The Hollow

Last night James from Newcastle's 'The Hollow' was kind enough to answer a couple of questions for me. It was a really great interview. They aren't doing much at the moment but when they visit your city, check 'em. Cause they are pretty damn cool.

To begin with, what is your name, position within the band and have you heard I Exist's new album yet?!

James, Bass, yeah I have, I'm digging it. As Shaun put it, it's "heaps weedy".

Your debut EP was released last year through Martin Kirby's Dead Souls Records. Were you guys excited when he approached you to put it?

Yeah we were. I know we were all pretty excited that someone from a label had shown interest at all, let alone Marty. Personally it suprised me as well, I didn't think anyone would show interest in the band so early on. It was definitely a great opportunity and Marty has been really good to us.

I am going to take a guess and assume that Dead Souls are going to be putting out your next record(purely because you haven't announced that you will be going with another label). Is Marty a good guy to work with when it comes to releasing records and is this your reason for sticking with him?

I actually haven't talked to him about it personally, but I'm sure of the other guys have mentioned to him we're in the process of writing and looking to record a 7" and album. It would definitely be cool to release something else with him, but I guess we'd just have to organise something, Marty's usually pretty busy with Carpathian and other stuff obviously. He was pretty good to work with because he gave us alot of feedback on the songs and advice on recording, and then hooked us up with Jack The Bear who did the mastering. It was a new experience for me and most of the band, I'd have to say it was a positive one.

When I saw you last at the Jam Factory show it sounded like you had re-written some of the guitar parts to your old songs/squeezed in some solos. Is there a plan with your new record to move in a new direction or to progress from what you achieved previously?

Those older songs with new stuff re-written is just Shaun adding stuff to the songs we wrote before he joined the band. Plus it's nice to add something a little interesting and fresh to the songs we've been playing for a year or so now. The new songs are hopefully a step up from what we've released previously, but I wouldn't say it's a new direction or anything. We're just trying to progress and write better music.

You guys must no doubt get a lot of people saying 'You know you guys sound heaps like Rise And Fall'. Does this ever get to you and just make you think 'Fuck, I just want write a completely new set of songs'.

Yeah it's eased off a bit but when we first started out we got it alot. It doesn't really get to us mainly because we know our demo songs had a huge Rise and Fall influence, and we were cool with that because we still feel that we're not a total Rise and Fall rip-off band. The songs of the EP and our newer songs will hopefully create a greater distinction between us and them, we're trying to establish our own sort of sound while still taking alot of influence from bands like that.

Aside from sounding like Rise And Fall, what was it like to tour with them?!

Yeah it was a really great tour, the shows were amazing, Rise and Fall are extremely loud live, haha. They were really nice guys and pretty easy to get along with. It was our first really big tour and to do it with a band we admire alot was really cool.

I read in an interview you guys did a while back where Shaun said that he would be down to tour with Metallica. They are coming! Finally. Is there going to be an attempt by you guys to get a local touring spot with them? Or even jump on a show maybe?

Haha, I doubt it. I'll definitely be at the Sydney show though.

With your last release you guys recorded locally in Newcastle and had it mastered in Melbourne. Are you going to stick to that method or move onto bigger and better studios/production?

We've thrown the idea of recording elsewhere around but haven't really decided on anything yet. Matt who we recorded the EP and demo with is a good friend and knows what he's doing so there's the option to just stick with him and get it mastered elsewhere if we have the cash.

Do you think its really necessary for bands to go over seas and spend huge amounts of money to get the best possible record? Or is Australia doing ok?

It definitely helps, but I guess it just depends on the band and who you go to record with. Dropsaw's new album came out sounding great, I'm sure they are all happy with the decision to go overseas and record because it really suited them and they did it right. There's still alot of good places to go to record in Australia, it's just a matter of picking the right place to go.

Other than recording coming up this winter, do you guys have anything big planned for later in the year?

Nothing big planned as of yet, we would obviously like to record and tour to promote a release but all the guys in the band are pretty busy. I'm in the last year of my degree and three of the other four guys work full-time so it's pretty hard. We'll work something out though, haha.

Some shorties to finish up:

Who is the party animal/booze hound in the band?

Kyle aka Biggie aka Boof. Great dude to party with especially on tour. Aaron just blue-tubes girls.

Best way to pass time in the tour bus?

Put on 'Painkiller' and wait for Shaun's reaction. Anyone that has witnessed him during this song will vouch for that.
Biggie's favourite way to pass time is buy stick-mags and do the crosswords.

Favourite new band you have discovered?

The Weight were really cool when we played with them in Adelaide.

Last words?

\m/

THE HOLLOW:
www.myspace.com/thehollownc
hollowband@live.com.au

The Hollows debut release last year, was easily my favourite local record for 09. If you havent got it yet, head over to their Myspace or the Dead Souls webstore. Its amazing. Their demo is also available for download off the Myspace too. Get that too.

http://thehollownc.bigcartel.com/

http://www.myspace.com/deadsoulsrecords

Daylight

Its really no secret that as much as I like everyday hardcore music, I do have quite passion for what is more or less melodic hardcore with a pop punk influence. So when I was reminded of Daylight by their new song on the MMX Sampler, I thought this is definitely the band I want to do my first international interview with. To be honest they are nothing short of amazing. The interview was great. And Taylor typed the entire thing up on his phone. Which would have sucked.

Firstly, your name, what you do in Daylight and how good is Julian Lantier?
My name is Taylor Madison and I play guitar and sing in Daylight. Julian Lantier....that's my dude. One of my best friends. I think of him like my own brother sometimes. I would entrust my life and all of my financial assets with him. Nah, actually, fuck that retard. He's actually the worst dude.

For the people that don't know, give a run down of what happened when you guys toured here last. Julian got you guys along but things didn't quite work out.
Ok, as I've said before, I won't go TOO much into detail on this matter in an interview, but I certainly wouldn't lie to someone about it if I was asked directly...

Basically, we arrive in Australia and Julian picks us up at the Sydney Airport. All is well for the first day or so. Then I feel like Julian got a little too comfortable with us, or something and started doing things that were just kind of inappropriate to do around people you've known your whole life. Let alone 4 strangers that you've only known for no more than like....72 hours. So, we just kind of brushed his behavior off as him being nervous, or something, and attempted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

So like the second or so day we are there, we find out this motherfucker DOESN'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LINCENSE. Like, how the fuck are you gonna bring a band over from another country and not even have a way to drive them around? Oh, but good ol' Julian had a way! He suckered us a few times into putting the rental cars in our names, and WE had to drive almost the entire tour. Now, for all of you who may or may not be aware, in America the shit is fucking REVERSED. It's not the easiest thing to just hop on the other side and not run into shit. Even when we had a "driver" (I mean no disrespect to her. Anamari was actually an excellent person to have on that tour and I have no ill words to say about her), we ended up driving a lot still. Now, I'm not trying to whine about driving. Touring in the US we have to drive constantly. But driving on the other side takes some real getting-used-to and we were just kind of tossed into it, without any warning. Also, we not informed of the absence of Julian's license until the day after we got to Sydney.

Among that, he was simply annoying, rude, disrespectful to just about everyone. And most of all, disrespectful to women. And then this motherfucker had the balls to basically accuse our band of harassing the merch girl (I will gladly tell this story to anyone asks as well). I could literally go on for hours about this stooge.

Now some people aren't even aware you guys came last year. Is it getting a little frustrating receiving 'Come to Australia!!!!' posts on Myspace all the time?
No, not at all. If people say that, then it just means they like our band and want to see us. I personally think that it's sometimes a little for people to message bands and say "come here! Come here! Etc," but at the same time, that can sometimes effectively gauge whether or not there is a demand at all for your band in that place. And the fact that anyone in Australia knows who our band is, is cool to me. So no, I don't mind at all.

In the post hardcore genre in which you guys play, lot of bands bands sing about sad shit. Break ups, girls, being lonely. Do you guys think a lot new bands coming through are just copying these lyrical themes because they are the popular things to sing about?
Oh, most definitely. I won't sit here and try to act like I've lived the worst life ever. But at the same time, I've dealt with some shit. Shit that I know the majority of a lot of these bands have not. I'm not stating that as a fact, but it's just my opinion. Obviously, most of our songs are about wanting to end my life, and how truly unhappy I am. That's not to say I never have a day where I enjoy myself. Those days are just few and far-between. I had kind of a fucked up childhood, and for a lot of the bands out today to imply the same, or that they have hard lives is almost insulting, to be honest. I know some of those kids are honest and sing about what they know, but most of them are just trying to emulate the bands that came before them. I don't write many songs about girls because girls are never an issue to me. I don't care enough about girls to be heart-broken over them. If a girl doesn't like me, what the fuck do I care? However, when I write a song saying how much I dislike being alive, I mean it. When I say I hate myself, I mean it.

Do you think that its important whether or not the music these bands are playing is meaningless? Or not?
Yes and no. While I do believe that certain music should have meaning and should have actual heart and emotion put into it, not all music needs that. Music is a weird thing. Some people just like music for the sake of playing it. Shit, I'm one of those people. I don't like anything more than playing music. I guess it really just depends on the band. Like, if a band like Weezer plays a bunch of ridiculous songs and most don't have any profound message, then that's ok with me, because Weezer awesome and I don't see any need for them to have heartfelt songs. But if a band is singing about how bad they're hurting or how they have mental problems, they better be telling the truth, or else their literally just telling lies with music behind it. Shit like that bothers me. Everything bothers me, actually..


I read that you don't really like the 'Sinking' record and that you prefer your new songs. Does this mean that your new 7'' is going to have a new sound to it? Or are the songs just gnarly?
I wouldn't say the new 7" has some profound new sound to it, but I think the songs are better and sound cooler. Sinking just sounds kind of rushed to me, or something. I guess I like the songs, but I don't like playing them all that much.


When you first came to Australia where you at all nervous that not many people would know you?
Of course. But I've wanted to go to Australia literally my entire life, so I really didn't give a shit if people knew us or not. If we would have played to 3 kangaroos, I wouldn't have given a shit.


Now onto your design work. What are some bands you have done work for? And is there a blog or anything people can hit up to view a portfolio?
I've done work for bands like Mother of Mercy, The Wonder Years, Balance & Composure, Daylight, and more. Unfortunately, I don't have a blog right now (well, that's not true. I do, it just doesn't really have anything on it), but I will soon. It's just a matter of compiling shit that I actually think looks good.


Is a lot of your design work for the love and not the money? Or is designing stuff for people a secret little money maker?
Well, a little of both, but I definitely charge for artwork. I mean, I'm pretty cheap, but that's because in most cases, I literally draw a picture and email it to a band. I'm just now learning how to utilize photoshop and shit. I don't make very much money from my artwork, but I wish I did. I don't have a job.


Have you got anything coming up with your work people you should know about?
People should just know that I'm down to do work WHENEVER. I'll do shit on while on tour if I have to. I do basically anything someone wants for shirts or cover art or whatever.


Just some shorties to finish up:
How shit is Vegemite hey? Hahaha
Ugh...ew.

One band you would like to make a design for?
No band in particular really. It would be cool to do shit for a bigger band, just so a bunch of smaller bands would want my artwork to be like them.

Aside from 'Dispirit' what are your next big plans.
Well, we're doing a full US tour this summer, and we are playing Sound & Fury. I think there are plans to start another 7" when my finger heals (I broke my finger and can't play guitar properly. So I've been playing bass and Joe's been playing guitar. I hate it). Other than that, I really don't know.

Anything you would like to plug?
www.coldcutsmerch.com go there.
And bands that need artwork, should email me: xtaylormadisonx@yahoo.com

I am really appreciative of the fact that Taylor gave such a great interview. Especially because of the fact that he did it on his phone! If you haven't heard their new song yet, you should go to their Myspace or download the MMX Deathwish Sampler (Download this regardless. Its full of amazing new tracks) and check it out. New record 'Dispirit' out soon via Six Feet Under Records. Grab their previous record 'Sinking' from Get This Right Records. I have it and its great.

http://www.myspace.com/daylightpa

http://www.coldcutsmerch.com/gtrr/

Hopeless

The latest one I have been able to get typed up properly was with Tim from Melbourne melodic hardcore band, Hopeless. They have a lot of really big things happening at the moment and I had a really good chance to ask him all the details in regards to their tours and new record. Read on.

Firstly, tell everyone your name, your position in the band and on a scale of 1 to 10 how psyched you are for the 'I'd Rather Be Gigging' tour.
Hi I'm Tim and I play guitar in Hopeless and I am 10/10 siked to get on the road with my friends.

I guess the big thing going on for you guys at the moment is your new record. Nigel (Trial And Error) was hoping to have it shipped before the Ruiner dates but its now looking like mid May is more likely, what happened?
Nothing really "happened" per se, we didn't put out a street date for a reason as we know how pressing plants work and there are high chances of unforeseen delays. Luckily this was on the money because it's taken a little longer than we'd like for us to get it but it should be out this week.

Are you guys happy with how the record has turned out?
I am really happy with how it came out. The dude who engineered and mixed the record is a mate of mine and we've always talked about coming together on something. I know the guy knows his way around a studio and has similar ideas to us in regards to how things should sound, so it was really good to be on the same page. Also it was different to actually be there for the mixing process and have input on that aswell, seeing as Dear World was mixed overseas and our opinions were voiced mostly by email and stuff. I love the record and can't wait to hold the 7" for the first time and smell that new vinyl smell.

How did you guys all get together originally? Was it someones idea that lay dormant for a while or was it a 'Lets just have a jam and see what happens' sort of deal?
Well the stories vary from band member to band member, but my recollection is the following: Me and Brett have been friends for 17 years. We played together in a band called Bear Trap that pretty much just fizzled out into non-existence with a big dramatic (stupid as fuck) last show with members not showing up and us only playing 4 songs etc. I have been playing in bands since I was 12 years old so its foreign to not play shows most weekends to me. After the fucking around of Bear Trap and stuff I wanted to do a band with dudes who were committed. I also knew this dude Jase who did a band called the stallion (which he sang in) who was also breaking up around the same time. He wrote some stuff for his band on guitar and used to play back in the day, so I told him to dust off the axe and do this new band with me. We both wanted to do something different from our previous bands. At first I was going to do another band in the same sort of style as Bear Trap but with Brett singing and me playing guitar, but when Jase was added to the equation we changed things up and wanted to do something melodic. Me Brett and Jase started writing songs together and when things looked real enough to start thinking about other members, Chris was the first dude I thought of when it came to bass players. I'd been friends with him for a long time already and he had played in some bands. He played in cut your losses and some others (even some that Id been in that had never left the jam room) and I knew he could play bass well and had a good musical head on his shoulders. We then wrote a bunch of songs and recorded a demo just while it was fresh in our heads. At the time we had no offers or interest from anybody to play drums so I just recorded the drum tracks on the demo as I can kind of play (shittily.) After a few weeks of making like a myspace and getting demos around Skan offered to help us out and play some shows, we were totally shocked. We were friends with all the dudes in Carpathian but it was still surprising. Of course we jumped at the chance to have one of the best drummers in this country play in our band and we have kept on truckin' ever since.

Its pretty widely known that your drummer also plays in another quite well known melbourne hardcore band. Did you guys try to keep from telling people this in the beginning as to avoid 'hype' or didn't it really worry you?
Not at all I mean...the kids are gonna think what they want to think, regardless of what you say or what you try to put out there. People are gonna talk. We knew it would definitely help us in the sense that having someone in your band that knows a lot of people around the country and knows how to tour, but we weren't even really thinking about the "ex member factor" as I don't think it's a free pass to do whatever you want anymore. For everyone that likes what you're doing there will be 10 people to disagree and put them down for voicing their opinion so I don't think 'hype' came into it at any stage.

How do you feel about people who say the only reason you were signed by such a large label so quickly was because Skan helped people take notice?
It's weird because like, to us it doesn't seem that way at all. I can see how someone looking in from the outside would think that had something to do with it but it's really just not the case at all. We did everything we have up to this point as a group of 5 dudes and nobody is more important than anyone else, and at this point nobody really has more influence on our surroundings than anybody else. I wouldn't really consider Trial And Error a "large" label either. I mean they are perfect for us and Nigel has completely shaped the band and put us where we are today, but it's not like a label that has money to throw away for us to do what we want. It's an independent label and he's a hardworking guy. If you are into hardcore for money then you're deluded and in the wrong industry because everybody around me is broke haha.

Does the fact that Skan has another project sometimes make it hard when it comes to booking tours? Or has it more or less worked itself out so far?
I don't really know how to answer this question. In a sense it is "harder" because it's hard to try and find time for Skan to do stuff with us while he has a bunch of other shit on his plate like trying to keep his job while doing 5 tours a year between two bands. So far we have just gone with whatever and tried to sort it out as we go along. We just say yes to the tours and if Skan can play them, then we're fucking stoked because we get to hang with our mate, but if he's doing something Carpathian wise we totally understand and we try and find someone to help us out for the tour. So far we haven't missed out on anything because of it, which I feel we are super lucky for.

The new record is called 'Human' and really has some quite detailed artwork on the cover. Is their a lyrical theme presented in the songs or even a concept?
Shouts to BLACKOUT (dfaxxx@mac.com) for the artwork. It's definitely not a concept record. I mean I don't write the lyrics personally but from what I have spoken with Brett about the content of 'Human', it seems to be a much happier record. Dear World is pretty sad I suppose but basically that is one record and this is another. It speaks on different topics and views towards them and the things we wrote about on Dear World aren't really addressed again.

You guys have done some pretty big tours lately with some great bands, no doubt this has brought some kids that have never seen you before. Is it good to play to people that have never seen you before? Or is just shit playing to people that don't know your songs?
It's definitely good. I mean of course it sucks it's not a crowd full of people that are there to specifically go off for your set or anything, but the way we see it is for every show we play where there are 300 kids to see the amity affliction or something, 10 kids or in the worst case 1 kid is gonna see hopeless and maybe dig it and come to the tour next time or check out our music. I've seen it happen and its one of the best things about being able to tour with different kinds of bands.

Is it cool to be able to get out on the road with The Broderick? You all know each other pretty well hey?
Yeah we are good friends with those dudes. I'm especially excited for them because it's been a while since they've toured or even played, really. They are hilarious in day to day situations so i can't imagine the sort of shit that's going to happen when they are locked in a van together for 2 weeks. They are also from the same area of Melbourne as most of the dudes in our band so we have a lot in common. It's going to be great.

Finishing up:

Who is the worst driver when you guys are on tour? Or do you even have a designated NON driver?
Out of the actual drivers, I'm without a doubt the worst. I can't sleep for shit when I'm not driving so as soon as all options are exhausted and I have to do a shift I get into the seat and within like 15 minutes my eyes are all heavy and Im nearly killing us all. The designated non-drivers are the dudes without licenses who sit in the back and sleep the whole time, yet still feel they have the right to complain when I swerve and save our asses from destroying skippy at 140 km/h.

Whats the best thing about Melbourne?
Food, hardcore, graff, babes, Mindsnare. I know thats 5 things but it's hardcore nobody can ever decide on anything.

Who has the worst taste in music?
This is a three way tie because Skan likes Hed p.e, Jase always puts on all the shitty Saves The Day albums that suck so fucking bad, and the rare occasion Brett gets the iPod on tour he will put on something you completely forgot existed and while being funny he legitimately likes it and is annoying.

Anything you want to add before we wrap up?
Thanks for the interview, sorry if my replies were long winded.
Check out the following
My other band warbrain - http://www.myspace.com/warbrainmelbourne
My friend's clothing label strangers - http://wearestrangers.wordpress.com/
My internet hardcore gossip website - http://www.realtalkhc.com/

These guys are on tour with Miles Away, Break Even and The Broderick in mid to late June. Pre-Orders for the new record 'Human' ran out sooooo long ago. But it is being released very soon so just hit up their myspace or Trial and Error Records.

Also The Broderick are such a gnarly band and I havent seen them since they toured with Antagonist in 2007. So get to those shows on time and make sure you see them play their new songs.

http://www.myspace.com/hopelessmelbourne

http://www.myspace.com/trialanderrorhardcore

Phantoms

Earlier this evening I had a chance to shoot some questions at Kelly from emerging Sydney band Phantoms. A man who's facial hair is second only to that of Morgan from Dead Kings. After initially suspecting something sinister was going on when I asked about his schooling and work it turned into a really good interview.

First of all what's your full name, what do you do in Phantoms and what is the secret to a wonderful moustache?
Adrian John Kelly, guitar and not being a bitch and letting it grow passed the shitty stage where it's "itchy" and "girls dont like it".

Phantoms is a relatively new band on the Australian scene, how did you guys all get together?
Caed and Roz were sitting in Caed's pool last summer and decided to do it. Glynn and Red were roped in from Caed's old band Jack Napier and Red's shredding in Die Trying. I joined after getting drunk with Caed one night. I had to carry him out of the bar at about 4am when he could no longer talk and kept throwing drinks at people

You have accelerated to popularity quite quickly, (due to the fact that both demos you have released were phenomenal) give a run down of your writing process as a band.
Glad you like it. Basically Red gets really high, plays guitar, forgets to come to practice, turns up the week after, plays riffs really loudly when we are trying to talk then we realise they are cool and piece them together. Or I bring in a song that Caed pulls apart. The best is when he tries to explain bits with air drumming.

You have an official release coming soon, are you guys hoping to get a labels backing behind that?
We have a mate putting it out, he'll pipe up when he is ready.

As far as I know you are the Editor of BLUNT Magasine, how did you score a job like that, and what do you actually fulfil in this role?
I started as the ad guy then moved to the editors chair after Matt left. My role entails sitting on my hands, drinking coffee, posting on message boards and listening to Fall Out Boy.

You went to St Joseph's College, I can't imagine that late 90's punk hardcore would have been too popular here. How did you become involved in hardcore?
There was a guy in my year at Joey's who had a yellow mindsnare shirt, Im pretty sure he is an accountant now. I knew mindsnare as the yellow shirt band before i heard their music.
I got involved the same way anyone does, going to shows and hanging out. I cannot remember what the first local show i saw was though I do remember getting a bloody nose in the Toe To Toe pit at Homebake in 98 haha

You are in a touring band set for their first release, you work for BLUNT Magasine, your moustache is quite lush. Are you living the dream?
No. Living the dream is sitting on a beach drinking cocktails.

How did it feel when you guys were approached to play Hardcore 2010?
Stoked. I believe Caed summed it up best with "fuck!"

Just some quick ones to some up:
What was more fun, Rex Banner or Phantoms?
A piece of string.

Whats the most embarrassing situation you have been involved in while performing? Any band.
Good question. I try to embarass other people rather than myself, though people seeing the pictures of playing shirtless in that brisbane rehearsal room with a toilet paper skarf and aviators out of context is kind of shitty haha.

Best band you have played a show with?
Lifetime.

Anything you would care to advertise while you have the chance?
Roz has a spoken word record about lifting weights and the Black Eyed Peas coming out soon called 'Straight Outta Richmond'. Check it.

Phantoms are playing the AA day of Hardcore 2010 and have their debut record out in August. They also just printed new merch so you should go and check it out.

Also for a glimpse of Kelly shirtless, head on over to John Hatfields website.

Enjoy.

http://www.myspace.com/phantomshchttp://www.facebook.com/pages/PHANTOMS/226292875043?ref=search&sid=547258627.3548296516..1

www.jhatphoto.com

Arrest Records Australia

This is the first interview I have been able to complete and I had the pleasure of being able to have a good talk with Greg from the newly formed Arrest Records Australia. He was really helpful, insightful and just an all round good guy. Have a read and take notice of what he has to say. He is definitely one of those people that put their all into hardcore and its not for financial gain but purely for the love.

First up, whats is your name and what role do you fill in regards to Arrest Records?

Greg Bower and I own and run the Arrest Records Australia label as a brother to the Arrest Records based in Manchester New Hampshire, just 45 minutes north of Boston. In my next answer Ill detail how I started, yet the reason for doing Arrest Records was I loved everything that they put out ever since I stumbled upon Word For Word when the Keepsake album was released. I would always get Johnnies pre-order packages and when I started to approach Persist I had a new pre-order arrive and just threw an idea to Johnnie to do an Australian branch and sell each others releases and also I would not sit at a show with one CD for sale. Plus at the time I volunteered at Sunshine Coast shows and shows at Princess Theater where I would help with sound, selling drinks, security or crowd safety, it was free shows and I've been to alot of shows would get bored and started to enjoy being more a part of the local scene other than just a fan.

Is there anyone else that plays a behind the scenes role in the label or do you get it all done yourself?

Its called slave labor and I make my 8 yr old son do it all and at the shows he cannot make I take up his slack and do all the rest. Apart from that it really is about community and respect in the hardcore scene and people helping each other out and getting the word out which can be worth more than any paid add, plus I am willing to help out any one that is cool, genuine and not out to waste my time or others.

In talking to you previously, you mentioned that it was through running a zine of your own that you got an Australian leg of Arrest Records established. Whats the story on that?

I originally did a few interviews for a zine done by Sean Dawson, Sharpend Zine. Years ago I did an interview with Justin the singer of the band Alcatraz (Who if everything works will be released through ARA). If you do not know of Alcatraz go check them out they are great dudes and has members of First Blood in the band. Basically they are good friends and live together so if you drop in on a good day to their house its nearly a who's who of hardcore. Justin offered a lounge to crash on if I ever got to San Francisco. Fast forward to last year the third yearly trip to USA and in San Francisco. I paid for tickets to see Bad Brains and made Justin take me because I had no clue where the venue was. Riding on the tram back to Outer Sunset where he lived we were talking about a lot of things hardcore and I just had an idea then and asked if he would allow me to release a CD of his band for the out of print track and CD. I returned home and Justin never replied that well so I then offered a great band that I felt was very underrated to join my label and I started something that was meant to be slow.

Do you receive your finances from the States or does a lot of it come from your own pocket?

I do not receive any money from any one, I just increased my credit card and now I work two jobs. My day job pays the mortgage, bills, food and entertainment. The other job is a contract job that can earn alot of money from and its just me doing my normal job at home on weekends and nights. So if their is any lacking in the label it is due to being over worked and no time left in the day.

Is it expensive to run a label?

It depends on how many releases and what you plan to do with a label but personally with my label I know by the end of the year, with all I have planned, I will spend over 20k.

For anyone looking to start their own label out there, what do you think they need to be able to offer bands signed to them? Paying for distribution and printing? What do you offer your bands?

To start a label you need money that's all and to have a realistic expectation that no matter how much you or your friends love a band it probably wont sell and if it does, it may not even get your money back. Especially when you consider young bands. That being said if they sell well that should be a welcomed bonus. Unfortunately that is the reality when a CD you release is instantly available for free and your sales don't really happen. For small bands like the ones I have you cannot afford to pay for recording and artwork but I work it that I pay for all printing and pressing of releases and distribute them to select stores and over to Johnnie In USA. Each release we put out in the USA or Australia we swap a percentage for each other to sell through our own stores and at shows. All bands are different but I offer them a percentage of products that I produce of their bands release and I sell the rest. There is one band who was very keen so they are contributing money but I realistically believe they would not sell more than others on the label. I do it this way as bands have offered to pay for the pressing and use the logo but the expenses in mailing and distribution would be confusing so if I can afford it I cover it all then there is no confusing mess and the bands have CD's so they can make money from hard work that they put into what they do. Which is another motivating factor of being a label, hoping they do well financially well too.

Do you receive a lot of demos from bands looking for releases or do you spend your time scouring myspace looking for them yourself?

I have not received any demos other than the ones I have asked for probably because bands are lazy and just say listen to my myspace. It depends on my mood if I do that or not. A CD I can take to work so I can listen to it or in the car is better. I have a post office box that they can mail to also. But also I am 37 (this month so CD's please) this year so I know a lot of the bands that are out there and have young friends who also give me heads up on new bands. Other than that I do know people, mostly in bands, because of my helping out at shows and being around for a lot of years, I am literally that old guy at shows.

With the artists that you sign, do they represent your own musical tastes or more what you believe people should be listening to?

I definitely choose based upon my taste, where I know their are bands out there that are the in bands. Bands that might do well, I do question if its the latest fad band. But I just choose what I love and believe should be more widely recognised. Young kids today have not experienced the bands that have created the vast styles under the one name of hardcore. The bands I choose are to me rooted from the basic concept that hardcore grew from. So listen to these bands, they are the best and newest bands that should be recognized in this hardcore scene.

You recently just signed a flurry of bands gearing up for their first releases (Legions, Reality, Marathon to name a few) did you need to get approval from above to do this? Or are they pretty relaxed when it comes to the Australian leg of the label?

Johnnie is cool with whatever I do but with him hes has a lot more competition with so many more labels and he mainly selects from bands that he is friends with from the New England area. Where as I have the whole of Australia to choose from, not just Brisbane. The only thing I need to check with USA is that we have our numbers running consecutively, Johnnie is stocked to be able to have the opportunity to release these over their and I myself cannot wait for the new releases from America and I soon will have the new ones from Hammer Bros, Villain, Watchfire and Think Again. A couple of these are in transit as we speak so keep an eye out for them for sale soon. Also with Johnnie, we have similar tastes so we have faith that what each other is going to release is going to be what we like. I signed so many recently because I know these bands needed to have their releases more available and I didn't want to pass up and miss out on them not being a part of this label.

Now that you run a label have you been able to give up the '9 to 5' and kick back and listen to records all day? Or is there still a full time job involved?

No kicking back. Like I mentioned before I actually work more, I structurally design houses wall frames to be prefabricated in a factory and my two bosses were former work makes at the last work place. They are cool and flexible with my running off to shows early haha. Plus I have the net so its always on in the back ground so if I don't just sit online all day it mainly means I am working. I do have ideas to do other things and get out of what I do but the pay is good, I get a company car and all the money I get allows me to not stress and release what I want to, but I only dream of being that guy who has a job revolving around what I love.

How do you feel about illegal downloading?

I hate Illegal downloading, especially when a CD I have only released a few months ago is there for all to download and I have only sold a handful. Also talking with the local record stores they are really struggling to survive too, due to downloading. One told me a kid heard one of my bands playing in the store and was very keen to find out who it was but then left to more than likely go home to download it. I do realise that young kids find it hard to find work and don't always have the money but when I grew up it meant alot to hold the actual Cd or record and appreciate the artwork and lyrics. Honestly if I was to rely on sales to pay for any bills I would be in trouble, but I am in a unique position to afford all and not stress over sales numbers. But we need to keep the small labels and record stores alive so the scene can be as strong or stronger than it is and offer out the bands there are beyond their own city or country.

Just a few quickies to wrap everything up:

What do you think the best way to spend a Sunday arvo is?

If not online doing label things, working or at a show I would say playing golf with my son ( but that is rare).

When you arent releasing records what do you like to do?

I like to go to shows, listen to music, play golf and travel. I will be off again with my family to the USA again in October to be a tourist, hang out with old and new friends, go to shows and be dragged onto every roller coaster by my son. Last year in Vegas he convinced me to go on a double loop with a corkscrew roller coaster in an air conditioned theme park at our casino hotel.

Im not going to lie, your son sounds like a fucking good kid. Selling records and smashing roller coasters at 8 years old?! Best record you ever bought?

That is so hard to answer but I would say any release from Over My Dead Body which I never got to see but I always felt that everything they did embodied the true spirit of hardcore. That's my opinion anyway.

If you could release one record for any band who would it be?

Alcatraz, which could become reality, I am friends with them and love the fact that they have no egos and just want to have fun after all the years. So new bands, be a real person and every fan should be treated on an equal level. Hardcore should always be about good friends and good times together, that is worth more that the money lost or gained.

Anything you would quickly like to talk about? Something I missed? A record/band people should suss?

Support your local record store and small labels as well as mine, when you buy a CD or record you become a part of something that means a lot to the bands and labels beyond the money aspects, but all the efforts of bands and labels is worth the time by your appreciation.
Support Persist, Had It, Vanity, Legions, Reality, Fires Of Waco, Marathon, One Vital Word, Headaches, Phantoms, Provoke, Ill Brigade, Word Up, Spray, Warbrain, Thick Skin, Alcatraz, every other USA based Arrest band and there are many more beyond my label I love and respect. I cannot put every band I love out but I will try my best so more of you can experience what I get from listening to the bands on this and other labels that need to be heard.

All of you should probably head over to the Arrest Records Australia, throw some money Gregs way and purchase some really great records. I personally purchased 'The Untold Story' by Persist when I travelled down to Maruya last week and it has been on heavy rotation in my car ever since. You will not be disappointed.

http://www.myspace.com/arrestrecordsaustralia

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arrest-Records-Australia/283524811273?ref=ts

http://arrestrecordsaustralia.bigcartel.com/products