Trash Talk always has something on their plate. Whether it is a new release, a new tour, or a one-off festival performance, the band is always up to something. Scene Point Blank recently spoke with the band about reaching out to new audiences, the independent music world, life on the road, and some of their favorite places to eat.
Scene Point Blank: Up to this point you've toured primarily with hardcore bands. Have you noticed any difference with this current tour and past ventures?
Sam: This tour is fun because you get to get to play with different people. We've done a lot of hardcore tours. And it's been amazing each and every night and really really fun. But we wanted to try something different and play to some different people. The Bronx are awesome dudes and they are killer every night. I feel like it's been a really good experience for us.
Lee: It's definitely a different kind of tour. It's fun to play to different kinds of kids because a lot of these people might never go to a hardcore show like what we normally play. For all they know, they like hardcore, but aren't exposed to it. You play to a kid that would never go to a Trash Talk show but shows up because of The Bronx are playing and he's into it. That's cool to play to whoever wants to listen.
Scene Point Blank: How'd you hook up with The Bronx for this tour?
Garrett: We both just kind of know each other, they're from California and some of us live there as well. We just started talking to those dudes and overnight it kind of happened.
Lee: First time we played with them was CMJ in New York City. We met up with them for a show and it was awesome and everything just kind of clicked. A good friend of ours, Zach, does sound for them. He's a hardcore kid; they're all hardcore kids playing in a punk band. It's awesome.
Scene Point Blank: At CMJ you played multiple shows in one day. A lot of times I'll see that you've scheduled tours like that ?two, three even four shows in one day. What motivates you guys to do this?
Sam: A lot of these shows are twenty-one plus. A lot of our fans are not twenty-one. We want to play shows for everyone; we don't want to alienate anyone. We come to your town we want everyone to be able to see us. So we'll play a house show, a basement, whatever we can get so we can play for everyone. Plus, it's fun.
Lee: I just turned twenty-one a few days ago; there have definitely been bands that come through my town where I wanted to go see them but I couldn't' because I was too young. I wish they would have played a house show that I could go to because it's a band I want to see and it's a bummer that its for only a certain age group.
Sam: I'm not even twenty-one and we were playing SXSW and there were tons of shows that I wanted to see but I couldn't get into. So we like to offer that.
Scene Point Blank: What about the fests that you've played. There are been quite a few fests that you've been a part of that have had a variety of styles of bands. How have those reactions been?
Garrett: It's been pretty positive. I always like playing to different crowds and different people because they kind of absorb it for a pure live show. It's not what they've heard or any preconceived notions of the music. They're just there and having fun. Not because of what they read on a messageboard or buying our shirts because they are cool. Those are the people that are more deeply rooted so those are the people that will be around regardless. So I enjoy those types of shows, we're lucky to be able to play them.
Sam: It's a lot like these shows; it's playing to a different crowd. It's a lot of fun, definitely a good time.
Lee: We all listen to hardcore punk but we like other music. It's like, "Oh shit, we're playing a show with fucking Mastodon or Neurosis or No Age." All that stuff is fun.
Sam: It's cool when bands that sound nothing like you respect you. When you don't feel like they're just going to look at you and go, "Oh those crazy guys on stage." But everyone is psyched on what you're doing. It's a humbling experience.
Scene Point Blank: Touring non-stop is pretty much standard for Trash Talk. Do you ever miss taking a break?
Sam: Yes
Garrett: Yes
Lee: These guys do. I do, but I don't really know what else to do besides get in a van and go for a long time. When I come home, sit at home and chill, and wait for the next tour to come along. Fuck, when's the next tour? Garret knows? When I get home, I'll chill for like two days and then I'll call him up and say "We gotta do this, we gotta do that." We gotta leave, we gotta go.
Garrett: Yeah, and then I tell him he sucks and I wanna chill with my dog.
Lee: Yeah, he's like "Yo, I'm just trying to chill out with my dog and have a real life." And I'm like "Fuck that, I'm trying to get in a van and drive to the east coast."
Sam: The band turns into your life and it turns into all that you know.
Lee: Going home is awesome because the first three days of sleep are much needed. You just lay in your bed and be a vegetable for three days. After those three days I'm itching. I'll go to a show and I'll be thinking, "I wish I were playing a show right now."
Scene Point Blank: Any place you'd still like to play but haven't?
Lee: I want to go to South America. I want to go to South Africa
Sam: I want to go to Newfoundland
Lee: We're going to Australia soon and we hadn't played there before. I want to go to Vermont, we haven't played a show there yet.
Garrett: Anywhere in Canada that will let us.
Scene Point Blank: You've got a new 7" coming out called "East of Eden." Or is it already out?
Lee: It's sold out.
Sam: It's out but you can't get it.
Scene Point Blank: What's the meaning behind the name?
Lee: Our bass player came up with that.
Sam: Where is Spencer?
Garrett: Spencer is MIA right now.
Lee: He had a medical issue come up that he had to take care of but he'll be back with us soon.
Scene Point Blank: The 7" features Keith Morris of Circle Jerks. How'd you come to collaborate with him?
Lee: We played a festival called F Yeah Fest last Summer and it's a festival put on by him and Sean Carlson in Los Angeles. He saw us then, we talked. We've been talking ever since. He always comes out to shows when were down there. We asked him to sing on the record and he was down. Dude is fifty-four years old and he road his bike to the spot to record.
Sam: He road his bike in the rain, tried to get into the studio, couldn't get in. He doesn't have a cell phone so he went over to the corner store used a pay phone to call our friend to say "Hey I'm here can you tell them to let me in" because he didn't have any of our numbers.
Lee: He's fifty-four, rides his bike in the rain through LA to sing on a single. He's pretty fucking gnarly; he's a good dude.
Scene Point Blank: There are three different versions of the vinyl - can you shed some light on what the differences are?
Lee: I don't know?
Garrett: You'll know when you get it.
Scene Point Blank: No that long ago you guys chose to leave established label Deathwish to run things on your own. Obviously if you wanted to, you could have stuck with said label or chosen another. What made you decide to be an independent artist?
Garrett: It just kind of felt like, for us at the time, the best thing to do as a group. At that time, when all that happened, it was the closest our band has ever been and we kind of all put our heads together and felt that creating something out of nothing. It was kind of just about timing. It was where we needed to be.
Lee: It's a cool experience running everything. There is no one to blame but yourself if you fuck up. If the artwork is pixilated, it's your bad. If shit's not on deadline, it's you fault. It's definitely a lot of hard work but it's worth it in the long run. You feel more accomplished with everything you've done.
Scene Point Blank: Artists like Trent Reznor have gone on record telling artists to not sign to labels and do things themselves. For an established individual like Reznor this is a no-brainer. Do you think had you done so off the bat you would have been as successful as you are now?
Garrett: I think that the way things went, everything was set up the way it was supposed to be. Every move we've done as a band, all the cards were falling perfectly in place. Everyone from Sell our Souls to Rumble to Malfunction to Deathwish to now played a very important part in our career as a band. And if I could do things over I would have done them the same way. It was a full experience.
Lee: We definitely had a lot of help along the way and we appreciate it a lot. Christian Rumble, where are you know? Please come out of hiding.
Scene Point Blank: Is there any truth to a Trash Talk collaboration with Vans?
Lee: Who knows? I love Vans. I'm wearing Vans. He's wearing Vans. He's got Vans on. Our fill-in bass player, he's got Jordan on, but who knows about that? Kurt Soto at Vans is a great dude. He hooks us up, laces us with shoes when we need them, and gives us warm clothes. They update the website with our tourdates. Who knows what could happen? They're good people though.
Scene Point Blank: Favorite place to eat at home?
Lee: There's this taqueria right by my house, you could walk to it in about a minute. It's called Betos Mexican Food. I've been going there since I was twelve. I know exactly what I want when I walk in.
Sam: I live in Portland, Oregon and I am vegan. And it's the epicenter of all that is vegan food. Suite Pea Bakery, I am a fan of sweets and bake goods and they do both really really well. This place called Hungry Tiger, they have dollar vegan corndogs and dollar PBR on Wednesdays. There is also a place called Vita Café, right near my house. They have vegan chicken fried steak. Awesome! Del Taco always and forever.
Garrett: I live in Seattle but I'm always in the Bay Area. My parent's have a soul food restaurant - the best in the Bay Area. When I'm home I'm probably eating at Red Robin or Wayward Vegan Café.
Lee: I'm definitely going to shout out Betos again. Open twenty-four hours. Free self-serve chips and salsa. The best horchata ever.
Scene Point Blank: On the road?
Sam: Red Baboon in New York City. Some of the best vegan food I've ever had.
Garrett: That dollar falafel place in New York was tight.
Lee: Buffalo Wild Wings
Scene Point Blank: Main inspiration to start Trash Talk?
Lee: I just wanted to play fast shit. I met up with a bunch of friends in a garage and this is what came out. Our first practice, our drummer "The Butcher," wherever he may be... Our first drummer was the head butcher at Safeway. He actually left Trash Talk because he became head of the butcher's union or something like that. The dude would show up to practice with a white apron with blood all over it. Our first practice he didn't even have sticks, he played with spoons from our friend's garage. We just wanted to play whatever came out.
Scene Point Blank: What bands have inspired you since then to continue on/develop your sound?
Lee: Prince.
Sam: I'd say our colleagues in music. That's what inspires me the most. Bands that we play with and become friends with along the way.
Lee: Sam is in Pressure too. Shout outs to Joe Harder and Pressure.
Scene Point Blank: What's next? New full-length?
Lee: Yeah. Next few months. We're going to start writing in the Summer. Should be? sometime this year. Sign up for the mailing list and you'll find out about everything.
Scene Point Blank: After the Australian tour, what else do you have on tap?
Lee: We go out on tour with The Casualities and Leftover Crack. It goes along with this tour, playing to people that want to hear you. It's all good! Once again, good dudes. After that, playing Sound and Fury Festival. That's about all.
Words: Michael | Graphics: Matt
Photos: Vagabond|Optics (http://myspace.com/VagabondOptics)
lilies and bees (http://www.flickr.com/photos/liliesandbees/)
