Welcome to Issue 2 of Smash The Discos Webzine. In this issue, we have interviews with Anthony Oi! of the Hardknocks, Dan Hooligan of Hooligan 77, EVO of SmartBoyz, and Jimmy Doom of The Almighty Lumberjacks of Death. We also visit with Joanna Nguyen, a tattoo artist from Chino, CA, and check out some of her work. Take a listen to all the music links and then visit the band’s social media pages and let them know you’re listening. Speaking of music links, I came across this excellent blogsite called michigangraveyard.blogspot.com You’ll especially love this if you were fortunate enough to be around the Detroit Hardcore Punk scene in the 80’s and 90s. Good times.
Enjoy Oi! Oi!
I believe a lot of us are the same way with music. We scour the underground looking for diamonds in the rough. The Hardknocks are one of those bands. Once you discover their sound, you’re instantly hooked. It is aggressive and tough Street Punk. Vocalist Anthony Oi! fills us in on what’s going on with this L.A. based group and takes us back to the roots of their noise.
Take us back to the very beginning. What brought you boys together as a band?
A: I got The Hardknocks together in 2014. Since then we have been unstoppable. The line up is: Anthony – Vocals, David Perez – Guitar, Gio – Guitar, Myke Evil – Bass, and Ray – Drums. Our sound comes from many different influences. We all listen to different kinds of music and we are all open minded as well. Our biggest influence is our everyday life struggles and experiences / situations we have all been in. I feel that our sound has true feeling. It’s aggressive and sometimes melodic, but straight to the point. I won’t say that we are an Oi! band or Hardcore band. We just keep it real and play what we want.
You guys are having an impressive run so far sharing the stage with some great bands. What are some of your personal favorite tickets that you’ve played on?
A: That’s a tough one. We’ve played many amazing shows and have shared the stage with so many awesome bands. I’d have to say that my favorite out-of-town show has been Midwest Live & Loud. It was an honor to play with Fear City, Legion 76, Victory, Lion’s Law, and Hard Evidence along with so many other amazing bands!
Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas was an amazing time for us! We played with Angelic Upstarts, Pistol Grip and Chron Gen at the Country Club on Fremont. Underneath The Underground in San Jose, CA is always a good time with bands like Inspecter 7, Old Firm Casuals, Workin Stiffs, Young Idea, and Tried & True. And, of course, Mexico with Hub City Stompers! My favorite shows we have played so far in California have been with Agnostic Front, The Beltones, Bishops Green, HOODS, Patriot, Flatfoot 56, and Booze & Glory.
I hear there’s some new music coming soon. How do you feel your music has evolved since the band first started?
A: We have definitely come a long way from our 7″ demo “Confrontation”. I feel that all of our new music defines the bands true sound. It’s not all a specific sound or style. Every song is different and has its own kind of feel and energy. We all have our own input while writing music. It seems to be working out great and the connection is strong. As we continue to move forward, our sound continues to grow with many different influences from metal, Hardcore , Oi!, and Street Punk combined into one song. Shit, we even threw in a little two-tone in our Christmas song “This One’s For Us” that came out on Cashing In On Christmas, Vol.7 from Rebel Sound Music. Haha.
Which one of your songs do you hold closest to yourself, and why?
A: There’s a lot of songs, but I would have to say that “Heaven And Hell” is my song. I wrote it about myself. I’ve been through a lot of shit in my time and have done a lot of fucked up shit as well. I’ve come to realize and have accepted it. We all make mistakes. We act out of rage. Sometimes pride gets in the way and we burn bridges with the people we love. Life’s too short to hold a grudge. I’ve cheated death a few times now and that has opened up my eyes. This is a true heartfelt song for me.
Your aggressive lyrical content reflects what Street Punk represented for so many years. What do you think about some of the changing attitudes in the scene over the years, with some of new arrivals acting overly PC and going as far as to call for “safezones”?
A: Hahaha, there will never be a “safezone” at a skinhead show. Nowadays, everyone’s too stuck on who does what, and what their views are. People are becoming too sensitive. It’s kind of sad.
How do you capture your sound? Can you tell us a little bit about the songwriting and recording process?
A: I write the base of the music and leave it up to the guys to add in everything else. It seems to work out fine. As for recording, our guitarist, David, records us. He has a little studio at his house where all the magic happens!
What’s it like being part of the Crowd Control Media family?
A: CCM is thee premier Los Angeles label for the local and world wide scene. They’ve done so much for us and we are truly grateful to have them backing us on our journey. They are family to us.
Have you guys come across any unnecessary scene drama yet? What your advice to other bands, or even music fans, on how to deal with it?
A: Just like everywhere else, of course, there is drama in the scene among each other and also crews. It’s just the way it is. We’ve got some haters that are pretty obsessed with us. It’s funny when I hear about it. Some people are so insane that they start to believe their own lies that they make up about us. It doesn’t phase us though. We aren’t fake with anyone and we will make it clear if we don’t like you.
What do you see, or hope, for the future of the band?
A: We hope to tour a lot and release more records! We’ve got a new EP coming out Feb. 2017, released on Contra Records and Crowd Control Media. Keep an eye out!
EVO, the former bass player of Lower Class Brats, brings us up to speed on everything that is The SmartBoyz and their sound of Killer Rock N Roll.
Let’s go back to day one and tell us about how the band got started.
EVO: It all happened on one late and stormy night in some small town in California. During a sound check of a former band, I heard the faint echoes from above and made audible sounds with my bass. The rest is history.
You guys don’t mess around. You jumped right into action since day one. How many songs have you recorded so far, and when can we expect a full length album?
EVO: We’ve recorded a couple epics, some musical sonnets, and a grip of short stories set to music. In all, we have maybe 150 titles. No way would we let the regular listener hear all of those as we’ve got to pace ourselves! Think of it as a spigot that just won’t turn off completely; a steady drip of life-giving ‘water’, if you will.
If you want to own a piece of our music, go to Crowd Control Media (.net) and there you can order up two choices: Oi! The Cassette, Volvo. 2 (with two of our songs on it) and/or The Spring 2017 Label Sampler Cassette (with one of our songs on it). Both are very limited, so hold off reading the rest of this until you buy one real quick…. OK?
Editor’s Choice Track – SMARTBOYZ Rock N Roll
The first vinyl release from SmartBoyz will be available this spring on Crowd Control Media and Contract Records. It’s number, er… title is called, “I’m A Lion”. It’s not to be confused with any other ‘Lion’ title from other bands. This main number is also known as “the original”.
You have some history in the Punk scene. If you don’t mind me asking, what was the reason for splitting with Lower Class Brats?
EVO: A few years leading up to the whole Noriega thing, I saw many concerts with, and without, friends. Tissue please? Anyways, years later, I gradually found myself at the edge of the stage looking out with fellow Droogies and we played our brand of Clockwork Noise. Street Punk? Oi!? Rock N Roll? I don’t know what to call it. After some tours and records made, I just decided it was time to be free and pursue my own music. I got nothing but love for those guys. So, as a resident of South Texas, I’ve been fortunate enough to find talented musicians here that share the same passion for a unique style, but it’s not that rare actually. Rock N Roll has been with us for decades and we aim our sights towards the future and in making more music.
How’s the Texas punk scene been treating you so far?
EVO: How far can you throw an 80kg rock? Well, it’s an enigma. One year, every city in Texas seems to be alive with bands and activities related to the Punk scene. The next, it’s a big pile of refried beans. Currently, Texas is on the upswing. There are lots of bands, big and small, that are getting out there and making a statement. So far so good, as far as we’re concerned.
What other musicians do you credit as influences to your style as a band?
EVO: Influence? Style? I can’t say precisely what the others have going on in their dark recesses of their brains, but for me: Randy Rhoads, Johnny Thunders, Chuck Berry, DeeDee Ramone, 80’s Death Metal, 80’s French Oi!, 70’s French Punk, some very limited 80’s Rap, 70’s freak rock bands (probably heard on stations back in time, but not anymore), some specific 1st Wave Ska and early Rocksteady, and some other music’s. We use the streets. We light fireworks with punks, but we don’t play Street Punk. In my personal opinion, that label is misused in association with our band. We produce Killer Rock N Roll.
Who does the artwork and the signature SmartBoyz skull?
EVO: Again, the brain registers images of the ancient and primitive and translates them with a pen. Voila! I don’t think any of us have actually used our signatures on anything up to this date.
The Crowd Control Media family is really making it’s mark. Who are some of the band’s you’ll be sharing the stage with in the future?
EVO: Well, our slot on the U2 World Tour fell through after their iTunes fiasco, but we won’t give up! As far as CCM goes, The Holy Trinity, aka “The Bosses”, have been nothing short of a modern day miracle in our sets of eyes. Never have I seen a label work so hard and be as creative as this company. They 100% support their bands and that is better than having a free lifetime supply of tacos. Alright, back to the question… In the next couple of months, we will be on the same stage / floor as Drastic Actions, The Booked, The Hardknocks, Class System, Wartribe, New Breed, Down For Life, The industry, Mobile Rule, 21 Gun Salute, and many more.
As an experienced musician, do you have any advice for new bands just coming up?
EVO: Do your homework, drink lots of water, and play good songs. There is other advice I’d like to share, but not at this time.
I know this an all too common question in interviews, but curiosity gets me. What’s the origin of the name Smart Boyz?
EVO: The origin is the beginning of life.
http://smartboyz.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/smartboyztx/
How many years have you been in the business?
J: I picked up the machine in 2008, but I didn’t develop a real interest in the craft until 2011. It was then that I realized I needed to get my shit together and really dedicate myself to loving and respecting the art of tattoos. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but thanks to the skinhead and punk scene, I had a strong support base.
What got you interested in Tattooing?
J: Sex, drugs, and Rock n’ Roll told me it was cool. Haha, just kidding! At first, it was just something to do. My BF at the time wanted free tattoos so he bought me a tattoo kit. Then I started tattooing others. In 2011, I spent more time drawing and studying with a friend and fellow artist. I consider him my mentor, although I didn’t apprentice under him. He was the one who gave me a different outlook on the craft and I developed a new level of respect and love for tattooing because of him. Even til this day he is one of my main inspirations and I’m still terrified of disappointing him.
Describe your favorite piece you’ve ever put on someone.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a direct answer to that. There have been so many tattoos that I was emotionally and mentally connected to. I usually put extra time and effort into those pieces, so they have also served as learning tools for trying out different techniques and stylization; making these pieces extra special to me.
Are there any “off limits” tattoos you won’t do?
I just recently decided that I was going to stop doing script work. It’s just not my thing, and I don’t want to put something I’m not 100% about on my clients. Lumping in with this would be tribal and watercolor tattoos. Too many bad experiences and bad clientele come with those two styles.
What are your goals / dreams for for the future?
The only thing I want is for my art to be recognized. I want people to walk down the street, point out, and say, “Hey, that’s a JoJo piece, I know her work from anywhere”. I have no interest in owning my own studio. I’d rather just travel the world and put my work on as many people as I can and hope they cherish the art I put on them. These are pretty simple goals and dreams, but I already have enough to be happy with in life. I don’t need much more.
When in California, contact Joanna at:
Philadelphia is one of those cities, on any given weekend, you could find a punk show at a local dive or someone’s basement. The city has an overall down-and-out attitude that is definitely a contributing factor in the attitude expressed in the music within it’s growing punk rock scene. Looking up from the downside, Dan Hooligan brings that “never give in” attitude that not only fueled the fires of Hooligan 77, but that will also light the path towards his new project as well.
Now I understand the band recently came to a halt, but Hooligan 77 has some solid songs out there that need to be heard. Give me some background on the band.
D: Hooligan 77 was based in Philadelphia and the Philly ‘burbs. I’ve been in Hardcore Punk bands my whole life, so when I parted ways with the previous band I was in, I wanted to find some warped individuals like myself. I put an ad out to start up a new Punk Oi! band. My former drummer, Steve, responded. We discussed our influences and what sound we wanted to have. Steve had a guitarist (Mike) from a previous band, and I recruited my bassist (Drew) from one of my older bands. We basically all had a chip on our shoulder from issues with the previous bands we were in, so it was a great way to get things rolling. The songs we were coming up with definitely had attitude, and to make things easier, we would write songs pretty fast together. We’ve all been doing the band thing for so long that we knew we could put some good songs together.
How did you come up with the name Hooligan 77?
D: I came up with the name Hooligan 77 to represent the music. Hooligan for the sing alongs and toughness, and 77 for the year 1977. The year Punk was really exploding. I really wanted to capture that rawness/energy in our songs, especially in the lyrics that I wrote.
“Win Some, Bruise Some” is a great song. I might get that tatted somewhere. Give us a little insight on your writing process.
D: That’s probably the coolest thing anyone has said about one of our songs. Thank you so much. That really means alot. Steve actually came up with that title, and that’s when my wheels started turning for lyrics. That song really is about going through tough times in life but refusing to give up, and fighting everyday whether it’s struggling to pay the bills or dealing with grief. When Steve said, “Win Some, Bruise Some” I knew it was gonna be a fun song but also a song with meaning. The writing process can vary. Sometimes it can be as simple as someone coming up with a title and I write something up, or someone will come up with a cool riff and I’ll have some lyrics that fit.
What artists / bands do you cite as influences?
D: Cocksparrer, Evil Conduct, Bouncing Souls, Street Dogs, The Business, Sham 69, Anti Heroes, old Dropkick Murphy’s, Stars And Stripes, Oi Polloi, Runnin Riot, Hardsell, and many, many more!
What’s your take on the Philly scene?
D: I think the Philly scene is doing great. A lot of great music is coming out of the city and a lot of bands want to come here and play. I’ve met a lot of musicians from out of town who moved here because of how the scene is growing. We have a great thing going on and we are very fortunate.
So, what are your plans for the future?
D: Check out my FB page, Dan Hooligan, for all current updates. I have a really cool record in the works. Some Hooligan Rock N Roll is coming your way!
[Although Hooligan 77 has disbanded, their album “Never Give In” is still available on Bandcamp, iTunes, and Spotify. Keep an eye out for Dan’s newest project on https://www.facebook.com/Hooligan77PhillyPunk/].
If you were fortunate enough to experience the Hardcore Punk scene in Detroit in the 80s and 90s, then consider yourself one lucky son of a bitch. Yes, Detroit was an even more dangerous place back in those days than it is now. These were the days of Negative Approach, Heresy, SBLC, Cold As Life, Feisty Cadavers, and so many more… including a personal favorite of mine, The Almighty Lumberjacks of Death. I came across their first album, on cassette, relatively close to the time of it’s release and still have it today. When I found frontman Jimmy Doom, I had to include him in on this issues “5 Questions With…” segment and find out what he’s been up to… and as it turns out, quite a lot!
If you could crack a beer with two influential musicians in your life (dead or alive), who would they be and how would you sway the conversation?
JD: Strummer would definitely be the first one. He’d be about #1 – #19. If you haven’t seen the documentary “The Future is Unwritten” you must do that pretty much now! Jeff Patricca, from The Rogues, and I got to spend some time with Paul Simonon when he was on the Havana 3AM Tour, and it’s one of the music oriented highlights of my life. The publicist was telling people that he refused to discuss The Clash days. When we hung out with him (at St. Andrew’s Hall), Jeff started dissecting the Havana 3AM album and Simonon politely talked about it for about 2o minutes. Eventually he said, “So, you like me other band The Clash then?”. He told us Clash stories for an hour. I’ve gotten to meet some other bands I dig, so a lot of names that would be on some people’s list are already crossed off – The Ramones, Bad Brains, Descendents, Exploited, GBH, The Business (Rest In Power, Micky Fitz). Paul Westerberg would be next, after Joe.
Were there any previous band name choices, and how did you land on Almighty Lumberjacks of Death?
JD: Most people don’t know this, but I was the second singer in ALD. There was a guy named Danny Mason who sang first and wrote the original lyrics for Drink Beer and This Is The West Side. I altered both of them, but they are his original songs co-written with the Big Dog. So, I came into a situation where they already had the name. I heard that the name was a tagine on a PBS special about the demolishing of the Brazilian rainforest, but they kinda swept that under the rug because that influence made them sound too much like barefoot hippies. I have the Kevin Sykes created logo tattooed on me, so obviously I liked it.
I see that you’ve got the acting bug now. What’s the ultimate character that you’d like to portray on film?
JD: I actually got offered my first shot at acting at an ALD show. A guy named Kevin King approached me about playing a singer in a band in his movie “Whatever Happens is Good”. If you’re not related to Kevin King, or never worked at Thomas Video, you probably never saw it. That was the first one and I probably never would have gotten it if not for ALD, so I’m really lucky. Even though making movies and music videos is a tremendously collaborative effort, there’s not the dynamic of relying on the same three or four other guys to show up at practice and shit like that. My agent sends me to an audition and I go. I don’t have to call three other dudes and hope that one of ’em isn’t driving his girlfriend’s conjoined twins to an oboe recital.
Recently ALD had a reunion show. Will there be any others in the future, or a chance of a revival?
JD: As far as a reunion, sure, there’s always that chance, but the Big Dog and his girl both have fancy jobs on the west coast and they can’t really drop everything to play here. Just like any band, we have our differences.So I wouldn’t count on it but anything is possible.
I still got “Always Out Of Control, But Never Out Of Beer” and “Soul of the Storm” on cassette. Where can people get more recent pressings today?
JD: This relates to number 4. We were never really good at the business aspect of being a band, and that’s where a lot of arguments and hassles started. The music is out there and it’s so easy to make copies for people and to make copies for their friends. They might as well do that. I doubt we’ll ever have our shit together enough to re-issue anything, so everyone just bootleg the fuck out of it and if they wanna say thank you they can Paypal me at inksplatter65@yahoo.com. That might be kind of an asshole move, but punk rock got pretty tame over the years. So yeah, bootleg it and share it for free. If you wanna send me a buck as a thank you, I’ll buy half pints of vodka for the homeless guys around Comerica Park. I already do that anyway.
Well, this concludes issue 2 of Smash The Discos. Thank you Anthony Oi!, EVO, Dan Hooligan, Joanna Nguyen, and Jimmy Doom for participating. Also, thanks to Crowd Control Media for putting me in touch with The Hardknocks. New segments are in the works for future issues, including in depth articles.
Support the scene. You can blow it off, but don’t bitch if it ever disappears.
Here’s another vintage flyer.
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