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Smut
Peddlers Interview |
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The Smut Peddlers
formed in
L.A.’s
South Bay in 1993, when drummer Julia (a talented artist who also designs
the band’s flyers), teamed up with bassist Gish. Vocalist John Ransom soon
completed the nucleus of the band.
I
recently spoke with the band before a rehearsal in Costa Mesa about life
on the road, first records, the Beatles, bad promoters and other rock ‘n’
roll oddities. Gish and Julia met while living in the same apartment building in the South Bay. Julia’s first impression of Gish? “I was afraid of him. He looked like trouble. I avoided him. The guy I was living with at the time was a drummer and he was in a bunch of bands at the time and he told Gish to ask me to play. He (Gish) cornered me on the doorstep one day and I was afraid to say no.” “And that was that,” says Gish. When vocalist John Ransom joined, and the core of the band was complete. “We worked together for awhile,” says Gish, “and I’d seen John in action and knew he’d be the perfect frontman.” The OC punk scene is as robust in 2006 as it was when the band started 13 years ago, but they’re not part of any particular “crowd.”
Gish says, “As far
as like scene stuff, it seems like we always did our own thing. A lot of
bands will start up and try to group up with a certain group of bands. We
kind of keep it spread open if a new band asks to play a show we let ‘em
play. We kind of have our own scene going.” |
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Julia adds, “We started with the intention of just having fun.” Gish admits, “We been through a lot of guitarists.” Everytime you bring somebody in you always get a new kind of energy” Sean Mallard and Scott O’ Brien have rounded out the line-up for the last few years. About taping the That’s Amore DVD, Julia recalls, “We had been playing for a month When we came back from that we were pretty practiced and rehearsed from playing every night for a month. Then we had a week off and (that’s when we) recorded the DVD. The sound was good, the acoustics were good, “The club (DiPiazza’s) has a really good vibe to it, the owner’s really nice. That why we decided to do it there.” It seemed like a pretty typical show,” Gish recalls.. John says, “Wish I’d thought about it more. Seemed Gish did. It’s like he was doing stand up comedy. Listening to it on the freeway, laughing my ass off. I didn’t think about saying something for posterity.” What’s annoying about being in a band? |
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“I think its annoying that there are a lot of music magazines that are political propaganda.” John says. “I think that’s annoying in itself and then we had a European tour cancelled for political reasons. “When we get interviewed mix up our names with what was said. Everybody’s got a slant or spin or opinion but when they start editing and manipulating what you say it’s not right and that’s annoying.” (This sentiment seems to be partly the result of an interview the band conducted with a German fanzine a few years ago.) Are there any problems indigenous to being in a band ? “Sometimes promoters-- the way they act is insane--acting like people came there to see them,” Gish says. “It’s not like there’s a high amount of money that we ask for. Like they ask us to be there at six ‘o clock and we don’t play til eleven.” Even the mundane things about being in a band can be amusing, and more than make up for the occasional inconvenience and b.s. “It could be something as simple as eating bad restaurant food. Trying to make good of a bad situation. I love going to Europe. I love to tour,” says Gish. “The funniest stuff happens in the practice room when one of us is tired or something tickles you,” Julia adds. It’s stupid stuff, but it’s funny.” “My lack of ability to write music is my biggest inspiration,” Gish says, “I don’t know the rules whatever. “Like people who go to Berklee who are great technically but have no emotion in their playing." “Like everybody who works at Guitar Center,” says John, “All the guys at Guitar Center they’re virtuosos, but they’re not in a band. Or maybe they are in a band.” The band’s first musical memories run the gamut from Roger Miller to the Dead Boys. Julia remembers talking her Mom into buying Aerosmith’s Toys In The Attic while Scott pilfered Dead Boys and Buzzcocks tapes from his hometown library. The Beatles however, don’t evoke such fond memories. “My Dad played the Beatles non-stop. Like road trips where he’d play the Beatles in German eight hours while driving to New York.” Scott recalls. “Gish hates the Beatles.” Julia adds. What’s in store in the foreseeable future? “So much stuff I can’t even tell you. It’d blow your mind.” Gish deadpans. “Fridays we go somewhere we can get to that night, then we go to places like Sacramento, San Francisco Vegas, Reno and once a year we tour.” “We’re not a full-time touring band. We’re too old for that. At least I’m too old for that.” Julia says. Gish begs to differ “I’m actually in my prime for anything.” -FIN-
www.smutpeddlers.net - Marianne |
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