fans once more. That happens May 30 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Composed of bassist Ethan Mentzer, drummer Joey Zehr, guitarist Joe Guese, keyboardist Ben Romans, and former frontman Eric Dill, the power pop group started out in Boston in 2003. Just about a year after they formed, the found themselves signed, touring with the likes of Ashlee Simpson. This was followed by a remarkable debut LP called “Greetings from Imrie House.”

“Imrie House” was a smashing success, entering the Billboard 200 at #15 (making it the year’s highest-charting debut from a new rock band). Soon after, their song Just The Girl became a hit, topping the iTunes charts for over two weeks, and quickly becoming staple on local radio stations, too.

Admit it, the song has, at one point in your life, been stuck in your head.

Now, after a quick lineup change, they’ve a new vocalist in 21-year-old Kyle Patrick. Their current record, “Modern Minds and Pastimes,” is darker and more sensitive but this has gone well with fans. Singles Jenny and Empty are chart-toppers world-wide — including, of course, the Philippines.

Supreme got a surprise call from drummer Joey. Here, he tells us about touring, the music business, and how excited he is to play at the Araneta.

Where are you calling from?

I’m in Los Angeles. We just got back from a tour of the East Coast. We’ve been rehearsing and stuff. I actually have the weekend off now. Next week, we’re going to Australia, then Taiwan, I think — the Philippines, of course.

What’s the best part of touring?

Oh, man. I mean, I get to go see the world. As my job. That’s pretty awesome.

What’s the worst part?

The worst part is probably... when you’re screwing around in a van and have to drive. Like, you play a show at 10 p.m., leave at 2 a.m. and have to drive six hours to play the next show.

Describe the fans.

The fans are just awesome. Power pop fans — pop fans — are just amazing. They’re really just into the music and let go and have fun. And in the Philippines, we’ve experienced playing to the most awesome crowds. You guys are so friendly and so receptive. It’s crazy. We love it.

You all went to the Berklee College of Music. What was that like?

Well, our experience at Berklee was unique. Probably because none of us were performance majors. For instance, I was a music business major. The other guys were songwriting majors and stuff. The good thing about it is that it prepared us a lot — although nothing can totally prepare you for how hard the music business is.

But as a musician, I just feel lucky to have been submerged in an awesome music culture, with tons of other musicians. And you don’t have to do that in university, you can get that anywhere. You just have to find a place with a vibrant music culture — learn from that. Though I can’t say anything bad about my stay at Berklee. It was a good experience.

What’s the difference between the music business they teach you in school and the music business in the real world?

You know, what they teach you in school is more correct than what you’d like to believe. But they would talk about how horrible the music industry is. Berklee was very anti-big label. Which is ironic because, I graduated and signed with a big label. It has its bad aspects and its really good aspects — but that’s what I — we — talked about in class.

The truth about the music industry — why it’s so messed up — is that you’ve got all these artists feeding a lot of other people. So many other people depend on the checks musicians are getting. And today, in the digital age, when people can just take what they want, I don’t think there’s enough to go around to sustain that.

What was it like the first time you played here?

We did three shows the last time we were there, but that was more of a promo tour. This time’s a genuine, full-on big headline tour. We’re playing at Araneta and I’m really excited about that.

We didn’t get to go around Manila as much as we’d have liked to, though. And unfortunately, when we get there this time, we’re only staying a couple of days.

But I think the craziest thing we did... is going down your highways with cops escorting us. You guys have pretty awesome traffic. And insane cops. (Laughs)

You’ve released two Southeast Asia-only singles. Is there an affinity that you guys feel for the region?

I don’t know what it is. Our first record had like, four number ones there. Our current album’s got two or three, and it’s still going. But I’m not sure what it is. There’s just something about how the fans interpret our music that makes it stick.

Are you already planning your next album?

Oh, definitely. And we’re going to play some new stuff when we get there, too. Our creative engines are always going and we have tons planned.