Feature / Interviews
Four Questions With: Playing Enemy

Words: Charlie • Posted pre-2010

I don't even remember how I met Demian Johnston. It was before I became smitten with his music, a mathy sonic assault known to the world as PLAYING ENEMY. The band was started after the demise of Johnston's immediately previous band, Kiss It Goodbye, when he hooked up with drummer Andrew Gormley (formerly of Rorschach and Die 116), and, after a series of fill-in members, bassist Shane Mehling. Demian is the kind of guy who is truly passionate about what he does and doesn't feel the need to hide it, and those of us who count him as a friend are luckier for it. On a Saturday night in September of 2003, I corralled Demian on AIM and got him to answer four questions for me. He was hammered the entire time. Go pick up a copy of their record CESAREAN, which has been available for a while on Escape Artists Records, or visit www.playingenemy.com for more shenanigans...

1. How did the Hydra Head Records tour come about?

We didn't even know we were a part of that tour until I decided to see how Hydra Head's move had gone and checked their website. I saw a big ad for a tour that we were a part of. Then I remembered that Dan from Thunderdome Booking asked us if we wanted to do a week with Scissorfight. We were not able to because of work and nonsense, but we wanted to play at least the local shows. I am glad it became a little movement that we were part of, though. It was a happy surprise. I really hope that kids saw those tour posters and read all the bands listed and connected the dots between every act. I think bands like Harkonen, Scissorfight, Pelican and the Austerity Project have the potential to affect people the same way bands like the Jesus Lizard, Big Black, Don Caballero and Slint (to jump all around the 80's and 90's) affected people and the way music was written after that. They are doing something real and interesting... thank fucking god.

2. What is the current status of Playing Enemy? When can we expect a new record/tour/whatever?

Playing Enemy just got kicked out of their house. We all found new apartments, but no more late night drug induced song writing sessions in the living room. No more being freaked out to see Jeff Wood sleeping on your floor holding Barbie dolls... Alas. We are almost done, like 90%, with our next full length... After that a bunch of shows are somewhere. We just have to hammer out label details and whatnot. There will be something soon on both Escape Artists and Ammonia records.

3. What was the first record you heard or show you went to that made you want to become involved with music, and how old were you when you did? What influences you to this day?

I remember going to see the Young Fresh Fellows and watching Kurt Bloch play guitar and being amazed at like 13. I think it was when I saw Christ On A Crutch play for the first time I was hooked. They were fucking incredible. Before I went to these shows I thought bands like Black Flag and Dead Kennedys were all that mattered. I skated first and liked punk rock second. Once I started playing bass, all that changed. Then I liked the Birthday Party and Bastro first, and girls second... Nowadays I drink a lot. I listen to a bunch of stuff. The Locust, Richard Buckner, Sigur Ros, Cat Power, Venetian Snares, Emmylou Harris, Squarepusher, Phantomsmasher, Sicbay, Floor, Sunn, The Beatles. a ton of the Beach Boys (so fucking great). I like that one good Phoenix song, I think that the Dismemberment Plan is excellent, These Arms Are Snakes are great but they're about to be as big as Radiohead so fuck it, Radiohead and Bjork (whom I love too), if you don't like the Dazzling Killmen you are lame, if you are lame and like them, it must be because you think that Nick Drake is overrated. Nick Drake is great. Better than Jeff Buckley. Better than Leonard Cohen. But Leonard Cohen is really, really, really great... Wilco is good. As good as Friends Forever. As good as the TV show Friends. That show is fucking great. Almost as good as Cowboy Wally or Gram Parsons. I wish Uncle Tupelo was around because Sun Volt ain't all that good... not bad though. I like smoking pot too. Roy is good too (speaking of pot). The new Denali record is pretty good. That new Blood Brothers record has a couple jams. I really look up to Nick Cave. Tender Prey... fuck. Remember Ink and Dagger? I heard that the Pixies are getting back together... Play "Debaser"!

4. How do you feel the Seattle area's post-grunge music has affected the world music scene, how is the scene currently in your opinion, and how does Playing Enemy fit into it?

Seattle is really isolated. We do everything in a bubble. I guess bands like Modest Mouse and Murder City Devils got out there a lot. We are a city that cares about music. We play music. Always have. I love the scene here. It's not all that supportive of mathy noise bands like us, but I still feel a kinship with everyone. Fellow musicians are always very nice and supportive. The local papers always write nice stuff. We get free drinks... I guess we need to make these people hate us more...


Interview by Charlie

Related features

Mike Huguenor

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • July 8, 2025

Mike Huguenor Tell us about the primary guitars you used making Surfing the Web with the Alien? Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

Music • July 6, 2025

We're halfway through the year: when did that happen?! Luckily for you, SPB is on hand to share the music we've enjoyed most in 2025 thus far. Read on to hear about the records that have made our top list for this year as it stands, and also some bonus … Read more

Shane Herrell: A Tribute

Music • July 6, 2025

Shane Herrell: Rest In Power(pop) (1980-2025) The Rocker I try to live my life with as few regrets as possible. Sadly I never got the chance to hear my friend Shane Herrell karaoke Thin Lizzy’s "The Rocker." As a singing bass player we don’t have enough heroes. It might just … Read more

Unseemlier

One Question Interviews • June 27, 2025

Mike Assatly (Unseemlier - guitar/vocals) SPB: Do you have a preferred model of van for touring? Assatly: Chevy G-20 Gladiator! It was my first van, I got it from my uncle with 115,000 on it. He got rid of it for a new van because it was "old" and would … Read more

Dollar Store

One Question Interviews • June 26, 2025

Dave Slaverave (Dollar Store - bass) SPB: This band hits a lot of styles, all kind of overlapping at the same time. How hard was it to find “your sound” when bringing these influences together? Slaverave: Not very hard at all actually. We're all old-ass adults who've soaked in a … Read more

More from this section

Arms Aloft

Interviews • June 23, 2025

Remember Election Day 2024? Maybe you shouldn't. Maybe you've blocked it out. That's fair, but there was one pleasant surprise that day: a new EP from Wisconsin's Arms Aloft. It took a while to claw out of the darkness in November, then Year End 2024 coverage took over the Scene … Read more

Ilya Arbatman (Rotary Club)

Book store co-owner

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • May 13, 2025

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative … Read more

Chuck Ragan

Fly fishing tour guide

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • April 14, 2025

How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music (or how their music provides escape). In this edition, we caught up … Read more