BLITZKREIG PHILLY BOP In fact, their influences are fairly diverse—within the punk genre.
family a few times; it's always a blast.�
While there’s not exactly an overall “I dunno if it would be surprising, theme to this record, there is a more but I listen to a lot of Clash and The cohesive sound than on their first two Jam for sure,â€? Shomo says. “Profes- albums. “A lot of the songs are a little sionals, Eddie and The Hot Rods, heavier,â€? Shomo says. “We felt a bit U.K. Subs, Cockney Rejects. Amy more comfortable trying stuff out this [Opsasnick, bass] loves The New- time around, so they just kind of came town Neurotics, Toy Dolls. Daniel pretty quickly. I could say that some [Cox, drums] is a big Adicts fan, but of the songs have a heavier personal beyond the obvious stuff, we all love meaning for me, but that's just my imhardcore and punk. Daniel has a pression. It's more that people have deep knowledge of a lot of goth and them for themselves. For what it's post-punk; Amy's main is normally worth, though, I'm really pleased with Japanese hardcore, I mostly reach how this record turned out.â€? for U.S. hardcore. Add all that, plus The Methadones, and that’s pretty “A lot of the songs are a little heavimuch it. I mean, to set it straight— er,â€? Shomo says. “We felt a bit more comfortable trying stuff out we’re punks; we like punk, ok?â€? this time around, so they just kind Must Be Nice came out in Decem- of came pretty quickly. I could ber 2019 on Stupid Bag Records say that some of the songs have in the U.S. and Drunken Sailor Re- a heavier personal meaning for cords overseas. Their connection me, but that's just my impression. to the beloved, U.K.-based Drunk- It's more that people have them en Sailor came about thanks to for themselves. For what it's worth the label’s founder, Julian Steven- though, I'm really pleased with son, stumbling across the band’s how this record turned out.â€? music organically. Along with a brief East Coast tour “We were on tour a little after our in January, going all the way to first record came out, and Julian Florida, Dark Thoughts have lined just emailed us out of the blue,â€? Sho- up a few shows in February. In mo says. “Turns out it was a perfect March, they are flying out to play a match. He's a great friend, and the show in Athens, Greece, then headlabel is great as well. We've gotten ing to London, U.K., with plans for a the chance to go and visit him and his full U.S. tour in the spring. đ&#x;’Ł đ&#x;’Ł
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL THORN
INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST / GUITARIST JIM SHOMO BY JOHN B. MOORE
P
hilly-based pop punk trio Dark Thoughts wear their Ramones influences with a sense of tenacious pride that can only come from a band that calls the City of Brotherly Love home.
Asked if he ever tires of the constant comparisons his band gets to the brothers Ramone, Dark Thoughts’ singer and guitarist Jim Shomo gives an emphatic “No!� “The Ramones are the best band in the world,� he says. “Exaggerations
32 NEW NOISE
aside, we definitely work hard to have a Ramones sound. I've called our band a Ramones band many times; I think it's the most fitting description I can come up with.� On their latest LP, Must Be Nice, that Ramones flag still flies high. But far from being a glorified cover band, Dark Thoughts have perfected their own satisfyingly original take on their influences, building on that ’70s punk foundation with a lyrically modern take on the genre.
