quick update + Ancient Heads interview from issue 4

yo what's up, Issue #5 of Intro Changes is coming in April. it will feature interviews with Unified Right, New Brigade, No One Rules and Enforcers. prices and mailorder details coming soon. I'm based in the UK now but it will be distroed in Canada and the US so don't worry about that.

also thanks to everyone who bought Issue 4. here's the interview I did back in September with Ancient Heads, if you've not read it yet I hope you like it.

this interview was conducted mainly with Simp (mic), Emmett (bass) and Laforge (guitar) of Ancient Heads in Emmett's living room in Barrie ON after the Demolition record release show. present at one point or another during the discussion: Mike The Mosher, Gil, Zack DC, Chris Killingsworth, Curtis Brox, Arby's Drink, ADow, DHD. enjoy.

KB: alright let's get a brief summary of your thoughts on tonight's concert...

Simp: pretty much the greatest day of my life, it was like Christmas Morning. I was so excited. it was pretty much the longest work week ever trying to get through to this fuckin' day. all the bands killed it, it was a good vibe.

Laforge: Not one thing went wrong, except the Ancient Heads set. (laughs)

KB: what was the mission you had when starting Ancient Heads, what were the goals you were trying to achieve and what was the purpose of starting a Straight Edge band?

Laforge: I think we started talking about it in 2008, probably.

Simp: we just wanted to do a Straight Edge band that was good and cool, and that we could be proud of. like most things, you talk about it and talk about it and nothing ever happens. before I moved to Toronto, I told Laforge that on day one when I get down there, we're doing a Straight Edge hardcore band. and we actually followed through.

Laforge: we used to do another one from '98 to '02, I was the singer and Simp was the guitar player. Simp had been playing guitar for four years before joining the band, it was called From This Day Forward at first and then Miles Between Us. Simp was jamming with our friend Brock who y'know, is not a drummer but could play drums. he was jamming with our friend Howie who lived down the street, trying to get things going but nothing was really popping up. I didn't really have a role to play since I didn't know how to play an instrument or anything like that. at a certain point, Simp was just like "*sigh*... do you wanna sing?" (laughs) and I was like "yeah, I kinda do!". it ended up going pretty well. one of the things I thought when we were starting Ancient Heads was that this was a way to return the favor, a lot of hardcore bands are an extension of the front man's sensibility, he sets the lyrical agenda, the vibe, is the main performer. and then the band is just like a backing track or something. Simp gave me a chance to be a singer, I wanted to give him a chance to be a singer.

KB: you mentionned both of you being in Miles Between Us from Ottawa, originally. how did you start getting involved into HC in Ottawa?

Laforge: anybody old enough to remember being in middle school in the early 90's, with Nirvana being big  and people trying to sound like them, it was the cool thing to do for regular ass folks in high school, to start a band and stuff. and the cool thing for younger kids to do was to go see them, so we started going to those shows when we were like 13-14, we just got used to the idea of going to a gig every weekend that we could. when you're into that it's a very short stone's throw to get into punk from there. to be honest, if we didn't have Cable TV so that we could watch like, The History Of Rock'n'Roll which was a 10-part documentary that had the punk section in it, I don't know how long it would've taken us to get interested in punk. because that's what we were into at first, '77 british punk. I know DHD feels me on that. Simp's uncle made us tapes with The Jam, Sex Pistols, The Clash, early Police, etc. that's how it started and it went from there. that was in '94. we didn't get into actual hardcore til '97 and in the interim we went to like Fat Wreck/Epitaph records gigs, which was huge at the time in Canada. I remember wanting more of stuff that sounded kinda like that but not really knowing how to get it. we didn't have the internet but we had a 24-hour music channel that would give you the odd clue. I remember seeing a Weezer interview in '94 and they were fucking with the VJ and making his life miserable.  anyway the VJ asked "what are Weezer's main influences" and Patrick Wilson just says *takes funny accent* "Yeaaaa I think Weezer takes a lot from Fugazi... a lot from Minor Threat..." I was 14 and I knew Fugazi but it was the first time I ever heard the word Minor Threat, but I don't actually hear Minor Threat for two more years. I just know that I needed to. I also saw a CIV video in '96, Simp and I probably saw the video at the same time and called each other on the phone to talk about it haha. there was also a Shelter special that I saw. it was Mantra-era so full robes, ponytails...

Simp: bird shit on the face... (laughter breaks out)

Laforge: ...and they played the "Here We Go Again" video. and I'm like "this is the weirdest fucking thing I've ever seen, what is this". they probably mentionned YOT but I don't remember. eventually, the 30 or 40 bucks that one of us had to spend on CD's, because that was our only income at the time -

Simp: that was all Laforge, I didn't work ever.

Laforge: that 40 bucks we had to spend didn't go on just two Fat Wreck CD's, it went on like one Fat Wreck CD and then a Minor Threat discography or something. we were still going to see skate punk bands, but it was quick after that. we were listening to college radio and none of the hardcore they play sounds like Minor Threat, remember it's the 90's so it's like Policy Of Three, Universal Order of Armageddon, etc. so college radio DJ's are calling that shit hardcore, MuchMusic is calling CIV hardcore, other people are calling Minor Threat hardcore, what the hell is the deal here? as far as I'm concerned it's Minor Threat, that's the definition for me. about '97 or so we start finding out about Ten Yard Fight, Floorpunch...

Simp: them and GB and Youth Of Today, it was those four bands really.

Laforge: and we're just like, OK this is it. #1 we're straight edge and #2 we're into this shit. a year goes by and we start a band who sounds like that, or at least tries to.

Simp: and then we never changed, and I still listen to those four bands every day.

KB: what's the scoop on the new tape you put out with Ancient Heads?

Laforge: it's called For My Brothers, it's a cassingle. For My Brothers the song, which is the single, will be on the 7" that we're gonna do next year and it has two b-sides, one called No Time For You and the other Fight Back.

KB: what are some of the lyrical themes you approach, and the things you think about when you're penning down lyrics?

Simp: the thing I'm thinking about is usually "we have a recording session booked the next day and I haven't written any of the lyrics" (laughter) so, uhh... I'm like damn, I better write some lyrics. I took a lot of influence from reading the Floorpunch interview in In-Effect Fanzine, where Porter just goes "yeah, I just wrote that shit on the way to the recording studio". that's what's up, last minute. Ancient Heads' motto is kinda doing everything at the last minute. think of every shirt design the day of the show, print out your record covers the day of the show. everything to the last minute, cuz that's when all your good ideas come out. but as far as lyrical content goes, I mean... most of the songs are about Straight Edge, friends, old friendships and, y'know, bitches that have done me wrong (laughs), that's it basically.

*Zack wakes up from a nap*

Zack: yo Karl I wanna ask you a question... tell us about your little diddy tonight with Ancient Heads.

KB: ahhh! well Emmett forgot how to play a Floorpunch cover...

Simp: wanna know why he couldn't play it? cuz Emmett doesn't come to Ancient Heads practice ever. he hangs out with girls....

Chris K: girls that go to college.

Arby's Drink: he doesn't seal the deal, he goes over, he makes out with them and he goes home with his big boob boner (laughs) and can't fall asleep and sleeps through practice.

Chris K: he just goes and tongue kisses girls and watches like, "Up!" and stuff (laughs) that's the type of shit that Emmett does.

Laforge: anyway we tried playing it a couple of times but I was just like "I don't think Emmett knows it", I tried humming it to him, and he's just like "you know what? i'm just gonna hand this bass to Karl."

KB: and uhh... that's pretty much what it is. I flipped that bitch upside down and played it. and it was tight. people moshed and i wish i was moshing but it's cool. took one for the team. i decided that other people's ability to mosh to a Floorpunch cover is more important than no one moshing.

Laforge: it's better to give a mosh pit than to receive one.

Adow: here's a follow up question, what are the chances that you have perfect pitch?

Laforge: yeah, you've never consciously learned the song that we played tonight?

KB: nah but I've listened to it so much that I just kinda knew it, without really learning it.

Laforge: Chevy Chase: perfect pitch. Karl St-Pierre: perfect pitch. (laughs)

*Emmett comes back in the room*

KB: Emmett, what is your degree of implication in Ancient Heads?

Emmett: I'm supposed to play bass, but you picked up the slack today (laughs) Simp really has the reins in this band, I don't even know if I can handle a rein in another band let alone both reins. so I'm just greatful to get on stage and attempt to play the songs.

Simp: in all fairness, Emmett pretty much never makes mistakes, this was a one-off.

DHD: I still think this was staged.

Simp: ok here's the deal, Sam BBB hit us up and was like "yo I'm gonna give you and Intent $200 each to take a dive tonight to make Demolition look fucking amazing" so we're on the take.

Zack: I have a question... tell us how these two minds (Simp and Laforge) met.

Simp: Laforge and I met on his garage floor. He had just moved to the neighborhood. this is the year the Straight Ahead 12" dropped. Laforge had this Panini sticker album, and I was like "yo I collect those stickers too", I went home, got my sticker book, and we just started hanging out.

Adow: this question's for Laforge... when did you start rocking Clarks Desert Treks?

Laforge: I got my first pair on Black Friday, we went to the mall in Buffalo. I wanted them for a while, then I went to the Title Fight "Shed" record release (where I met Zack, coincidentally) and at that show Alex Russin (Frostbite/Cold World/Gypsy) was wearing them. so then I'm like "fuck, I've been meaning to get those shoes and he beat me to it! If I had my fucking act together Albite wouldn't be the only one swagged out in these Desert Treks today". Anyway so Finner (who put out the first Ancient Heads demo), Emmett and I rolled down to Buffalo. I picked em up when I got out of work at 2:30am, went down and bought them. they were like "those are wild shits man, are you sure you can pull em off?" I was wearing khakis that night and it looked a little weird. the next night Stick Together played Welland with Bugs, Beware, United Youth and Easy Way Out. and I wore the desert treks with jeans and everybody was like "you look fly as fuck man." (laughs)

Emmett:  a good quote from that show was "thank you for being here, you could be buying $5 DVD players at Wal-Mart"

Adow: I feel like that story went in a much more elaborate direction than I expected.

Laforge: it's funny you mention it because it's probably the first time Emmett and I properly hung out. tho we did have lunch at Utopia before.

Simp: Bubby the drummer from Our War is the main chef there. their cappucino is off the chain.

Emmett: I got the one thing I only ever get: green onion mayo burger with cheese and bacon.

Laforge: good coffee, good burgers, good sides.

Emmett: me you and Finner went to that before the Bane/Dead End Path show. Bob was there as well. that night was crazy because after the show, Eric and I tried to go see Waka Flocka and on the way there realized he didn't get across the border. then we went to New Ho King, where I accidentally dined and dashed and got banned for life (laughs) and then me, Eric and a female who will remain nameless -

Simp: why, cuz you fingered her? (laughter breaks out)

Emmett: no! well... (long pause)......not that night. anyway we went to Niagara Falls at midnight, went to the casino, I won 80 dollars and then we went to Dennys. and I got home at 5am. that was a great night.

Laforge: and that's how Emmett and I met.

Simp: I'm sorry what was the question? (laughs)

KB: back on track, I ask this question to everyone. I'd like to know your top 3 WNYU/live radio sets and a brief explanation as to why

Simp: 1. Supertouch, because that's their illest shit by far. best thing they ever did. 2. Side By Side, cuz every song is really important 3. Ancient Heads because that's the best thing that Ancient Heads has done and it was fun to do it.

Laforge: 1 and 2 are the same as Simp so I'll just let his answers stand, but I like the Warzone interview because I really dig the sexual tension between Warzone and Spermicide.

Gil: "Yo DJ Spermicide lemme take you on a date!!"

Emmett: 1. Breakdown '87 2. Altercation 3. Outburst. those are straight up what Demolition is based on and what we aspire to sound like. I also love the YOT interview.

Simp: the one with Ray and Ritchie? I fucking hate that man.

Zack: "Name the singer of Negative Approach for free tickets to BDTW record release" (laughs)

Simp: in that interview they're talking about how they're not really a Straight Edge band, and how that's not their main focus... when two years later that's exactly what they were. I feel like Ritchie's influence was like, not letting Ray's true self come out. there's clashing personalities in that interview. Ray was really couched in all his responses to all the questions, trying to play to Ritchie. if Ritchie's like "yo I'm not all about X's on hand, Straight Edge youth crew this and that" Ray's gotta kinda play to that angle like "yeah, we're a unity band!" or whatever. I always found that kinda weird.

Laforge: I wish I had said Altercation now.

Simp: you didn't make bad choices, I'll say that.

KB: you can't really make a bad choice though, Bustin' Out is probably the only shitty one.

Simp: what about Occupied Territory? they did one. it's weird.

MTM: it's crazy man. they got a song called "Grandma's Angry Garage", it just goes "Grandma's Angry Garaaage, Grandma's Angry Garaaage" (laughs)

Laforge: I wish the readers could see MTM's eyebrows as he's singing that right now.

MTM: there's another song, it's called whatever the acronym to New York City Hardcore Kids is, the chorus is something about how "life's not hard but we ain't complaining, hell fuckin' no" (laughs) and then there's this other song it's called "Peace One Day". fuck what else... they were wicked tho.

KB: favorite New Breed song?

SImp: isn't everyone gonna pick the same song?

Laforge: I'm not... mine's Our Gang - In Anger/Rejected.

Emmett: uhhh... Breakdown - Don't Give Up.

Simp: mine's definitely Absolution - Never Ending Game. it's fuckin' unfuckwithable. if it were a top 3 i'd choose the live Beyond songs as well.

Laforge: not many people would pick those I don't think.

Simp: Seasons, man!

Zack: top 3: Don't Give Up, that version of Wall Of Hate and that version of The Hard Way.

Gil: I'm gonna throw in a very underrated song: Direct Approach - True Vision. one of the illest. and then for the two other ones, Never Ending Game and I'm gonna go with Laforge with Rejected. hardest recording of that song by far.

Simp: what about Uppercut - Am I Clear? that's the only Uppercut song I like and it's the anti-sxe song haha. it's a dumb song but I think it's awesome.

Emmett: if I'm gonna pick a song that's somewhat anti-sxe it's gonna be Breakdown - Labeled.

KB: alright we talked about old shit for a while now, so what are some current bands you think should have more recognition right now?

a bunch of people at the same time: Demolition.

Laforge: Intent covered them at Destroy LA and nobody moved. obviously word hasn't traveled as far as it should have yet. but that's bound to change.

Emmett: I really like Sabotage, they played the show tonight. they actually sound like No Warning songs that never got released, as opposed to other bands who try to jock that style.

Simp: it's like every band who says they're a NYHC band which really means they play D-tuned sludge-core that does not sound like any of those old records.

Emmett: but Sabotage do that sound really well, and they don't really play that much. they do have some border crossing issues but I think they're an underrated band. I also like Freedom a lot, I don't know if they're underrated or not.

Simp: maybe underexposed is the word. I think once you have a physical record out your band becomes a "real band" that people are willing to invest time in. which is weird because what does everyone always end up saying? "oh I just like the demo". but no one gives a shit about the demo until the band has a 7" or two out. and then the band breaks up and after two or three years people look back and say they like the demos the best.

MTM: though a lot of bands that are big now, like Stick Together for example, not many people think of the demo though they carried some songs over to their 7"s. same with Mental and Desperate Measures, people didn't really talk about their demos much.

Emmett: the thing is not everyone are diggers like we are. we are constantly seeking new ill shit. other people just take what they're fed.

Simp: obviously everyone can't hear every band, and whatever region you're from you're mostly just going to be able to travel and play and be known in that region. but at the same time people should be searching for new shit.

Laforge: another band that's underrated is New Brigade. I think because they're from California they're never gonna be thought of.

Simp: I've always felt there was kind of a stigma attached to west coast bands, in a way. it's like it's its own thing. it's not just like hardcore, it's like "west coast" or "cali style".

Laforge: but that's not true of New Brigade. the songs are awesome, they're great live, Justin's a great frontman and they can play with any straight edge band in the country, but they're always gonna be thought of as (and this is just my guess) "that band from California, not as good as No Tolerance/Stick Together/etc, pretty good for where they're from"

MTM: there were a few big bands from there: Knife Fight, Our Turn, Internal Affairs, etc.

Simp: Knife Fight was underrated.

Gil: they weren't big in Cali, but they were on the East Coast.

Emmett: they do have more of an East Coast-friendly sound I guess.

Simp: but yo, shout out New Brigade for real.

KB: Gil since you're here I'll just ask you one question: we were listening to the rough tracks for the new Big Contest record earlier, can you tell us a bit about that?

Gil: Ned came for a week, we had written a bunch of songs last time he came up. we basically took all the songs and flipped em inside out and made new jams based off them. we re-recorded the demo and six new songs so 10 songs in total, we did it all ourselves. it was the last recording to take place in the Pain Cave's OG location. I came home from work, went straight to the space, we did the whole thing in one swoop and then we went and sold Yankees Suck shirts down at Fenway afterwards. it's gonna come out on Mosher's Delight Records. we'll have it at Triple-B Showcase.

KB: alright we've been around the block with questions, what's your message to the younger readers reading this rag?

Simp: I have no business giving anyone advice, but... basically don't worry about anyone else. if being into hardcore or being straight edge is what you love, just do it on your own, not to be in a social clique, cuz that's not what it's about. I knew from day one that it's just who I am as a person, it's never for fashion or anything else other than for myself. a great band once said it: "BE YOURSELF".

Laforge: my message is to a particular kind of person, I'm thinking of like a straight edge kid who's 23-24, who's in the awkward middle period, who's been at it for 5-6 years, maybe...

Emmett: this is awkward.... (laughs)

Laforge: ...this doesn't apply to anybody in this room obviously. but you know. the generation of bands you got into, your friends and their contemporaries have broken up, going to shows doesn't feel the same, you're a little bit bored with it, you're getting more interested in like graduate school or something. trying to chase chicks or make money, make a new group of friends, and you're thinking to yourself "I don't think that I can accomplish those things and still be Straight Edge, I want to be but if I'm gonna meet girls and get a job and not be weird to my co-workers, if I'm gonna participate into society, I'm gonna to compromise on some things". Ancient Heads is just here to say that we're proof that it doesn't have to be that way. you can get to your 30's and live a productive, well-ajusted life and engage with society with poise and confidance and handle your business without having to compromise yourself.

Emmett: my main thing is (and I said this in the first zine I did last year) you get out of hardcore what you put into it. I feel like I have gotten so much out of hardcore, just based on what I put into. it's awesome. you put out a zine, you book a show, you start a band, and it just feels very good to be contributing to something like this. I think that there's a lot of people doing zines now, a lot of people booking shows, etc but more people should just learn an instrument, it doesn't matter if you suck. that's what hardcore is, is not being able to play something and doing it anyway because you think it's sick. I hate to see people get discouraged and that's why I was so adamant that Arby's Drink play guitar in True, because he could not play guitar. and I knew he would get better. the same with Bob on bass, he had never played an instrument in his entire life and now he rips it up. (ed note: jury's still out on that one...)

Laforge: I never picked up a guitar until I was 31 years old, it's never too late.

Emmett: but yeah, the bottom line is "Do Something". that's it.

MAILORDER

yo what's up everyone. issue 3 of Intro Changes Hardcore Fanzine is finally ready to order. prices (shipped) are:

CANADA/USA: $2.50

WORLD: $4

PayPal only. send money to stpierrekarl@yahoo.ca and don't forget to include your address in the notes section.

I'll be bringing a couple of copies down to This Is Hardcore Fest with me also. they are $1 in person so if you'd rather skip the shipping and get one at the fest instead that's cool. just send me an email to make sure I bring enough to the show. 

thanks for your support.

Enforcers Record Release / Intro Changes 3 update.

Enforcers are releasing their new 4-song 7" in a little under two weeks. go stream it here.

I'll also have Intro Changes issue 3 ready by then.

Victor B. (No Bones/Wrong Hands/Nuke) interview.

as featured in Intro Changes Issue 2.5

Victor and I have been friends for a while and I've always wanted to interview him since I started doing my zine. We did this driving around on the night of April 25th after stuffing our faces with tofu dogs and french fries at Lafleur. enjoy.

IC: describe each of your current bands in a few words.
V: Nuke is heavy and ignorant, Wrong Hands is heavy and even more ignorant, and then No Bones is melancoly emo stuff.

IC: what are the plans for your bands?
V: well Wrong Hands just dropped a record and No Bones is going to Europe in the fall. as far as Nuke goes we're writing a couple of songs to put out an EP, and after that we'd like to play out a bit. Elie and I are pretty busy with No Bones already but yeah I'd like to do small tours with both Wrong Hands and Nuke, like a week here and there.

IC: when should we expect a new outing from No Bones?
V: we're putting out a 7" towards the end of the summer, so we can actually go on tour with something haha. it's gonna be six songs. they're already written but we just gotta work on them.

IC: will the next No Bones be even more emo than the demo?
V: yeah i guess. It’s definitly gonna have a way more melodic sound and the songs are way better (well, i think). We’ve been listening to tons of Sonic Youth, The Pixies and stuff like that so that probably influenced us a lot.

iC: any plans for a LP in a year or two?
V: one of my main goals is to write and record a good LP, meaning no filler songs or anything like that. it doesn't really matter with which band I do it.

IC: any plans for bands or side projects you wanna start in the near future?
V: I'd like to play another gig with United Stance for sure. asides from that, I just wanna do some small side project bands and record demos for fun and shit. being a music nerd, you can't be completely satisfied with just one band seeing as it's really hard to incorporate every influence in the same band. so you always wanna do something different. one week I only wanna play in fast bands, the other week I just wanna play in bands that sound like Breakdown. so yeah doing things like that allows me to play everything I want to which is cool.

IC: so what's the deal with United Stance? tell me a little more about that.
V: basically, Spoiler (Omegas/Justice) told me he did a band with Jonah (Fucked Up/Career Suicide) out of songs that he wrote but never used for any band, and he was gonna sing. Jonah recorded everything else, and then they got me, Luke from Waste Management and Danimal to play the songs live. we practiced the day before our only show at Not Dead Yet and it was awesome. I know Spoiler is gonna finish his vocals soon, or most likely.

IC: as far as MTLHC goes, what would you want to eradicate from the scene and what would you like to promote?
V: I'd like for it to be a little easier for new kids to get into it. a lot of times we're pretty quick to dismiss them as fake and fickle. I mean I see a lot of kids at shows that I wanna punch in the face because they're like that, but then I tell myself maybe when I started going to shows people thought the same thing about me you know? I'd also like more diversity as far as local bands go. at the same time we've got a strong local scene, our bands are quality right now. but it'd be sick if there would be more bands that are different. as far as hardcore in general the only people I want to see gone are people who outbid me on records (laughs). and I'd also like it to be easier for smaller bands to tour. there are a lot of cool bands we can't really see because gas is expensive and not everyone can really afford to tour, not to mention smaller bands don't always get enough support from hardcore kids.

IC: what's your favorite demo that dropped recently.
V: The SHIT demo was awesome, it had everything i like in a punk/hardcore demo.

IC: what bands are you most stoked to see at heartfest?
V: first, definately Final Word. as you can read on the other side of this zine they're legends as far as Montreal Hardcore goes. I mean when I listen to them it makes me want to assasinate the whole world. (laughs). asides from that I'm stoked to see Adventures because they don't really play out (ed note: who?) and also all of my friends bands, like Harriers, Esprits Noirs,all the smaller bands playing the fest.

IC: describe Phil Roy in a few words.
V: best dude. he puts a lot of time in booking Heart Fest and he is the hardest mosher to ever wear a pink shirt.

IC: we're done. any shout outs?
V: shout out to Fools Like You, and to Lafleur’s Tofu Dogs for keeping my veganism ignorant.

Intro

Yo what's up everyone. this is the "online" version of Intro Changes Fanzine. here you will find info on mailorder for future issues and other news. and from time to time some interviews. thanks.