I first met Daryl from The Bollweevils during a post-Riot Fest brunch thing years ago. I was there for the weekend with the Mustard Plug guys and a few months before, Red Scare had signed The Lippies. I showed up to Cobra Lounge on a Sunday morning to hang with Toby from Red Scare and catch the show before I scooted out of town. It was there that Toby introduced me to Daryl. The energy coming off this guy was electric and positive. We became fast friends and any time I was in Chicago doing punk rock things I would run into him and we'd have some laughs. He is truly one of the more interesting characters I have met and I was excited at the chance to actually interview him.
As well as being the frontman for one of Chicago's OG punk bands, he is a doctor, family man, and a shining example of the power of punk rock. The Bollweevils released Essential in May of last year on Red Scare. It's a banger. Put it on in the background while you're reading this.
Scene Point Blank: The Bollweevils just dropped a brand new album back in May of 2023 on Red Scare. I love it! You guys aren't fucking around here! You leaned into that ‘90s thrashy, melodic skatepunk that I came up on. I'm also loving the tinges of Bad Brains thrown in there. When I write a song, I'm usually going for a vibe or a feel that I get from another song I hear. Can you tell me what other bands might have influenced the writing on this record? What were you guys listening to at the time?
Doc: Kole! I miss you dude! Thanks for the kind words on the record. We really put our heart and soul into this one and we are all pretty proud of what we produced. When we write, we constantly think about “Does what we are writing sound like us,” first and foremost. Our influences are all over the place. We all love [Naked] Raygun, Pegboy, Effigies, and all the Chicago stuff that makes up our core. But, we also love bands like The Freeze out of Boston and, yes, DC hardcore as well. As most people know, one of my favorite bands is Descendents and they influence a lot of what I do. Bad Religion also has a huge influence on my writing. I would say a little Samiam is thrown in as well.
The real driving force behind this record didn't come from listening to music. It came from the overarching feeling of moral injury and gloom brought about from the pandemic and surrounding social ailments.
Scene Point Blank: Speaking of records, you signed to Red Scare. Congrats! I wish The Lippies were still rolling so we could have done a tour with you! That would have been fun! Toby pressed it on vinyl too!
Seriously though, how did you get him to do that? Did you threaten him? Bribe him? Do you know something about him that you shouldn't know? I only ask because I've been trying to get The Lippies record pressed for years now. I need a new angle.
Doc: Thanks man! Red Scare and Toby have been amazing to work with. You know he said he would never sign us, many years ago, right? Well, Toby has mellowed in his old age, or the ravages of alcohol have caused a toxic metabolic encephalopathy and he didn't know what he did when he signed us to the label. We signed a napkin over Bloody Marys and palomas at a Sunday brunch and we were officially Red Scare.
I don't have any dirt on him and, in fact, he has been nothing but on the up and up. He is a good friend and every time we hangout it's a great time. He did get the record out on vinyl as well as CD and streaming almost everywhere. Wish it would have been on colored vinyl but hearing that you guys couldn't get anything pressed, I will take what we have and not look a gift horse in the mouth.
Scene Point Blank: What neighborhood is the most Chicago in all of Chicago? These are the things I think about after living in New York for six years.
Doc: Damn, man. This question depends on where you live in Chicago. Chicago is a mosaic with all its neighborhoods and the distinct differences between Northside and Southside. Bridgeport is pretty Chicago, but so is Jefferson Park or Portage Park. Just as Uptown is pretty Chicago or Rodgers Park. Pilsen is Chicago but so is Bronzeville or Hyde Park. South Loop is cool but, damn man, you can't do this to me. It all depends on what Chicago you want to experience. My wife is from Jefferson Park so I lean Northside, but my cousins are all Southside residents. My bandmates are Northside goons as well.
Scene Point Blank: A little bird told me you picked up Mizzi on bass. Love that guy. What kind of energy is he bringing to the band? Heard he's doing a little writing too!
Doc: Mizzi is a brilliant musical talent. He is also a good friend and we constantly rip him, as is the tradition of being in a band with all of us. It helps keep you sharp and able to respond to improv situations. He definitely brings a softer curve to the rhythm section because he has such long flowing hair. He also wears this red watchband that drives Ken nuts. It's like Ken is a bull ready to charge at Mizzi with the red watchband egging him on. We have tasked Mizzi with putting some music together for the band. In all seriousness, he really stepped into the role and I am really happy to have him with us.
Scene Point Blank: It took you guys forever to get Essential out into the world. Daryl, that's dumb. I understand making people wait a couple of years, but damn dude. Seriously. If you're really a doctor, you should have a thing called “paid time off.” Just be an adult and use that next time. Also, this isn't a question. This is full-blown harassment and bullying. I've been told I can't bully and harass anymore, but here we are...
Doc: I get it, man. Kole you can bully all you want. I can take it. It really did take a long time to get this together, and time isn't guaranteed to anyone. We wanted to make sure that what we made was truly ready. We had to be fully satisfied with our art. I am glad that we did get this banger out to the world and we are presently working on new songs. Ken has five he is bringing to the band. So it will only be another 3 years at least, give or take 10 years, to put out the next on, haha.
Scene Point Blank: This is super good news! I'm greedy and want more music ASAP.
I also saw that you ranked your top five albums from this year ON THIS VERY WEBSITE where you rank Essential as your #1 record. And then you back it up by saying "I like our stuff! It's really good!" My dude, I love that! I listen to all of the music I've made over the years all the time. I know so many people who refuse to listen to their own stuff. That is silly to me. I wrote the shit I wrote ‘cause that's what I wanted to listen too! I'm proud of the music and art I've created.
Daryl, outside of punk and doctoring, do you have any other creative outlets?
Doc: Thanks for that take, Kole! I really do love what we put out in the world. I stand behind what we made because it's something we believe in 100 percent. Making music is emotional and if you won't even listen to what you have made, how do you expect others to do so? I make music that I would like and love. I am glad other people seem to like it and love it as well.
Besides writing music, I also paint miniatures. I have been debating writing and have had a few people encourage me to start, but I have been procrastinating.
"The real driving force behind this record didn't come from listening to music. It came from the overarching feeling of moral injury and gloom brought about from the pandemic and surrounding social ailments."
Scene Point Blank: The next time you, Toby, and myself are in Chicago, we should go for a drink. Then we should put Toby up against a wall in a dark alley and "suggest" he presses The Lippies record on vinyl. Maybe we take a finger -- a “pinky promise,” if you will. We can put it on ice or something and you can sew it on later. How long will a severed finger last in a tumbler with ice and a wee bit of cheap whiskey? That's seriously the question. If I cut his pinky off and put it in my whiskey, how long does he have before he loses it for good? You claim you're a punk and a doctor. Let's really see how good your sewing skills are. I say we sew it back on like a patch on a battle jacket!
Doc: Now you go from bullying to straight up assault? I didn't know this side of you Kole.
So, never place the amputated finger directly in ice. It will devitalize the tissue.
What you want to do is wrap the finger in moist gauze, place the finger in a sealed, water tight, plastic bag, place the bag into an ice bath or on ice in another sealed container. A severed finger has about 4-to-6 hours of good viability for reimplantation. You may stretch out to 24 hours with the finger being cooled.
How about we avoid the assault and just ask Toby real nicely?
Scene Point Blank: Wow. I never thought to try that approach. It sounds just crazy enough to work!
Last question. Have you ever been doctoring someone and they recognize you?
Doc: This happens all the time. It can be a little distracting since I am in a totally different headspace when I am in the ER working. It's all about patient care when I walk into the hospital. At no time am I even thinking of band-related activities.
Sometimes the nurses will tell the patients about my outside activities and the patients will look me up online. It turns out to be a good thing most of the time, but I quickly redirect back to the tasks at hand requiring my expertise as an emergency physician.
Thanks for the interview Kole. Get back to Chicago so we can hang out!
Scene Point Blank: Thanks for your time, bud!
Again, go check out Essential from The Bollweevils on Red Scare and if you have the chance to see them live, make it happen. Doc jumps around the stage like a maniac! And say hello to him after the show. He's really a sweet guy and super funny!
