Within Punk Zine Issue 14

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FAT WRECK CHORDS 25 YEARS AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY

MASKED INTRUDER talks “THE PERFECT PRISION FOOD AND THE SCORE”

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SPIKE SLAWSON/UKE-HUNT

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JASON CRUZ of STRUNG OUT

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ERIN BURKETT on

K.J JANSEN TALKS ABOUT CHIXDIGGIT AND HIS PLAYLIST

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MUSIC REVIEWS

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NEW NOISE

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EDITOR

Jason Bolduc

COPY EDITOR Naomi Kelly

PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason Bolduc Jim Smith

COLUMNISTS

THE TOWER

Hamilton's Anarchist Social Centre 281 Cannon St. E Hamilton, ON L8L 2B4 Hours: Sundays 11am-5pm* Mondays 2-6pm* Thursdays 12-5pm* http://the-tower.ca/

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Jason Bolduc Jim Smith Juana Luck Mike Mccarthy

REVIEWS Mike Mccarthy

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mike Magee/Stomp Records Melanie Racette / Stomp Records Melanie Kaye PR Epitaph Records Triston Whitehead

Piston Head/Brutal Brewing My Fingers My Brain Reords Paper and Plastick Records

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In 1990 a vision was conceived by a then young punk that grew tired of all the crap that a band had to go through to get recognized, even more so because the industry wasn’t accepting of punk rock music. Starting off as an apartment project crafting album covers and inserts it was enough to grow enough capital to venture out into the unknown. One thing was certain- the need for change and self-representation and respect for those struggling to meet their dreams and aspirations. Those who shared the same beliefs came to believe in the mastermind behind it, a young punk entrepreneur Mike Burkett and his girlfriend Erin. The goal was simple- make enough to get by, maybe fund some gas to tour further and meet new people and spread the cause. It became so much more and who really knew that it would become what is today one of the most iconic and strongest Independent Labels of all time. Fat Wreck Chords has continued to be a staple of some of the most notable punk bands past and present. After all the label was run by a musician who treated their artists with the same mutual beliefs and respect that they asked for back in return, and it was never about the money.

The value of family and friendship was the foundation and continues to be to this day. With the punk explosion in the nineties Fat Wreck Chords was at the top of its business model signing and carrying some of the most iconic punk releases that have still to this day contributed to the scene and punk movement.

With over eighteen employees and four offices the label grew from that apartment and endless nights of filling orders and packaging and shipping. Even some of those employees became much more than mail room staff and ended up being part of the most well-known staple on Fat Wreck Chords “Me First and The Gimmie Gimmies”. While there was well known competition throughout the nineties with other punk-indie labels Fat Wreck Chords has always sustained its course though it’s motto “One Record Deals”. Just as much as S.S.T and Cruz Records was to Black Flag as is Fat Wreck Chords is to N.O.F.X as years of opening bands and countless tours are ultimately what made the label incredibly successful, and after all if you’re not having fun doing it then really what’s the point?

“OPERATION PHOENIX - THAT CHANGED THE ERA IN FAT WRECK CHORDS AND IT NEVER WENT BACK”

BILL STEVENSON

DESCENDENTS/BLACK FLAG

“WHAT’S IT LIKE WORKING WITH THOSE CUNTS? WE LOVE THEM THEY’RE GREAT, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT WE WANT AND THAT’S IT!”

PAUL MCKENZIE THE REAL MCKENZIES

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NOW!”

“I’VE DONE DRUGS WITH FAT MIKE FOR DECADES, SO IT JUST FEELS RIGHT. IF HE EVER LISTENED TO A RECORD OF OURS HE PROBABLY WON”T LIKE IT, BUT IT’S TOO LATE

“THE WAY THEY’VE TREATED US AND THE WAY THEY CONTINUE TO TREAT US AS COMPARED TO OTHER LABELS IS AMAZING. AND WE HAVE ALWAYS FELT REALLY FORTUNATE TO BE PART OF THAT!”

RUSS RANKIN GOOD RIDDANCE

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“ERIN AND MIKE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY GOOD FRIENDS AND THEY ALWAYS KNOW AND PUT OUT GOOD RECORDS, I’M GLAD TO BE ON FAT WRECK CHORDS” J.R WASILEWSKI / LESS THAN JAKE

“ABSOLUTELY FAT WRECK CHORDS IS AN AMAZING LABEL THAT REALLY KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES” MIGUEL CHEN TEENAGE BOTTLE ROCKET

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ERIN BURKETT TALKS ABOUT THE FAT WRECK CHORDS FAMILY AND 25 YEARS

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J.B: Hey I’m sitting here with the lovely Erin Burkett. How’s it going?

ERIN: Not bad, how are you?

J.B: A little tired. I think the Fat Wreck Chords pre Party took a toll on me last night! Fat Wreck Chords has been around for twenty five amazing years.

During that process when it first started off with Mike touring with NOFX and getting the label name out there do you think it would have been different if he didn’t tour so much with the exposure?

ERIN: I think one of the reasons why we are so successful is because of Mike being in NOFX and running a label obviously he was exposed to a lot of talent obviously while he was touring and lot of the bands were opening for NOFX and that’s where he discovered them.

And also I feel because he’s in a band he has a perspective to see things from the

“WE ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND THAT MAKES ME PROUD”

band perspective and also from the label perspective, and I think that’s really helpful being on both sides - we always understand how something’s going to make our band’s feel and I think that’s really been helpful to us.

J.B: And that’s the Moto you guys have one record one year do what you want and free to go where you want from there right?

ERIN: Yeah absolutely and I think that’s a better model for the record industry in general, it really should be that way. I mean, I want bands to put out on Fat because they want to be on Fat Wreck Chords not because they signed a piece of paper that says they have to be on Fat Wreck Chords. So I think it means a lot when bands like Lagwagon have put out and stayed for their entire career and continue to stay with us. That means a lot, that means we are doing something right and it makes me proud.

J.B: Yeah same as Strung Out? ERIN: Yeah!

J.B: When you guys first started it was probably a lot of stress and working it and making it out of your apartment at the time and then you had to expand and now it’s a little bit different you got it in different areas like here in Canada and Europe.

ERIN: Yeah we actually did have a European Office it was through Destiny

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booking agency that most bands use so we actually did hire a couple of people and then mid to late nineties during that explosion and there was that good ten year period where punk just sort of exploded and it was sort of a really big time for us and we sort of had a Canadian office here with Melanie Kaye and then we had two people I believe working out of Germany.

But you know the music industry sort of goes in waves and in cycles and it ebbs and flows, so when everything kind of blew up when the digital revolution happened you know that was huge to the music industry and at that point we had to downsize a little bit so those offices got cut. Actually at one point we actually had an Australian office as well, well not specifically an office but we had somebody working for us over there.

J.B: Also you had little side projects and affiliations like Honest Dons and I believe Red Scare Industries is a common thing. So that’s one of the questions I had was how do you sustain as an independent label with the industry and the onslaught of the internet and social media and downloading?

ERIN: I think you know you have to sort of reinvent yourself, you know and figure out new ways. A lot of bands now make a lot more as bands touring then they do off of their album sales. Obviously we still do very well and our bands are very successful but you know it’s not the nineties any more. So I think for a lot of our bands they have to tour a lot more in order to make the same amount of money that they used to, and you know you sort of find ways of creating packages that people are interested in. You know we do a lot of limited edition colored vinyl to keep it interesting and people interested in it and the record collectors want stuff like that so it works.

J.B: Was there ever a point along the way that you went “Holy Shit” this is really happening right now?

ERIN: I had that with the Descendents because fifteen year old me was like I can’t believe we are going to put out a Descendents record and that to me was like the Holy Grail and I actually couldn’t believe it. I was like ‘I can’t believe they want to be on Fat’, because when that happened I was like ‘wow we must

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“THEY’RE NOT A COMMODITY TO US THEY’RE FAMILY”

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really be doing something right’.

J.B: (Did Descendents put out an album before “Cool to be you”?) Other than the Descendents is there any other band that you would like to sign to Fat Wreck Chords?

ERIN: I would love to work with “The Lillingtons”. We actually had an opportunity at one point and it wasn’t the right record for us and I really regret that we didn’t put out one of their releases when we had the chance, I think they are awesome.

J.B: I read on a previous interview that you were going into that your daughter is going to be taking over the label someday she’s going to be and turning it into an animal hospital - that’s kind of a Freudian slip there?

ERIN: LOL ya I know! Well she’s our only child so that’s her birth right, this is her legacy so I actually thought well she likes a lot of the bands and I thought she might actually be interested in that but she literally looked at me and said “Mom nobody wants to do what their parents do” I don’t want that. I don’t think our bands would be happy if we turned it into an animal sanctuary!

J.B: Ah you never know, some might right? (Anti-Flag) Was there ever a time when while running Fat Wreck Chords that you thought it might crash and you might have to do something else?

ERIN: Ah you know again we have great years and we have bad years. There was that time during when the industry kind of collapsed where I was concerned obviously but to be honest it’s all I’ve ever done. I mean, I grew up running this label. I really have never done anything else. I mean I’ve had jobs, but I wouldn’t know to not have Fat Wreck Chords. It feels like it’s just part of me like an appendage, an extension of who I am. So no I can’t imagine doing anything else.

J.B: And being on Fat Wreck chords is truly to be part of a family because everyone looks out for each other despite being a business relationship, so what does it truly mean t o you - Fat Wreck Chords?

ERIN: All of us grew up together we have been around for twenty five years you know and Joey Cape is one of my very best friends and lot of these band members we are so very close so I think that’s what works for us because when you have this personal relationship we want our bands to do well because we care about them as people. They’re not a commodity to us, they’re our family!

J.B: So I always end with a famous book or a famous quote that inspired you in your life, anything come to mind?

ERIN: I can’t think of anything that inspired me! I mean I read but nothing is coming to mind.

J.B: Well maybe end with words of wisdom to anyone who wants to follow their dreams or their heart?

ERIN: Absolutely I think that’s why Fat Wreck Chords works because I love it and this business is my family and I feel if you stay true to yourself and you’re honest and you’re forth coming and you enjoy what you have a passion for then hopefully you will be successful.

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SANFRANCISCO LINEUP

INTERVIEW WITH GREEN INTRUDER@ THE BOVINE SEX CLUB , TORONTO,ON

BY JASON BOLDUC AND JIM SMITH COURTESY OF MELANIE KAYE PR

FATWRECK CHORDS

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GREEN INTRUDER/PHOTO J.B

JB: This is JB from Within Punkzine and we’re sitting here with Jim of Within Punkzine and interviewing Mass Intruder and we’re sitting here with The Officer and with Green so here we go.

Jim: Well the first question I guess is what the hell is there to do in Wisconsin?

Green: Well I don’t know, they got a lot of woods there, to hide out in you know when you just got to get away from the city, the cops in the city, you can go hide in the woods…so they got that!

Officer: Ya I stay out of the woods. Too many bugs and stuff. And there’s like way less donut shops in the woods.

A: That’s true. That’s the bummer about the woods. And I can see why Officer Bradford

might not like that so much.

Jim: You guys finished your tour with Teenage Bottle Rocket. How was that?

Green: It was great. I love those guys, they took us on our first 2 big tours when we were starting out about 4 years ago and we’ve seen them a few times since then, but it was really great to do the same thing with them in Europe and get to see them a bunch again and play together again, we really feel a close friendship with those guys and it was really nice to spend some more time with them…

Officer: And then steal their beer!

Green: Oh yeah, we did that too we stole all their beer, but you know it’s got to get drank by somebody! They just leave it there in the fridge and we got to take matters into our own hands sometimes.

Jim: I hear that. I like my beer.

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Green: I like THEIR beer.

JB: So let’s talk prison. What kind of meals do they serve in prison?

Green: Prison food is actually delicious but it’s better to make your own. Like freestyle it, like Prison Burritos - this is like Blue’s specialty so I’m not sure exactly how it’s made, but it’s got something to do with taking a bunch of ramen noodles packages together in a plastic bag and I don’t know how how he cooks it but they’re delicious and I love it when it’s Blue’s night to cook because he makes some really good Prison Burritos.

JB: You guys always had that cop siren on all your videos, it used to scare the shit out of me when I had my headset cranked and I’d be running! So what’s up with that?

Green: You know, its art.

Officer: It’s a big part of their lives, the cops. You know, I’m important damnit.

Green: Our music is very, like we’re putting out souls into it, it’s very truthful, so like that’s part of our lives in a big way and we wanted to present that on the album.

Officer: It’s Art Verite.

Green: Yeah that’s me, I’m Verite, I’m Green.

Jim: Ok so I got to ask, do you guys ever switch up the colours?

Green: I don’t even know how we would accomplish that. No that’s impossible.

We would lose our shoes.

Officer: It would just confuse them more than anything.

JB: How many masks do you actually have?

Green: Sometimes I lift up the mask when I have to shave, otherwise you have to wait to let the hair grow through the mask and just get it that way but still it’s really uncomfortable, so that’s the only thing the mask gets removed for.

JB: You guys have that video for ‘I don’t want to be alone tonight’ and it’s got the old school Atari thing going on…is that what you guys do to chill out, play video games and stuff?

Green: Yeah we play video games whenever we get a chance, they’re not really allowed in prison, so if we can boost x-box 360 or something, we’ll take it out to the shack and try to wire it up to an old tube tv because it’s pretty hard to get the new flat screens these days, they’re everywhere but people are more protective of them so the tube tvs are a lot easier you know…

JB: You guys came out with “MI”, which is the latest release on Fat Wreck in 2014.

Any plans beyond that?

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Green: We don’t got anything specifically in the works but we definitely do want to do a full length soon. It’s funny, it’s just a little bit over a year old as am I so I think it’s time to start working on the next full length. We’re always writing songs, it’s just a matter of figuring out when to do the demos and start the process of making the actual album. So we don’t have any plans yet but we do want to do an EP too.

JB: In a way you remind me of a Jersey band, Far From Finished.

Green: Yeah I love those guys, they’re great!

JB: Let’s talk about Fat Wreck 25 year tour. You guys started out on Red Scare Industries, which is basically kind of a stepping stone. So what does it mean to you to be part of the Fat Wreck family?

Green: It’s great, we were kids listening to Fat Wreck Chords and now we are part of the family we really feel that way, we met everybody that works for Fat and they are all great people, all the bands we met are super great people and it’s a dream come true for us and it’s great to be doing this, this festival especially because it commemorates the whole 25 years. We feel kind of like the new kids even though Fat has signed a lot of really good bands since even us so that’s also exciting.

Officer: I was really excited so see that they got Pairs, they’ve been buddies of ours for a bit and I’m really excited for that band , being label mates.

JB: Especially mixing it up and the fact they have a hardcore band on the label sp tha’s a good thing right?

Green: Absolutely.

Officer: As you know, all the cops listen to hardcore.

Green: That’s true, usually it’s more radio hardcore. It’s kind of strange that Officer Bradford is into Pairs because it’s like they’re too cool for a cop to like…

JB: What’s the definition of hardcore these days? Now you have all these subgenres into hardcore and you get that metal fusion Officer: The way I see it it’s mostly about taking your shirt off. I think that’s the main ingredient for hardcore.

JB: Pop-punk has been around for a long time, like the Ramones, so you guys have a real similar sound, you play it real low to the ground…so what usually gets you going on stage?

Green: Well I don’t really play that low to the ground, I do jump around a lot.

Officer: He does get some air for sure.

JB: Tour wise, you’re heading to Japan for the 25 year tour.

Green: We’re super stoked for that opportunity, it’s going to be really great. When

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we started doing this we were just excited to just be touring the States and then we got invited to Europe and Australia and now Japan! And that’s like crazy for us.

JB: Not to mention Japan has some great electronics Jim: So have you had the opportunity to work with Fat Mike in the studios and stuff?

Green: We haven’t done anything in the studios, we toured with NOFX a little bit, mostly just hanging out, we partied with them a few times out on the West Coast and Punk Rock Bowling of course is a big party and they’re great guys. We didn’t know what to expect meeting the guys from NOFX for the first time and they’re super nice and also crazy, which is just up our alley.

JB: So coming back to your roots - First Offence was on Hangup. So How do you feel about that?

Green: It was great. It was our first big opportunity to be on a label, a small label but a great label and it’s what got everything going and it was the first exciting thing and then more exciting things were happening and then it was like oh we’re on Fat Wreck Chords? That’s crazy! How could this get any better? And then they’re like oh you’re going to Japan now.

JB: Is it true that Fat Mike’s kids sing all your songs and that’s what got you on there?

Green: Rumour has it and we met Daila and she’s an adorable girl…

Officer: I keep telling her they are a bad influence and she needs better role models. But she’s pretty smart I think she’s made some good choices…

Green: It probably is the reason we got signed because Fat Mike probably doesn’t like pop punk all that much, he did something nice for his daughter so we appreciate that so…

JB: Does Yellow really think he’s Orange or what’s the deal?

Green: That’s just his nickname.

Officer: It’s Orange for short.

JB: Last question, I always end with a famous quote or a book – anything come to mind?

Officer: I’m going to say “The Hungry Hungry Caterpillar” Green: I don’t really know how to read but like I tried to read “The Godfather” because I heard it’s about crime and I’m about like ‘do crime, it’s a good idea’ so that’s a good one.

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MASKED INTRUDER “M.I” AVAILABLE NOW ON

https://www.fatwreck.com

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SPIKE SLAWSON 23

INTERVIEW BY SHELBY MONITA /HOSER PUNX and J.B WITHIN PUNK ZINE COURTESY OF MELANIE KAYE PR

SPIKE SLAWSON PHOTO J.B

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J.B: Hey I’m sitting here with Spike Slawson and Shelby from Hoser Punx and we’re tag teaming, Spike so, here we go!

SHELBY: So Uke-Hunt has been around now for about 8 years?

SPIKE: Yeah we’ve been around since like 2008 we’ve been playing under one incarnation or another but under the same moniker so whatever that adds up to so...7ish eight-ish.

SHELBY: Yeah something like that!

SPIKE: It wasn’t until about two years ago that we started playing at a fisherman’s wharf and that’s when things started to become in earnest. And then Mike offered to do a

record so that kind of gave us a big kind of motivation to kind of get our shit together and form a real cohesive, coherent compelling band you know?

SHELBY: Yeah I’ve read about the fisherman wharfs performances and how did it feel to perform in front of the people after a long day at the wharf?

SPIKE: Well the tourists wouldn’t congregate for that very reason but the dialects would! So often you were playing for them and they don’t have any money but they are very vocal about if they like you or don’t like you no not necessarily vocal you know what you mean? So it really gets you to keep your shit together in adverse environments.

SHELBY: Actually I have a really weird question in regards to that. Whenever I see tourists taking photos of street performers and not donating, how do you feel about that? Being a Canadian I want to be polite and it’s pretty impolite to not donate and enjoy the entertainment in what they are doing!

SPIKE: I agree but also I believe in being free to be less polite because those people’s lives will ultimately be much less rich than others and well that’s the hope anyway. I’m not sure completely if that’s true because I think our reward system based on this continent and Western Europe is for absolute douchebags and they’re the ones who end up being hugely successful. But my hope is not a financial success kind of context but life in general is much more rewarding to be polite and have manners, but you’re also out in public space and they

PHOTO J.B are also taking pictures of everything else so it’s not like they are throwing money at the Alcatraz ferry or something except that they are except for when they are taking pictures of crab stands and thing like that. There are a lot of people that are like, ‘hey you want to take a picture, tip people’ and are really vocal about that so you know it’s a fine line. There’s also a lot of weird people out there too!

There’s this guy – “Anti-Semitic Elmo” who made the news. He was arrested in Central Park with his mask kind of slung back and his creepy sort of face like head kind of peeking out and he still had the Elmo costume on and the cops arrested him with it on with the cuffs on him and he was screaming anti-Semitic slurs and it turns out he was Jewish himself. But he moved out to Fisherman’s Warf and he was taking pictures of kids and stuff he apparently had this video called “Welcome to the rape camp”.

SHELBY/J.B: Oh my god!

SPIKE: This is not a joke not a lie not a fabrication this guy he had this sliding scale you would pay to watch these Cambodian girls tortured on the internet on a sliding scale. So then he had these knee pads that he used to kneel down and take pictures of the kids and stuff and this balloon guy who was also kind of sketchy and he was the first guy who told me “Hey man don’t talk to Elmo he’s got a video called welcome to the rape camp man” What the fuck did I just hear? Or who? And you just got to stand there and play you know. And you’re like ‘when do I start, how do I start’ you know and you just do but your skin is crawling and your stomach is about to fall out but eventually you get over it so.

SHELBY: Sounds like a really unique experience?

SPIKE: It was and one day we just got really stoned and kept doing it long after we weren’t making any money because the fog had come in and it was just

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something that I haven’t experienced or ever done before.

SHELBY: So you toured to Quebec and I have to ask everyone who’s gone through - whose is there favorite place to eat Poutine?

SPIKE: Yeah I had many times Poutine but tomorrow were not getting a chance to because we are going to a friend’s place somewhere in Quebec and it’s got the best Frog Rock and is that kind of un political to say that, Frog Rock? But anyway it’s fucking good and Poutine pizza fries!

SHELBY: Poutine Burrito?

SPIKE: My god! but no we are going to have it in Quebec City next time there’s Smokes and they have that chain in Vancouver now but it’s right beside a Harvey’s and it’s like the only Harvey’s in Vancouver and to me that should be a gold standard in North America to have Harvey’s everywhere I love Harvey’s it’s kind

PHOTO J.B

of like Starbucks sort of! When you’re travelling there’s so much bad coffee out there that Starbucks as low of a standard coffee it is at least it’s a standard you know what I mean? And Harvey’s is kind of like that but a much higher standard.

J.B: Well that’s the thing about Starbucks it’s been known that they say it’s certified Fair Trade but it’s not really Fair Trade coffee!

SPIKE: Who’s that, Starbucks?

SHELBY: I’m not even going to go into that! So do you have any rituals that keeps you grounded close to home and sane since you’ve been on tour so long?

SPIKE: Coffee and the shows. That’s sort of the constant and it’s kind of what you call it the “Meat” or the “Nut” or what you call it? It’s the focal point of the day but the rest of it I grew up in Pittsburgh and breathing like actual air is kind of nice to do again because I’ve been living on the Pacific coast for so long. I love San Francisco but it’s dry and with like a four year drought it’s really dry. So there are certain things about touring, like back here it’s grounding for someone that lives in San Francisco for like 25 years you know? So yeah, rituals basically just playing, sound checking and playing with different people and walking around getting my bearings and the more I travel the more I know all these far flung cities. It’s amazing to think about how much trivia

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ROB PHOTO J.B

and trivial trivia the human brain can absorb.

SHELBY: Yeah!

SPIKE: I know my way around way more cities now so that’s kind of cool for me and I fought geography with my uncle who lives just outside of Lancing and every five minutes we were breaking the atlas out! Even though both of us had smart phones!

SHELBY: Do you remember your first celebrity crush?

SPIKE: Linda Blair!

J.B: Post Exorcist?

SPIKE: Yeah post Exorcist. Remember that movie I fucking forget what it was called the one with the unknown comic and she was in some of those weird teen movies back then and she was a fox back then I mean like baby fat and yeah that kind of worked out for me so yeah!

SHELBY: Wicked!

J.B: So I grew up in Vancouver and

you talk about the Fisherman’s Warf but it’s kind of like Granville Market and Gas Town in Vancouver?

SPIKE: Yeah exactly it’s like being in East Hastings and in Canada and me being from the States I feel less threatened and that’s not an insult and I feel slightly less threatened walking through it you know. Like if I have my running shoes on and you know I can pretty much deal with anything you can throw at me until you get to that corner on Cordova Street where like the tent city is and that’s where I thought like man we were like ‘man we shouldn’t be here’ and it got to the point that if we were like man if we walked in would be like the real ghetto tourism and not like the shit they show you and plus I thought I might get some flesh eating disease because you can only imagine what’s going on in there. And as we continued down Cordova Street we were a little bit hesitant until we seen these two body building homosexual dudes walking down the street and we thought well these guys will protect us so!

So we followed them and as we were crossing the street we thought what was a gang it was all these Asian dudes in red track suits and they were walking down the street with purpose and aggression and I was like looking around looking for the guys in the blue suits or the white suits like remember “Big Trouble in Little China” and I thought it was like going to go down and it

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turned out there like from St Peter and Paul and they go around and feed the addicts and homeless and then they went into a building and then that’s when we go there and there’s some amazing stuff out there.

What’s amazing is it’s got this corner in the city and Vancouver is like San Francisco it’s one of those cities that have not been forgotten about which is unfortunate sometimes. But that’s one of those corners of Vancouver that has been forgotten about so you see this crazy siding on houses and stuff and you wouldn’t see it anywhere else in Vancouver and yet it’s still there and that’s kind of like the Tenderloin in San Francisco.

J.B: The name of the band Uke-Hunt you mentioned before it was from travelling as a kid and your mother used to make jokes about - where’s Mike Hunt?

And you kind of adapted from that, do you want to relate to that?

SPIKE: Ah yeah that was the reason to the whole project was to kind of put a truth to the lie of the whole name because the name was just too good of a joke and ultimately the opportunity to play and the Warf and Mike with the opportunity to record with Fat that was the real world catalyst but my personal inspiration for it was the name. And yeah it was my mom that taught me the joke although if I mentioned it now she would probably deny it or something.

J.B: So did you find the transition from six strings down to four of the Uke a little weird to play?

SPIKE: Yeah I don’t play guitar really all that good but I got rudimentary skills and it’s like the guitar but with two less strings. You take the top two strings off a guitar and you got a Ukulele and then you learn

CAPTAIN DAVE PHOTO J.B

those chords and then you keep learning and learn new ones there’s all these different configurations and weird jazz chords that are easier to play then actual bar chords. It all flows and it comes easier you know if I ever get around to it or find the talent for it you know it’s a great tool for song writing because all of the chords you can do all in one position.

J.B: Have you ever been on the Social media forum for Uke Hunt?

SPIKE: No I’ve seen it but have never actually ever been on it and all the stuff I’ve learned has been from this guy “Lyle Ritz” and from his books he’s this guy who did a couple records for the Verve Label in the fifties. “All About Uke and fifty state Jazz” was one of them or both of them I think there was only two al-

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bums made and he did the song from that Steve Martin movie “The Jerk” and he did an “Orange” song that was really good and that’s where I’ve learned the most chords and otherwise you just learn the rest And you get a chord book and you don’t have to put it out in tablature you know. I would probably say that’s a great resource for people looking to learn.

J.B: And you mentioned a lot of Jazz that touches base with the Lounge atmosphere. Is there any kind of small lounge or venue that really stands out that you’ve played at?

SPIKE: I would like to say there’s this kibitz room at Canters in Los Angeles. It’s like this Jewish wonderland in the middle of this village called Fairfax Avenue that I used to go to as a kid and it’s on the west coast and they have these fantastic turkey open face sandwiches and the corn beef and you can get a Monte Cristo sandwich there…

And they have this bar in the back that fit maybe about fifty people and it’s called the kibitz room and bands play there and that’s where all those weird rooms from like the forties and fifties that used to make up Los Angeles - mind you, you have to travel a little further now to find them because Los Angeles is built up now, it’s cool what’s still there in between the crack of Los Angeles and on the west coast it’s little bit harder to find being from the West Coast you understand that and lot of that midcentury stuff is the key to appreciating and moving from Pittsburgh I didn’t quite appreciate it. I was used to this nineteenth century beautiful brick and cornice work and rock and on the west coast you have to learn to appreciate these things like car dealerships before someone tears those down and all the Deco is protected but all the other stuff is open game you know.

J.B: Your line up - you have people from Mckenzies to Ranshackle Romeo’s and Filthy Thieving Bastards?

SPIKE: Tonight we have Ramshackle Romeo’s but sadly no Real Mckenzies or Filthy’s but we do have a guy from “Bomb” remember that band from the nineties from San Francisco? Captain Dave Hillsinger is playing the bass with us tonight and he’s from Toms River which is one town over from “Seaside Heights” where they film Jersey Shore and we actually went to the house when we went to visit him! That was one of my favorite shows, it was like America

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showing its dirty laundry.

J.B: You have a lot of songs that you pick to cover from John Lennon to Bowie but a lot of Kinks. Do you really like the Kinks?

SPIKE: Yeah I really like the Kinks it’s the main thing but I do like the Stones and the Beatles but with the Kinks it just makes it I don’t know if it’s the guitars or what?

J.B: Are you going to do the “Man Sold the World” tonight?

SPIKE: No but we are going to do a lot of things tonight and make a left turn in the middle of the set and we hope that Toronto will follow us.

J.B: I always end with a famous book or a famous quote is there anything that comes to mind?

SPIKE: Yeah my friend, may he rest in peace in Dayton Ohio once said “Get into the night” and a famous book “Paying for it” is a great book have you read it? Chester Brown, he’s from Montreal but he lives here and he’s one of those weird Triad of guys but paying for it is a book about his experiences as a john in Toronto and it’s amazing man and there’s these appendices that roll into passion in defense of the trade of prostitution and how he’s just as meaningful passionate relationships with women that he’s exchange money for sex with that as with anybody else and sometimes more satisfying than on multiple levels it’s amazing read. So this guy attacks the question like Joe Matt and invites these two guys to sit down and eat lunch and have coffee and this guy Joe Matt I don’t know if you read his comic books or not but he’s not a prude or nothing if you read those books because there kind of confessional in a Robert Crumb kind of way. And he’s the one that has the biggest problem with Chester Browns getting into and it’s interesting it really attacks your deepest held sentimental beliefs about prostitution and gender roles and relations and things like that.

UKE-HUNT

SELF TITLED ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW

WWW.FATWRECK.COM

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INTERVIEW WITH

STRUNG OUT FRONTMAN

JASON 31

CRUZ

If you’ve ever heard anything come out of California in the nineties that

32

caught your attention it would most defiantly be “STRUNG OUT”. After coming back from a late night skate session my friend came over hell bent on getting sideways and in the midst of looking for some papers a lone cassette fell to the floor. As he placed the mysterious cassette and hit play he spun around with a glare in his eyes as one oddly starred opposite of the other “Check this shit out”! That cassette travelled everywhere we went motivating and inspiring the young subjective minds of those angered and confused at the world’s problems in the midst of wars and corruption, The powerful meaningful lyrics and blazing speed rang over and over in our heads as our congregation grew larger the inevitable would become following one of the best bands and best albums of the nineties Strung Out “Suburban Teenage Wasteland”. Strung Out was part of the nineties skate punk that did something that no other dare touched at the time fusing heavy rifts and metal scale solo’s in the guitar wizardry of Jake Kiley’s blazing that would most definitely get you going or your face slide off one or the other, followed by intense time shifts and fast snare work and drum rolls of Jordan Burns with catchy lyrics choruses and a front man that new how to carry and deliver. Regardless of their young Fat Mike of Fat Wreck Chords new what he heard and the direction of what would become one of the most iconic punk bands in over a decade that way ahead of the game and still remain there to this day. After Eight solid well-constructed albums a “Live in Dive” and numerous compilation’s and two E.P’s (Strung Out) remains a huge part of the Fat Wreck Chords family for over a decade producing some of the most influential sounds and songs for not only inspiring minds but lighting a spark for others to follow. “Transmission Alpha Delta” is a constructed masterpiece of everything this band has been through and learned along the way, a structured well-orchestrated piece of composition that balances throughout and defines what punk rock remains to be.

JASON CRUZ /STRUNG OUT INTERVIEW BY: JASON BOLDUC/ JIM SMITH @BOVINE SEX CLUB /TORONTO ,ON AUGUST 5/2015 COURTESY OF MELANIE KAYE PR COVER PHOTO: ANDREW MO /FLICKR

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JASON CRUZ/PHOTO J.B

JAKE KILEY / PHOTO J.B

J.B: So this is J.B and Jim from Within Punk Zine talking with Jason Cruz of Strung Out and how’s it going?

JASON: It’s going good I’m just amazed at watching you guys work I’m trying to figure out whose setting who up?

J.B: No were both good a few beers in but were good!

JASON: Or it’s kind of the straight guy and who’s setting who up?

JIM: He’s the good cop I’ve been drinking all day not going to lie!

JASON: This is

going to be a good interview.

J.B: So I’ve been listening to you guys since Suburban Teenage Wasteland and wow what an album and then the latest “Transmission Alpha Delta” and I haven’t heard it in a few months but been playing it every day and last time I’ve heard it I thought it was good.

I mean you guys have always been known for adding the Metal sound in your albums and that showed through on Exile into Oblivion the intro is darker and heavier than that fast upbeat of Suburban and has carried through onto the latest ‘Transmission Alpha Delta” the new direction that you guys are going into with “Transmission” do you feel

“IT’S JUST MORE MUSICAL I THINK WE MADE THE SONGS JUST BETTER”

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that’s where it’s at?

JASON: Ah well it’s always interesting to hear people talk about their perspective of what the album sounds like, and I love to hear what other people think because we just write what we write.

There’s no time to do anything really I think it’s about what I was talking about before I think the things that have changed is we got better at Structure like song writing structure and making things a little bit more musical I think

CHRIS AIKEN / PHOTOJ.B

“WE GOT BETTER AT STRUCTURE LIKE SONG WRITING STRUCTURE” that’s the most important part of it.

JIM: You mean a little bit more produced than normal?

JASON: I wouldn’t say more production I would just say more musical! We made the songs just better and flow better and more composed when we were done…Well It’s just easier to listen to! And looking back it’s not Argghhh!! And it doesn’t drain you like some of the older records.

J.B: I found it more harmonic more depth and even tighter!

JASON: Yeah more musical our chorus are little bit catchier I think a little bit more defined a little bit more precise.

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“ I DON’T THINK ANYBODY TOOK US SERIOUSLY”

J.B: Blackhawks over Los Angeles you have that record too that is amazing...

JASON: That’s a hard album to listen to front to back it’s good individual, I remember mixing it and after “I went man that was exhausting” after listening to the whole fucking thing there’s a lot going on everybody is shredding.

This record is a little bit more restraint on the shredding the solos are precisely integrated into the structure of the song and there’s still some interesting solo’s.

J.B: Songs like “Rat’s in the Walls “you have a written lyrical song about being in situations and being alone and dealing with your own issues..

JASON: You bought the record if that’s what you interpret it as?

J.B (Well actually I’m thinking it was about paying for companionship) J.B: So when you’re on tour what kind of Playlist do you guys play I mean a decade of releases and so many good songs do you play mostly the older stuff like off of Suburban?

JASON: Yeah too much I think! It’s a big debate ROB RAMOS / PHOTO right now with the band I like to play stuff that we really haven’t played more obscure and those guys like to play more of the classics like “Firecracker” and the hits that sort of stuff. I think there’s so many songs that we haven’t done that I would like to pay attention to.

JIM: You guys were the first to sign with Fat Wreck Chords..

JASON: No you mean Lagwagon!

JIM: No one of the first it’s in the wording you guys where part of the initial first that signed with Fat Wreck Chords. How do you feel about being part of the family I mean Fat Wreck Chords is Fat Wreck Chords right?

JASON: Actually I feel really bad about talking about that because were like the joke at one time when we first started out Strung Out we were

36

O J.B

37

just dorks! I don’t think anybody really took us seriously! And truly I feel pretty awkward but Fat Wreck Chords is awesome.

JIM: I don’t know about that cheers to you guys being awesome and influencing me!

JASON: Thanks that’s awesome that people feel that way!

JIM: well you know you guys started out as kids and played really fast and maybe because you where young they didn’t take it that way and then you grew more experienced and then you became the top and then everyone looks for you now because your “Strung Out” and everybody wants to talk with you now?

JASON: That’s a nice way of saying hey your old!

J.B: Yeah but even as kids you guys came out and gave it everything you have and more straight with “Another Day in Paradise” and then boom! “Suburban Teenage Wasteland” and even now you’re still giving it “EVERYTHING” you have how do you keep up?

JASON: Ah man it’s hard keeping up but here’s the thing its way harder to play a slow song than it is to play and write a fast song! The slower the song it’s harder to play because it takes people attention to a slower song than a faster song. Usually people are looking for those kinds of songs and they look for that anger and aggression and moving around and that’s always been a part of us you just have to do a lot of speed! I think at the same time though speed is very limited to what you can do with that peak because of the screaming with the vocals but it’s good to switch it down a bit.

J.B: So let’s talk lyrical content because “Strung Out” has always been known for writing some amazing pieces and the content is always personal and motivating things that people can really rely to. Songs like “Monster” or “No Apologies” what inspires you to write?

JASON: ah well it’s me who writes the lyrics and I always like to just get all fucked up and it just comes out that’s the secret I sit back lock myself away and things kind of take over from there.

JIM: Well it’s a personal journey and that’s the best way to compose the

JORDAN BURNS /PHOTO J.B

best songs right?

JASON: Yeah for sure I mean I stay up really late like 3 in the morning and get all screwed up and get ideas and then you have to stop and turn it off you know and write deeper songs and I think now it’s different on this record is a little bit more obstruct because of that change on turning myself off.

JIM: Like the “Off ” switch like a light bulb this guy has it he’s the only one I know that can do that!

J.B: “Click” “Click” lol J.B: You guys also mentioned on this album it’s different a whole new sound E Flat?

JASON: Yeah we tuned up to E flat instead of D! J.B: That explains the metal because D is always metal!

JASON: Well actually it’s so you can hear the guitars a lot better it’s a cleaner sound!

J.B: Yeah it’s also been known that E flat is a sign of Drama and Bold and dramatic also is known for having links to the Masonic Temple is there any Lodge secrets you like to converse Jason?

JASON: If I told secrets than they wouldn’t be secrets anymore!

J.B: “Twisted By Design” was an amazing album that defined who you are to this day a well-produced album that carried from front to back and started the sound that you are today what’s the new direction of “Strung Out” Ah there’s no direction we’ve pretty much gotten really

38

bad reviews of this album and until people start writing about us that’s not going to change you know the only ones that give a shit about us is the true fans and the kids you know, even though musically our albums are really good and deserve better.

JIM: Well I wouldn’t say only kids I mean more of the lifestyle would enjoy your sound? Punk Rock right?

JASON: Yeah but they are still kids mostly every show you go to they are a younger generation which is cool that we still inspire that but you know we still love it when older people come out to see us too.

GIRL: Ah shit man I’m trying to go this is Bull Squat!

JIM: Sorry honey they locked you out is this creepy three guys hanging outside a women’s washroom?

LORRISA: No I’m just trying to do my thing and you guys are cool!

JIM: See Jason I told you this is a good spot!

J.B: Hey you know what works if you donkey kick the door! Yeah just donkey kick it!

LORRISSA: Like this! (DOOR ALMOST COMES OFF IT”S HINGES”) MEGAN: INAPORIATE!!

JASON: Did I mention I really like this interview!

LORISSA: Bull Squat they encouraged me!

MEGAN: I WAS TRYING TO TALK TO MY MOTHER! J.B: So take two on the girl’s washroom interview!

LORISSA: BULL SQUAT see it takes two minutes and I didn’t even wash my hands I just wiped them on my face!

J.B: Emm okay punk rock! So “Modern Drugs” everyone’s on something these days with pharmaceuticals how do you feel about everybody walking around so complacent?

JASON: Huh? Pharmaceuticals where are they? I mean that’s cool if you get something out of them!

JIM: I get a whole bunch out of them like “Pain Killers”!

JASON: Ha! No actually the song is about habitual rituals and the things that people do be it whatever sex drugs or other things..

J.B: We always end with a famous book or quote that inspired you in your life anything come to mind?

JASON: Yeah actually “Joseph Conrad” “Heart of Darkness” I read that book while we were making the album and love of that book inspired the album and it’s in there so yeah “Heart of Darkness”.

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40

INTERVIEW WITH

K .J

JANSEN

41

J.B: Hey people I’m standing here with Jim and the infamous K.J from “CHIXDIGGIT” K.J: “CHIXDIGGIT” J.B: Let’s do this, let’s just dive right into it! So do you still have those shirts, the original ones you made back in High School before you guys actually played any instruments? Do you still have like maybe one of those?

K.J: Yeah I got like one of those and they don’t look like the new logo and my mom has one and a guy in Australia has one and girl in Germany still has one and as K.J JANSEN/ PHOTO :YOU TUBE far as I know of it’s just those four

“The E.P is a testament to Fat Wreck Chords”

people that have those that still exist.

JIM: Hey maybe it’s JOJO? K.Y: No her name is Stephanie and she runs a restaurant in Hamburg called...Mamma...FUCK! It’s such a good restaurant what in the hell is the name oh ya “MOMMALICIOUS”! If you’re ever in Hamburg Germany you gotta go! She’s rad because Stephanie in Hamburg Germany bought the first EVER Chixdiggit t-shirt!

J.B: The last thing you guys did other than the E.P’s and compilation songs that you’ve done was “ChixDiggit 2” So are you guys going to give us something new?

K.J: Ahh ya we did the “Safeways” one, it was going to be a full record but some of the songs I wasn’t into and I don’t want to put out something that I’m not into anymore. I mean that’s an amazing album but for people that are buying it of course but I mean there are a whole lot of shitty songs that we could have put on there to make it a full album but I don’t want to do that anymore.

JIM: Well at the same time the music industry isn’t where it’s at anymore and unless you’re out touring, then you can get the EP or you can do the digital download which is the new media way of doing it.

K.J: Well the E.P is a testament to Fat Wreck Chords right there like

42

wait you only have these 7 songs but you want to put out a record?

“Okay” and they didn’t hassle us about it and ya!

J.B: And EP’s are cool they are collectable with multi colors special inserts and stuff that go into it right?

K.J: And yeah they’re just cheap!

JIM: What’s wrong with cheap?

So a lot of “Pro Tools” “Digi Design”?

K.J: No not at all actually we stay away from that crap - our favorite artist… (heard over loudspeaker at the venue)...Is this Ice Ice Baby? Actually he did that last Ice album… is Tom Bagley so he does our stuff and then he sends it to Fat so I don’t know what happens after that so I stay out of that!

JIM: You’re from Calgary though?

K.J: Yep Canadian bred born in Edmonton so I’m a huge Alberta fan except the Oilers of course (Smiling).

The thing about the Calgary punk scene is they are super genuine, they look you in the eye and they look out for each other and not like on the West Coast.

J.B: You mentioned before that you would like to tour with your wife’s band. Is that still the same hope?

K.J: Oh yeah the “Rift Randalls” they are a three piece but they cause a lot of trouble where ever they go and stir things up and they are known for that tension if you know them.

J.B: God I’m having a hard time reading my footnotes! I use these because the years of the lifestyle have just killed my short term memory!

K.J: Ya that happens!

J.B: So screw the tiny letter footnotes I’m winging it all the way from here. So you guys put out two on Honest Don’s back to back which everybody knows Honest Don’s is like being on Fat because it’s a subsidiary division of it. And those releases eventually led to signing with Fat

“We stay away from that crap”

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Wreck Chords?

K.J: Yeah I never really understood it. I guess it was explained to me in several different ways, it was bands that were really good and wanted to be with the Fat Family but really didn’t kind of fit in with Fat Wreck Chords at the time.

And I guess that changed in what the definition of Fat Wreck Chords bands is today in regards to the different sounding bands they have now. I mean everybody loved Erin and Mike.

JIM: By the way this is Queen “Under Pressure” just putting that correction out there K.J: Ah ya your right! My mistake whoops!

J.B: So Pop Punk is really big right now and seems to be going strong?

K.J: Ah actually it depends where you are? You know it goes in waves really the best way of explaining it is you’re really big on moment and the next not so more and it goes like that. When you play in a place and everyone’s awesome and it’s a good show and crazy and you go back and it’s not like that anymore.

JIM: Okay where’s the craziest Pop Punk scenes?

K.J: In the world you mean! Ah Tokyo, Madrid in Spain, small towns in Norway and of course a couple here in Canada where a couple of us did really

K.J JANSEN / PHOTO: LUKE HA

“I mean everybody loved Erin and Mike”

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ARRISON FLICKR

45

well.

JIM: (To ladies standing to use the washroom) Sorry this is where we lurk, this is where we hang out! I know it’s a creepy thing but we are all good, we are harmless! Wanna jump in and ask K.J something? (SILENCE) J.B: So you’re on your own this time around and doing an acoustic tour with the iconic Joey Cape. How is that going to go?

K.J: Well I just did a show with Chris Cresswell of “The Flatliners” and it was super fun. It’s a new thing for me and I love doing it.

J.B: Joey describes doing acoustic as being a true song writer because it’s only you to grab their attention and carry it though and you’re out in the open.

K.J: Yeah there’s tricks to still be able to hide your true self still and your song writing abilities thanks to you guys (Hugging the Ladies standing beside us).

JIM: The true fans!

EVO: Sometimes it’s nice to echo back what you’re feeling and to get input into how you’re getting through right?

J.B: Welcome “EVO” you’re now a columnist of Within Punk Zine! Cheers (Dinging of glasses) K.J: Ya totally though the first time I did a show and the guys weren’t there it was the fans that carried me through.

EVO: Ya but when you write such great

songs and they are so catchy it’s hard not to sing along!

(Another woman walks out) JIM: Hi! Welcome to the front row Q & A with K.J Jansen!

K.J: We’re trying to reserve the front row just for you guys!

GIRL: Really ah How was it? Did you guys listen to me pee?

JIM: No we’re here hanging out doing an interview but now that you mention it you might be on audio?

But hey if you break the seal there’s nowhere else to go?

WOMAN: Well all the girls are thinking this is the lineup!

J.B: Well it is sort of! I’m too lazy to walk around!

K.J: Well Story time folks! So what I do at work is we have this water cooler and I put it into my locker because we have lockers in our bathroom and exercise drinking when I have to pee but sometimes it doesn’t work and it really starts to reek and lately well I haven’t been doing it lately because we just had a baby.

JIM: Well I guess this is the Pee View! And…Hello New Girl!

NEW GIRL: I really like just listening to the answers and just listening!

This is neat! Good thing I had to go!

J.B: So K.J, now that you’re surrounded by beautiful women I guess “CHIXDIGGIT”! Ah Playlist what kind of playlist would you be playing if you were on this tour?

K.J: Well I don’t know but I don’t have a cord in my car to plug into my phone so I have three cd’s I’m listening to right now The Copy Rights, North Sentinel Island - do you guys have that record?

They are my favorite band right now and there are so many bands right now that sound like them and they are the first. And I was cleaning out the basement and I found this CD that I had probably about fifteen years ago but I got it about ten years late and the guys from Bum do you guys know Bum? Wow okay this is great! Okay so BUM is from Victoria but no one in Canada knows them and they’re superstars in Spain and they broke up for years and finally got back together and went back to Spain but the” Wanna Smash Sensation” is the record! They don’t like the name but there’s a couple of songs that are so good and I was going to play them tonight. So one of the singers form BUM I feel like I’m lecturing here..

LADIES: No this is our education! YA! Woo! K.J: So anyway BUM there’s two guys Andrew and Rob and Andrew writes rock ‘n roll songs and Rob writes pop songs, but together I’m not really sure how it works but it’s incredible. They turned me onto this band called SILVERSUN not Silverspun Pickups but called Silversun

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47

and the first album is self-titled and it’s insane! It’s the best record you will ever hear and it’s one of my favorite records of all time.

There’s this one song called “Lava” where it’s him singing about the baby jesus and all this crazy shit and sounds like this crazy choir but it’s these guys singing in falsetto and then it turn into this craziest pop punk song you’ve ever heard and then back into the choir.

EVO: I have a list of shit people tell me about like The Remains K.J: Ahh I’m going to check that out!

J.B: Well my high school growing up sucked ass! Maybe I should have been a football player!

K.J: NEGATIVE! I know where you’re going with this actually the football players in my school were really nice guys and just not dicks and the biggest dicks were the skateboarders and the jocks but then it switched.

JIM: Went from Jock to Rock!

K.J: NICELY SAID! I was involved in that so we made up the name CHIXDIGGIT to make fun of these guys and that’s where the whole thing started.

EVO: I have a question was does the acronym “CGIT” mean?

OTHER GIRL: I know “Can’t Get It Together”?

K.J: Nice! Well I meant to play it tonight but I Couldn’t Get It Together!

OTHER WOMEN: I will be right back some ass hole ripped me off!

(Running Off) K.J: But I was just explaining your question!

JIM: Well it may just have been YELLOW, BLUE, RED or GREEN OFFICER! Ha K.J: NICE! Actually I will answer her question anyway it’s a small town Alberta saying “CANADIAN GIRLS IN TRAINING”! It was a seventies thing in the prairies my sisters were in it so I don’t know if it’s still around! It was actually a group of women that I believed wove things and did like macramé and pottery we still have this owl in our bathroom and this pottery piggy bank and his name is Professor Owl and he held a lot of coins and you can’t get it open probably all pennies but we also had macramé owls in the bathroom so that mostly held soap.

JIM: Fat Wreck Chords how does it feel to be signed with them and part of the family?

K.J: I love them they are great! I love them way lots, nothing but good times.

JIM: Is there a famous book or quote that inspired you?

K.J: Yeah my friend wrote a quote in my High School book that helped

me “You can’t blame a compass for pointing North” and I thought that was the sweetest thing that a boy could say to another boy in high school don’t you think?

48

Stephen locked the door and kicked his shoes off. On the bed, a prostitute with a purple birthmark on her cheek sat dressed in a light blue matching bra and panty set. “Stephen, this is Jackie. She’ll do anything we want if the price is right. Won’t you, Jackie?”

“I sure will,” said Jackie, licking burnt lips salaciously. “You just name it.”

“Actually,” said Angie, flicking a lighter, “Stephen is kinda shy. He likes it when I guess what he wants. Don’t you, Stevie?”

Stephen didn’t much like being called “Stevie” but he was far too preoccupied to object. He sucked the crack smoke deep into his lungs and felt the room disintegrate in a blinding flash of total pleasure. His head lifted from his shoulders and went into orbit.

“Let’s sit down,” said Angie, taking the stem from his nerveless fingers.

She guided him to the bed, and she and Jackie began to undress the catatonic businessman. Soon, Stephen was naked and trembling.

Angie reached under the bed and pulled out the bag of toys. “Let’s see…what shall we try today?” She lifted a leather riding crop. “This?” she said, swinging the whip in a short arc. Stephen shook his head.

“No? Then how about this?” The strap-on dildo dangled from her fingers. She could tell by the excited look on his face that she had guessed correctly. “Hmmm… How about if we make a girl sandwich, with you in the middle?”

Jackie hauled on the crack pipe. She let the smoke out slowly and ran her hands over Stephen’s naked chest.

“Would you like that, tiger? We’re gonna make you feel gooood!”

Now Stephen was shaking. He knelt on the bed and watched as Angie greased up the dildo. Jackie stroked his shaft until he got as hard as the plastic cock then rolled a condom over his penis. Soon they were rocking back and forth, a bizarre animal with three backs. Mid-thrust, Stephen decided he wasn’t high enough.

“I need another hit,” he said.

Angie stopped with the plastic cock halfway out of Stephen’s ass. “Well, have one then,” she said, with a hint of exasperation. Fucking a middle-aged man up the butt was not her idea of fun and, though it did give her a certain twisted satisfaction, she wanted to get this done. After much fumbling, Stephen got the pipe lit and took another blast. They picked up the rhythm again but soon the train derailed. Stephen fumbled with his cock and tried to get it back into Jackie, but he’d gone soft. “Damn!” he cursed.

Jackie waited patiently, but for all his efforts Stephen could not get back inside. Finally, Angie gave up and pulled the strap-on all the way out. The plastic penis glistened obscenely, eternally indefatigable and always ready for action. “Don’t worry, Stephen. Let’s give it a rest for a while. I’m sure it’ll work later.”

Stephen was devastated. Hookers and crack went together like hostile and takeover, so why wasn’t it working anymore? He felt betrayed, stranded high and dry by his best friend. His cock drooped insultingly, so he tore off the condom and threw it on the floor. There was only one answer. “Load the pipe,” he said.

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Joey Cape will be the first to tell you that the past few years haven’t exactly

been the easiest on him. Of course, there’s the problems that affect many an aging punk—Joey is closing in on 50, and it’s not like there’s a pension plan for punk rock—but then there are the permanent departures that continue to mount as a scene that was built on the “live fast, die young” mantra is now losing some of its finest members. It’s a huge reason why Lagwagon’s most recent album, 2014’s incredible Hang, was, well, pretty fuckin’ dark, from the lyrical content to the noose on the cover art. So when you first fire up Joey’s new solo album, Stitch Puppy, you might think you’ll be in for a downer—and, yeah, you’ll get that, at times. But it’s really so much more. But you’ll need to wait until Stitch Puppy’s release—September 4th–to sink your teeth into it and discover the beauty and the darkness for yourself. Oh, and just what is a stitch puppy? Let’s let Joey explain: I’m excited to be announcing the release of my new solo album Stitch Puppy.

It’s been almost 5 years since the last solo full length was released so it feels long overdue. Stitch Puppy was inspired by a doll my daughter made me a few years back. It’s a sort of Victorian mourning doll. Stitch is my most prized possession. Put it this way, if my house were to burn down, after my family and the animals, Stitch would be top priority. My idea to wear his costume stems from years of thinking of him as some representation of purity, loss and the strength that follows. Stitch Puppy seems to be alone, which is the way it feels to mourn the loss someone you love or to be abandoned, stood up. We are all disappointed by life’s disloyalties and losses but somehow the wiser for them. We transform from victim to guide. We are witness to these things and the beauty in between. That’s it. That’s how I see Stitch Puppy. Not defeated.

Simply the wise witness I aim to be.

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Tour dates: 09/17/15 Vancouver @ The Cobalt w/ KJ Jansen, Laura Mardon, Walt Hamburger, Brian Wahlstrom 09/18/15 Kelowna, @ Habitatw/ KJ Jansen, Laura Mardon, Walt Hamburger, Brian Wahlstrom 09/19/15 Edmonton @ The Buckingham w/ KJ Jansen, Laura Mardon, Walt Hamburger, Brian Wahlstrom 09/20/15 Calgary@ Broken City w/ KJ Jansen, Laura Mardon, Walt Hamburger, Brian Wahlstrom 09/22/15 Winnipeg, @ West End Cultural Center w/ Laura Mardon, Walt Hamburger, Brian Wahlstrom 09/25/15 London@ London Music Hall w/ Jo Bergeron, Laura Mardon, Walt Hamburger, Brian Wahlstrom 09/26/15 Toronto @ Horseshoe w/ Jo Bergeron, Laura Mardon, Walt Hamburger, Brian Wahlstrom 09/27/15 Laval @ Bar Le Repaire w/ Jo Bergeron, Laura Mardon, Walt Hamburger, Brian Wahlstrom

“DIVISION OF SPOILS” AVAILABLE NOW www.fatwreck.com

FAT MUSIC VOL.8:

“GOING NOWHERE FAT” AVAILABLE NOW @

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www.fatwreck.com

LOS KUNGFU MONKEYS “RUDEBOY ROCKERS” AVAILABLE NOW @

“BURN INTOTHE EARTH” AVAILABLE NOW @

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“BELOVED”

AVAILABLE NOW ON

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RELEASE DATE

SEPTEMBER 4,2015 “A DEEP EMOTIONAL RIVETING COLLECTION OF PERSONAL MEANING AND PERSPECTIVE”

Joey Cape is back again with his latest release ‘Stitch Puppy” only this time it will be released on Fat Wreck Chords in entirety instead of the one song a month approach.

Stich Puppy is a ten track score that journeys through personal perspective of dishonesty, choices, discissions and strength to power through the complexties of what we call life. Joey’s no stranger to striking deep in the emotional lyrcial context that relates to everyday struggles and bonding with harmonical rifts and vocal ranges he takes us through an emotional passage that we can all relate to at some point in our lives. Long time partner Brian Whalstrom is just as much a focal point on this release as is Joey carrying scales and depth as a pianist reminiscent of some Tori Amos work. Stitch Puppy also has Cello and tamborine work in tracks giving it a well defined composed piece of artistry that does not disappoint, either leaving you in tears or showing direction and encouragement to find the way to happiness. From the starting track of “Me the witness” a song about facing the truth even though it’s something hard to face has soft chords and gentle harmonics carrying through. “This Life is Strange” is more composed with fast upbeat power strokes with hard down strokes with an eight bit piano scale drawing to the focal point. On “Spill my guts” Joey is joined in a vocal duo that goes back in forth in a third person perspective that narrates the meaning of the lyrical content with a soft tamborine carrying the mood with a powerful vocal range in the end. Every person is no stranger to late nights and hardships that follow from long departures and distances and “St Mary’s” is one of those meaningful well written songs about the consequences that may come from separation and the will to give to carry despite situations. The most powerfull track “Broken” which has the deepest touching emotional range with Joey’s heart shining through with strong piano key strokes that carry the greatest depth worthy of any theatre production. The main song that will be promoted is “Moral Compass” which relates to life’s direction and advice to find the guidance that lies within us all and keep us pointing true north by our values and morals that can never be taken away.

“ A WELL DEFINED COMPOSED EMOTIONAL GUIDANCE FOR THE HEART”

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AVAILABLE NOW

“NON STOP SKA-PUNK ACTION FROM FRONT TO BACK TO GET YOU DANCING IN NO TIME” From being part of the first Mexican Punk Ska bands on the Vans Warp tour to opening for the Dropkick Murphys in Mexico, this Ska piece knows how far hard work and the DYI approach can take you. After all it’s not every day you tour with bands like the Voodoo Glow Skulls and the infamous NOFX during their Tijuana tour! Los Kung Fu Monkeys are a ska punk band based out of Canada and Mexico.

Formed in 1997, when brothers Tarek and Hassan Limas and Bernardo Leos joined their talents and forces to start Los Kung Fu Monkeys. Their latest release is on Canada’s infamous ska punk label Stomp Records titled “Rudeboy Rockers”. This 13 track album starts off upbeat right off the start with their hit song “Taking It Easy” that’s featured in their first video off this album. A fast catchy upbeat progressive song with some horn work and easy vocal range that’s catchy to sing along to will make you easily look at the positive instead of the negative. Followed next by “Stretch your hand” which is a low tempo laid back groove, the next upbeat track “See you in the end” has a lyrical meaning and again those easy choruses that catch your attention and lift you into good spirits. This release has that ska street punk fuse that works like “Bombs Away” that has that rolling tom work and more a classic punk sound with bass lines and then a back ann forth horn section. The album has lyrical content that is easy to relate to, touching base on life decisions, bad luck, relationships and the working class. There is also piano and organ work throughout but really shines on “Move On” where there’s a scale solo that follows through. This band even though they have toured throughout different continents and countries they still pay homage to their roots on tracks “TJ ES M I HOGAR” and “Mas Que Radio” Mexican punk tracks that are catchy and true to their heritage. Starting off 2015 this band is going to go far as their songs are catchy resulting in you driving erratically like an estranged mental case, head nodding to the point where people may just think you have a health issue or some form of mental issue while smiling fiercely shaking back and forth serenading yourself. Enjoy.

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NEW

NOISE https://thefilthyradicals1.bandcamp.com/

https://myspace.com/piranhas_bc

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UPCOMING RELEASES

TERROR

“THE 25TH HOUR”

VICTORY RECORDS AUGUST 07,2015

FAT MUSIC VOL.8 “GOING NOWHERE FAT”

FAT WRECK CHORDS AUGUST 07,2015

FLATLINERS

“DIVISION OF SPOILS”

FAT WRECK CHORDS AUGUST 07,2015

LOS KUNG FU MONKEYS “RUDEBOY ROCKERS”

STOMP RECORDS AUGUST 14,2015

SPARROWS

“DRAGGING HELL”

DAMAGE RECORDS AUGUST 28,2015

DEFEATER “ABANDONED”

EPITAPH RECORDS AUGUST 28,2015

THE ATOM AGE “HOT SHAME”

ASIAN MAN RECORDS

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AUGUST 28,2015

UPCOMING

SHOWS

New Orleans, LA, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience Festival, Saturday, October 31st 2015 Memphis, TN, New Daisy Theatre, USA, Sunday, November 1st 2015 Athens, GA, Georgia Theatre, USA, Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Culture Room, USA, Thursday, November 5th 2015 St. Petersburg, FL, The State Theatre, USA, Friday, November 6th 2015 Orlando, FL, The Plaza Live, USA, Saturday, November 7th 2015 Washington, DC, U Street Music Hall, USA, Tuesday, November 10th 2015 Philadelphia, PA, The Trocadero Theatre, USA, Wednesday, November 11th 2015 Pittsburgh, PA, The Altar Bar, USA, Thursday, November 12th 2015 Montreal, QU, La Tulipe, Canada, Saturday, November 14th 2015 Toronto, ON, The Opera House, Canada, Sunday, November 15th 2015 New York, NY, Best Buy Theater, USA, Monday, November 16th 2015 Chicago, IL, Concord Music Hall, USA, Wednesday, November 18th 2015 Denver, CO, Gothic Theatre, USA, Friday, November 20th 2015 Vancouver, BC, Vogue Theatre, Canada, Sunday, November 22nd 2015 Seattle, WA, The Showbox, USA, Monday, November 23rd 2015 Las Vegas, NV, Brooklyn Bowl, USA, Wednesday, November 25th 2015 San Francisco, CA, The Chapel, USA, Friday, November 27th 2015 Sacramento, CA, Ace of Spades, Saturday, November 28th 2015 Los Angeles, CA, The Fonda Theatre, Sunday, November 29th 2015

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SEPTEMBER 19/20 2015