EDITORIAL EDITOR NAOMI KELLY GRAPHIC DESIGNER JASON BOLDUC COLUMNISTS JASON BOLDUC MIKE MCCARTHY SEAN KIELY JIM SMITH
REVIEWS MIKE MCCARTHY PHOTOGRAPHY JASON BOLDUC JIM SMITH SEAN KIELY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MIKE CUBILLOS / EARSHOT MEDIA NATALIE CAMILLO /ADRENLINE PR BARI LIEBERMAN/ M.S.O.P.R MIKE MAGEE / STOMP RECORDS I SCREAM RECORDS PR MATTHIAS BAUER/PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS WALTER
Well seven years after my relentless personal battle a end has finally drawn to conclusion. I created this publication to express no matter how bad things get or how low you can get,the message and fire that burns inside shall overcome. It’s through this message our lives can change and become something more. The many strengths weaknesses and fears, will always question our thoughts and inspirations. The truth will always prevail through the darkness with many hands lifting you up along the way. The message remains the focus with intent to help those in similar paths. For it this unity that we forge a bond that can never be broken. Through the music ,through the expression of media we hope inspiration finds it’s way to you. From the beginning to the end shall we live this day,From the beginning to the end shall it be this way. WITHIN Jason Bolduc Withinmagazine@Hotmail.com
7
PENNYWISE INTERVIEW WITH FLETCHER DRAGGE
AS I LAY DYING 18 INTERVIEW WITH PHIL SGROSSO
22
WISDOM IN CHAINS INTERVIEW WITH MAD JOE
CONTENT USUALS
28
REVS MOVIE REVIEW
LIFESTYLES PUNK ROCK ETIQUETTE 101
Greetings fellow punkers. After a couple of years of procrastination, and a home base move across the country; I have the time and opportunity now to focus on this long over due column. I’d like to use this platform to give you all a taste of true non-fiction tid-bit stories from my life that are sure to entertain, and leave you wondering, “WHY?” and thinking, “BETTER HIM THAN ME!” Enough of this chit chat, let’s begin. My name is Styles. I am a 32 year old alcoholic drug abuser. I come from a small town, I think that gives me an upper hand in certain social situations; like cow-tipping and group sex small talk. When I was eighteen my best friend and I tag teamed a girl. She was great at dividing up the time each of us would get to pound her relentlessly. She would simply say, “Your turn”, and we would switch to one banging her swollen pussy and the other getting jerked off by her or throat fucking her. The poor girl was being so patient while we tried to cum. We were both too drunk. When I swore there were sparks coming from her vagina I finally came. I rolled off and passed out. Apparently it took my best friend another hour before he cam. This sex was more of a chore than pleasurable and I wouldn’t be surprised if this girl forced herself to be a dyke after. Punk Rock Etiquette : Be the first to cum inside a dry vagina to lube it up for your best friend. Styles
STRAIGHT AHEAD THE REAL PERSPECTIVE WITH
FLECTHER DRAGGE
PENNYWISE FLETCHER DRAGGE INTERVIEW BY J.B COURTESY OF MIKE CUBILLOS
EARSHOT MEDIA
SEPT 10,2010 J.B : So your very first go Pennywise “Wildcard” “Word from the Wise” I had a tape the wheels broke right off of it because I listened to it so many fucking times. It was fucking awesome though man but how come that’s not “Wikipedia”?. FLETCHER: I’m I don’t know that’s a good question, can you go on there and update it?. JB: Yeah I think I can , although they probably won’t take me seriously FLECTHER: UMM NOMES: After all it is “Wikipedia” FLETCHER: Umm doesn’t someone like check the updates and see if legit or something like that?. I don’t know how it works but can anyone do that?. JB: no man FLECTHER: Really?. FLECTHER: I don’t go on “Wikipedia” I’m not a “Wikipedia guy ZOLI TEGLAS PHOT JASON BOLDUC NOMES: You can’t trust them JB: it’s fucking retarded everything’s else is on there all the imports all the live you guys put out. But it’s the beginning fuck.. Like fuck.. FLETCHER: Ya it’s important JB: Ya I thought it was kind of important JB: So greasing the wheels eighteen releases later still fucking going strong, So what’s the new direction?. FLETCHER: the new direction is a new singer. JB: Ya FLECTCHER: I guess umm is that a later question?. JB: No.. No.. That’s all it is?. FLETCHER: The new direction I mean ..obviously this is probably going to be a long answer so you can do whatever you want to do with it umm.. FLETCHER: Nobody was happy when Jim left the band ..he was kind of the behind... We were keeping everything on the down low.. And not really kind of talking about it because we wanted to take the high road. But now we kind of feel like he’s taking the low road and we’ve been kind of talking about it a little bit more but it’s not like we’re going to through a bunch of dirt on the guy. It’s like he basically planned on quitting the band, and he didn’t tell anybody. Now he’s been threatening to quite for I don’t know fifteen years always saying like hey I don’t want to do this!, “If this doesn’t happen I’m going to quit” “ If we don’t do this or take it to the next level “or whatever that went on for a long time. The first time we went to Europe he refused to go our very first tour ever.
JB:YEAH FLETCHER: on the blue album he refused to go on tour. He was making a ban..Excuse me he was making well..He had a job and he was getting married he was making ten bucks a hour. We were like we’re going to Europe..And he’s like “NO NO” “I’m not going” and we’re like okay your out of the band. And he’s like “whatever” so we kicked him out and got Dave Quackenbush from the vandals to do the European Tour. We came home wrote “The Unknown” with Randy in the band and Jason started singing and we wrote “unknown Road” without him. And we soon recorded on the road without Jim and I was like “Jason Jim’s way better than you in vocals, we need to get him back”. JB: Ha Ha no way.. FLETCHER: “ And he’s like fuck that, no way “ I’m like dude were taking a step back he’s a great vocalist and great song writer but Jims voice is insane. So he came back he wrote like..We had everything recorded but he wrote some of the lyrics and did a amazing job kind of was all hungry and shit..And then we recorded the album and started touring. Over the years there’s been a bunch RANDY BRADBURY PHOTO JASON BOLDUC of times when he wasn’t into it and that showed. So bottom line is Pennywise has always been about “Democracy” and equality everybody has a voice and has span on everything from colors of the t-shirts to how the intro of the song goes. JB: Ya FLETCHER: that’s what Everyone’s about ..and that’s what we sing about their became a point when he just wasn’t into to abiding by democracy. It was like” We want to do this Jim” the label wants to do it.. So and So wants to do it, the booking agent wants to do it..he was like “nah I don’t want to do it”, “I’m not going to go on tour”. It was mainly Tour strafe I mean Canada was one of the places we neglected a lot we didn’t do full Canadian tours. We couldn’t do popular sections and we never did full tours. So it was very discouraging for us because that went on all over the world . I mean Japan neglected parts of Europe neglected South America..South America was neglected for I don’t know fifteen years before we went over there. JB: Meanwhile you have pressure from the Label right?. FLETCHER: Ya I mean of course the labels where really mad with Jim ,because they put all this money up and put all this work into it.. And he just wouldn’t support the record properly. So whatever..He just didn’t like touring he didn’t like being away from him family. And we understood that so we always tried to work with him..And then he just up and like quit..Well he up and said “listen I want a year off ” and stuff and we’re like what are you talking about?. Like out of the blue but he had it all planned , if you see his special he’s like “I’m going to work on a book, I have a book”. And he has a movie coming out about his other book “punk Rock Dad”. You know I have these other projects I want to stay home with my family. But he initially told us he’s like if I had a live in nanny for my wife
BYRON MCMACKIN PHOTO JASON BOLDUC
to help with the kids I could tour like no problem. So we came back like no problem Byron and I talked no problem “We’ll pay for your live in nanny”. keep the tours to two weeks , we’re only allowed to do two week blocks never a month or six weeks like most bands. Or let alone nine months like someone like Avenge Sevenfold or Metallica like real touring bands. We had it pretty easy we toured four months a year and he said that wasn’t good enough either and kind of laid out this whole thing. It was ..it was just a bum out. He basically said if you want “Pennywise and touring with Pennywise to be your number one priority then you’re going to have to find a new singer and I totally support that”. And were like “Fuck” that’s not what we want but this is what we do we love playing live and getting out in front of the fans and so he fits and came back and says the he quits. FLETCHER: So that was it..And we were like okay totally lame but whatever he has other priorities you know if he wants to sit at home we respected that. In the press we didn’t talk about all the shit I just talked about we just said “hey he wants to do different things he wants to stay at home with his family he doesn’t want to tour we respect it. Which was a bummer for us but at the same time we were like okay were moving on . Well we come to find out a
week later he started his new band. JB: Ya the “Black Pacific” FLETCHER: Ya and then the first song he wrote is “Sounds a lot like a Pennywise song”. So maybe it is the same exact guitar rift note for note, note for note I played it on the last album so I know . JB: YEAH? FLETCHER: I’m like wow dude obviously he knew he was doing that, and then the next song sounds very Pennywise. So it was kind of like a kick in the balls because he started another band so soon when he told us he needed a year off to do all these other things and that there was no guarantees when he came back, after the year that we would do anything together. And then hearing the songs that sounds like pennywise it was like hey dude if you want to do your own thing ..that would be cool go do your own thing! You were always talking about doing. But then you’re going back and doing our thing that everybody knew. And now you’re doing our thing by yourself so that was a bummer and then I looked on his website and he’s got thirty days booked in Europe. He’s going on tour we haven’t been able to do a thirty day tour in Europe for I don’t know twelve years. Because he wouldn’t if we begged and pleaded to go to you know Sweden and Norway , Spain and Portugal he would be like “what ever you could fit” in fourteen days door to door. So that meant he flew and had to be back home in fourteen days. So like it was another kick in the balls it was “Why” Why is he doing this”? it’s so stupid
because it hurts everybody you know?. JB: Ya I Know! FLETCHER: So he’s got to start over and we got to get a new singer it just doesn’t make sense but I think he’s just over us. Me and him butted heads a lot I was kind of like his opposing force but when he wanted to do something I was the spokesman for me and Byron I would be like “No Jim” here’s what we’re doing this is why it makes sense. And he didn’t like being told that something made sense. But then again it’s easy for him to go around and tell people I’m a crazy man on drugs I mean after all I somewhat of a “thug” (Making a thug gesture with a grin ) JB: Ya okay FLETCHER: Well it’s partly true I guess... JB: HAHAHAHAH FLETCHER: It’s not entirely true, I mean I have half a brain when it come s to business and this is what I love to do I mean..I started the band Byron was in the band and with Jason we were a band before Jim even got into “Pennywise”. I mean we were Pennywise we weren’t this “Pennywise” but we had already developed our sound a bit. When Jim came in he was the final piece of the puzzle I mean” I will never say he wasn’t a great song writer and amazing front man you know cool to have a beer with”. JB: YA FLETCHER: But when it came to doing what was right for the band his slogan was “don’t tell me what’s right for the band” I know what’s right for the touring nine months of the year . For us it’s more about playing live. It’s really not about touring and making money touring around it’s about if the kids in South America or Japan or Toronto or London, Ontario we haven’t been there for seven years. JB: Ya FLETCHER That kid bought all of our records and is sitting in his room FLETCHER DRAGGE : PHOTO JASON BOLDUC
ZOLI TEGLAS PHOTO JASON BOLDUC
for seven years waiting for us to come and we haven’t been there for seven years you know it’s just not cool. And you know for us getting out there and playing is like the number one payoff like writing a song and going in the studio that’s all work and you know and not always fun. But going out there and playing the songs is really fun so..It’s ,move on to Zoli you know ..it’s we have a guy in the band that wants to be in the band . JB: Yeah? FLETCHER: wants to tour ,wants to be on stage ,isn’t negative doesn’t come off stage bummed about stuff. Like there was a negative vibe in the band and a felling of like not having a good time you know what I mean and he’s was just going through the emotions and he actually said that “That I’m not having fun anymore”. Because you know if I’m not having fun I don’t want to go up there and fake it that’s not fair. And you know that’s true that’s not fair to the kids. Yeah: I mean not to mention Zoli’s got a amazing heart too FLETCHER: Zoli is a person actually you that is really a punk rock guy, you know he’s involved in these causes like the Sea Shepperd. He does like you know sea wildlife rescue and stuff on his own time. So he’s actually one of those guys that gets his hands dirty and gets in the
trenches. Sometimes goes and borrows a boat or rents a boat and goes out into the ocean and rescues pelicans with his dad or whoever he can get to go with him. You know he Steve Irwin and is a active member of Sea Shepperd for over fifteen years. So that was a really good felling you know, we like to be involved in charities and stuff and we always had a soft spot for that kind of stuff. And not only that but he can sing the songs really good and you know Ignite is a good band, and he’s got potential to be a good song writer. See he writes songs for Ignite and there last album was pretty amazing. Some people quote unquote say he sings to high how can he sing for Pennywise?. If you can sing Hi you can sing Low, If you can sing Low sometimes you can’t sing high. So he comes out here and the first order of business was making sure he could do the songs, not just imitate Jim but you know not be Jim because Jim is has his own voice but just be out there believe in the songs believe in the message and make it count for the fans. And you know try and make the songs sound like they do on the albums , and you know he’s pulling it off. Before you know it felt like we were up there playing for three hours instead of a hour because the vibe was so thick and it was just like Jim doesn’t want to be here you
know and you could feel that. Then with Zoli you’ve played fifteen minutes and it felt like it was a hour and you’re like wow ,it’s fun and your having a good time. I’m not going to lie to you it’s hard it’s like training a dog or a puppy because he’s set in his ways and were set in our ways so.. Okay dude let’s find a happy medium here there’s defiantly some screaming and back and forth stuff but he’s pretty tuff and pretty funny, I wouldn’t change it for anything. And were really starting to get the hang of it, starting to feel like you know he’s in the band and as far as your question goes “What’s the new direction”? The new direction is touring playing places we haven’t played for years ..years and years..Playing and writing hardcore fast aggressive music because another thing you will hear on Jim’s album is a couple songs sound like Pennywise. The rest of them though don’t really... JB: Yeah ?. FLETCHER: And people are commenting on it, you know your free to make judgements on it either you like it or don’t like it but ahh ..it’s kind of like that’s the direction he would like to go ..like a little bit I don’t know what you would call it..Say more poppy you know.. JB: Commercialized! FLETCHER: Melodic and commercialized yeah more commercialized. One guy wrote you know of course you read the message boards, because you mad and shit. And one guy wrote I’m disappointed in Jim this album has nothing to do with Pennywise except the first two songs and the rest of it doesn’t sound like pennywise but I’m glad he quit the band instead of changing the band’s sound to this. That’s cool you know I think it was kind of a dirty pool to release the first two songs and make them sound like Pennywise purposely and go after the Pennywise fan base. “Look” I’m over here doing “Pennywise” by myself and come check it out. And then you get the whole album and sure some people are going to like the whole album because he’s a good song writer but..At the same time were just going to go and do the best we can and Randy I write half the album you know if the Album had twelve songs Randy and I would write six and Jim would write the other six and that would include the lyrics mostly. So were not scared you write a album you know ,Jim was a English major so he’s pretty good with words so I’m pretty good at writing songs like “Fuck Authority”. JB: SHIT YEAH FLECTHER: So it’s defiantly going to be a battle and we have to work extra hard but the feelings were getting off these songs are really cool it’s like you know really back to the roots like before. And you know how can you say” back to the roots” with Zoli but we don’t have anyone to tell us that songs to fast or you know it’s faded now we can actually go back to the roots. Give some hardcore stuff so it should be cool were looking at January or February something like that hopefully. JB: You know kind of like Self Titled like “Homesick” FLETCHER: Yeah that kind of stuff..I mean it will be a mixture of different stuff but that’s what I like to play the first album, “Full Circle” “Unknown Road” I like to play the fast stuff and Jim wrote a lot of the music as well he never played the guitar but he didn’t start writing music till “About Time” And after Jason died for some of his stuff for me personally was a little bit boring on the guitar but they were good songs but I’m a little bit more faster and more aggressive and stuff. Some of his stuff was straight forward you know like great songs obviously but ... I mean I think it opened some doors for us but it also allowed us to experiment a little bit and try to find something new but I think we’re not trying to change that Pennywise” sound but not going to sound exactly the same with Zoli singing you know. We have the opportunity to do more stuff that might we might add in there you know who knows what and see what happens?. JB:I Mean you defiantly know on the last three albums that were some changes so you know that’s how it goes. FLETCHER: You know it’s funny actually you say that a lot of reviewers say oh it’s the same old album and “it’s not dude”. JB:(Laughing) Yeah okay then.. FLETCHER : if you listen to it and your into it then you’re going to hear it’s different. You going to have to like it to see the differences because there subtle but the albums have a little something but they still remain “Pennywise”.
JB: Warp tour was that always Jims Idea? FLETCHER: It started out as a really cool thing then umm..Back in the day when it was like Pennywise, Nofx, Rancid..Bouncing Souls Civ...Then it kind of took a left turn somewhere. Then it started picking up all these other bands and different styles of music ,which you know you have to have diversity to bring the crowds in but at some point it got a little bit gnarly..But it would still be cool to go do it you know because you know ..well it’s DropKick Murphy’s and Anti flag..Well..Okay well some of our friends will be there but this last one we did was pretty brutal. There was like seventy bands that had nothing to do with “Pennywise” and about five bands that did, And not even that actually it was like us Face to Face, Casualties,Akaline trio and Riverboat Gamblers. And you know the rest of it was like Screamo and Emo and metal which you know isn’t my cup of tea I cut it off at like Pantera. But you would like wake up some mornings and here this ‘OWWUGHHHHH”( Growl) and be like “What the fuck is that the Cookie Monster”. JB: (Laughing) FLETCHER: But actually “Bring me the Horizon” were pretty good and forty year strong awesome band “Suicide Silence” those guys are heavy and I love metal you know so..I can relate to that stuff but emm. It was interesting there was some interesting shit going there it was like you kind of felt outta place but you know you get up on stage and we played Edmonton in Canada and there was probably five or six thousand people going off and it felt like a Punk Show. When DropKick Murphys got on it and Anti Flag then it felt like a punkshow. We actually asked to play the side show we’ve done the main stage so many times and nobody was going to the Main Stage. I was checking up on the tour and everyone’s like oh all the kids are going to the side stage now. So I was like Kevin put us on the side stage you know and he was like okay. We played the smaller stage on purpose but it was awesome. And in Edmonton when it finally turned into a Punk Show with Drop Kick Murphys and Anti Flag and Face to Face and Alkaline Trio we switched back to Main Stage. Then all the Punk Rockers came to the show and went to the Main Stage. I mean it’s Warp Tour there is a lot of awesome memories on the warp tour . JB: I got to tell you fucking man this year when I went to Warp Tour I almost went over and bough t a “Hanna Montanna” Shirt. FLETCHER:(Laughing) Lol ha-ha yeah.. JB: FUCK... FLETCHER: It was gnarly . I watched I tripped out the warp tour was like for me wake up in the morning roll off that couch right there you know and well ...get dressed a bowl of cereal start drinking some beer and running around watching all your favorite bands you know..And that kind of went away ..and I was tripped out because people always wanted before always wanted to see the bands and now it turned into a street fair you know. And then now you got like a thousand girls standing in line to get someone’s autograph for like hours and hours in a hundred degree heat and not see other bands. Everyone like tweeting looking at their fucking devices and maybe and oh maybe we should go to this stage and then the whole herd goes over here. and we were like oh we could watch it happen and it was trippy and different in a information society. But we had some really good shows you know the punk rock fans are still out there. Just depends on who they’re going to play with just depends if they’re going to come see you. JB: For sure I guess that’s the truth FLETCHER: I think everyone is going to gear up though and change it up to a old school legend stage on the tour. That’s just part of it you know I guess we’ll see. JB: You guys going back to the small venue type?. FLETCHER: UMM..A little bit it just depends on how many people are coming to the show and right now the music industry is kind of not doing so good. There’s issues I mean between the economy and bands not selling records anymore, so they are resorting to touring so there’s so many bands touring. It’s like no one got any money so there like ..I don’t how thee economy is affected up here but the shows have been slow for everybody. You know Strung Out played last night were playing tonight ,Against me is tomorrow night and Meloncolin Sunday night. That’s like four bands that can be on the same bill, and now you touring against them. So now you’re like am I going to go to all four shows or am I going to go to two of them, and which two am I going to go to. So you’re seeing everybody take a hit. And for us were not looking for a big venue and they wanted us to play the
big room here. And were like no let’s play the small room and have that intimate vibe you know. We wanted like tonight there’s no barricade ..so were kind of get back to the roots.. JB: Ahh yeah I’m going to wreck myself tonight.. FLETCHER: Ya you’re going to wreck yourself tonight. Haaaa it’s going to be good but ya getting back to the roots is kind of a cool thing for us but were out there we have something to prove you know. And of course you have people saying without Jim Pennywise is nothing but..if that’s you mentality then you don’t know what Pennywise is you know Pennywise is about conquering hardships in life and especially about not letting someone tell you what to do. And Jim was trying to tell the other three members of the band what to do..I mean hopefully he’s happy doing his new thing but this is what makes us happy and when Jason and I sat down to form this band he was” like no matter what comes down on us we keep going”. And when Jason died “There was no quitting” you keep going you keep playing Jason’s songs for the masses. So this wasn’t a question of like no we’re not getting a singer it was like okay how fast can I start calling people. And it wasn’t like a loose ship it was his choice to leave this band and he can blame it on whatever he wants to blame it on but were pretty cool guys and it wasn’t some big band drama or drug addict shit going on or anything weird. Everyone got treated with respect so “what ever his real reason for leaving great” but that doesn’t mean you stop what you love because one guy doesn’t want to be part of it. I mean it’s not easy to lose a FLETCHER DRAGGE PHOTO JASON BOLDUC singer but were going to ..you know the truth will prevail and were going to put a hundred percent into it and you know .. the crowds might be a little bit smaller with what’s going on with the economy and stuff but crowds have been going off just as hard. So it’s pretty cool having everyone on the same page. I think for us the bottom line is Pennywise has never been about one band member ,were not the Misfits were it’s all about Danzig. Or were not Social Distortion all about Mike Ness, were a band that was like about each other and more importantly about the fans. So having the fan connection is huge for us, and without our fans were nothing. I mean I didn’t feel right I wanted to go play for the fans and after all these years it was like we’re not going to go do it anymore..It’s weird I can’t fathom why Jim wouldn’t want to do it. And then do it by himself with some guys doing the similar thing and maybe not so similar in the coming years but it’s just a weird thing and a bummer but were super fortune to have Zoli in the band. And have people still come out to the shows and have a good time. JB: To me pennywise always had a anthem sound fast, anthem style you going back to that. FLETCHER: Totally..Yep..Absolutely that’s why the guitars right there so I can write new songs. JB: So do you have a recording rig on the bus?. FLETCHER: YEP, a Pro Tools rig in that drawer right under you. JB: SO do you prefer Analog over digital?. FLETCHER: I Love Analog ,I mean when they first came out with pro tools I was like if you touch my guitar with pro tools I’m going to cut your hands off.. But in reality it’s such a good tool now it’s like if I’m listening to a song it’s like what about doubling this rift it’s like boom. What about doing this what about doing this ,what doing that, umm it just gets really good for writing you can put like ten different writings tracks and go yep this is the one. Sound wise I hate it but it’s turn into the industry standard it’s like when the records first came out it’s like all it’s horrible ..it’s horrible..And now it’s on a C.d it is all digital any ways were not listening to it on a analog listening devices so. But we have a recording studio and umm..And we have killer output gear like if you
run really good microphones through good output gear into a digital domain and it sounds pretty good. As far as a working tool I think it’s pretty good for recording, people cheat..People can’t sing. You hear bands on the radio they sound awesome you go see them live and they suck..Everyone is auto tuning there vocals and ..fixing and editing drums and guitar parts. We come from a day where it was press record...And you either got it or you didn’t get you know.. JB: LOL Yahh that’s the real way .. JB: But that was warmth everything now is like punch in ,punch in.. FLETCHER: Zoli is releasing his new album with ignite and it’s all Analog..Pretty rad.. We could do it you know..It’s kind a fun thing Though at the same time. JB: Is it easier if your tight?. FLETCHER: Absolutely just like the old school guys did it. You listen to old stuff like Pink Floyd or old Van Halen it’s great...I mean it kind of puts a damper on it I mean in pro tools you like if I mess up here I can put this one over there ,and place it where it needs to be.. We try not to do that we try to play it live all the way through. In the studio everyone is strapped dup headphones on going for it full blast all together everything full tracks all the way through. It will be like fifteen takes and we pick like the best take. That’s the thing though your fitting against break strings and out of tune on takes. JB: How come you haven’t released on your own label?. FLETCHER: Well I don’t know I got asked that the other day..I mean it would probably create conflict..I would probably give a way better royalty rate then a another label so ..which would be pretty cool but I don’t want to be holding the bag if it doesn’t sell.” I would be like fuck you mother fucker” JB: (Laughing Hard) Right.. Not good I guess.. FLETCHER: But Epitaph is our home Brett is one of the best label owners on the planet, and the things they do for us it’s like our family..This last record on MySpace was with Brett’s blessing he was like go and do it you know. Gave away five hundred and fifty copies in the first week. You know we probably would of sold a hundred and twenty thousand you know..I would like to do it again though..Although we might actually sell records because people might want to hear what the new sound with Zoli will be either they will hate him or get a record just to find out what’s up. You know our fans will get it just to hear and some people will get it just to trash it so..You can’t win them all. Epitaph always been there and you need a team of people you can rely on and trust I mean the band trust me but you know it’s too close to home. I mean sometimes you get too much going on and there’s too many hands and too much happening.. And you lose sight of what the right thing to do is. So Epitaph we haven’t signed the deal but we’ve talked to them..Bands are on labels and their contracts are up so they can go to Epitaph and do a one off get paid better have a staff that cares about them and supports them and truly understands them. JB: The music industry has really changed with downloading and everything like that. Do you think more people are hearing it?. FLETCHER: I think more people are hearing it but I think they are really thinking about it. They are like wow I need and want it now you know. You know then they change and say no I want this I mean the information highway is so fast ..and you can costly find something else you might like better. I think it’s worst because it’s like the scenes before you were punk rocker ,you weren’t into heavy metal. Back in the old days if you were into heavy metal you were getting your ass kicked by punk rockers, and vice versa and so on. Now the scenes change so fast and now there so clouded you know that this is cool and everybody knows within a week that this is cool so..All of a sudden you got a bunch of bands that look the same ,sound the same , same haircut same everything, within like a year and really how many of these do we need?. I over this I don’t want to look like this oh what’s this over here it’s called metal core, It’s kind of like old school metal, with like crazy screaming. You know so cool now you got chicks doing it with all the hair and shit.. And you’re going like what?. JB: LOL ,,, yep..
FLETCHER: And yeah oh cool but it’s gets older faster on the internet, and new scenes pop up faster so more people are hearing music for sure but the internet is sticking to one thing kind of..That’s the bummer you know scenes are dying away. And you don’t have the old MTV and the thing that made things cool, not that MTV is cool but you had somewhere you could go and just kind of get something shoved down your throat I use to hate that but.. Now I kind of miss it. JB: Post hardcore it’s the whole industry now.. FLETCHER: I know it’s weird FLETCHER: We have a new generation of kids that aren’t into Emo and Screamo and want to see Pennywise from fifteen year olds to forty year olds.. rocking on the pit so we have a good span of people..a lot of people supporting us and being there. We appreciate you all thanks for being there. FLETCHER: On the end note “Pennywise” Forever.
PHIL SGROSSO COURTESY OF ADRELINE PR,BARI LIEBERMAN MSOPR J.B: So you guys have been around for quite some time? Phil; Ya we’ve been around now for about ten years. J.B: So what are the differences you find between “An Ocean Between Us” and “The Powerless Rise?”. Phil: Well “The Powerless Rise” is a continuation from “An Ocean Between Us” and it’s similar to the sound we have defined as a band. I mean a lot of the elements we choose for Ocean Between us really stuck with us for this one. The Powerless rise also has you know a lot of new elements that we threw in to progress our sound. J.B: I noticed each album throughout the years gets more and more defined and “An Ocean Between Us” was the album I felt as one of the most intense albums yet, was it hard to beat that on ‘The Powerless Rise”?. Phil: Ya you know we are all very proud of “Ocean Between Us” And “The Powerless Rise” You know that is always our goal. You know when you’re happy with your sound and you give to your fan base what they want and when your fan base grows with you. In the end its fantastic feeling to have that as a band to allow you to progress your sound and give something great back. J.B: You know when I first heard “The Powerless Rise” I wasn’t sure about it but it builds on you. Three years in the making in the studio did you guys scrap a lot of tracks?. Phil: Ya you know a lot of different parts got scrapped from everyone we would have a song almost finished and just say no this doesn’t work and throw it away. It was like that for Oceans too I mean everyone had ideas and tracks that didn’t work right that didn’t go well with each other so we were let’s see what else we can do. And with this album a couple
PHIL SGROSSO Photo :Matthias Bauer members wrote some intro’s or a verse or title and everyone was like that doesn’t work lets scrap that and focus on somewhere else. Everyone’s collective field is worth pursuing so, There was actually a lot of different rifts and versions of songs that we ultimately all decided we liked. We have a huge collection of B Sides you know like a song titled “Paralyzed” that we will putting out for something we don’t know what yet but you know something special. J.B: Like a split or a B side release maybe?. Phil: You know we are saving it for maybe a special release or a Sound track would be cool And we are hoping to save this one you know because it really stands out and we had already filled the album with a lot of great tracks and felt we should save it for a great melodic piece. So we decided it was best to save it for something else. J.B: So you scrapped a lot of Songs in the making was there a lot of Punch Ins and track over’s to get that sound perfect?. Phil: You know we are one of the most prepared bands going into the studio we really know it’s set in stone the direction we want and the sound we are looking for. And new idea’s always come along and you know throwing ideas back and forth with Adam D and seeing what kind of ideas we can try. Sometimes it’s good to work under pressure it always sparks new idea’s and motivates you I guess. J.B: So you guys started out as a two piece and now you’re at the final five are you guys happy with the Line up and how it is now?. Phil: You know Adam and Jordan being the original then myself next in line then nick and josh. You know Nick and I have been in it for four years now it’s a great line-up and where’s its going to stay. The four of us have been the core writers and keeping it greatly intact since shadows since when I first joined. And Josh you know writing for “the Powerless Rise” Which is great you know having all five members contribute to what they want to say is amazing. So if it’s ever two on two against something you know you have a fifth member to mediate the situation, it’s good you know we all have grown into a tight knit group for song allocation. J.B: So “Oceans” sat at the top Rock Chart for weeks “Was that Sales you felt or pure Fan base”? Phil: We have one of the most fantastic Fan bases out there be it for awards or for coming to see us, we love that our fan base is dedicated. It’s great because I think our fans see how passionate we are, and our music and what we give and they really support us it’s so great
you know. J.B: So you know the Labels and the Industry are really pushing the new sound of Hardcore and Post Hardcore and metal merge with Metal Core “what are your thoughts on that” Phil: Well you know the band has its roots in Hardcore, the punk scene kind of died out and the rebirth thing sort of came back. Metal was always around and seeing it progress into the punk scene is unique and great. And also we have origins of the band in the punk scene so it works. I think the build up of the underground Hardcore scene is coming out in a different direction be it more of heavy rifts and more energetic. The band was established with that sound you know of the hard sound and energetic vocals and now we have established more of a Heavy Metal sound I suppose, but the element always remains there as our roots and shows on the sound. A lot of people call us Metal core and we get lumped into that category but I think there’s just a lot of different Metal and no one really knows where to put us I guess. J.B: So Metal was Metal back in the day where did you find your inspiration? Phil: You know everything kind of shows up as you go along the way I will write a rift and it’s like hey that was kind of Pantera sounding. Or I listened to a lot of Metallica and the whole Megadeth thing but it’s never a rip off thing. It’s like this your brain is a sponge and your absorb all this stuff and you write riffs its shows up in a way but it’s a different perspective and your interpretation of what you want to create. So a lot of classic bands you know “Iron Maiden” a lot of Melodic Metal Bands, or a lot of bands that aren’t metal like “Muse” or “Dredge” you know I love listening to them. I use that to kind of get my mind in that creative mode, you kind of take melodies like that and incorporate that into Heavy Music so. The Deftones are a really big influence on us My three favorite albums are the new “Alice in Chains” , The “Acidtones” and the new “Deftones”. J.B: Alice In Chains? But no Layne Stanely, and its creepy how much Willam sounds like Him. Phil: Well Jerry also sings the verses and choruses so it’s a duel thing like they have always been, and Jerry is the core writer so it’s definitely Alice in Chains. J.B: $75 000 to play Ozzfest is that because Sharon needed a new purse?. Phil:(laughing) Actually we got offered to play main stage at 2004 but we turned it down because we didn’t want to pay for the slot. And we didn’t feel like we should do that, so 2005 we were offered a paying time slot so we were grateful for that. So a lot of small bands on labels and the Labels are paying for this money for exposure. I mean these bands have earned it why should they pay?.I mean a lot of bands that pay that money really haven’t gotten that much more exposure. I suppose they feel like that they have gotten something out of that I guess, so they can justify spending that type of money. J.B: So a lot of your lyrics are about Hardship, sorrow and Hope a lot of bands that coming up on labels are more faith based bands what re your thoughts on that?. Phil: Heavy music for such long has been on built on such Hate, not such hate but more anger and it has always been attached to such negativity. I think with our band we just choose not have a negative message, obviously a positive message is something they can take and bring positivity into their lives. You know a lot of the songs are written about negative experiences but have positive outcomes and that relates to life to have a positive outcome of nothing is what the ultimate goal is. To rise up from the experience and bring yourself to overcome the negative. It’s refreshing to hear a band sing about more about what they love than something they hate. J.B: Confide had the biggest turnout at Warp Tour Phil: In the earlier year we supported a band called “Camira” and the mix at shows between hardcore and the issue of angry kids. I mean it was always the progression of the sound and the message we have a perfect feel now and we are happy with that. We have a lot of good circle pits now that are positive and everyone looks out for each other, Not like it was back in he day of the anger and the negative.
J.B: We have a uprising of Skinhead it seems in the scene associating their beliefs with the music? Phil: It’s unfortunate to have someone push their beliefs like that on other people, if you believe it that’s your opinion but don’t spread your preach to others. You know people that don’t care for it and you show up at the show and you know the people want to release there feelings through the music and these guys are there for the wrong reason and causing problems that’s just not right. You know it doesn’t matter about anyone else except for yourself and people are ruining that for you that’s wrong it’s about the music and the message I don’t know why they hear something that’s really not there. J.B: Any final thoughts Phil? Phil: It’s good to be back in Canada.
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“PARALYZED” OUT NOW ON
``MAD JOE`` BLACK COURTESY OF I.S.R PUBLICITY Interview , J.B J.B : “Wisdom In Chains” The name was derived from a Killing Time song is there a metaphoric meaning to it beyond the lyrics?.
"Wisdom In Chains" The name was derived from a Killing Time song is there a metaphoric meaning to it beyond the lyrics?. MAD :
J.B : With Dutch roots does “Faith” play a role in the inspiration in relying the message? MAD :
No not really, the term "Wisdom in Chains" to us sort of meant the truth being hidden ya know..But really its more of a way to give respect to a great band. JB: The release of “Die For Us” was shot in the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia is that in relation to your background?. I mean the Unitarian Church is such a open minded organization?. MAD: I'm not sure I understand this question.. Actually it was filmed in Kingston Pa. At a venue called Backstage, it's not there anymore. You may be confused because we do play so much at the First Unitarian Church in Philly. The F.U. Church is very open minded and they always look out and the fact that they give a stage for people to book Hardcore shows is great, because that’s rare. So many times clubs don't want to deal with Hardcore bands, or Hardcore bands don't want to deal with clubs. At the F.U. Church its easy and comfortable to play and book shows. J.B : From “Wisdom In Chains” self titled to “Die Young” Slight change in direction to “Class War” which eventually progressed to that specific sound that carried over to “Everything you know” Are you guys happy with the set sound you have now?. MAD: From "Wisdom In Chains" self titled to "Die Young" Slight change in direction to "Class War" which eventually progressed to that specific sound that carried over to "Everything you know" Are you guys happy with the set sound you have now?.
MAD JOE MAD: Yea we are happy with our sounds, our kitchen is big and there are a lot of ingredients that we like to experiment with. I honestly don’t think any of the releases are drastically different, we use a lot of the same formulas when we write songs, and its been pretty much the same from the beginning, we will throw a few surprises in here and there. J.B : Any possible New directions in the future?. MAD: Anything is possible, we constantly listen to new music, and find and like new things, so you are bound to hear it in some of the newer stuff here and there. J.B : “London Gospel” And “This is Mine” some heavily influences “Sick Of It All” inspiration in there do you think touring with Them has had a influence in the overall Direction?. MAD : Touring with them has had a huge influence on us in a different way, being around them we see that you can be professional and real when playing Hardcore music, and their live shows inspire us totally. As far as sound is concerned, we where influenced by them before we ever met or played with them, we are all big fans and have been for years. Our singer gives them credit for being into Hardcore music in the first place. J.B : A merge of American and European Hardcore was there similar influences that inspired you’s?. MAD : Not really, our friend Maarten from Holland just wanted to start something new for fun, and
he asked us, from there it became what it became. J.B : “I Scream Records” is gaining ground on a lot of bands joining on the label is “I Scream Records” the place to be right now?. MAD : It seems it is gaining ground in the USA. I dealt with I-Scream records years ago in Europe with one of my old bands, so I always knew of their strength in Europe, and I stayed friends with the guys from I-Scream the whole time. So when they did they American move it was kind of a natural thing for us to get involved with them. So far so good. J.B : Do you feel the fusion of metal into the Oi approach gives that specific sound that works best?. Back in the day it use to be about the fast beats and strong chords?. MAD : I think the best thing we have going for us a simply variety. We put out full length with different sounding songs and tempos. Old school HC, Punk, Oi, Metal, heavy, melodic. We just do whatever we want and hopefully in the end a complete full length with come out, instead of 12 songs that all sound the same. J.B : What are your thoughts on all this division of different genres branching off Hardcore.. Like all this Post Hardcore bands saturating the labels?. MAD : I really don't know anything about it, there is so much shit out there, it's easy to get dirty, at the same time there are a ton of great Hardcore bands out right now doing their thing. J.B : Do you think the industry has collapsed? What are your thoughts on downloading? MAD: Yea, its basically at a very primitive level. I mean back in the day when a band got signed, they where given decent advances. Money that could set the bands in motion to become real actual bands. Bands could buy vans and gear with their advances. I talked to older bands that where given 20,000 to 150,000 dollars for an advance on a first release. Now your lucky if a label gives you $500 to record a full length.
Downloading does suck, but there doesn't seem like much you can do about it. I always buy music, if I like it, I buy it. J.B :What you think about the racial movement finding meaning in Hardcore bands message?. And showing up at the shows?. MAD : I love seeing different people at shows, different skin color, different styles, different hair. I don't want a bunch of clones out there you know. It';s always been like that though, going to shows all theses years, you never know who will come out, and it's great to have a diverse crowd. J.B : A lot of shit goes down for a lot of different people in everyday life and I try to spread the message as much as possible to give inspiration and strength to overcome it, with the help of the bands that voice the motivation. Is there any kind of Message you have for anyone that's in that place? MAD : You cant sweat it, plain and simple, just always be ready to get back up and keep moving. When times are hard, you have to remember, bad times come and go, and the bad feeling doesn't last forever. J.B`: I've noticed a Resurgence of Hardcore gaining strength in numbers and the next generation express there thoughts and throwing down at the shows with emotion. Do you think the scene never died and is gaining strength again?. MAD : I don't think the scene ever died. It's always moving though, sometimes its really strong here, and then it's dead and strong somewhere else. J.B : If you could make a tour that would burn in your memory forever what would it be?. MAD: Sick of it All, Blood for Blood, Agnostic Front, Madball, Warzone, and Modern Life is War J.B : Thanks for the Interview and keeping it going all these years I’m disappointed I couldn't make the show next tour I will be there no matter what. J.B : Well thanks brother for keeping the faith and message alive.
NEW RELEASE LESS RHYTHM, MORE BOOZE
AVAILABLE
From a homeless man who finds a great treasure, to zombies running amuck in the icy streets of Winnipeg, this nasty collection of short stories is bursting with the black humour and raunchiness for which Chris Walter is known. Perfect for those who desire to tour the dark side without placing themselves in actual danger.
As gentrification closes in on Canada’s poorest postal code, rival factions battle for control of the lucrative drug trade, plunging the neighborhood into chaos. Politically charged yet darkly comic, Up and Down on the Downtown Eastside is sure to both horrify and delight.
DEAD HEADS 2011 ,ADVENTURE, COMEDY,HORROR
4.2
Deadheads: what a funny crazy ride of a zombie movie!! Totally under budget hilarious good laughs and quite good make up. Mike Kellerman awakens in the back of a cargo van and realizes something is very wrong. Stumbling from the van he bumps into Brent, who in turn tells him the brutal truth that he’s actually the walking dead! Refusing to believe it the two end up at a bar full of people that have barricaded themselves away from the inflicting zombie menace outside. Finally admitting that he’s been dead for three years poor Mike finds a ring in his pocket that he was going to put on the finger of his true love Ellie. (Who’s father is actually the one that shot Mike twice in the head!!) Trying to convince everyone they run into that they don’t want to hurt anybody Mike and Brent start their treck across the country to try and find Ellie so Mike can finally put that ring on her finger. Hunted by cops and a few zombie slayers Mike and Brent run into a few hilarious hiccups on their mission and try to make their way back to Michigan. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but for a zombie love story that is off the fuckin reservation you can’t really beat DeadHeads. Now don’t get me wrong I can pretty much watch any piece of shit that captivates my extremely short attention span, but honestly I watched this like 3 times in a week! I dunno call me a cheesy bastard but I totally loved it. The characters were awesome, the story was a little cheesy but funny as hell and for a lower budget film....They did fuckin amazing with the make up and effects! If you watched it and didn’t like it even a little bit I think there may be something very fucked up and wrong with you. In my eyes you can’t help but like it. 3 times!! I give it a 4.2 out of 5. FUCK I LOVED IT!!
124 OTTAWA ST, N HAMILTON,ON
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Crash Landing is a Punk Rock shop in the east end of Hamilton, it first opened in the summer of 2006 and since then has grown a lot. We carry tons of Band T’s, Horror Movie T’s, Bondage Pants, Custom Furniture, Jewelry & Studs, House Accessories, Belts & Buckles, Hot Rod Shirts, and lots more.
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UPCOMING SHOWS Friday, March 30, 2012 COMEBACK KID @ 9:00 CLOSE YOUR EYES @ 8:15 LIVING WITH LIONS @ 7:30 FOUNDATIONS @ 6:50 SUCH GOLD @ 6:15 Venue: The Mod Club Doors: 6:00 Tickets: $17.50 advance $20.00 @ the door All-Ages/Licensed Friday, April 13, 2012 THE PLANET SMASHERS @ 11:20 BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE @ 10:10 Venue: The Opera House Doors: 7:30 Tickets: $18.00 advance $20.00 @ the door All-Ages/Licensed
Thursday, March 29, 2012 FLATFOOT 56 @ 11:15 HYPNOPHONICS @ 10:20 Venue: Hard Luck Doors: 8:00 Tickets: $10.50 advance $12.00 @ the door 19+ Tickets available at RT/SS 370 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5V 2A2 Canada Phone: 416.598.0720 Fax: 416.598.2230
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