So What

(Photo by Joshua Cobos)

     People often whine and moan about social media, ridiculously enough on social media itself! “Why do people put so many pictures of their kids or their meals, selfies galore, what have you.” I’ll admit I’m guilty of that groaning sometimes myself. However one great thing about social media is that it’s a fantastic way to discover great music from all around the world. Well, the internet Gods were kind enough to reveal the band So What unto me recently and for that I will be eternally grateful. I saw them on a flyer on Facebook playing with some other bands I really like so I decided to see what they were all about. I read their bio describing their sound and then listened to their fantastic debut EP that came out last year and I was hooked like a Largemouth Bass. This band is the real deal, no embellishments, no exaggerations or wishful thinking here. Their sound is precisely what they say it is: “Junkshop Glam / Bubblegum /Proto-punk insanity!”          

Interview by J Castro

Let’s start with telling me who’s currently in So What and what everyone does in the band:

JASON: Myself, Jason Duncan: vocals/lead guitar, Rob Green: drums/vocals, Jeff Glave: guitar/vocals, and Omar Perez: bass guitar.

How did you guys all meet and decide to play music together?

JASON: I’ve been friends with Rob since I was a kid and we played together a long time ago. Jeff, I’ve known since the late 90s, when we were in different bands playing on the same bills. Omar, I met through DJing at clubs, but I had known of him for many years. So What started in the spring of 2013 with Robbie, who was replaced by Jeff, and myself playing guitars together in his living room while on long lunch breaks. Rob and Omar joined a few months later, after Robbie and I had written some songs. Robbie moved to South Korea in 2014 and Jeff seamlessly joined us.

In your bands bio, it seems like you pretty much laid out the plans for So What’s sound. Was this in fact the case or did the music take a direction of its own once you guys got together and started playing?

JASON: I knew what I wanted the band to sound like before we ever played a single note. Luckily, I found three other friends willing to go along with my idea. I just wanted a group that was a mix of The Equals, Jook, pre-disco Giorgio Moroder, with a sprinkling of the bubblegum genius of Joey Levine and one-hit or no-hit wonder glam groups. Another big influence was the Junkshop Glam compilations like Boobs, Glitterbest, Velvet Tinmine, and Glitter From The Litter Bin compiled by my friend Phil King. I cannot stress enough how great these comps are. They are basically to glam what the Nuggets compilation is to garage and psych. A sort of a Rosetta Stone to a nearly forgotten genre. My obsession with The Equals is well-known and I’m currently writing the first ever biography on them. To me, they are the best band ever. No contest.

You use the term “Hard Gum” to describe your music. I’ve actually heard this only once before. Can you tell me a little about this genre and are there any other bands around now that you would also classify as Hard Gum?

JASON: I honestly can’t think of any other band that currently sounds similar to us. Luckily we don’t have just one style of song, which is a trap that too many bands fall into. We have at least three or four! I came up with the term because I couldn’t think of any other way to describe us. I just thought of us as heavier bubblegum music: fuzzy guitars in place of the acoustics that are on so many bubblegum hits but still retaining tried and true songwriting techniques and catchy choruses, plus louder, more pounding drums.

 (Photo by Joshua Cobos)

I was reading an interview with Kim Shattuck from the Muffs and she said that she stays away from politics in her lyrics because she feels nothing dates a song more.  Do you agree with this statement and are there any subjects you guys try to steer clear from in your lyrics? 

JASON: I very much agree. Most of our songs are about people I know or are character studies. The putdown song is also one that seems to come easily. The Stones have a million of those: “Stupid Girl,” “Under My Thumb,” “Out Of Time,” etc. I have no desire to incorporate politics into our songs. Music for me is escapism and expression.

And speaking of lyrics; tell me a bit about the song “Creeper Joe,” the B-Side of your EP that came out last year on Grazer Records. Is this song inspired by true events or a real person that wouldn’t take no for an answer?

JASON: That was Robbie’s song. It’s basically about a real-life lecherous creep that everyone has seen in a bar sooner or later. There is no shortage of people like that. It’s the kind of guy who harasses a woman after she has obviously shown that she’s not interested.

When you guys are playing a show, what sorts of things distract or annoy you most that audience members seem to always do? 

JASON: I don’t really take any notice of what the crowd is doing while we’re playing. I play my guitar, sing, and look straight out over their heads to the back of the room. I will mumble a sentence or two between starting the next batch of songs. 

So What is currently based in Oakland, CA. Is it tough being in a band there and playing shows with so many other great bands in the area or does it actually make things easier?

JASON: If we lived somewhere like Pennsylvania we would probably have a basement in someone’s house where we could practice for free with unlimited time which would be nice. Currently, we have a room in a giant warehouse rehearsal complex we split with 3 or 4 other groups and scheduling can sometimes be a drag. Clubs in San Francisco are closing left and right due to rent hikes. For every club that closes in San Francisco, a new one seems to pop up in Oakland. Even Berkeley has some new spots opening soon. We never run out of great local bands to play with though: Dancer, Slick!, Big Tits, Apache, Cocktails, Bad Vibes, etc. I just wish all of us could devote more time to music and less time to hustling enough money to survive in the increasingly expensive Bay Area.

Where are the best places to go to or log on to get your records?

JASON: https://sowhatbandofficial.bandcamp.com/ and

https://www.facebook.com/sowhatbandofficial

What does the rest of 2015 look like for So What?

JASON: We are nearly finished with our debut LP which will be called “Hard Gum.” We’re hoping to tour Europe late this year or early next year. After Europe, we’ll start working on a Japanese tour.

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Baby Shakes

     Baby Shakes is a four-piece band from the big bad city of New York. The grime and grit of urban life has not yet had any sort of cynical effect on the group’s music though.  The band’s vocals are laid on sweet as molasses accompanied with harmonies that are golden as spring daffodils. Baby Shakes music is also packed with high danceable energy that they shoot out in two to three minute concentrated blasts consisting of influences ranging from the glory days of Phil Spector and Motown to the highly energetic punk and glam of the mid to late ‘70’s. All of these ingredients are then simmered and stirred into a remedy that’s a sure cure for the curmudgeon soul. 

 

Interview by J Castro

Let’s start out with some introductions, who’s all currently in the band and what does everyone do in it?

Mary on lead vocals/rhythm guitar (Telecaster)

Judy on lead guitar/back-up vocals (Rickenbacker 620 fireglo)

Claudia on bass/back-up vocals (Rickenbacker bass)

Ryan on drums, drums, drums

On your band’s bio it says you ladies are from Seattle to Atlanta to New York City.  Why did you move around so much, did you move to where the music has taken you or were there other factors in play?

Mary is from Seattle and Judy from Atlanta- we’ve lived in NY for many years. Claudia and Ryan are originally from Queens, NY. The 3 girls moved down to Atlanta for a year to record our first full length; The First One.

What band or musician inspired you to want to pick up and play an instrument?

Claudia: My Uncle Louie gave me a Ramones record.

Judy: Chron Gen, External Menace, The Boys… definitely The Ejected

Mary: My older brothers played music when I was younger so that definitely inspired me to pick up a guitar. Other than that, bands like Ramones, Clash also inspired me to play.

Baby Shakes recently had the opportunity to play a couple of shows with Irish punk legends Protex!  How did that go, were you fans of the band prior to the show?

Baby Shakes: Collectively Protex is one of our favorite bands. We’re big fans of Good Vibrations Records and the Northern Irish punk/powerpop scene. On our last European tour we actually covered “I Can Only Dream.” Protex were amazing live! They’re the coolest guys ever and we had a blast! We actually had so much fun that we may be combining forces for a short tour of Ireland later this year (wink).

Can you tell be about the worst show you remember playing?  Maybe not necessarily because you played badly or anything but maybe because you felt out of place on a bill or the crowd was acting up?

Baby Shakes: Well our first show was at Mars Bar (a notorious NY dive bar with a sorted history), our drummer at the time had to use an upside-down ice bucket as a floor tom. Then the cops shut us down after 4 songs. It was good fun and we miss that bar, it’s been replaced by a luxury condo. Another memorable time we were asked to play a benefit for Question Mark and the Mysterians after the singer’s apartment burned down and he lost everything. Genesis P-Orridge, singer of Psychic TV tried to kick us off the stage because the show was running behind; meanwhile Paul Shaffer was in the front watching us and giving us the thumbs up, pretty hilarious.

I was reading this interview with Nick Cave and he said that out of all art forms, music has the power to change a person’s mood the fastest. What do you think?

Baby Shakes: That’s pretty accurate. When we hear Taylor Swift it makes us want to set things on fire but then you put on Slade or the Beatles and that makes us happy.

When you play a show, what do you hope to convey to your audience? What feelings or sentiments do you hope people walk away with after seeing you play live?

Baby Shakes: We just want people to have fun during our set and we want to put them in a good mood when they hear our songs. I guess playing live we want to be taken seriously as musicians. When we show up sometimes and people see that we're three girls with guitars they usually don't expect much and think it's a joke so we always try our best to blow away the skeptics and prove them wrong. We also want people to bring us tequila shots on stage. Always!!

What’s the single best piece of advice that anyone’s ever given you?

Baby Shakes: Stay free

Now we’ve come to the lightening round portion of the interview!  Feel free to answer as much or as little as you’d like!

     1 What’s the first concert you attended without your parents?

Claudia: Vice Squad or Menace @CBGBs

Judy: I’m tempted to lie but I think it was some shit like Smashing Pumpkins, yikes.

Mary: Hmm very first concert without parents? I don’t remember probably some shitty battle of the bands at a school.

     2 What’s the first band T-shirt that you can remember owning/wearing?

Claudia: My uncle bought me an Ozzy Osbourne T-shirt from his comeback concert. I got sent home from school that day because it said “retirement sucks" on the back.

Judy: Operation Ivy

Mary: Sex Pistols, I got it in 6^th grade and still wear it ha, ha.

3 What’s the first record you bought with your own money?

Claudia: The Cars

Judy: Angry Samoans

Mary: The Stooges

4 What’s the first band poster that you put up on your childhood bedroom wall?  

Baby Shakes: New Kids on the Block or maybe Menudo or Madonna.

What’s coming up in the near future for Baby Shakes, any new records or tours?

Baby Shakes: We just came out with a new 45 titled She’s a Star (limited to Italian/Japanese pressing with 2 different covers) and our second full-length titled Starry Eyes will be out in July. We’re opening for Slaughter & the Dogs in Philly on July 4. We’re also touring Ireland and Europe/Scandinavia in late-Summer and then Japan in early 2016.

Links to follow Baby Shakes hijinks:

www.babyshakes.com

www.facebook.com/babyshakesny

babyshakesny.bandcamp.com

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUs70UNfZw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gMsqRzElEA

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Fashionism

     Fashionism is based in Vancouver, British Columbia and recently debuted unto the world with a three song EP on Hosehead Records earlier this year that was very well received here at the Audio Ammunition sub aquatic chateau. The band successfully combines some of the wonderful attributes of a few rock sub genres that particularly tickle our fancy: the loud guitar hooks of glam, the melodies of power pop, and the explosive energy of punk rock are all equally and brilliantly woven throughout Fashionism’s song structure. The band consists of veteran musicians from such bands as New Town Animals, The Jolts, and The Tranzmitors, but when these four particular entities come together they create a sound that’s enjoyably fresh yet pleasantly familiar. Fashionism pushes all the right buttons and presses new ones you didn’t even know you had!    

Interview by J Castro

Let’s start off by telling us who is all in the band, what instruments you all play in the band AND some of the other groups you’ve been in or currently in other than Fashionism:

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: I'm Jacuzzi Fluzzi and I play guitar and I sing heavenly background vocals. Jeffery sings all the lead vocals and is the band tailor. JR plucks the bass with her fingers like a real musician and sings quiet background vocals and Sweet Kokomo is the minister of partying and plays drums. We're all VERY old so we've played in lots of bands, but some of the good ones are Tranzmitors and New Town Animals. Those bands all suck in comparison, though. Obviously.

How did you all meet and decide to get a band together?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi:  Jeff and I live a stone’s throw away from each other and had talked in the past a lot about whether or not we were going to go into politics as running mates or get a band together. We opted for the road with less money and chose a name that firmly put an end to any of us pursuing a political career. Thank god. Jeff filled in the blanks with some old band mates of his and we ended up with some really fantastic people.

Paul Collins wanted to be with one back in 1979 and according to your song: “Where Have All the Rock n’ Roll Girls Gone” they’re becoming scarce in Vancouver. What is the allure of a rock n’ roll girl and what’s your theory on why they’re a dying breed?  

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: We lament the fact that there aren't a lot of people that are into actual subculture. That really identify with it. There used to be so many youth cultures and most of them have been assimilated. But I do think Vancouver is getting better, actually. At least I hope so. There are so many great bands and cool scenes within punk here right now especially. It seems like things are getting pretty creative. There are still rock n’ roll girls out there, but I don't think that it's a genuine possibility to bond with a babe over a Magazine LP in Vancouver, you know? Perhaps we're getting old and grumpy, but when we play that song live it sure seems to make the girls in the room prove that they're still around. Maybe it's a challenge.

Photo by Nicole Dumas

You describe your sound as “Bubblegum glam of the early 70’s played by people who like late 70’s UK punk.” I think that description is pretty spot on. Is this the sound you were going for when first starting out or did it just kind of naturally flow into that direction?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: We initially wanted to play full-on glam rock but it quickly turned into us realizing that we were poisoned by our record collections and decades of listening to Sex Pistols and Clash LPs. We couldn't sugar it up the way it was needed to really do the genre properly so we just stopped thinking about it. We decided it was better to just take the songs that we were writing as I guess power pop/first-wave punk songs but try to think of them with the big production that would have been used on Slade or Mud records.

What sorts of things typically inspire your song lyrics?  I was reading an interview with Kim Shattuck of the Muffs and she said she stays away from politics in her lyrics because she feels nothing dates a song faster. Are there any subjects that you purposefully stay away from?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: I have perhaps the biggest crush on Kim Shattuck possible so I'd like to agree in case she sees this, but I do think rock n’ roll is political. I hate politics, though. We don't have any real political agenda at all. I still don't think anything is off the table as far as writing goes. Jeffery is a History major. It comes out in his writing, but mostly manifests as goofy and tongue-in-cheek more than some dumb rallying cry.

Looking at pictures of you guys, your album artwork, and even your buttons and posters; you definitely have a distinct “look,” hence your band name I would guess.  Do you think more bands should start taking a little more interest in this sort of thing instead of just shuffling up on stage in t-shirts, shorts and torn up canvas shoes? 

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: Y'know, fashion is fun. It's a lot of fun to play dress-up and look goofy and sharp and scummy and whatever else. I love the “don't care” (and possibly can't afford to care) look of bands like Fifteen and I also think The Jam look fuckin' smart! It's how you wear it. Just own it and don't pose. I did see one band locally here that sticks out in my mind but I can't remember what they were called. The guitar player looked like he crawled out of bed and grabbed his reverb pedal on the way to the show. He was wearing a full red sweat suit and dumb toque and he looked like an asshole. I hated him and his stupid band and I decided that if you're going to suck (and they did suck) that you at least should put some effort into what you're wearing. He certainly paid no attention to his songwriting. At least if you look great and play like you actually want to, you'll be entertaining to some degree...

And speaking of which, you just released your debut 7” on Hosehead Records. Can you tell me a bit about it and how you hooked up with the fine folks at Hosehead?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi:  Patrick from Hosehead came out to our first show and said he'd do anything to put a record out for us, which is an offer you can't refuse. Stupidly, all we asked for was for him to put out a record for us. He's got some cool bands on his label too so it's a nice fit.

With vinyl record sales being on the rise since 2006 and now cassettes making a comeback, do you think there will ever be a time when tapes and records out sell digital MP3’s or do you think this whole vinyl comeback thing is simply a fad? 

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: I work in a record store – tapes still sell terribly. Records are selling well and have for years. Punk and underground cultures have floated vinyl as a mandatory format for years. It's not going anywhere; it may ebb and flow as the mainstream realizes there is a sellable format for new releases, but the underground has always kept it alive. Lookout Records in the ‘90s was HUGE, and it was one of the worst eras for records coming out on vinyl. Nearly their entire catalog came out on vinyl and they weren't small pressings, either. I don't pay attention to MP3s.

Expanding a bit more on the previous question: do you think people will realize what they’re missing from actually holding a record in their hand: album artwork, band photos, liner notes etc.?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: Well, I hope so – it's part of the whole package of a record. There is thought and aesthetic there and not just in the songs. I don't like talking about stupid things like “branding” or some other industry garbage but I suppose it is true to a point. The artwork and attention to detail are really special to me. Nearly everything we've done has been by hand, stamping all of our sleeves, pressing our own pins, numbering and stamping our posters and silk screening/spray painting our first line of T-shirts. I think that's valuable and I hope that when someone buys something from us they see the value in that as well.

What’s the plan of attack for Fashionism in 2015: any tours or new releases? 

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: We have a new single coming out on Zaxxon Records out of Montreal and we have a bunch more songs recorded as well. Get in touch as they're all doozies. We are planning some Stateside shows and some Western Canada stuff, and hope to make it out east, but right now we're writing and recording for more releases.

Links to follow Fashionism hijinks:

http://fashionism.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/fashionishim

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ydD6faWVU8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q0oyUwWN0k

Follow @AAmmunition

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The Rich Hands New Cassingle

     Rich Hands bring us new tunes to sustain our ravenous Rock ‘n’ Roll souls! Just in time for Cassette Store Day, comes the latest offering from one of our favorite bands: San Antonio’s Rich Hands! This brand new cassingle features the soon to be classic “Take Me Away” and a cover of the Stones classic “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” The songs were recorded at Big Orange Studios in Austin during SXSW and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” was recorded with Chris Koltay in Detroit! All of this brought to you by a couple of San Antonio’s finest recording labels Secret People and Yippee Ki Ya records. Rich Hands are also about to rip into the middle of the U.S. with the one and only Paul Collins in the captain’s chair! Go see this Rock ‘n’ Roll extravaganza as it nears your town this Fall! Tour dates are below, take notes as needed!

October 1st Houston @ Walter's*

October 2nd Austin @ Hotel Vegas*

October 3rd San Antonio @ The Korova*

October 4th Dallas @ City Tavern*

October 5th Oklahoma City @ Blue Note*

October 6th Kansas City @ Record Bar*

October 7th Chicago @ Burlington Bar

October 8th Detroit @ Lager House

October 9th Milwaukee @ Quarters

October 10th St. Louis @ Heavy Anchor

October 11th Tulsa @ Soundpony (early) Tulsa Vinyl Fest (late)

*with Paul Collins Beat

Yum Yums

     In a perfect world, there would be a tribute statue erected in Norway with the likeness of Yum Yums front man Morten Henrikson. For years he’s been strumming away writing and performing glowing pop songs, just the way the Norse God of pop songs intended. Songs that are so jam packed with guitar hooks and genuinely heartfelt lyrics that you instantly feel a connection with them. Sometimes I feel like maybe that's why bands like The Yum Yums aren't as popular as they should be; it's almost too emotionally “real” for most people to take. That's why all these disconnected theatrical rock star puppets rule the airwaves.  So where is this Norse God of pop songs and why isn't he striking down all of these fraudulent poets of musical swill you ask? Why he's too busy writing songs for his band The Yum Yums!

Interview by Jay Castro

What is the origin story of your band Morten? I know you have had a lot of people come and go, but with the original line up: how did you all meet and decide to form a band?

The Yum Yums was my idea from the start. My former garage band The Cosmic Dropouts had just broken up and I wanted to start a light hearted pop-band with punk energy to stand up to all the grunge, black metal and "beats per minute" crap that was out there in 1993. I wanted a band like Paul Collins Beat, The Barracudas, The Real Kids and of course The Ramones, plus more "modern" bands like The Queers, Psychotic Youth (Swe), The Vacant Lot and Sonic Surf City (Swe). A band like The Devil Dogs was also a HUGE influence. Still is! I basically recruited guys I knew were into the same music I was, regardless if they were "good" musicians or not.

As a kid, do you remember what band or musician made you want to pick up an instrument and want to write your own music?

Yep: The Monkees were my favorite band when I was 4. My mom bought me Monkees singles after we watched The Monkees TV show. Later I got obsessed with the British glitter and glam pop wave of the early 70's. Slade, Sweet, Suzy Quatro, Gary Glitter, Mud… you name it! They were all gods! Then Kiss, The Ramones and punk rock. Later I started digging backwards for ‘60's garage rock, surf, girl groups and bubblegum, even 50's Rock N' Roll, R & B and rockabilly.

What is life like for a power pop band in Norway? Are there some other similar bands to play with out there right now?

We have actually been pretty much alone, doing the kind of Ramones-y power-pop that we do. Norway is such a small country, so the bands we like to play with and hang out with are bands of various genres. Lately some new punk / power pop bands have turned up, though like Sugar Louise, The Promdates, The Whipshades, The Hallingtons. Other bands to check out would be Peter Berry and The Shake Set (‘60's beat), Los Plantronics (spaghetti-instrumental), Gringo Bandido (Intense Greg Cartwright-style pop rock).

On the new album …Play Good Music, the subjects of the songs run a full emotional spectrum of relationships, everything from being happy in love to being happy without it. Are all of these songs about the same person or are you able to look back and tap into emotions from your past?

The angry bitter and hateful songs are mostly about my ex girlfriend Caroline (of Caroline & The Treats), who had dumped me right when I was writing the lyrics for the album. Not a happy time, but good for inspiration I guess. The happier songs are either written before the breakup, or are about what life and love could or should be like in a perfect world. The album is actually still kind of hard for me to listen to. Oh well… these days I am writing songs for the next Caroline & The Treats album, which I also will record and produce. She writes her own lyrics though.

Aside from the obvious power pop influences, the song on the new album “And a Whole Lot of You” has an almost Motown intro like “Can’t Help Myself” by the Four Tops.  Are you a fan of Motown and groups like these?

There are a lot of different influences on the album. The main influence for “And A Whole Lotta You” is however bubblegum pop. No particular song. But I am of course a fan of the Motown stuff and bands / artists like that too. There were a lot of Motown influences in Bubblegum music too.

Although Yum Yum’s lyrics aren’t always happy and sunny the music that accompanies them usually is. Do you have any music that you put on when you’re down about something that can brighten up your mood?

Any Rock And Roll, baby! All kinds! As long as it rocks!

Where are the best places for people to hear or buy your music?

Anywhere we play, I guess. My favorite place to play is always at the Wurlitzer Ballroom in Madrid. We have a fantastic, faithful gang of fans there. Always a party! Where to buy our records? Any well-stocked records store, iTunes Store, or directly from me: mhenrik@online.no

What does the band have in store for us in the near or not so near future?

I have written A LOT of new Yum Yums songs, and we are planning to record a new album this summer / fall for release later in the fall. I guess I need to find another girl who can break up with me, so I can get the lyrics going. Lyrics are always a hassle! I hope we can release a new single shortly. I wrote a summer-song last summer called "Summertime Pop". It's about guys who spend their days and nights indoors playing their "Perfect Summer 45's" instead of going to the beach.

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