Hey guys, here is FOR I AM a nice punk rock melodic from Belgium and we had the chance to talk a bit about their new album and some interesting facts. Enjoy.
Photo Credit: Mateusz Delmański
Hey guys, this is MirceONE from mptyzine, how are you?
Hi MirceONE! We’re doing great! Hope you are too!
For those who don’t know you, please tell us a short bio of the band
We are For I Am, a 5 piece melodic punk rock band from Belgium. We’ve been around for about 10 years now (wow!) and we’ve released 1 EP and 3 full albums, the latest of which – The Righteous & The Wicked – was released on April 19! We’ve been lucky to have been able to tour internationally quite a few times (EU, Japan, UK) and play shows with some of our heroes such as Frenzal Rhomb, A Wilhelm Scream, Propagandhi, Lagwagon etc. We love playing catchy tunes, spreading positive messages all over the world and we are a tight-knit framily unit! So, hi! That’s us!
Congrats for the new album The Righteous & The Wicked, that is released by SBAM, tell me more
The Righteous & The Wicked was indeed released on SBÄM, as well as on Double Helix Records (US), Pee Records (AUS) and Bearded Punk Records (BE) and it’s already been a wonderful collab with all of them! The album to us feels like another step on the punk rock ladder, as we’ve combined the catchy uplifting vibes we’re commonly known for with some darker tunes and with this record, even more so than in the past we’re trying to speak out against injustices in today’s world. We’re really happy with the way it turned out and we’re hoping punk rock listeners out there will agree!
You guys have been on festivals like Groezrock, Brakrock or Punk Rock Holiday, where you feel that you connect with the public? what you prefer a small venue or a festival?
Difficult one, haha! Like all punk bands, we started out in the smaller venues and we’ve always loved playing them and still do today. When you play a smaller venue, it kind of feels like people are really there specifically for you and your music, so you can just feel the love. Though at festivals you definitely get that love too, in a different form. It’s just the best when people after a festival show come up to you at the merch table and tell you they’d never heard of you before, but really loved the music. So, different experiences, both amazing in their own ways!
You have been all over Europe in UK and Japan, what are the next steps and plans to promote the new album?
We’re definitely planning on getting out there as much as we can! Talks are ongoing about doing another international and maybe even inter-continental tour, so hopefully we’ll be able to tell you more about that soon. We’ve got a couple of cool release shows lined up in Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Germany, so if you’re around, feel free to drop in on one of ‘em!
Photo Credit: Luna Terweduwe
Tell me about your influences and lyrics
So, as I’ve said before, the lyrics on the new album speak out against injustices in today’s world and mainly the message we’re continually trying to convey is one of trying to understand each other’s perceptions. Everyone grows up in their own environment and we’re all different. Instead of going to war or trying to hurt each other, we should try to get a better understanding of why we view the world in our own ways. That doesn’t mean it’s all political though, some songs just talk about the joys of life like travelling (Shoestring Sailors) and wanting to live your life making a difference, even if it’s just for one other person (Bonnie). Basically, positive messages overall. Lyrics wise we weren’t really influenced by any bands in particular, I’d say when it comes to instruments, you can here those influences more clearly. Bands we were influenced by are No Use For A Name and New Found Glory to just name a few.
As we are talking about influences, please make me a top10 of your favorite bands
Oooooh, that’s super difficult, haha! But I (Hanne) will try. So, bear in mind this is my personal top 10. Cannot speak for the guys, of course, haha.
In random order, I’d say: No Use For A Name, Less Than Jake, Bad Religion, The Menzingers, New Found Glory, Alkaline Trio, Yellowcard, Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World, Frenzal Rhomb
You have been opening for names such as Satanic Surfers, Propagandhi, Lagwagon or Frenzal Rhomb, if you have to choose a band to make a split EP what band will be (old or new)
Off the top of my head I think it would be very cool to do a split EP with our buddies in Melonball and CF98, as we’ve become close friends. Even though we don’t see each other more than 3 or 4 times a year, we always hit it off immediately as we’re kind of in the same boat, women supporting women! So, a girl power EP would be cool!
Please tell me a few words about the scene in Belgium
Well, to be honest, it was more alive before covid came around, so the smaller shows seem to have become rarities. Bigger festivals and club shows are still thriving, so people are definitely still interested, but I feel like the Belgian government makes it quite hard for small show promoters to put up shows, as there’s little to no funding available for it. That’s part of the reason why we play in Germany way more often than we do in Belgium nowadays. On the other hand, our friends in punk have been super supportive and are always ready to dance whenever we’re playing locally. And we love them for it, big time!
Without Google, what do you know about the punk scene in Romania
Oooh, unfortunately not that much really! Sorry! Do you have a lively punk rock scene? Would be very interested to listen to some Romanian punk rock bands! Hopefully we will get to play together with some of them someday!
Where can people can listen and connect with you? i see that you are everywhere on social media:)
Yes, the socials are definitely a place where you can reach us easily. Just type in “foriamofficial” on insta or Facebook and you’ll find us. We also have a new website with all kinds of info and a link to our webshop. The address is www.foriamofficial.com. And of course you can listen to our music via all streaming platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music, etc!
Guys, thank you so much for your time, please if you have something else to add please feel free.
Thanks so much for taking an interest in our lil’ old band, we appreciate it very much!
A short message for our few readers.
Hopefully we’ll be able to come to Romania one day and play some shows over there, would be great! We’re all for supporting the local scene! Please feel free to give our new tunes a spin and let us know what you think! All the love!
Get social with the band: FB / IG – Thanks to Nick and For I Am.
Hey Olaf, this is MirceONE from mptyzine, so nice to have you here for this interview, how are things?
Now things are becoming a little bit more quiet after releasing our new album in December, after touring in December and after celebrating our 30th anniversary with a big festival we organized in December.
We are not a professional band, so we’re all working in normal jobs. That’s a lot altogether, but everything went alright. So: happy and relaxed days at the moment.
For those who don’t know the band, can you please give us a short history?
The Stage Bottles were founded in 1993. The first line-up was recruited from a circle of close friends from the antifascist skinhead-scene in Frankfurt am Main/Germany. At this time it was a hard fight for the real non-fascist skinheads to act against public prejudices – we didn’t want to be confused with fascists – and to fight against the Neo-Nazi-scene on the streets. The Stage Bottles were part of this (national and international) process right from the start.
In the last 30 years the Stage Bottles released eight albums, four 7-Inches, one Live-album, one Best-Of-CD (2003) and three spilt-7-Inches with Los Fastidios, Scrapy and No Respect. Additionally there were some exclusive songs released on compilations. The closest cooperation the band has had in the past was with the record-labels Mad-Butcher-Records and Knock-Out-Records.
We already played hundreds of concerts so far. Not just in Germany. There were also concerts in Canada, Russia, Belarus, Britain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Spain, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Croatia, Denmark, Norway, Serbia, Slowenia, Italy and Greece.
1993 and counting, how the band changed along these years?
I am the last original member of the band. There were several changes in the line-up as a result of – mostly – changes in private life like founding a family or for reasons in work-life. So there were different drummers playing on every released album before 2023. On our new album “We need each other” our drummer O2 (“Olaf2” because I was the first Olaf in the band) is the first drummer who recorded a second album with Stage Bottles. The leaving of the band of the female singer Manu in 1999 was one of the most effecting changes in history of the band. The female voice was – next to the use of the saxophone – one of the most characteristic elements of the music of the Stage Bottles. The saxophone – originally used at the start due to the non-existence of a solo-guitar-player – is still one of the most recognized characteristics of the band. Even most of those people who think that a saxophone normally doesn’t fit to Punk-Rock changed their minds.
The music style and the intentional content of the lyrics didn’t really change, but, of course, we’re getting older and more self-reflected, so it’s not all the same as when we were young.
Tell me few things about your influences as a band
We were always influenced by “classis” English Punk Rock bands like Angelic Upstarts, Stiff Little Fingers, The Damned, Leatherface, Cocksparrer, Newtown Neurotics, Blaggers ITA and a couple of more bands. Blaggers ITA were very important for the band ‘cos I used to live in England in the early nineties and I joined the band on saxophone. They had a strong antifascist attitude with also acting on the streets and they used brass (trumpet and saxophone). They even had a Hip-Hopper in the band later. So this mixture made my mind more open for different musical influences. And it showed it’s possible to use a sax in this kind of music. The whole spirit, politically and musically, of Blaggers ITA was the base for the spirit the Stage Bottles still live.
Congrats for the new upcoming material, We Need Each Other, please tell me more about it
Thanks. It took 10 years to do a new album after the last one “Fair enough” that was released in 2013. The reasons are Covid, personal problems and a couple of line-up changes. So we had to integrate 2 new guitar players in the last three years. We couldn’t practice due to Covid. In the meantime I even wanted to disband the band ‘cos I thought I am losing my feeling to do it authentically. Without really feeling it positively I couldn’t do the Stage Bottles.
But then I kind of reorganized myself and I found myself again. And so songs and ideas for lyrics came back into my head again and the story continued.
That’s the story why we still exist and why we recorded this album and didn’t stop.
About the album itself: The title “We need each other” is a reaction to what happens all over the world. Everyone seems to be up for confrontation and not for searching for solutions for many problems we’ve got to find and we’ve got to try to solve together. Problems like climate-change, aspiring right-wing-parties and psychopaths everywhere, religious conflicts and so on. Specifically for fighting the climate change we need nearly EVERYBODY. Even most of the countless arseholes everywhere. That’s just a determination. The way how to tackle it is another question. But the song is also about friendship. Many Punks, Football people, Skinheads, etc. of my generation are becoming lonelier while becoming older. We’ve got to care about each other, we’ve got to have an eye on each other. Getting old is a dangerous thing for many reasons. If you don’t watch out you are socially isolated. That’s what we’ve got to impede.
Also the rest of the lyrics adapt to topic issues in general. Sometimes more concrete, sometimes more abstract in a global meaning.
A reference to my time with Blaggers ITA is definitely the song “You’ll never stop us”. It’s a song recorded in collaboration with the Punk-Hip-Hop band Moscow Death Brigade. I wrote the whole music and I had the idea for the title, the rest of the lyrics were written by Moscow Death Brigade. This is pure crossover.
We think musically this is the best Stage Bottles album ever. We worked out the songs in a long time and much more meticulously than in the past. The mixture of musicians works superb. The studio where we recorded did an excellent job.
Everything fits. And a lot of people obviously like it. Being recognized that much after having a release-break of 10 years is great.
And there is another thing that changed: we released the new album kind of “D.I.Y” via a label-platform of our friends from the band “Loikaemie”. We both have been ripped off by record labels in the past. To prevent this Loikaemie decided to release their new (excellent) album “Menschen” on their own label. As friends they offered us to do the same by having the opportunity to do it on their label-platform. It works very good. And at the end we get all the money we deserve to get and e need to finance everything: studio, production, promo, etc..
Please make me a top 10 of your favorite bands
1.Blaggers ITA
2.Angelic Upstarts
3.Leatherface
4.Newtown Neurotics
5.Stiff Little Fingers
6.The Specials
7.Bruce Springsteen (first inspiration to write songs)
8.Madness
9.Red London
10.Charly Parker (famous jazz sax player from the fifties)
And for sure a couple of more bands.
Are you guys preparing a tour to promo the new album? Where people can see you in the near future?
In December we already had a little tour supporting a german band that’s very big in Germany: Feine Sahne Fischfilet. We played three gigs with them altogether in front of about 15.000 people.
In 2024 we are not planning a tour. We’ll play festivals all over Europe and smaller gigs. Due to the fact we’ve all got normal jobs and some have also got families we can’t do big tours. But we play at weekends as much as possible. But it’s also important for us to have time to recover so we are sensible and we don’t play every weekend we could.
If you have the opportunity to do a split EP with a band, what band will be?
To be honest, I can’t answer this question. We are not in the age anymore where we adore other bands and wish to do something with them.
A collaboration like with Moscow Death Brigade is great. But a split with any band? We would be up for it in general, but it must be a band that’s fitting to our attitude and quality of music.
Tell me where people can buy or listen to your music?
You can order in the Stage Bottles-Shop, at “Feetfleck Records”-shop or at Cargo Records. Please order in our shop to support us completely!
But it’s possible to stream it everywhere aswell.
You guys played in many parts of the world, where it was the most amazing?
Well, “amazing” may be the wrong word for our first tour in Russia in 2008. But the circumstances for this tour were very special. We were the first west-European band with a strong antifascist attitude that played in Russia until this moment. Twenty friends from Germany and twenty friends from Russia were with us the whole tour for security reasons. At this time there was kind of a war between fascists and antifascists on the streets of big Russian cities. When we played the tour we were threatened by Nazis, one venue was painted with svestikas, security checks at the venues ere sometimes the same s at airports to prevent that guns etc. were brought inside to shoot us and the people of the audience. Very, very sadly three of the Russian friends who were with us were killed – better executed – by Nazis later. But the experience in general to meet so many great people, to feel how important it is for people to get international support, and to give it, that was amazing. Our collaboration with Moscow Death Brigade is still a result of these things happening in the past.
On the other hand it’s always an amazing thing to play on other continents. We played in Mexico for example. Not well organized, but dead nice people and a setting that’s different to European gigs. A different culture and a different landscape. Great. We enjoyed it a lot.
Olaf, thank you for your time, please if you have a message for our few readers
Get our new album “We need each other” and listen to the lyrics. Then everything was said.
And never forget: we need each other ‘cos only together we’ll weather the storm.
We need each other ‘cos otherwise we’ll go down to flames.
Let’s stand together against homophobia, sexism, racism, fascism, capitalism and so on. Let’s fight for real justice. Then we’ll live in a better world where everything has hopefully a chance to become happy. Don’t be selfish.
MirceONE vs Olaf Stage Bottles – December 2023-January 2024.
Jughead’s Revenge are veterans of punk scene in California, formed back in 1989 with 6 studio albums, the last one is out on SBAM records. They have visited Europe many times and this year in 2023 you can see them live in the Summer. They have been all over from BIO Records, Lawsuit Records and Nitro, ending up on SBAM. This is an exclusive interview that we did with Joe D the singer, thanks to Felix from Flix Agency and kudos to the band and SBAM.
MirceONE (MPTYZINE) Hi guys, this is MirceONE from MPTYZINE, first of all thanks for the time. How are you guys?
Joe: very nice to meet you
For those who don’t know the band, can you tell us a few words about how you guys formed?
We met through mutual friends, started jamming for fun playing covers in a practice space. Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies, Circle Jerks, etc. then started writing our own songs. Soon later we started recording and touring.
I know that you are the veterans since 1989, how did the things changed since you formed until now, regarding the punk scene.
There have been a lot of changes and trends in punk rock in general since we started. We started pre Green Day and Blink 182 blowing up, so that alone was a huge change. The entire world now knows what the California punk scene is up to. Other than that, the biggest difference to me personally is how safe the shows are now. It didn’t used to be that way. I’m not saying that’s good or bad. Just that it is.
Tell me a few things about your influences and your message.
Our influences are bands like Black Flag, Poison Idea, Bad Religion among others. Our message is personal power. The stories are of things that everyone goes through and feels about everyday life, but the context of that you’re not alone in all this. You can rise above it.
I know you are starting this summer the European Tour, tell me more, where you guys will be this summer.
We will be in Austria, Czech Rep, and Germany this June. Many thanks to Flix Agency. It’s our first time in the EU since 1998 or so. We are looking forward to it.
How is the European public vs the US one?
I think culturally they are pretty different, Shows in Europe feel more like a party than American shows. I personally prefer playing in Europe.
Talking about some influences, please make me a top 10 of your favorite bands.
These are my personal favorites.
Germs
Black Flag
Minutemen
Poison Idea
Nomeansno
The Damned
Subhumans
Eyehategod
Minor Threat
Bad Religion
Speaking of Europe, I am curious your opinion about Eastern Europe…what you guys know about this part?
The invasion of Ukraine is a crime against humanity. There’s no two ways about it.
In all your years of touring, please tell me where you guys feel really good, where is that place that always you know that will be a crazy show?
Our favorite places to play are in eastern Canada, Hamburg, Prague. Though anywhere there is a good crowd with good vibes is always the best place to play.
What the future holds? Are you preparing a new album?
We would like to do another album.
If you will do a split EP, with which band you dream of it.
Cro-Mags
In the end please share few words for our few readers online in Eastern Europe.
We are looking forward to raging with ou guys this summer. Europe never disappoints. Let’s have a party!
Thank you so much for your time, please share where people can listen to your music and buy your stuff.
You can find our music on all streaming platforms under the name Jugheads’s Revenge or Jugg’s Revenge. Vinyl, Cd’s and more found at JRmerch.storenvy.com
Thanks, and if you have any last words please share.
The new EP is called Vultures. Out on SBAM Record May 5th. We hope you like it.
Hola, buen día, estoy muy bien gracias, espero tú lo estés también, gracias por la entrevista, por darnos el espacio y el apoyo, además gracias a todos los que van a leerla.
2. Para aquellos que no conocen a la banda, por favor háganos una pequeña historia.
Saludos a todos, nosotros somos “Resiste” somos una banda de Punk Rock formada Guadalajara, Jalisco en México, nos formamos en el año 2021, nuestra intención es tocar un punk rock melódico y rápido, influenciado por nuestras bandas favoritas, creemos que las letras son un factor muy importante, tratamos de escribir sobre cosas que sentimos, sobre cosas que están aconteciendo y necesitan ser escuchadas, creemos que el punk rock siempre se ha tratado de una lucha social, de un cambio, sobre hacerlo tú mismo, sobre una actitud mental positiva y pues claro divertirnos haciendo lo que nos gusta, además que la gente se divierta escuchando nuestra música y yendo a los conciertos
La Alineación es:
– Javier Molina (Voz Principal y Guitarra)
-Adán Martínez (Bajo y Coros)
-Miguel Martínez (Guitarra y Coros)
-Roberto Camacho (Bateria)
Como ya dije, creo que es muy importante mandar un mensaje a la gente que nos escucha, ya que la música es un medio muy poderoso, ¡el poder de la música lo puede cambiar todo!
3. Sé que tuvieron algunos conciertos, ¿cómo fue en el escenario?
Hemos tenido algunos buenos shows últimamente, realmente la hemos pasado bien, Igual somos una banda nueva y tocar shows seguido nos hace crecer, hace poco tocamos en el show de LNG SHT un rapero punk rocker y amigo que vino a Guadalajara a cerrar su última gira, la respuesta del publico fue muy buena a pesar de que quizá muchos no nos conocían, la pasamos bien y ellos también.
También pudimos compartir escenario con Mute (de Canadá) , En Contra De Todo de (Hardcore de Colombia) y Liberty & Justice (Oi! De Estados Unidos). En estos shows con bandas locales y amigas como REO, Flores y Fuego, Himnos, Calles De Odio, Senda De Honor,
4. ¿Cuáles son los planes para 2022 y en un futuro próximo? ¿Están pensando en lanzar un álbum?
Hace poco sacamos un EP llamado “Ahora o Nunca” que contiene nuestras primeras 6 canciones, actualmente estamos grabando nuevo material, que probablemente verá la luz a finales de este año o principios del siguiente, además se planea tourear mucho por el país, ¡tocar tocar y más tocar!
5. Cuéntame algunas cosas sobre la escena punk en Guadalajara
La escena de punk en Guadalajara es muy pequeña, pero creo que los que sienten el movimiento y de verdad les gusta, apoyan, van a los shows, compran merch y hasta forman sus propias bandas, eso es lo que hace crecer la escena, existen muchas personas involucradas en la parte política del movimiento como Rash Gdl, hay además muchas personas y colectivos que promueven el veganismo y el respeto de los derechos animales, humanos y el cuidado de la tierra, como “Por Tu Capricho Mueren ” o “Zona Libre De Carne” lo cual me parece excelente.
Además de todo esto creo que venues como el Foro Independencia han hecho mucho por este tipo de música, trayendo bandas mexicanas u extranjeras, o simplemente brindando un lugar para que se puedan organizar shows, existe una gran comunidad, también hay (aunque pocos) sellos autogestivos como Infeztado Records. En general podría decir que, a pesar de que hay pocas personas en el medio teniendo en cuenta la dimensión de la ciudad, es bueno ver que ellos permanecen con los años, siendo parte de, creando arte y de alguna manera no dejando que el movimiento muera.
En cuanto a bandas del genero me parece que hay muchas haciendo un buen trabajo, digo… de aquí han salido bandas legendarias como: “Sedición, Los Monjo, Puerco, Fallas Del Sistema, Dia De Cambio, Senda De Honor y Días de Radio”, además de otras un poco más nuevas pero de igual manera muy buenas como: “Himnos, Hollywood Babilonia y REO”, me parece genial que se sumen más bandas al movimiento, todos tenemos algo bueno que aportar.
6. Hazme un top 10 de tus bandas favoritas
Es difícil, hay muchas bandas que me gustan, pero ahí va…
Rise Against.
The Ramones.
Strike Anywhere.
Anti-Flag.
The Bouncing Souls.
Green Day.
The Explosion.
La Polla Records.
Gorilla Biscuits.
7 Seconds.
Bonus: Propagandhi & Rage Against The Machine
Creo que estás bandas me han influenciado mucho, sobre todo por sus letras, Resiste como banda es un agradecimiento a todas esas bandas que de alguna manera cambiaron nuestra vida y la forma en la que percibimos la realidad, de alguna manera.
7. Si ustedes tienen la oportunidad de lanzar un EP dividido con una banda, ¿cuál será?
Nos gustaría sacar un Split con alguna banda amiga o alguna banda que nos guste mucho, me gustaría sacar un Split con la banda Puerco, ellos son de aquí de Guadalajara, México. Son una banda muy política de la cual hemos aprendido mucho, además son grandes colegas, también nos gustaría sacar dicho Split con bandas como Reo (Guadalajara), Black Skull Radio (CDMX) o Rotten (CDMX) y pues yéndonos un poco más lejos estaría genial una colaboración con Anti-Flag tal como hizo la banda mexicana “Excluded” hace algunos años.
8. Cuéntame algunas cosas sobre tus influencias
A mi en lo personal siendo el bajista me ha influenciado musicalmente bajistas como Chris Barker de Anti-Flag, Roger Lima de Less Than Jake, Karl Alvarez de Descendents, Matt Freeman de Rancid y Bryan Kienlen de Bouncing Souls. The Ramones y muchas bandas de los 70s también han sido muy importantes, Como mencione hace rato, he aprendido mucho de las letras de Tim McIlrath de Rise Against, Thomas Barnett de Strike Aynwhere y Zack De La Rocha de RATM, creo que al menos conecto mucho con difundir un mensaje y tratar de hacer algo al respecto.
Como conjunto, a todos nos gustan cosas similares, el vocalista es muy fan de Descendents y del punk de los 80s y 90s, en general tiene muchos gustos afines a los mios, aunque también le gusta mucho el hardcore, Roberto el Baterista es muy fanático de bandas como Pennywise, Rufio, Less Than Jake y Bad Religion, Bacteria el guitarrista es seguidor de ese punk rock como Anti Flag y hardcore como Black Flag, pero sobre todo le gusta mucho una banda de metal llamada Dragon Force, le gusta hacer muchos solos y tapping haha. Todos escuchamos un poco de todo y eso nutre mucho a la banda, pero somos 4 punk rockers de corazón.
Creo que una banda que nos ha influenciado mucho y de la cual los 4 somos muy fans es Bouncing Souls, ellos han sido una gran influencia para nuestra banda, líricamente como musicalmente hablando, es una banda con la cual conectamos mucho.
9. 3 cosas que te las llevarás a una isla
Un Walkman, unas pilas y un cd de Strike Anywhere
10. ¿Dónde puede la gente escuchar tu música?
Nuestra música está disponible en las plataformas digitales como Spotify, Apple Music y Youtube Music, Solo Búsquenos como RESISTE, ahí podrán escuchar nuestro más reciente EP “Ahora o Nunca”.
11. Gracias por su tiempo, si tiene algo más que agregar, no dude en hacerlo.
Gracias a ti por considerarnos para esta entrevista y por brindarle espacio a las bandas. Gracias a todos los que leen, gracias a todos los que mantienen el movimiento vivo, a los que organizan, a los que tocan, a los que hacen arte, a los colectivos, a los que siempre están ahí, a los que resisten junto con nosotros, gracias a todos los que escuchan nuestra música, a los que van a nuestros shows y nos apoyan, ¡nunca dejen que la flama se apague!.
Hey guys, this is MirceONE and here is a short interview with Laki & Järjestys, the singer Jussi took some time to answer few of our questions. Oi from Finland.
1. Hey guys how are you?
Jussi: We’re fine, thank you. It’s been a nice summer and hot weather still continues. So gotta love it.
2. Congrats for the new material, tell me few things about it.
Jussi: Compared to our first EP songs have gotten a bit more 77’ punk rock vibes but the basis is still stiff Oi! Punk.
Our original idea was to record the album by ourselves and ask our friend to engineer and mix it but then we decided to book the studio and we are very satisfied with how everything went. The recording session was pretty easy and the album sounds perfect.
3. I know that you guys play before in different bands, what is the story of Laki & Järjestys?
Jussi: The roots of Laki & Järjestys extend to the times of more than 10 years ago. We had a project band and we played Oi! for several years. The line-up was more or less the same as this current. Two of the songs in our first EP, Idiootit and Reilua Peliä, were made on those days. Only lyrics were updated. Why did things fade away ten years ago? I moved to Helsinki and we all were busy with other things.
In January 2020 I was hanging in Tavastia, the legendary rock-club in Helsinki, when I got this idea about starting a new band. I went there to see the band Ne Luumäet. It was a Ramones-styled punk band which was a very famous band in Finland in late 80’s and early 90’s. I grew up listening to such bands as Ne Luumäet. They broke up in mid 90’s but since then they’ve played some gigs every once in a while. This gig was supposed to be their last act as a band and Tavastia gig was sold out. I was standing in the crowd and while Luumäet was playing their song “Laki ja järjestys” I said to my friends “Hey listen, this would be the great name for the Oi! band, right?”. Friends agreed. And a couple of days later I asked Pasi, Pietu and Topi to join the band. They all showed the green light. Our first impression was to play stuff like Blitz and all other old-school Oi! bands from Britton.
4. To be honest i do not know many Oi/street punk bands in Finland, tell us few words about the scene over there.
Jussi: Skinhead scene in Finland is small but strong. Unfortunately shaved head and a pair of Marten boots are linked to incidents which took place in the mid 90’s. The group of Neo-Nazis started to call them as skinheads and it caused that the mainstream started to think the word “skinhead” means absolutely that you are beating up immigrants and so on…
About the bands, I’m not sure if there are any other active Oi! bands than Laki & Järjestys and Hats & Caps. Those lads are our very good friends.
5. What are the themes that the band is singing and what is the message?
Jussi: The lyrics deal with unashamed patriotism, the plight of the working class and the deceit of the ruling class, the harsh realities of the streets and people who’ve down on their luck since day one.
I want to underline that we don’t have any political agenda in our songs or as a band. But on the other hand, we don’t mind saying things which might be politically incorrect and most of our songs contain some provocative nuances.
6. Are you guys plan a tour or something small to promote the album? festivals or something similar?
Jussi: Our “tour” starts before the end of August 2022 and we have confirmed gigs in the calendar till the end of January 2023. All those in Finland but we are interested to play abroad. Some negotiations on-going already for the summer 2023.
7. Few words about your influences as a band
Jussi: The biggest musical influences are old Oi! and skinhead bands from England. The first, original idea was to start up the band who would sound like Blitz.
8. A favorite top 10 of your bands ever?
Jussi: I try to make a list of important bands for all four of us, not just my opinion. Cock Sparrer, Blitz, Business, Sex Pistols, Clash, Condemned 84, L.A.M.F., Ratsia, early Klamydia and Exploited, Ramones… And many, many more.
9. Talking about music, name the band that you will want to do a split ep?
Jussi: The Rolling Stones, hah!
10. Where can people follow you or listen/buy your music?
Hey guys, here is a small interview with Roughneck Riot from UK, talk a bit about their new album Burn It To The Ground out now on Sbam Records, plans, influences and more.
Hi guys, how are you?
Hey MPTYZINE! We’re doing great, thanks. We’re currently recovering from a weekend of hometown shows! It’s been a while.
Congrats for the new album, Burn It To The Ground. How did come out, tell me the story.
Burn It To The Ground is our 4th studio album and it has been in the works for almost 8 years. We started writing new songs after our last release in 2014, but, due to a brief hiatus in 2019 and then the global pandemic, it’s been pushed back a lot. We even recorded the whole album back in 2018, but we thought we could make the songs better. So we put that on hold, rewrote some old songs, wrote some new ones and went back into the studio in 2020. We are super happy with how it has turned out, and the reception we have had so far is brilliant.
3. How are things with Sbam Records? they have a lot of cool bands
Yes, SBÄM have been excellent and they are adding brilliant bands to their roster almost every week so it’s great to be a part of it. We’ve been aware of SBÄM for a long time; Stefan even designed one of our tour posters back in 2014.4. Tell me a short history of the band
We started in 2005 playing Rancid covers and some originals that were very ‘street’ punk. We matured a little bit, dropped the Rancid covers, strengthened the line-up and then added the folk instrumentation; the sound then grew bigger and better, now here we are 17 years later!
What are your main influences, i know that is folk and punk but is more than that, tell me about your crazy mix, that os awseome
The main influence on our lyrics is a fervent distaste for our corrupt government, of injustices and crises at home and round the world, and, over the last few years, introspection. As for our music style, we all grew up listening to punk music, then through a phase of listening to folk punk, and then just folk in general. We all try to influence the songwriting with our own personal tastes, too. Individually, we enjoy pop-punk, folk, punk-rock, and this is evident through the songs on Burn It To The Ground.
Talking about influences, make me a top10 of your favorite artists/bands
We all have different tastes, especially now we’re in our 30s, but our communal top 10 would probably look something like this:
Bad Religion, Against Me!, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, NOFX, Crazy Arm, Descendents, Green Day, Hot Water Music, Tom Waits, Dick Gaughan.
If there is an oportunity for a split ep with a dream band that you want to play, what band/artist will be?
It’d be great to do a split with a band who no longer write music like The Clash or The Pogues. We have talked a lot about doing a split with our very good friends who play in a ska-punk band in the UK called Faintest Idea. That’d be a great mix.
How were the things for you in the crazy pandemy?
Things were very quiet for a while: no gigs, no practise, no fun! But, as the restrictions were lifted, we managed to get into the studio for around 35 days over 3 to 4 months and record and produce the new album which was great.
Now that we are getting slowly back to “normal” what are the plans? touring maybe?
Yes, we have a 9-date tour in France in March, we play some festivals over the summer, like SBÄM Festival, and then another tour through Germany in August. We also have some shows around the UK, too. There’s a lot of catching up to do.
Where people can find you online to listen and buy your music?
The new (and old) albums are all available on streaming sites such as iMusic, YouTube and Spotify. You can also buy the new album from SBÄM Records!
For our few readers online, please spread some nice words
It’s hard to find nice words when the whole world is going to shit, but stay sane, surround yourself with good people, the sun will shine again.
Thanks for your time and if you have something else to add please do it
We’d love to come out to Romania soon! So, please get in touch at roughneckriotuk@gmail.com to book some shows!
Hai salut, eu sunt MirceONE si azi revenim cu un interviu in romana. Stiu ca am tot facut in ultimul timp interviuri in spaniola cu cateva trupe din Mexic si Spania, insa azi ma intorc in Romania. Sunt un pic nostalgic pentru ca desi personal cred ca ne-am intalnit odata in Timisoara, Los Pogos mereu mi-au placut si alaturi de Scandal si Recycle Bin i-am considerat prieteni. Am vorbit un pic cu Zsolt chiar inainte de concertul lor aniversar si asta e ce a iesit. PS. interviul este originar, din suflet si sper sa nu ma criticati si sa fiti nazi grammar pentru ceva greseli. Mergeti la concerte cand se poate (eventual platiti si intrarea), luati un cd, un tricou si keep it simple, always. Cheers.
1. Salut Zsolt, care e treaba?
– Salut! Totul e bine, mananc tortilla chips cu sos, si rspund la intrebari si ma gandesc la treburile de azi si la concertul de maine. :)) Ciudat, dar prima oara vom canta la Zalau, desi e aproape si de Cluj (unde am infintat trupa) si de Satu Mare, unde m-am nascut si traiesc acum.
2. Stiu ca Los Pogos a intrat in business, da-mi noutati.
– Foarte ciudat… Defapt nu ne-am desfintat niciodata, doar ca dupa ce m-am mutat de la Cluj in 2009, iar fostii membrii s-au mutat acasa la ei, nu prea mai aveam timp si ocazii de repetitii si de concerte. Era mare distanta, cu toti am avut de lucru, nu mai era usor sa ne intalnim. Tineam legatura, mai vorbeam la telefon, ne era dor unul de altul, sa ne intalnim, sa povestim, sa chefuim, dar nu aveam timp, totul schimbat. N-am facut piese noi, pe langa ca aveam multe idei. Concerte mai tineam din cand in cand, iar dupa un timp am inceput sa ma gandesc sa ne luam ramas bun de la public. Am avut mai multe concerte la care asa mergeam initial, ca la sfarsitul ultimei piese o sa fac anuntul, ca atat a fost, asta a fost ultimul nostru concert. Dar mereu iesea asa de bine concertul, ca n-am putut renunta la partea asta a vietii mele. Nu ma consider mare artist, dar ceea ce fac o fac din suflet si e o parte a sufletului meu la care degeaba as incerca sa renunt, nu as putea. Cand ai inceput sa canti, cand ai avut concerte, clipe faine, sau chiar si rele din cauza nazistilor etc. etc. nu poti sa spui, ca atat a fost. Defapt poti, dar mereu o sa simti o lipsa in suflet. Din fericire noi in sfarsit ne-am trezit din vis si vrem sa fim din nou galagiosi. :))
3. Pentru cei care nu va stiu spune-mi cateva cuvinte despre trupa.
– In 2002 am infintat trupa la Cluj cu Levi, Mishu Mic si Misu Mare. La inceput chiar nu stiam sa cantam (cel putin eu nu prea). Am pus anunturi in puburi, caut membrii pentru trupa punk, nu conteaza daca nu sti sa canti, ideea e sa vrei. Atunci aveam 21 de ani si eram plin de energie, vroiam sa schimb lumea, vroiam sa fac ceea ce doresc eu cel mai mult inca din copilarie, adica sa cant. Din fericire cu ceilalti tare bine ne-am inteles, aveam cam aceleasi ideologii, ascultam muzica asemanatoare si ne placea sa fim impreuna. Normal, aveam si mari certuri din cand in cand, dar asa ulterior pot spune ca in general ne iubeam in sensul bun al cuvantului, si cam zilnic ne vedeam. :))
Dupa infintare foarte repede ne-am apucat de concerte. Mai tin minte de primul nostru concert. Era in pubul Zo-Ro din Cluj, intrarea costa o bere si era plin de oameni. Deja la prima piesa iesea un pogo foarte mare. Ziarele scriau de fenomenul ca la Cluj a aparut miscarea punk. :))
Foarte multe concerte am avut in tara si in starinatate, intre timp am mai schimbat si membrii, mai ales tobosari. De la Cluj era mai usor sa mergi la concerte fie la Bucuresti, Iasi, Timisoara, Satu Mare, sau in strainatate. Era cam in centrul Romaniei si noi oricum n-am avut altceva de facut. :)) Adica aveam, ca ori eram la facultate, ori lucram, dar cumva totul era foarte simplu: cantatul era partea a vietii noastre si atat. Nu se punea problema ca nu vrem, nu avem timp etc. etc. Rezolvam.
Asta e trecutul, iar prezentul e ca cu doi ani in urma am avut un concert la Cluj, unde veneau si cativa baieti, care dupa varsta lor puteau sa fie copilul meu. :)) Aveau tricouri Los Pogos facut de ei si ma intrebau daca nu ma supar, ca ei au facut si nu e ceva original. Tare m-a incantat faza asta, in acelas timp m-am si socat un pic dandu-mi seama, ca sa nascut o generatie noua de cand noi nu prea mai ne ocupam de piese noi, de cantat etc. Am decis ca trebuie luat din nou in serios, nu vreau sa ma trezesc la batranete, ca a trecut timpul fara sa cant.
La acest concert a cantat prima oara cu noi la chitara Lóri, un prieten bun din Satu Mare. Dupa concert ne-am certat mult si dur cu chitaristul Robi pe tema de prezentul si viitorul trupei (nu vreau sa intru in detalii), dupa ce ne-am hotarat cu Lóri, ca mai bine gasim membrii noi din Satu Mare si facem cum vrem noi.Am cautat si tobosar, findca nici cu Wattie nu prea mai puteam continua, el locuind la Targu Mures.
4. Cum a fost cu pandemia pentru trupa?
– In timpul pandemiei am reusit sa-l gasim pe tobosarul Csabi si pe chitaristul Tomi. Din pacate Csabi a plecat din tara spunand, ca nu are de ales, nu-si gaseste job, din care sa poate plati chiria, si sa aiba o viata normala. Din fericire l-am gasit pe Edi, cu care am avut deja un concert si maine o sa avem al doilea. Ne simtim bine impreuna, scriem piese noi, am facut si un videoclip in timpul pandemiei, deci totul merge bine. Ne mai certam din cand in cand cu Lóri, dar asa e relatia noastra. :))
Los Pogos 2021
5. Acum ca incet incet ne miscam, ce planuri aveti, stiu de un concert, stiu ca la fel lucrati la ceva nou
– Anul trecut am vrut sa facem o mare sarbatoare, unde sa vina sa canta toti fosti membrii Los Pogos, adica cu cine am reusit sa iau legatura. Implineam 18 ani de la infintare. Din cauza andemiei n-am reusit, asa ca anul acesta incercam sa luam revans.
Maine avem un concert la Zalau si sunt inca doua concerte concrete in plan dar sa vedem, cum va fi cu pandemia. Cand nu o sa mai putem concerta, o sa facem piesele noi. Am o gramada de idei, dar si ceilalti vin cu ideile lor. Planuim un nou album.
6. Cum era prin anii 2000 si cum e acum? ce diferente vezi, imi aduc aminte de concertele de prin Bucuresti, Timisoara, Craiova…erau ceva trupe bune, acum cum vezi lucrurile?
– Sincer e o diferenta enorma. Atunci cantam peste tot, ne chemau si din localitati despre care pana atuncea nici nu auzeam, si noi mergeam cu mare placere oriunde. O data au trimis un taximetrist dupa noi din Moldova Noua pana la Cluj, sa ajungem la concert, fiindca Mishu Mic avea examen la facultate si nu prindeam trenul. Mult am cantat la Timisoara, dar si la Bucuresti si in restul tarii. Cum am mai spus si in Ungaria am avut concerte, turnee, dar am ajuns si in Viena si in Slovacia. Concerte dupa concerte.
Acum e mai greu… cu toti avem mai multe lucruri de facut, eu am si familie, doi copii mici, deci e mai greu de gasit zile libere sa calatorim o zi pana la locul concertului si in a doua zi sa calatorim din nou. Am si un job mai special, este cand nu lucrez mai mute zile, deci nu vin bani, este cand intr-o saptamana am atata de lucrat in cat ies banii pe o luna. Deci e mai greu de planuit, fiindca poate in cele 2 zile cand ma duc la cantat familia din cauza mea pierde bani de un sfert de luna. Dar nu vreau sa intru in mare discutii despre bani, nu asta era ideea, ci ca e mai greu din multe motive. Si atunci n-am vorbit inca despre faza cea mai grava, adica ca multe locatii unde am cantat nu mai exista. Organizatorii cu care tineam legatura nu mai organizeaza etc. etc. E greu de gasit locuri pentru concerte.
Dar sincer niciuna din problemele enumerate nu o sa ne impiedice sa cantam. Vrem si o sa facem sa fie bine.
7. Fa-mi te rog un top10 cu trupele tale preferate
Din cand in cand mi se schimb, dar cam astea sunt cele stabile pentru mine:
– 1. Prosectura (din Ungaria)
2. Exploited
3. Clash
4. The Jam
5. Rancid
6. 4Skins
7. Ramones
8. Adicts
9. Üveges Csirkeszemek (Ungaria)
10. Casualties
8. Ce faci in timpul liber si ce faci in viata de zi cu zi?
– Din pacate nu prea am timp liber, mereu fac ceva. Cu nevasta mea suntem corespondenti tv pentru mai multe posturi de tv, eu cameraman si din cand in cand reporter. Lucram din trei judete, deci de obicei sunt pe drum. Stam la bloc, dar avem un teren de 10 ari, ii spun oaz. Am o gramada de plante exotice, bananieri, plamieri, colocaz etc. etc., deci cum termin cu lucru, ma grabesc sa tund iarba sa le stropesc plantele, fiindca in fiecare zi trebuie sa le ud, ceea ce dureaza zilnic cam 2 ore. :)) Pe bune. Nu suna “prea punk”, dar asta-mi place, ce sa fac? :)) Intre timp incerc sa fiu si cu fetitele mele, care-s cele mai bune lucruri din viata mea. Si apoi mai avem si repetitii cu Los Pogos.
9. Spune-mi cateva din influentele Los Pogos?
– Sincer nu prea pot spune cine sau ce ne influenteaza. Si nu de aceea ca-s foarte increzut si cred ca am facut ceva foarte interesant si unic (fiindca numele meu de familie in limba romana inseamna Unic :)) ), ci pentru ca nu mi se pare ca piesele noastre seamana cu piesele trupei xy. Dar sunt sigur ca trupele noatre preferate cumva totusi ne-au influentat.Daca altfel nu, macar cu spiritul. Mai de mult, in vremea cand canta in trupa si Mishu si mergeam la repetitii cu idei noi de piese, il intrebam din cand in cand, daca oare e piesa mea, sau am auzit de la careva trupa si am preluat, fara sa imi dau seama. :)) Dar de obicei erau ideile mele.
Pe mine personal viata m-a influentat in trecut, cum se aud si piesele, textele mele. Atitudine, dar si chefuitul in plus fetele. :)) Timp de 19 ani de cand exista Los Pogos, mult sa schimbat. Ideile de piese imi vin destul de usor, dar cu textele am probleme. Nu prea mai imi vine sa scriu texte haioase, pe langa ca cred ca sunt destul de imatur pentru asta. :)) Nu vreau sa scriu nici texte care nu ma reprezinta, dar suna bine. Nu stiu daca ati observat, dar in muzica punk, oi exista cateva cuvinte “magice” pe care unele trupe le folosesc foarte des, iar mie imi e deja greata. Cuvintele ca enemy, my way, fight, togheter, resist etc. etc. Nu mai suport sa le ascult, pentru ca stiu, ca este fake. Si noi avem cateva piese care nu ne mai reprezinta din diferite motive si din aceasta cauza de ani de zile nu mai vreau sa le cant, degeaba cere publicul la concert si chiar si unii din trupa. Am scris o piesa mai dura, cu titlul Victim of society. Simt ca nu e chiar “feelingul” ala de Los Pogos, e cu mult mai dura, insa m-a influentat viata. M-am saturat ca si multi altii de felul acesta de viata, ca lucrezi ca un animal si pe urma sa primesti doi bani. N-ai viata de familie, n-ai timp de nimic, nu poti sa ai un hobby, n-ai siguranta, dar macar proprietarii fabricilor traiesc bine si te asteapta sa mergi la lucru 7/7 24/24. Piesa Rock n’ Roll tot e true si tot viata m-a influentat cand am scris. Cand esti copil mic nu vrei sa mergi la gradinita, scoala, vrei doar sa te joci, iar dupa aia nu vrei sa lucrezi, dar trebuie, ca vrei sa te muti de la parinti, iar dupa aia urmeaza munca eterna.
Mai avem o piese noua cu titlul No more, la care textul nu e terminat, dar cred ca asa o sa ramana. :)) Despre relatii…
Iar piesa We got a lot e mai nostalgica dar si de fun. Am primit lucruri bune de la viata, ca berea, fete/baieti si trupa. :))
Deci viata e cea mai mare influentatorare pentru noi.
Nu stiu, ce dracu o sa mai facem cu restul pieselor care nu au inca text. :))
10. Care a fost primul concert la care ai fost?
– Uuuuu… buna intrebare. Habar nu am, dar sigur in 90 si ceva la Satu Mare. Poate un Moby Dick, sau Edda din Ungaria. In vremea aia se tineau multe concerte rock la noi, iar eu umblam inca de cand eram in scoala generala, intre clasele I-IV. Fain era, dar de mult nu se mai face mai nimic pe la noi. Dar cred ca peste tot asa este.
11. Care a fost cel mai misto concert pe care l-ai vazut?
– Sunt mai multe. Normal, ca concertele cu trupele mele preferate erau foarte faine, dar amintesc de un concert Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra din Budapesta, la care asa de buna era sonorizarea, ca m-a socat. Suna ca de pe un Cd.
Am reusit sa ajung si la C.B.G.B in New York in 2005. Se tinea un festival punk/oi, canta si Casualties. Bestial era.
Concertele Exploited, Adicts (ei chiar fac un show extraordinar), Casualties. Cu cativa ani in urma am fost la un cocert Agnostic Front, Walls of Jehrico, Suicidal Tendencies etc. etc. si ala a fost foarte fain. Madball la Cluj. Si trebuie sa marturisesc, ca cu cativa ani in urma m-am dus la un concert Guns N’ Roses, pe care nu am mai ascultat de cand am terminat scoala generala. Insa m-am gandit ca este o trupa pe care o data in viata ar merita sa o vad. Si chiar suna foarte bine. Am fost la multe concerte si foarte multe mi-au placut, nu vreau sa le enumar, dar in felul lor la mai multe pot sa spun ca era cel mai misto din punctul asta sau aia de vedere.
Scuze, totusi trebuie sa mai mentionez, ca la inceputul anilor 2000 primul festival Undergrond Timisoara la care am fost mi-a placut mult.
12. Cu ce trupa visezi sa faceti un SPLIT CD?
:)) Sincer nu prea am astfel de ganduri. In anii 2000 inca ma facea extrem de fericit sa pot canta pe o scena cu Rancid, dar deja n-am astfel de vise, sau sa facem un cd cu ceva trupa. Poate sunt mai realistic, cine stie. :)) Oricum pentru mine “dumnezeul” punkului este Wattie, deci cred ca un Exploited/Los Pogos n-ar fi rau. :))
Iar dintre trupele mele preferate maghiare Prosectura e cel care a fost si a ramas preferata mea.
13. Viitorul suna bine….unde e trupa in 10 ani?
– Eu cred ca tot o sa cantam. Dar cum am mai spus, sunt realistic.
Sunt multe trupe care erau foarte mari si pentru mine tot asa au ramas, dar nu prea mai au concerte, sau nu mai sunt asa de recunoscute. Daca totul merge bine, o sa pornim sa cantam din nou nu numai in tara, dar si in strainatate, asa ca cred ca o sa avem din nou multe concerte.
14. Ce mai facem sa mai salvam asa scena din Romania?
– Uite, eu ma ocup de piese la Los Pogos si incerc sa avem timp si ocazie de concerte, cineva sa salveze si scena punk din Romania. :)) Dar hai sa punem la o parte gluma. Mereu se zicea, ca punkul e mort, dar n-a murit. In 2002 am aparut la Cluj, am avut o gramada de concerte, personal am si organizat foarte multe concerte, dupa care am decis sa nu ma mai ocup cu organizare au organizat altii. Cred ca mereu sunt, sau cel putin ar trebui sa fie oameni care sa se implice.
Foarte sincer vorbind, cred ca la ora actuala e foarte greu, cel putin pentru oameni cum suntem si noi, mai in varsta, cu familie, cu joburi ciudate, cand n-ai timp de nimic, dar sunt alti, mai tineri, care pot sa se implice. Eu sper ca dupa un timp iar o sa am si eu ocazia sa organizez, sau sa ajut sa organizam concerte, dar deocamdata fac ceea ce pot. Multe trupe s-au desfintat, multe trupe prietene de care tare mult imi pare de rau si discutand cu fostii membrii stiu ca si ei viseaza sa mai cante odata. Ciudat sa vorbesc despre noi si despre ei, parca am fi ceva dinosauri al punkului din Romania. Ma simt acelas baiat de 20-25 de ani care am fost, degeaba a trecut vremea, tot tiner am ramas, doar putin mai gras si poate cu mai putina rabdare. Asta e ceea ce simt, in schimb ceea ce vad e ca suntt tineri, care intr-un fel sau altul se implica. Cea mai buna pilda este Tomi, chitaristul nostru. Are 19 ani si ne simtim bine cu el.
15. Unde va gaseste lumea pe net? unde va poate asculta online?
– Buna intrebare. Putem spune ca eu sunt sufletul Los Pogos, eu sunt singurul care cant inca din 2002, dar din pacate in ultimii 10 ani nu prea m-am ocupat de publicitate, de Facebook, Youtube etc. etc. Anul acesta am inceput sa incarc pe Facebook poze de la concertele facuta inca din anii 2002. Canalul youtube tot nu e foarte “proaspat”. Ne mai certam cu ceilalti din cand in cand daca are rost sau nu sa uploadez trecutul trupei pe internet, dar cred ca nu strica. Oricum in perioada asta nu prea e nimic de incarcat pe sieturi, nu prea se tin concerte, asa ca…
Dar sper ca la anul totul se va schimba, o sa putem tine muuuulte concerte, o sa facem poze, inregistrari video etc. etc.
Ce sa va mai spun? :)) Am scris multe si as mai putea, dar alta data. Deocamdata atata, ca haideti la concerte, urmariti-ne pe Face si Youtube, fiindca avem de gand sa scoatem albumul “Dinosaurs don’t want to die!”
Hey guys, MirceONE here, we have been away for some time (work and stuff…you know) but thanks to Felix from Flix Records and Libby, Michael and all Sinners we have something new for you guys. Here is a short talk with the Sinners, about their last work. Cheers
1. Hi guys this is Mirceone from mptyzine, how are you?
Libby:
I’m good! We’re getting so close to back on the road it’s like the minutes are passing like hours. I’m sure I can speak for everyone here when I say we live for playing shows. I don’t know what to compare it to but it’s basically the meaning of life haha.
2. First of all congrats for the single and tell me if there will be an album soon?
Libby:
Thank you! And yes, August 20th is the official release date (I think by the time this comes out, it will be released)!!! We’ve been working so hard, much like everyone else, on trying to make something out of all this down time. I think it’s safe to say this is our most realized version of ourselves that we’ve been able to create. Having the time to really focus our efforts is showing. Maybe we should put this much work into all our albums haha. Luke (our violin player) did a great job producing it, so it sounds a little more cohesive than we have before, and working with Jesse at Lowshelf Recording is always a great time. He’s a real blast to be around.
Photo by @bryon.jeremy (Instagram)
3. For those who don’t know you, can you tell us few things? how it all started?
Libby:
We’ve all been playing music on the street for years. Each one of us has our own unique background, but I think it all has revolved around folk music and being involved in punk scenes. We’ve definitely gone through a few lineup changes but we still have 3 of the original members and luckily added Luke (fiddle) and Clyde(banjo) to add to it all musicality. I’d say it started in the streets and traveling.
4. I know that this is not my grandpa type of folk…so what is? what you guys are playing?:)
Libby:
It’s is my favorite and least favorite part of the band, defining what music we play. It’s not traditional folk music, It’s definitely not punk music, sure as hell isn’t jazz, it’s not metal, it’s really no one thing for sure. It makes it a pain in the ass when people haven’t heard of us and you have to describe it, but that also means we’re touching on something not a lot of people have done before. I think we’re getting lumped into a genere with acts like Amigo The Devil, Harley Poe, and Tejon Street Corner Thieves that people are starting to call Murder Folk. Whether or not we think that describes us it doesn’t matter cause that’s just what people are gonna call it haha.
5. Tell me few things about your influences
Michael:
Oh, boy where to start. I hate when people say they like every kind of music because I definitely don’t, but we have a wide breadth of influence for sure. I mean most of us grew up listening to punk, screamo, classic rock, whatever you lump The White Stripes into. But most of us, not all of us, got into folk music later in life when we started idealizing traveling by alternative means and watching “O Brother Where Art Thou”. So now it’s everything from classic punk, to black metal (not the racist stuff), to 30’s jazz, classic blues, pop country, pop music in general, and honestly a lot of influence comes from our peers and bands we play with.
6. Talking about influences, make me please a top 10 best bands/artists
Michael:
Ah way to put me on the spot this is gonna be hard. I will say this is off the cuff, and in no way in order. But I’ve been on a calypso kick (thanks Aydin) so I’m gonna start with:
1. Wilmouth Houdini
2. Profane Sass
3. Dirty Kid Discount
4. Cab Calloway
5. Amigo The Devil
6. Lady Gaga
7. Brooks and Dunn
8. Hank Sr
9. Window Smashing Job Creators
10. Harlem Hamfats
7. what does the future holds? where you guys will play soon?
Libby:
Oh baby, this is the best part. We’re starting off in our hometown with a sold out show in Portland, Oregon, headed to Vegas for Psycho Fest, hitting some of the Great Lakes with Bongzilla, then headed down to the greatest festival in the world Muddy Roots! The rest of the year we’ll be hitting spots all over the US with Days N Daze and Crazy and The Brains. We are planning on making it over to Europe sometime in the Summer 2022 and hopefully Canada in Early 2022.
9. How are things going at Flail Records?
Michael:
It’s CRAZY. For those of you who do not know, Flail Records was an idea the Sinners had and started about three years ago.The amount of support we’ve gotten is beyond words. There’s employees now, packages are going out daily, it’s overwhelming at times. Scott is really the band member that has grown the little baby from the ground up (and runs it). He’s put in probably thousands of hours if not tens of thousands into every aspect of running a business and label. It was basically a two man show for a long time. Just Scott and Lyz (Scott’s sibling) in the basement for hours and hours. We definitely all help out and put all our other projects like Lightnin’ Luke, Clyde and the Milltailers, and King Strang on the label. It’s really grown into its own monster at this point.
10. Hey, now without google, tell me what do you know about Romania or Eastern Europe?
Michael:
Oh wow I’m gonna look like an asshole here so I’m gonna keep it brief. All I know is there’s good music and a tumultuous history haha. Oh and I love the architecture too. I’m really hoping we make it out there someday.
11. Few words for our few readers:)
Michael:
Keep on sinnin’
12. Where can people listen to your music?
Libby:
Wherever they currently listen to music. Spotify for most people out here, YouTube works too, if you don’t have either of those thing and you prefer it old fashioned we just teamed up with SBÄM Records for all our European stuff so you can buy records there or through Merch Arsenal Europe to save on shipping instead of ordering from Flail!
13. Thank you for your time, please if you want to add something else.
Libby:
I think that about covers it! Thanks for talking to us, stay safe out there, don’t forget to bring a mask! Love y’all xoxo
Hey guys, MirceONE here, just want to share with you an interview made with Victor Bisonte from Oi The Arrase. For me in special is an honor as i know the band for many many years and hope you will like it. Also i am working for the new number of the zine that i will put it online soon. Stay rebel, always stay yourself.
Aquí MirceONE, solo quiero compartir con ustedes una entrevista hecha con Victor Bisonte de Oi The Arrase. Para mí, en especial, es un honor, ya que conozco a la banda desde hace muchos años y espero que les guste. También estoy trabajando para el nuevo número del zine que pronto lo pondré en línea.
MirceONE (mptyzine): Hola Victor, soy MirceONE de mptyzine, primero es un placer hacer esta entrevista,¿cómo estás? Victor Bisonte: Bien, un placer contestar las preguntas que me mandas. Espero que estés bien.
Para aquellos que no conocen la banda, ¿me puedes hacer una breve historia? Oi! The Arrase se formó en 1996 en Palma de Mallorca. Un año después salió la maqueta Punks y Skins bajo el sello Sedición, y que más tarde fue reeditada por EL LOKAL. Mientras tanto, realizan presentaciones en su ciudad natal, Barcelona y Valencia. En 1998 aparece ANARKOI!, un disco de 21 canciones que gozó de buena aceptación, por lo que pudieron presentarse en otras ciudades ibéricas como Madrid, Vigo, Valencia y Barcelona hasta 1999, año en el que iniciaron su primer descanso que duró 10 años. Para 2009 la banda se reunió con la formación original y se incluyó a un segundo guitarrista llamado Dani, con esta alineación actuaron en recintos importantes como la Sala Razzmatazz (Barcelona) y Jam (Bergara) y viajaron hasta Sudamérica para realizar conciertos en Chile y Colombia. Ya en 2010 son invitados por tocar en el afamado festival internacional PUNK AND DISORDERLY de Berlín, de esta manera siguen actuando hasta 2015, año en el que llevan a cabo un tour de despedida por México, en aquel país se presentan en Guadalajara, Querétaro, Toluca y Tultitlán, lugares en lo que obtienen buena respuesta por parte de los mexicanos.
Se que estas en Mexico City, cuéntame un poco de qué diferencias hay entre España y México? Hay muchas, colega. Empezando por el mismo idioma, que cambian el significado de las palabras hasta la gastronomía. Todo es bastante diferente y llevo poco tiempo pero me estoy habituando.
¿Cuáles son tus planes ahorita en México? Sobrevivir, que no es poco. Quiero decir que, buscándome la vida en cómo subsistir en esta ciudad tan grande. Soy bastante sencillo, solo quiero vivir a gusto, tranquilo y bien.
Te vi en vivo en la tocada con Himnos en Guadalajara, ¿no piensas formar una banda aquí? No, actualmente estoy retirado de los escenarios y de formar bandas. En los meses que llevo aquí he estado haciendo colaboraciones con algunas bandas, pero por el momento no tengo ganas e intenciones de formar una banda.
facebook.com/cojocearo
¿Me puedes hacer un top10 de las mejores bandas que te influenciaron a lo largo del tiempo? 1- AC-DC 2- Madness 3- Cockney Rejects 4-The 4 Skins 5- Blitz 6- The Clash 7-Kortatu 8-Cicatriz 9-Eskorbuto 10-Social Distortion
Si quieres hacer un split ep con una banda, ¿cual banda seria? Sería con Kaos Urbano porque son mis amigos y me la paso bien con ellos. Nos conocemos desde hace más de veinte años.
¿Chile, México o España y por qué? España, porque es donde nací y ahí tengo mis raíces, mis antepasados, la gastronomía, el mar y la historia. Pero si tengo que elegir un lugar en este mundo, elijo Barcelona.
facebook.com/cojocearo
Se que estabas haciendo un nuevo proyecto solo Bisonte 1312, como va? Lo tenemos aparcado. Tenemos un EP en la calle que se llama Amor, Odio y Rock and Roll, estuvimos tocando durante dos años pero puede resurgir en algún momento. Aunque por el momento lo veo difícil.
Más de 35 años en la escena, y es un placer hacer estas preguntas aquí, dime en pocas palabras qué significa la palabra “skinhead” para ti? Significa clase trabajadora, amistad, diversión, anti racismo… Más que una forma de vida, es una forma de ver la vida y vivir el día a día desde tu posición como miembro de la clase obrera alimentado por un inconformismo con esta sociedad.
Donde puede encontrar la gente la banda en internet, donde publicas tu música? En las plataformas digitales como Spotify y YouTube.
Se también que estabas escribiendo unas memorias, como está el proyecto? Va avanzando poco a poquito, espero terminarlo cuando sea posible.
Victor, muchas gracias de verdad, fue un placer, si tienes dos tres palabras para nuestros pocos pero buenos lectores en línea:)? Espero que todo el mundo esté bien con la puta pandemia y espero que pronto podamos retomar nuestras vidas.
Las últimas palabras te lo dejo a ti. Muchas gracias por la entrevista y por las fotos que me tomaste cuando canté con Himnos. Un saludo a todos mis colegas de Guadalajara.
MirceONE vs. Victor – Mayo 2021, Guadalajara, Mexico.
Hey guys, MirceONE here, i am really happy to get in touch with Micky from Shock, i was listening to Micky since she was in Bambole di Pezza. It was a great talk and hope you will like it. Also we are working on our double number 49-50 that hopefully i will put it together really soon. Stay safe, stay punk, Cheers.
Oi you, aquí MirceONE, estoy muy feliz de ponerme en contacto con Micky de Shock, estaba escuchando a Micky desde que estaba en Bambole di Pezza. Fue una gran charla y espero que les guste. También estamos trabajando en nuestro doble número 49-50 que espero poder armarlo muy pronto. Salud!
MirceONE (mptyzine) Felicitaciones por el nuevo álbum Alta Traicion, ¿cómo fue recibido el álbum, especialmente ahora en esta pandemia? Micky (SHOCK) Muchas gracias! El album fue recibido muy bien aunque todo virtualmente. A no poder presentarlo en directo hemos tenido que darle salida a base de paquetería, pero aun así podemos decir que se nos acabaron las copias del LP enseguida y tuvimos que pedirles mas a los sellos con los que hicimos condición.
Para aquellos que no conocen la banda , ¿pueden decirme algunas palabras cómo empezó todo? La banda nasce en 2015 cuando Micky se muda a Bilbao desde Milan y se junta con músicos de bandas como Mundo Matadero, Destierro,… En el 2018 sacamos nuestro primer disco y después de presentarlo en todo el Estado, Italia, Alemania e Inglaterra no pusimos a preparar el segundo disco con la incorporación de Nando (Batec, Karbunko,…) a la guitarra y en Octubre 2020 salió a la calle con el titulo de Alta Traición, publicitando cada una de las canciones con un videoclip.
Sé que tuviste muchos proyectos a lo largo de los años, el otro día me acordé de bandas como Bambole Di Pezza o No Relax, ¿puedes contarme algunas de las bandas que te influenciaron? Bambole di Pezza seguramente fueron influenciadas por las bandas de los años 90 de Riot-gggirl como L7, The Hole, Bikini Kills. Y en general PJ Harvey, Diamanda Galas, Tilt, Pretenders, The Clash, Distillers, Rancid, Partisans, Cock Sparrer, Sex Pistols, Vice Squad, Blitz, Vicious, Asta Kask, Exploited, Comando 9mm , y podría seguir con muchísimos mas…jeejejej.
Además de la banda, sé que haces tatuajes, ¿qué más haces en tu tiempo libre? Si, soy tatuadora, en este momento es mi unico trabajo pero antes de la pandemia también trabajaba en la hostelería. Tengo también otro grupo en Bilbao de rockabilly , Micky & The Buzz, así que estoy entretenida entre ensayos, dibujos, tatuajes , mi familia y por supuesto mi perrita Bimba.
¿Cómo influyó la pandemia en la escena musical independiente y en el trabajo en el salón de tatuajes? Sé que en España fue en una situación muy delicada, desde el principio… Respecto al tema musical se parò todo desde el 9 de marzo del 2020 y desde entonces a ratos se hacen solo conciertos con aforo limitado y publico sentado, pero todos condicionados por los confinamientos perimetrales y restricciones por lo que muchos grupos no han podido presentar sus trabajos en directo, y han tenido que cancelar todas las giras tanto nacionales como internacionales. Respecto a los estudios de tatuaje solo se cerraron unos meses pero el trabajo ha disminuido muchísimo porque la gente no tiene dinero, no se puede desplazar de un municipio a otro, un desastre, a ver si empezamos a ver un poco de luz.
Ahora que las cosas empiezan a calmarse, ¿cuáles son sus planes para este año? Aqui por el momento no vemos factibles los conciertos con las condiciones actuales puesto que nuestro guitarrista vive a 600 km y aunque la cosa mejore siguen las mismas restricciones para el sector del entretenimiento y espectáculo . No podemos hacer ningún plan para el futuro.
Dime 3 cosas que siempre llevas contigo a cualquier concierto Antes era mi perra, pero ya es viejita y la dejo tranquila en casa. Asi que digo mi micro, frutos secos y regaliz puro.
Hablando de conciertos, cuéntame uno de los conciertos más buenos que hayas visto buff… muchos, difíciles decir solo uno, pero los mejores son siempre los de Cocks Sparrer, Adicts, Exploited…
Dime dónde la gente pueden escucharte en internet, redes sociales … Shöck está Spotify, Bandcamp, Youtube y todas las demás plataformas digitales. Redes sociales Fb e Instragram.
Muchas gracias Micky por tu tiempo, unas ultimas palabras para nuestros pocos lectores en linea? Esta situación nos ha afectado y sigue afectándonos principalmente a la gente humilde y laboralmente precaria, pero espero podremos volver a levantar todxs cabeza y recordar este momento de la vida como un lejano recuerdo, y por supuesto estamos deseando hacer lo que mas nos gusta e ilusiona que es fastidiar y cagarnos en todo con nuestra musica.
Dime si tienen planes de volver a México en proximo futuro? Nunca estuve en Mexico a pesar de haber estado a puntito con No Relax, esperamos poder ir cuando todo acabe pero en general si aun no hemos cruzado el charco con Shöck es por el coste del los pasajes.
Gracias a Micky y Shock. MirceONE mptyzine – Abril 2021.
mpty zine 