Piss Test

                                                                             (Photo by Rita Gonsalves)

     Piss Test is a tried and true punk band, for better or for worse. They’ve got 2 EP’s and an LP in their cache which consists of short, bratty bursts of agitation and frustration mixed with a hearty dose of wit and sarcasm, enough so that when they’re done with you, it’s hard to tell which end is up. They’re music is also peppered with their irreverent sense of humor, which much like the Angry Samoans is one large blazing middle finger in your face. Piss Test sing about what they think about you, your stupid friends and that ridiculous life you actually call an earthly existence. They don’t care if you agree or if you get it or not, these are not their concerns.  Their music is so loud and in your face you can’t get a thought in edgewise and even if you could there’d be no one there to listen. To me, this is Piss Test: love ‘em for it, hate ‘em for it, they don’t care. 

Interview by J Castro

Let’s start out by telling us who is currently in the band and what everyone does in Piss Test:

PISS TEST: Zach plays guitar and sings, Rodrigo plays drums, Samantha plays bass and sings.

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

SAMANTHA: Zach and I are both from Denver. I had a raging teenage crush on him before he moved to Portland and my persistence worked out. I moved to Portland almost eight years ago and we met Rodrigo when he joined the band Therapists. He really impressed us. I did not play music before this band.

ZACH:  Despite the fact that Samantha and I are a couple, it was Rodrigo’s idea to have her play bass. I asked him to start a band after he quit Therapists. He claimed he was done playing drums, which was utterly unacceptable.

RODRIGO:  I'm glad didn't stop drumming. I seriously wanted to quit, and play bass.

Your band is currently based in Portland, OR. With so many other great bands out there at the moment, is it tough playing shows with so much else going on? I know here in Phoenix sometimes there are two or three good shows and as a fan, sometimes it’s hard to choose.

SAMANTHA: People go to a lot of shows. Our last show competed with Bad Brains at a huge venue, Fred & Toody Cole of Dead Moon at a fancy venue and members of Autistic Youth playing in an indie rock band on a boat and was still decently attended.

ZACH: Most of the good bands in Portland barely play.

RODRIGO: There are so many rad bands here in Portland. At first I think it was tough, but now I think we are starting to have a following here.

People have reviewed your records and compared Piss Test’s sound so early ‘80’s hardcore and bands on the Killed by Death compilations. How would you describe your sound to someone that’s never heard your band?

ZACH: Recent reviews keep saying we sound like Boston’s The Proletariat, so I guess we sound like The Proletariat. We were going for more of a Blood Stains Across Texas meets 100 Flowers vibe.

RODRIGO: I can't think of anything we sound like.

I was watching this old interview with Henry Rollins and he was saying how much he hates Bruce Springsteen because he doesn’t offer any solutions to some of the things he sings about, he just whines about them; things like poverty, social inequality etc. Do you agree with this at all? Do you think bands should offer more solutions to the things they talk about in their lyrics?

SAMANTHA: Nothing that Henry Rollins says matters. Bruce Springsteen is The Boss. Giving “solutions” or suggestions for how to live life is a major mistake that Minor Threat made. We hope to never be like that.

ZACH: Henry Rollins has never solved anything!

RODRIGO: What did Henry Rollins offer? Is he even playing music? Who cares? 

ZACH: One of the things I love about Bruce Springsteen records like Nebraska is that they are lyrically a collection of short stories. None of the characters in Piss Test songs are autobiographical. We write about addicts, aging skate bros, suicidal teenage girls, etc. You can shed light on social issues by writing about individuals.     

Piss Test’s song lyrics seem to be all over the place in terms of subject matter. Can you remember the most bizarre person or event that inspired a song? Have you ever written songs lyrics that you regret for whatever reason?

ZACH: “Necrophilia, It’s Halal” was inspired by a supposed fatwa issued by Moroccan, Iman Zamzami declaring necrophilia, well, Halal. There were reports claiming the translation to be sensationalized, but that is completely irrelevant as far as song writing is concerned. Never regret anything, especially song lyrics.

SAMANTHA: In “Nazis” we name drop the tax preparation software Turbotax. I think that is weird.

ZACH: I stand by the lyrics.

Sometimes I hear a song and its lyrics or guitar riff are so great I think to myself, man I wish I would have written that! Have you ever felt that way about a song or lyric that strikes a similar chord (no corn ball pun intended) with you?

ZACH: All the time. If you don’t feel that way about other people’s music, you shouldn’t be trying to write music.

SAMANTHA: Nick Lowe, “Rollers Show,” The Next, “Cheap Rewards,” the entire Adolescents blue album and Boys Next Door “Somebody’s Watching Me,” “Death of Innocence” by Legal Weapon and a couple of hits by the Go-Go’s…

I was listening to your song “Everybody” from your 2014 LP Biggest Band in Europe (Johnny Cat Records/Taken By Surprise) and it got me wondering; do you feel people in bands put too much pressure on themselves to write and/or perform? Do you think that may be why so much popular rock n’ roll music lacks key ingredients like spontaneity and recklessness that made it great in the past?

SAMANTHA:  The song isn’t pressure as much as delusions of grandeur. Some bands don’t work hard enough to write or perform, which is why there are so many sloppy, shitty, and boring bands.

ZACH: “Everybody” wasn’t inspired by bands who were trying too hard; it was inspired by bands who were posing too hard.

RODRIGO: I like to think that the best performing bands are having fun. Great music shouldn't be forced. Bands that sport their best fashion and hair styles before the music suck ass.

Where can people go or log on to listen to your music and buy your records?

ZACH: The internet

RODRIGO: Portland

SAMANTHA: pisstest.bandcamp.com and the coolest of cool record stores

What does the rest of 2015 have in store for the mighty Piss Test?

ZACH: More of the same shit

RODRIGO: Hopefully touring more

Follow @AAmmunition

Primitive Hearts

(photo by Aaron Oxborrow)

     For decades power pop and punk rock have had a history together. However, to successfully execute this merger a band needs to possess a sort of X factor, a certain something that allows a person to open up like a dropped book on a busy street and let passersby to peer into the pages of their lives, their souls. To do this well, there can be nothing artificial, the feelings and emotions that come through those amplifiers must be genuine no matter what instrument is being used as the conduit. Primitive Hearts have raw and sincere reactions to the world around them and they present their findings to you in song form and you’ll soon realize that their hearts are far from “primitive.”

Interview by Jay Castro

First off Paul, I would like to thank you for taking time and doing this interview; I know you are a busy individual, well…. I’m assuming. Let’s start with names of all in Primitive Hearts.

DANIELLE – Bass and Vocals

PAUL – Guitar and Vocals

TAYLOR – Drums

I know the band started as a two-piece (Guitar & Drums) back in 2010 and you Taylor played a show in Portland as a two-piece. Then Danielle came in and magic ensued.  Do you feel 2 piece rock bands lack a bit in fullness or depth in any way?  What led to the decision to add bass?

PAUL: I think there are some two-piece bands that can sound as big or bigger than even three or four-piece bands. In our case, though, we never intended to be a two-piece; we just couldn't find anyone to play bass! I wrote all the songs with bass parts and backing vocals from the beginning, so when Danielle got on board, we could finally start playing the songs as they were intended.

The new LP High and Tight reminds me of one of the three Ron Swanson acceptable haircuts for men (Buzz Cut and Crew Cut being the other two). Does film or TV shows inspire your songs a lot?  

PAUL: Glad you go the haircut reference. The album title is sort of a play on the words “high & tight,” from both the haircut and a high and inside pitch in baseball. In our case, though, it just has to do with feeling good and shit being rad (aka tight). As for TV/film inspiration, maybe not on individual songs so much, but they definitely inspire the band as a whole. We're all big TV and movie fans, Kids in the Hall is the reigning band favorite. Probably about a third of any given Primitive Hearts practice is filled with KITH quotes and references. In fact, in our video for “Falling Apart,” if you look closely in a few shots you can see “Armada” scrawled on Taylor's bass drum head as homage to Rod Torfulson's Armada featuring Herman Menderchuk. It's still on there...

Can you remember the strangest or most unlikely person or event that inspired one of your songs?

PAUL: Actually, going back to your previous question, I guess I was a little off. A TV show did inspire one of our songs: “Lone Wolf.” It was based on Lenny of Lenny & Squiggy/Laverne & Shirley fame. He has the words “Lone Wolf” on the back of his jacket. I always thought that was rad and would make a great song title. I sort of wrote the song from Lenny's perspective; he may be a lone wolf, but he ain't lonely.

The lyrics for the song “Falling Apart” are kind of a bummer but the music makes it one of the catchiest most up-tempo songs on the record. I have heard some say that writing and playing music is like their therapist. Have any of you felt this way ever?

PAUL: Maybe a little bit when it comes to writing, in that you can vent certain feelings or frustrations, but playing music is definitely therapeutic. For two minutes at a time your only focus is the song you're playing, the people in the room, and having a good time. It's pretty hard to beat.

The reviewer from Maximum Rock N Roll said he hears more power pop than pop punk in your music.  I think that’s a huge compliment, do you agree with that description though? 

PAUL: Yeah, that's probably fair to say, although it's nothing intentional or deliberate. I can see how some of the songs have that feel, but we listen to all kinds of stuff, so it's all just a mash up of lots of influences. We've never claimed to be a “power pop” band or “pop punk” band or whatever; we just like to play good times Rock N' Roll.

In my opinion I hear both, which is a good thing! Is there any band or musician in either of those genres you feel is grossly underrated and deserves more recognition?

PAUL: Thanks, yeah, there's definitely a little of everything in there! I'm not sure about any “grossly underrated” power pop/pop punk bands or musicians necessarily, but I think the world could definitely use more of both. All hooks all the time!

In yet another write up, Primitive Hearts is described as having influences like The Kinks, Beach Boys, and The Sonics. I got into older Rock N’ Roll by way of punk rock when I was a wee lad. For example, I started paying closer attention to The Beach Boys and The Ronettes because of the Ramones. Was this the case for any of you?

PAUL: I'd say when we were young; it was the opposite for the most part. We all grew up on oldies and whatever our parents and older brothers and sisters listened to. When we got into punk and more obscure stuff, it was easy to see the connections and influences of those older bands.

I was reading this interview with Nick Cave and he said something to the effect that out of any of the art forms music has the power to change a person’s mood the fastest. Do you agree with this and if so do any of you have any favorite songs you put on to help you out of a bummer mood or to help you get all riled up on the way to a gig? Other than High and Tight of course!

PAUL: Yes, music can totally change your mood! There are so many good go-to jams when we wanna get pumped, but some favorites in the van would be anything from Chuck Berry, The Undertones, Equals, Slade, LAMF, Stones, and pretty much anything else that boogies.

With all these comparisons to Rock N’ Roll of yesteryear, do any current bands or musicians inspire you and if so who?

PAUL: Some current bands that totally kill it are Bad Sports, Midnite Snaxxx, Nobunny, The Steve Adamyk Band, Pookie & The Poodlez, The Shanghais, Mean Jeans, and Needles//Pins. 

Where can people go to hear Primitive Hearts or buy your music?

PAUL: Our Bandcamp page has all our music and merch for sale, so take a peek:

https://primitivehearts.bandcamp.com/ 

You can also follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/primitivehearts) and Instagram (@primitivehearts).

In closing on the behalf of all at Audio Ammunition I want to thank you again and wish you the best of luck. What does the band have in store for the remainder of the year, any tours or albums?

PAUL: We're gonna be doing a month-long tour in June with a couple dates in Canada, too, around the Ottawa Explosion Weekend. We're going out with our buddies Pookie & The Poodlez, which is gonna rule. We actually did a split 7” with Pookie that should be coming out soon on Jonny Cat Records out of Portland, so keep an eye out for that!

Thanks so much for talking with us!

Follow @AAmmunition

Youthbitch

     Sometimes half of the battle is too get people just talking about your band and with a name like Youthbitch you might not have a problem. But having a name that garners attention isn’t enough; the band needs the tunes to back it up, which, Youthbitch does. A healthy mix of Exploding Hearts and Dictators got Dirtnap so impressed that they stated “this is the first time we’ve done a 7″ with an up-and coming local band in years.” This was hot off the heels of 2012’s mega output of not one, but two LP’s and their new single, on Dirtnap/Jonny Cat is currently out now. By the end of the year, Youthbitch might have another LP so I would start listening to this band now.

Interview by Ed Stuart

Who’s answering the questions?

Stevie

Where is the band from?

Portland, Oregon via flyover country.

Who is in the band and what instrument do they play? 

Nico "No-Good Nick" Suavey plays the fumbly bumbles on the small mouth bass and sings. Joe Benasshole (none of these nicknames are consensual) rocks the skins. R. P. Smith plays the fiddly bits on the lead axe and I play second fiddle and also sing.

How did the band start?

Me ‘n Nico played real shitty stuff when we were 18 and then came Rob and Joe later to make it an actual band. Members were selected in keeping with astrological compatibility and wiener size.

How did the band name come about? From reading different reviews there is a mixed reaction about the band’s name than the band’s sound.

It's from the FBI lyrics to Louie Louie ("hey Youthbitch, hey love maker, now hold my bone"). We were like 18 when we picked it. It didn't seem like a good name at the time and it still doesn't, but we didn't come to give good names, we came to rock.

The band members are originally from Illinois, St Louis, and Idaho. Why the move to Portland? What drew you guys there instead of other big US cities?

Portland's nice and cheap and a great place to ruin your life.

Don’t Fuck This Up was called “It might be the best local document of such a sound since the Exploding Hearts’ Guitar Romantic, and it deserves a vaunted spot next to Gentleman Jesse’s self-titled debut in taxonomies of contemporary classics” by the Willamette Week. Guitar Romantic is arguably a classic LP and one of the best of the last fifteen years. How does it feel for Youthbitch to be held in such high regard with such a review?

It was really nice of him to say that, but it's not such a good idea to take reviews to heart. Let's take a look at some other reviews: MRR says we're a "lame Nobunny" with no hooks. A YouTube commenter says "it sounds like they're playing their guitars with their clitorises" (best one yet). Just the other day some guy driving by in a pickup called me a faggot.

What bands/LP’s influence or have influenced Youthbitch’s songwriting?

I think Sam Cooke was a big part of Nico's songs on the last record. Rob really likes Ross the Boss from the Dictators. One really important song is "All Over Blues Feeling" by Champion Jack Dupree. It's like a Rosetta Sone for all our stupid ideas.

Do you think music can still be a vital force in such a disposable age?

Everyone needs jams. Jams are everywhere now, and some people say that devalues the jams, but really if jams are important to you then it just means more jams.

Youthbitch released two LP’s in 2012, Youthbitch Youthbitch Youthbitch Youthbitch Youthbitch and Don’t Fuck This Up?  Then follow it up with the I’m In Love With Girls single in the early part of 2013. How does the band stay so prolific? Why not wait and give each release a little breathing room? 

I think it's a pretty standard amount of output for bands our age. We had even more stuff that year than those releases, there were releases with side projects and tracks on comps and whatnot, but if you step back and think about it it's not that much. If I were a baker and I only made five pies in 2012, wouldn't this question be more like, "Dude, why are you such a shitty baker?"

What have been some of Youthbitch’s favorite shows? I see the band has played with The Spits and Mean Jeans.

My favorite so far was on tour with Therapists when we played with Primitive Hearts and Shannon and the Clams in SF. Also, SMMR BMMR last year was awesome, Kepi Ghoulie played a set with the jeans, all the beer was free, and Dirty Donny airbrushed my jacket.

How did Youthbitch hook up with Dirtnap? On the Dirtnap site they state, “this is the first time we’ve done a 7″ with an up-and coming local band in years. Once you hear this, though, it will be immediately apparent why we broke our long dry-spell.”

Starting when Nico was 17, he used to go to Ken's store and bug him all the time. At some point over the course of five years I think we started to suck a lot less and he started to like us. He heard our LP on Jonny Cat and wanted to do a split release with the 7-inch.

50 years ago people used to buy music and get their water for free, now people pay for water and get their music for free. How do you think this affects music in any way?  

Buncha thirsty fellas with headphones on having a gay ole time.

Where can people hear the band?

http://youthbitch.bandcamp.com ! That's also how you can make sure we don't go hungry. Get our LP and 7" from the Green Noise website ( http://www.greennoiserecords.com/ ) Lots of videos on youtube too (another one on the way).

What’s next for Youthbitch?

More shows on the West Coast. Someday a van and then more shows everywhere. 

Follow @AAmmunition