Rations

Rations may be from Long Island, but the band has a sound that is heavily influenced by early Jawbreaker, Fugazi, Crimpshrine and other early to mid-90’s bands. A sound that relies on musical urgency, half time tempos and raspy, emotive vocals that sings and shred at the same time. Where there is a melody mixed with distorted guitars and a drumbeat that continually pushes ahead. Where as Jawbreaker would give the songs time to expand, Rations packs everything they needs to do in a short periods of time true to punk tradition, but not in traditional fashion.

Interview by Ed Stuart

Who’s answering the questions?

Brian, Wells, Social Dee, Tia

Where is the band from?

Brian: We're all originally from the North Shore of Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. We're currently all living in different parts of Suffolk County. I'm the only one who has defected to the South Shore. 

Wells: It's a whole different culture down there. Gargoyles.

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

Wells: Deirdre plays drums and sometimes other percussion stuff like glockenspiel. Tia plays bass and sometimes sings. Then Brian and I play guitars and sing. On this last EP our buddy Beaker and I also used an Atari Punk Console for some of the noise stuff between songs.

How did the band start?

Brian: The idea to start this band came up during a BBQ at Wells’ house. We thought it would be fun to start playing again, after not having played together for awhile. Gradually, it became a bit more serious and we hooked up with Dee and then Tia and started playing shows and releasing records.

What bands did you have in mind when starting this band?

Brian: (Young) Pioneers, Jawbreaker, M-Blanket, Splurge.

Wells: Brian seems to have forgotten our time as a Screeching Weasel worship band. Our motto was "Aim for Anthem. Settle for Wiggle."

How does the songwriting process work in Rations? The listener can hear band influences ranging from early Jawbreaker, Fugazi, 90’s East Bay to bits of Born Against (in guitar sound not song speed).

Wells: It's always a bit a different, but typically either Brian or I come to practice with the rough idea of a song already made up. 

Brian: Everyone kinda writes their own part from that and we arrange it all together. We have always followed the rule that whoever writes the song has to sing it. 

How is the Long Island punk scene different from NYC punk scene? Why the decision to stay in Long Island? How has it changed over the years?

Brian: I lived in NYC for close to 10 years. Back then I think NYC was more dominated by hardcore. I've always felt a greater sense of community with Long Island punk.

Tia: The Long Island punk scene feels more like a giant family than a bunch of kids enjoying music. There is just complete support, acceptance and passion for the right things. NYC is so vast that even though you may see some of the same people, it is not as tight knit as the Long Island scene is.  It can seem as if people are at a show for the beer. There's a great group of bands and friends on LI doing really cool things!

I was reading that 30 different labels in 11 different countries are releasing the Martyrs and Prisoners 7 inch. How much coordination and cooperation does this take and why the decision to do release the 7 inch through so many different labels?

Wells: It's definitely been a lot of work and coordination but I think it'll be really gratifying when it's done. We're really lucky to have a lot of great contacts around the world that are down for this kinda stuff. We did our "How Much Land Does A Man Need?" 7" EP in 2011 the same way - 10 labels in 6 countries. At some point I got it in my head to see just how many labels we could pile in for this one. I aimed for 20 and wound up with 30! We wanted to use the opportunity of releasing the record to demonstrate that international DIY punk and hardcore really operates as a 'network of friends'.  From a practical standpoint putting it out this way allowed us to defray the manufacturing costs across 30 different entities and get our music into 30 different scenes across the globe. I think it was a neat experiment and on the whole I think it worked out pretty great.

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 bands and labels in any way especially considering Wells owns and operates 86’d Records?

Wells: I've always done bands and record labels as a hobby - either breaking even or losing money. So, from that perspective it doesn't really phase me. I like the idea of free culture and a robust public domain. Our new record is being licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. As far as for-profit water, I think that's insane. Via Campesina, which is an international peasant's organization that we had some information on in our last record, has some powerful perspective on this. 

In the Brainstorm article, Brian was talking about “writing stuff that sounds ‘Long Island’ is almost impossible not to do.” What is the Long Island sound? Are there any particular bands that really epitomize that sound?

Brian: Splurge's "For Huey With Love and Squalor" is the final word in Long Island punk.

Wells: I didn't tell anyone I was doing it, but "For Huey" is etched in the runout on the A side of the new record. "For Love, Squalor" is etched on the B side.

Where can people hear the band?

Wells: We've got a website up at rationsband.wordpress.com. That's a pretty good place to start. Our new EP "Martyrs and Prisoners" will be available for download at the Free Music Archive starting July 2nd, 2013.

What’s next for Rations?

Social Dee: We're really hoping to get a band practice together before the end of the summer.

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Reviews

Night Birds – Born To Die In Suburbia LP (Grave Mistake Records)

In the 90’s, New Jersey was a bottomless well of terrific Street Punk/OiI bands like The Bristles, The Wretched Ones, Those Unknown and the labels that housed them; Headache, GMM,  and Pogo Stick. So that’s kind of what I still think of when I hear about a punk band from Jersey.  Somewhere along the line, tides shifted.  Night Birds are here and do a searing Posh Boy/Hostage Records sound that commands consideration.  With one LP and a hand full of 7”’s prior, this seems to be their strongest effort.  The sound is better fortified, leaner and meaner!  I love the way the instrumental surf punk scolder opening track Escape From New York melts into the second title track.  It’s like crossing the street, being hit by an eighteen wheeler, only to wake up thankful to be barely alive stuck splattered on the radiator grill.  As the feeling of gratitude continues you suddenly realize the whole mechanical ogre is going off a cliff with you at the head.  I guess what I am trying to say is, this record is indeed the deliverer of the goods! – Jay Castro

How does a band from New Jersey sound like they would have been right at home in Southern California punk scene circa 1980-1985? I don’t know, but they have done it and have done it exceptionally well. Born To Die In Suburbia seems like a lost album from the early Frontier Records catalog. Back when the label released Circle Jerks, T.S.O.L. and Adolescents. Night Birds have nailed the sound of the three aforementioned bands as well as the early D.I. catalog without sounding like a cheap cover band. For fans of that era of Southern California punk, your band and LP have arrived! Buy now or be sorry you didn’t. – Ed Stuart 

The Instigation – 7” EP (Self-released)

The band is based in Tokyo/Shanghai, employs a British Singer and describes themselves as garage hardcore.  Sounds cool already huh!?  The “garage” in the description I assume comes from the sonic assault that’s delivered in a slight lo-fi manner, which I think gives the songs a bit more crunch to them.  Don’t fret, there is still hardcore a-plenty here to be found here, including a cover of Black Flag’s White Minority.  Since the singer has that British accent in his cache, the songs come off with a Conflict/Crass resonance and urgency, minus the agenda.  I don’t get in the mood for this type of music too often, but next time I do, rest assured I’m reaching for this sharpened slab of wax! – Jay Castro

Japanese hardcore that leans heavily towards UK 82 bands like GBH and Varukers, but with a guitar player that adds a layer of garage Rock N’ Roll leads over top the hardcore tempos to add a twist. The Instigation takes the style and sound of the aforementioned bands and speeds up the velocity. Think more Insted style hardcore than Youth Of Today with a touch of Henry Fiat’s Open Sore thrown in. – Ed Stuart

Rations - Martyrs and Prisoners EP – (86’d Records)

The back-story on this EP is that 86’d Records teamed up with about twenty to thirty other labels globally to put out this release. Now if this doesn’t show the community aspect and spirit of DIY within the punk community, I’m not sure what does. Martyrs and Prisoners is equal parts Fifteen, Crimpshrine, Fugazi and early Jawbreaker. Rations shows a little more of their melodic side and willingness to experiment sonically on this EP without losing focus on the punk/hardcore, dual vocal mainstay that has worked so well for the band on previous releases. – Ed Stuart

Rad Company/Tight Bros – Split 7” (86’d Records)

Rad Company plays melodic pop punk in the same vein as bands like Dillinger Four, Sludgeworth, Weston and Lawrence Arms. A catchy blend of hooks, chugging crunchy guitars and double vocals that is the both the meat and potatoes of the band and driving force behind the band’s sound.

Tight Bros. on the other hand starts their side with a garage punk stomper that features a power pop style chorus that feels reminiscent of Nick Lowe/Dave Edmunds. While their second song of the side, “Trapped In My Head” sounds like Briefs style punk. Catchy, new wave influenced pop punk. – Ed Stuart

With an album cover like this one I would have completely dismissed it as a gaggle of high school saplings crooning about the time they became intoxicated and soiled themselves at a party in front of the head cheerleader.  I was pleasantly surprised to find this was not the case at all!  Rad Company charges right out of the gate with a gust of Mid Western melodic punk in the Sludgeworth or Pegboy approach.   Tight Bros. has a bit more or a retro strut in their step while still thundering forward through their edition of punk pop songs.  A tad more guitar hook with a new wave/glam feel differentiate the Tight Bros. songs.  Both bands have a slight fade of their influences in their music, but you can tell they subscribe to the “Just drop the hammer and rock” school of thought, which is great!  Gimme more please! – Jay Castro

The Condors – 3 Item Combo CD – (Vital Gesture Records)

One of the things I have found reviewing the records here for Audio Ammunition is how many terrific bands are out there rocking in obscurity.   Reading a lot of blogs and zines that cover “underground” music I tend to think “well if anyone is that good, surely I would have heard of them by now”.  So not the case!  Take for example this wonderful third LP by the Condors.  It rocks in a Joe Jackson and Elvis Costello manner that sounds inspired and doesn’t fall into the copyist closet.  Likeable songs written about straightforward subjects and human emotions, the way rock n roll is supposed to be.   Sometimes you want to put on a record and let music drive you out of a bad day.  The Condors are there right there to start the engines! – Jay Castro

On the third LP, The Condors write the songs that make any fan of American power pop proud. The band employs a clear focus on melody and song craft incorporated with bits of blues, Rock N’ Roll and up-tempo punk thrown into the mix. Heavy Plimsouls influence with parts of Graham Parker and Byrds type harmonies sprinkled on top. – Ed Stuart

Rubrics – Apathy Is An Institution LP – (86’d Records)

Rubrics mix punk, metal and hardcore with a healthy dose of politically and socially conscious lyrics. Propagandhi, Lagwagon, 88 Fingers Louie, Strike Anywhere, Fifteen and Avail influences can be heard throughout the LP. Apathy is reminiscent of that late 90’s/early 2000’s Fat Wreck era guitar sound and songwriting, but features a dual guy/girl vocal attack to get their message across. – Ed Stuart

Searing hardcore that reminds me of Propagandhi with a mix of F.Y.P. cut into it.  Not just with the sound, but Rubrics lyrics also have a sarcastic, socially conscious quality to them as well.  The vocals and guitar don’t always follow the straight path laid out by the rhythm section.  They playfully stray and do their own thing at times, which gives the music a bit more of a sloppy/playful feel and is more fun to listen to.   So instead of having someone shoot an arrow at your face, imagine someone under hand tossing a cinder block at your head.  The outcome is the same, it’s just the delivery that’s a little messier! – Jay Castro

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