The
Smoke Bombs smash and grab fistfuls of British Street Punk in one hand and
early 1980’s Southern California hardcore in the other. They then take it to an
old abandoned warehouse downtown where they mix it up and add some secret ingredients. They then stuff some ping pong balls
full of it and create a device that emits a dense, hard hitting brand of punk
rock into the atmosphere immediately upon ignition. They hurl these handmade
concoctions at unsuspecting audiences and it causes the foundation beneath the
arid desert floors to quake. So remove any loose articles of clothing and strap
your shoes on tight, The Smoke Bombs have arrived and the room you’re in is
about to turn upside down!
Interview
by J Castro
Introductions! Please tell us who you all are and
what’s your function in The Smoke Bombs:
LAYTON:
Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
BRANDON:
I’m Brandon Meunier and I play guitar in The Smoke Bombs.
JASON:
Jason
Stone - Drummer/Cheerleader
TODD:
Todd Joseph: Bass
What’s the conception story
of The Smoke Bombs? How did you
all meet and decide to play music together?
LAYTON:
Bored with my last band Asses of
Evil. I wanted to start something different. I got Jason our drummer and Todd from AOE. Jason suggested
Brandon for lead guitar. I knew him from his work as a guitar salesman, and
liked him a lot. Never had heard him play but hired him over the phone because
I liked him, turned out pretty well.
BRANDON:
I met Jason (our drummer) through work. I told him I was looking for another band.
A few weeks later he was asking if I’d like to try out with Layton and Todd.
JASON:
My
world changed in like a 30 day period, got fired from a band, lost my wife,
son, house and my studio in one big fat Fuck You from the World. I ate as many
pills as I could afford, apparently not enough? Next Day, I got a call from
Layton to start something new.
TODD: Layton and I were in the Asses of Evil and then
split and formed The Smoke Bombs in the wake of the Asses.
When I hear your music, I get
a street punk vibe. I can hear elements of Cocksparrer, Sham 69, and Stiff
Little Fingers. Were any of these bands influences to you guys growing up and
do you remember who got you into punk rock in the first place?
LAYTON:
I am not so much into those bands as much. Brandon really likes that kind of
stuff. I like the 80’s southern California stuff, Circle Jerks, Descendents
etc. I also was a huge fan of Todd’s first band Junior Achievement, as well as
all the great hardcore bands in Arizona like JFA, Mighty Sphincter, Soylent
Greene, Conflict etc.
BRANDON:
Yes it’s a huge influence for me even still. Those are three of my favorite
bands of all times. No one really got me into it. Punk itself got me into it.
With the few friends I had I was able to meet people who I’d trade music back
and forth with. It’s been that way since day one.
JASON:
Stiff
Little Fingers for me. 1st punk band I was turned on to was Junior Achievement
“TJ’s band from the 80’s.” I had an older guy next door to my parent’s house
that was SICK and TIRED of hearing R.E.M.’s Green while I rode my
skateboard. He charged over and said “TURN THAT SHIT OFF!!!!!!” I thought he
was going to kick my ass! Instead he handed me Junior Achievements 12” and a
cassette he already made.
I never looked back, that was 1985.
TODD: I grew up on The Clash, Generation X, The Damned,
Sex Pistols, and SLF. I’m also a big CA punk fan: T.S.O.L, Social Distortion,
Bad Religion, Adolescents, and Shattered Faith.
I see you guys play out
fairly regularly, how would you describe the music scene in Phoenix/Tempe?
LAYTON:
Too many bands. It seems like since Nirvana broke, and Guitar Centers were put
up all over the place, everyone thinks they can do a punk band. I have been
doing this since 84. It used to be that when an out of town band came through
either JFA or Junior Achievement, ONS, would get a gig opening for a big band. Also
everyone went to one show, wherever it was Tempe/Phoenix. Now there are too
many shows competing against each other on the same nights for a dwindling
amount of punk rockers.
JASON:
Strong, easy to bash the scene but
it’s easy to bash any scene. Phoenix is full of good people and it’s not hard
to find them if you look & listen.
TODD: It’s pretty good! Good local bands to play with. The
Clubs/Bars are pretty accepting of loud music. It could always be better, but
it could also be a lot worse. When the weather gets cooler the scene gets
better!
You guys are playing (and
have played with) some pretty big names in punk. Some of your upcoming shows
are with Rikk Agnew Band (Social Distortion, Christian Death, Adolescents,
D.I.) and Eddie and The Hot Rods here in Tempe, AZ. How do you feel playing
shows with such influential bands?
LAYTON:
The best chance of getting a good draw is having a good headliner. These guys
are just like us, but came together in the right time and place to get big. I
don’t mean to say our music is as good as this classic stuff, but Todd and I
talk and feel like if we were together in ‘84 playing Mad Gardens we would have
gotten some notoriety, more than we get now.
BRANDON:
It’s awesome!
JASON:
Honestly, it’s just another show. The
thrill is standing in the crowd watching the “influential” band. The bummer is
after it’s over I have a car load of gear to take home. I like meeting the
heroes / legends, I don’t take much seriously anymore so if the hero is an
asshole, whatever.
TODD: I love it, that’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve
been able to play with The Bad Brains, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, T.S.O.L., Shattered
Faith, Crucifix, Youth Brigade, on and on it’s always a blast!
Speaking of playing live, do
you guys remember the worst show The Smoke Bombs ever played and tell me about
what made it such a disaster?
LAYTON:
Not really, all in all we have had some good shows. Weeknight shows are pretty
pathetic. We have had some low turn out shows with Dime Runner, and Black Irish
Texas which were weekday shows.
JASON:
I played one high on cocaine, that
didn't go so well, won’t do that again.
I like them all; we haven’t really had a disaster
show. It would have to be pretty bad for me to call it a disaster. I like
playing drums as long as nobody dies, it’s good.
TODD: Maybe the time we played with Scorpion vs.
Tarantula up in Cottonwood. We played OK, but the crowd was weak. We had fun
anyway, we always do.
What sorts of things
typically influence your music? And
can you remember the most unusual thing that inspired a song?
BRANDON:
Lyrically: life, the day to day. Nothing is that unusual anymore really. Musically,
it’s when I get around my gear I just want to hear it. I’ll start riffing
around and that’s that.
JASON:
A hot October Night. Hey, I’m just the
drummer I follow along to what the boys write.
TODD: Most songs are spontaneous; they just come out with
all of us adding our input.
I was watching an interview
with Fat Mike and he was saying he regrets writing some of the early NOFX
songs, he went on say that change of mind is a sign of intelligence. What do
you think about that quote and have you ever written any songs you regretted
later?
LAYTON:
Not a NOFX fan. I know they come from the old school, but just never got into
that kind of music. I can’t remember regretting anything I have written.
BRANDON:
I think everyone regrets early material at some point. It doesn’t bother me
really. I’ll reflect back on it and pull ideas out. It is what it is and it
always makes you a better writer.
JASON:
Not in this band….
TODD: Sure, but I don’t dwell on that. The more you write the more you
improve. I don’t really regret
anything; it’s all in good fun.
What sorts of things do you
enjoy doing other than playing music, any hobbies or anything like that?
LAYTON:
Hanging out by my pool drinking beer and listening to ‘80’s hard core.
BRANDON:
Honestly this is all I do. I collect musical gear and listen to and write
music.
Those
are my main hobbies.
JASON:
Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Bicycles
I dig all that shit. Go fast and take chances.
TODD: Art, skateboarding, partying, picking up chicks,
eating.
What are some records you
like putting on that can guarantee to lift you up when life’s kicked you down?
LAYTON:
I don’t know that music does that for me. I just listen to it when I fell like
it. Toxic Reasons Kill by Remote Control comes to
mind.
BRANDON:
The Crack – In Search Of…
JASON:
NOFX - The Decline, Freeze - Talking Bombs, Malignus
Youth - ALL OF IT,
The Clash – Supermarket, AC/DC - Sink the
Pink (Makes me Laugh every time)
William Shatner - Common People, U.S. Bombs - That’s Life,
Frank Black & the Catholics - I Want Rock & Roll, Black
President - Not Amused, Etta James - In the Basement, Alkaline
Trio - Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, Plump Tones - Fire Chicken
TODD: Whatever I’m into at the moment. Right now, it’s The Horrors, Jason
Isbell, Temples, Dum Dum Girls, and Drive-By Truckers.
What do the Smoke Bombs have
in store for the remainder of 2014?
LAYTON:
We just finished recording our first full length album. We’re getting the artwork together to
have it pressed, should hit store shelves by fall.
BRANDON:
New album coming out very soon and
continuing to write more material.
JASON:
New record coming VERY soon.
TODD: Finish
our record, do a video for one of the songs, write new songs, play a few gigs,
party!
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