PLAIN WHITE Ts DRAW THOUSANDS AT NY AREA MALL SHOWS

Plain White T’s are rock’s answer to pop as evidenced by their recent Simon Mall stats.

Plain White T’s have brought rock into a domain that was reserved for the pop idol — the American Mall. While folks shopped at Roosevelt Field Mall and Smithhaven Mall just outside New York City, teenage girls were screaming their lungs out for the Plain White T’s who performed this weekend for special Simon Mall concert series.

The main attraction was Tom Higginson, who whips out his guitar for an acoustic version of one of the hottest songs in America, “Hey There Delilah.” We asked Tom and drummer De’Mar Hamilton how the Simon Mall tour came about.

[Higginson] “Well, we’ve always been big shoppers, so the chance to play at a mall is kind of the ultimate for me and De’mar.” [Hamilton] “I think it came about — I think, since it’s ABC family kind of sponsored and we’re on that TV show…” [Higginson] “…we’re on that TV show Greek…” [Hamilton] “We’re on the same show and it kind of goes together with Hollywood, our record lablel and ABC Family and the show so I think it’s a big little package.” [Higginson] “a big little package.”

We also asked if there was a different mindset to playing headline shows, festival shows, and mall shows.

“Uh, yeah. We’re actually excited about this because we’re so used to being either in a small club hot and sweaty or on Warped tour outside being hot and sweaty. So we get to relax in an air-conditioned mall. It’s a free show so all the fans can come see us for free, so it’s a nice break from all of that — all the usual stuff.”

Plain White T’s are set for a tour with Fall Out Boy and Gym Class Heroes this fall. Stay tuned for the band’s thoughts on the superstar line-up.