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Shane Mclachlan (Phobia)
SPB: What is the most thankless job in the music industry?
Shane: Well, as for me being a vocalist, I'm the guy everybody wants to talk shit on, spit on, and blame everything on. Nobody fucks with the bass player: he is always the nice guy. So my job is thankless in the sense of not being thanked for the passion and integrity to write lyrics and go up on stage and sing them and being able to influence a lot of people in a positive way... But then if somebody takes it the wrong way and they shoot themselves, you're fucked!
Nick Sucks (Moonraker – bass/vocals)
SPB: Basements or bars?
Nick: Both. They both have their appeals and drawbacks. Basements are normally DIY and all ages, essentially a subterranean house show. Since we live in California, we love to play basements because those types of shows are pretty rare here. Cops aren't usually called because of the sound being contained in the basement. That also means the hardcore band that somehow drilled a tunnel large enough to get their ridiculous 8x10 bass cab down there will be destroying your ears. The PA sound quality is normally nonexistent as well but that's not what you go to a basement show for anyway. You're there to get just as sweaty as the band and scream out every word to a song you don't even know the lyrics to in the most intimate space.
Bars are alright but you definitely remember the good ones: if the house music is rad or the bartender has a Lawrence Arms tattoo or just fun regulars, all cool things you look for in a bar you play. Unfortunately bars can't do all ages shows which kinda sucks. Normally the bar also has to take a cut if there was a cover charge. You also run the risk of playing a bar that didn't know what they were doing and thought punk meant you would play mostly covers of Sublime and The Offsping's later discography.
The best place I can recommend is the best of both worlds: The Millhill Basement in Trenton, New Jersey. A punk rock dive bar in a basement where the bartenders are rad and we normally drink way too much. Cheap drinks, stickers everywhere, and music that reverberates off the concrete walls loud as fuck. Go there.
Joshua Loggan (The Blind Pets – guitar/vocals)
SPB: What do you like to do on a tour off-day?
Joshua: Anything outdoors! I absolutely love to swim or see something new. Best day off I have ever had was at Earthquake Lake in Yellowstone with my band and a fat sack of chronic! GOOD TIMES!
Stacey Dee (Bad Cop/Bad Cop)
SPB: How did you hook up with Fat?
Stacey: I was playing pool with Fat Mike after a Loved Ones show that my old band opened for. We were at the Eagle in San Francisco. I made him a bet and if I won he was to write a song I got to sing on. He was kicking my ass and about to knock in the 8 Ball. I leaned over and whispered "big beautiful titties" in his ear. He scratched on the 8 Ball and I won!
Mike doesn't welch on bets. He was writing the Home Street Home musical and called me in to try out for it. I sang with everything I had and secured the roll of Sue. I spent the next 5 years working on the musical. During a studio session we discussed how there wasn't any women representing the label. He and Soma discussed putting out a 7" of Bad Cop / Bad Cop. But, he wanted to see us first. They came to our show, which was with the most fab drag queens in SF and they loved it. When I got off stage he said he was gonna put out that 7". The next day I got a call saying we were getting signed to Fat. It was my life's dream!
