Bad Coyotes

     The Bad Coyotes are billed as “rock and roll sex punk,” which you could argue the meaning of until the cows come home or until the bar kicks you out and still really never know what this phrase means. What can you bet on is that Bad Coyotes are a mix of The Kids, Saints, Rip Offs, the Infections and bits of Teenage Head wrapped into one hot blooded band hell bent on raw energy and lo-budget recording. Time for Sex Positions is a hot mess of an EP and could be the musical equivalent of a candy apple with a razorblade inside with only the core left.

Interview by Ed Stuart

Who’s answering the questions?

Jason Coyote

Where are Bad Coyotes from?

Oakland, CA

Comprised of Andy and Jason who are from Virginia. Mark is from Peru and Scotty is from Richmond, CA.

Who is in the band and what do they do?

Jason Coyote - vocals / band dad

Mark Reategui - bass

Andy McLobster - guitar

Scotty Jizz - drums

How did Bad Coyotes start?

Andy and me were listening to a lot of hardcore and garage rock and had been playing in a hardcore band called Not Invited. Mark was playing in Deadfall and Scotty was playing in Rhygin HC. We were all playing in hardcore bands and we just got more interested in Rock N’ Roll more particularly old Rock N’ Roll and 70’s punk and Back From The Grave type stuff. Andy’s been listening to a lot of garage stuff and fuzzed out grunge and shit his whole life and put us onto a lot of cool bands like Supercharger and The Gories and New Bomb Turks and Oblivians and shit like that. I’ve always liked a lot of ‘70’s punk type shit like The Vibrators and Teenage Head and The Kids, Pagans etc. I dunno, we were all guys who liked to party together and hangout and boom! We had Bad Coyotes, shits been a disaster ever since ha, ha, ha.

If you could only own one band that Greg Lowery was in (Supercharger, Rip Offs, The Infections, Zodiac Killers) which one of the bands would it be and why?

Supercharger! Shits fuzzed out as fuck and totally rips!

What bands have been the most influential on Bad Coyotes?

Hard to really answer this one, everyone in this band is such a different person and has so many musical tastes it’s really impossible to pin point the shit. We all like Los Saicos a lot. We all like New Bomb Turks and The Kids. We spent a lot of time terrorizing Oakland and SF in my old dodge blasting lots of Nuggets Rock N’ Roll and everything from Youth of Today to Cocksparrer to Sonics to a CD that had the Mexican hat dance on repeat, we’re fuckin idiots man.

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

Music is the only thing left that no one can really control. A human being can make noise with their mouths and bodies. Music is true freedom and expression. Anyone who tries to say otherwise is a fuckin jerk off. Shit is easily disposable these days but like a fuckin disease everything finds a way to break out and fester and infect the masses. I personally think humans are a fuckin disease that will destroy the earth and if all the hippies in the world who are trying to save it just off themselves they would be helping their own cause and be less annoying. But the creation of music is one of the coolest things we’ve ever done, even plants and animals like that shit.

In the Bad Coyotes bio, the band is described as “rock and roll sex punk.” Can you describe what that is exactly?

That’s just some dumb ass shit that doesn’t mean anything and our bio is fucking stupid as shit! Mark wrote it . . . pfffffff!

I think I made that up as a description while I was drunk and we thought it was a cool thing to describe ourselves as for awhile but it literally means absolutely nothing. I hope it catches on and becomes a genre like dbeat or riot girls or emo or some other shit that’s stupid and pointless.

How did the band initially meet Resurrection Records? Did they offer to put out the Time For Sex Positions EP based of the band’s other releases?

Well, no. Well, maybe. Shit I dunno. Homey at Resurrection is a really awesome guy who has a good ear for good tunes and likes a lot of different shit.  He’s got a great label and we’re very grateful to be a part of it.

In an interview with Buck Biloxi and The Fucks in Terminal Boredom, there is a quote stating, “Bad Coyotes are some wild dudes who get confrontational and yell and kick ass.”  This leads me to the question how are Bad Coyotes live shows normally?  What are some of your favorite shows as a band?

Our shows usually consist of one or two people getting hit in the head with a microphone stand. I got sunglasses on a lot and can’t see good out of ‘em. Andy usually antagonizes the crowd with cheap shots and weird noises. Mark usually says something prolific in Spanish and Scotty generally looks out at us in disgust and shakes his head and tries to rush into the songs so we can’t talk anymore and piss more people off. Scotty is a handsome man with a good heart; we love him. Also he quit so we need a new drummer, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Anyways at our shows the crowd usually is scarred or confused and stands at the back of the room awkwardly or leaves. People in the bay area don’t like violence very much. I don’t think we’re a violent band. I just think people need to learn how to untighten their buttholes and fuckin party selflessly every once in awhile for craps sake. This is what happens when we play garage shows. When we play with punk bands or hardcore bands at like house shows and warehouses etc, people circle pit and throw shit back and party and generally have a good time. It’s a mixed bag and the candy in it doesn’t always taste good.

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?

Bottled water is for buttholes; steal everything.

Where can people hear the Bad Coyotes and what’s next for the band?

You can find Bad Coyotes records in the $1 bin at most record stores or buy them from the labels that put them out for more than a dollar. Our music is free and not free on the Internet. I suggest getting our 7-inches from Resurrection records or Modern Action records or Mile High Records. As far as what’s next for Bad Coyotes, well, we’ve been asked to play in many different countries. We’ve been asked to play with amazing bands. We’ve been given tons of opportunity and watched it pass us by because of work problems or money problems or mental problems or substance abuse problems. We’re always stuck with each other’s problems, I dunno, we’ll probably break up. Know any good drummers?

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French Girls

The term “punk” has gotten to be such an all-encompassing term these days.  Used to be you’d throw that word out, and you knew pretty much what you were getting.  Now days, it means so many different things to so many people.  When I hear that word used in a band’s bio description of themselves, I can only hope to hear a band that sounds like French Girls.  They take the bits of punk that expose their rock n roll and nerves like The Damned or The Vibrators.  A jumble of that crushed in with some 90’s Rip-Off Records underlining and you have yourself a force to be reckoned with! 

Interview by Jay Castro

Who is in the band and how do they earn their keep in it?

Chela: I play bass guitar and sing. As far as earning my keep, I think they just keep me around for a good laugh.  

Mike: I play the guitar and yelp a bit.

Donald: I play the guitar and am a fellow yelper with Mike. 

Amy: I play drums and sometimes let out some screams.

The band is currently in Phoenix, but where are all of you from originally?

Chela: Cave Creek, AZ

Mike:  I lived other places, but have been here for a while.  I think I'm from here now.

Donald: I'm originally from New Mexico, but have lived in the Phoenix area since about 1995, so I am basically a Phoenician at this point. 

Amy: I am from the Cleveland area, originally.

What is French Girls origin story?  When and how did you all meet and come together?

Chela: Amy and I have been playing in local bands together for years and have known Donald for a while. Mike and I had played together in a band together a few years back so when the time came that we were all looking for people to play with French Girls happened!

Donald: I was in a band that had just gone its own way and was looking for a new project. I had previously known Chela and Amy from the music and art scene, so when Amy posted about looking to start up a new band I jumped at the chance. Mike was also interested in playing so instead of us having a guitar duel to the death, Chela and Amy decided to keep both of us. This is something I am very happy about because I think Mike and I complement each other on guitar very well. 

  

What influences did you have in mind when starting French Girls?  

Chela: My influences are more style driven than specific bands. I like a good, short song. Under two minutes is nice. I am into music that gets to the point and leaves people thinking, "That. Was. Awesome!"

Donald: I think we all have different influences that we bring to the band, but in particular to what makes our sound I know that I look at older bands like X, and Suzi Quattro for inspiration. 

Amy:  It was nice, we didn’t have any preconceived ideas. We all love music and share plenty of common interests but also have different things to share with each other and explore as a band, so it’s pretty cool. Our primary goal is to ROCK!

I read that out of all different art forms, music has the power to alter a person’s disposition the fastest.  Do you agree with this?  Do you have any favorite music that you can put on that will always lift you up from a slump?

Chela: That sounds accurate. Weird Al usually gets me out of a funk.

Donald: I completely agree with that statement. For me, there are many things that can get me out of a slump, but the first thing I can think of is 90's gangsta rap like N.W.A or Snoop Dogg. It probably wasn't their intent when they wrote it, but that always puts a smile on my face. 

Amy: For sure! Donovan. Donovan makes me happy. I love that dude.

You currently have a couple teaser songs streaming right now from an upcoming EP.  Can you tell us a bit more about it?  

Mike: We recorded some songs ourselves and just wanted to get a record out.  It'll be a 4 song, 7"EP and we should have the records soon.

One of the songs Aerobicise has a voyeur theme to it.  Is this an issue with you guys, either doing the creeping or being creeped upon?

Chela: Teenage boys create their own woman. They want her to play chess, shower with them, and AEROBICISE. 

Donald: Besides music, and also to add on to what Chela just mentioned, we are also influenced by movies. The 80's movie Weird Science would probably be considered one of the French Girls biggest influences, so much so that we even had a "Weird Science" movie night. But as far as being creeped on or creeping on, I think with being on stage you kind of learn to deal with that stuff, to the point of almost not even noticing. This song was just looking at it from a teenage boy’s perspective without regard to our own experiences. 

Amy: We’re all creepers and have been creeped upon, to some degree, right? We like presenting some different perspectives on the issue of creeping. Don’t ever say French Girls aren’t deep.  

If French Girls could tour with any band/musician from times gone by, who would it be and why?

Donald:  The Rolling Stones, I'm sure they saw more stuff than anyone else can imagine. Not saying I want to experience it myself per se, but it would be cool to watch all the stuff going on as an opening band touring with them. 

Amy: The Who, early years. Can you imagine? I can and have many, many times.  

What has been the most memorable show the band has played, good or bad?  Where was it and what made it so unforgettable?

Mike: We played this show with King Tuff and Audacity in a warehouse last summer.  It was super packed, crazy fun and insanely hot, even by Phoenix standards.

Donald: We played a show in Tempe at the Yucca Tap Room, where we had a ton of kids dancing and literally spilling their beer all over the floor making it very slippery. Everyone walking by was falling or trying not to fall. Fortunately for us we were on the stage, but the bass player for the next band decided to stage dive while they were playing their set and he busted his head on the floor. I couldn't even tell that he was bleeding, I thought he was just wet from all the beer. Needless to say, that was one of my most unforgettable nights. 

Amy: There have been so many! For me, the ones I love the most are rooms where we are crammed together in a corner of a room surrounded by people. There’s something about those confined spaces that, I think, creates a really exciting energy.

I read an interview with Keith Richards where he said that anyone buying digital music is getting short changed.  Do you agree with this and if so, why?

Chela: I think the people that like vinyl, CD’s, tapes, etc. will always buy that stuff. I think it is great that a lot of those formats now include digital downloads with the purchase. I love album art. People are missing out on some cool visual experiences when they download just the music.

Mike: Listening to music is an experience that is first person and so often people relegate it to the background.  Some of my favorite memories are lying on the floor with headphones listening to an entire record while staring at the pictures and carefully reading the lyrics on a gatefold jacket.  It's sad that some folks have never experienced music like that.

Amy: Basically what everyone else said; I never feel like a tangible product is inconvenient or invasive, so it’s a bummer that they are sort of viewed that way now, by many. I still feel like the more information and artwork that comes with musical output, the better. It’s never not been exciting to me to unwrap an album, ogle it and feel it up a bit. 

I don’t like using the term “guilty pleasure” because I don’t think anyone should be made to feel ashamed of anything they like.  However with that being said, what to you listen to that you think a lot of fans may be surprised by?

Chela: I love the song "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. I mean REALLY love it.

Mike: Jeeez...I like everything so... uh. I really like the Josie and the Pussycats soundtrack. I'm not embarrassed, though.

Donald: Ummm The Osmond Brothers album "Crazy Horses". I really, really like that album :) 

Amy: I’m not at all guilty about it but I love Bruce Springsteen and for some reason that seems to surprise people. Why? I don’t know, but I always find it funny that it’s so odd to folks.

What does French Girls have in store for us in the near, or not so near future?

Chela: I would like to be the first band to do a world tour playing from a hot air balloon. It could happen.

Mike: We've got this EP coming out and then we'll hit the southwest on a bit of a tour and maybe a full length record in the fall.  In the meantime, we have a few shows booked in Phoenix.  People can keep up with us at...

www.facebook.com/frenchgirlsphx

www.frenchgirlsphx/bandcamp.com

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