Portland Oregon's 48 Thrills play honest, hard hitting punk rock with ferociously entrapping hooks . It's fun, it's loud, and it's unpretentious. It's music that reminds me of the bands that first drew me into DIY punk rock in the first place and it reminds me of why I still continue to love it decades later. Call it "pop" punk, "melodic" punk whatever, but the word "great" better be in there somewhere!
Interview by J Jordan Castro
So let’s start out with some introductions, who is currently
in 48 Thrills and what does everyone do in the band?
Jimmy plays bass and grunts.
Ken plays drums and hits all the
high notes.
Davey is the new guy playing lead
guitar and sings as much as I can get him to (which is a lot).
I am Josh and I jangle the rhythm
guitar and sing to the best of my abilities.
What band or musician made you want to pick up an instrument
and learn to play/write music?
JOSH: I originally played bass and
just thought it would be cool to play in a band, for whatever reason my bass
guitar hero was Johnny Personality from The Vindictives, that dude was great
and sang all kinds of backup vocals which I loved. When I swapped to a 6 string
I'd say that Paul Weller and Joe Strummer were people I think I try to emulate.
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| Daredevil LP released October 31st 2009 |
How would you describe your music to your music to someone
that’s never heard your band before?
JOSH: High energy, sweaty,
sing-a-long fun.
One of the first things that really stood out to me about
your music was your lyrics. There are only a few active melodic punk band
that I’ve heard that still impress me with their lyrics (Moral Crux and
M.O.T.O. immediately come to mind). Can you tell me about one of the most
unlikely person or event that inspired you to want to commemorate to song?
JOSH: Most of the lyrics I've
written have been about the usual suspects (ie: work/ex's/crushes). I have
given a go at a few political songs but I always feel like I am not
articulating my point well or come off not knowing what I'm talking about. So
my answer is probably my dog that passed a few years ago. It probably took me 2
years to finish it, I never thought I would write a song about a dog but he was
the best.
You guys are based in Portland Oregon is that correct?
With so much going on there musically, do things ever get competitive
with other bands?
JOSH: You are constantly playing
the same nights as other buddy bands that are playing other venues, just sorta
is how it is.
What sort of feelings or sentiments do you hope your
audience walks away with after seeing a 48 Thrills performance?
JOSH: That we were fun and didn't
suck.
I’ve heard people say that playing/writing music has been
therapeutic to them. Have you ever found this to be true in your own
lives?
JOSH: Definitely. I feel like I
have written some of my best songs while angry haha.
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| Hand Claps and Ass Slaps EP released December 17th 2010 |
This is the part of the interview that I call “Four
Questions I Shamelessly Stole From Other Interviewers.” Feel free to elaborate
as much or as little as you wish:
(1. What was the first concert you ever attended without
your parents?
JOSH: When I was in high school over
20 years ago I saw Sprung Monkey and Unwritten Law at a Scottish Rite Center in
San Diego
(2. What was the first band t-shirt that you can
remember owning?
JOSH: Iron Maiden
(3. What’s the first album you remember picking out
yourself?
JOSH: Michael Jackson Thriller
(4. What was the first band poster that hung on your
bedroom wall?
JOSH: Iron Maiden
Where are the best places to go or log on to hear and buy 48
Thrills music?
JOSH: All of our stuff can
be downloaded/streamed/purchased at 48thrills.bandcamp.com
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| Than's How It Go!Oh!Ohs! LP released October 10th 2014 |
What’s coming up for you guys in the near future?
JOSH: We are going to record a couple songs for a 7" and film a
video for one of them in a few weeks which will be a first for us.
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