Backyard Warriors...
OK, so I know that everyone is supposed to be over the whole post-punk dance craze in London right now, but in the hot sunshine of east Los Angeles, the kids are just getting started. Finally getting over Rancid, former skate-punks are slicking down their spiky hair, popping e and recreating the kind of party buzz that New York witnessed back in 2005.
Leading the charge are three dudes who go by the name of Funeral Party. Yeah, I know, their name makes them sound like some really bad emo band, but give it a couple of months and this is the band you’ll be busting a move to in some faceless north London warehouse. Having honed their skills by playing random back yard parties for 800 over-enthusiastic kids in their hometown of Whittier, it was only a matter of time before their ball-breaking blend of funk and punk was noticed by the powers that be. So it was no surprise that thanks to the machinations of Mars Volta engineer Lars Stalford, the band’s first limited edition single ‘NYC Moves to the Sound of LA’ has had music critics on both sides of the Atlantic acting like Christmas had come early or something
Their follow up single ‘Just Because’ which is released on Monday is no slouch either...
Funeral Party - Just Because
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How was Download fest last year?
James (guitars): It was fun, it was an interesting experience seeing AC/DC
Kimo (drums): I never in all my life thought I’d be able to watch AC/DC.
James: The production values were, like, phenomenal; they must have made no money from playing that show
Did they bring their cannons?
James: They had their own stage, with their own backdrop. It’s like they took down the Download stage and started their own festival.
What was it like playing to a thousand metal kids?
Kimo: It reminded me when we used to play backyard parties, there would always be a bunch of metal kids rocking out and head-banging.
James: They pulled this guy out (pointing at Chad) and made him crowd surf until the security guards managed to grab him and get him back to the stage. It was wierd because all the other bands were playing thrash and hardcore and shit. Like, the band before us finished with a Refused cover,
Kimo: Then we come out, and everyone goes “whoa, these guys are a bit different”.
Are you guys metal fans?
James: Yeah, I enjoy some metal like good Iron Maiden or old Black Sabbath.
In that case, James Hetfield or James Murphy
James: Errrr...neither...
According to !!! people in dance-punk bands are way more likely to get some action. How are you guys getting on?
Chad (keys): Well, we haven’t contracted anything...
Moving on, have you been enjoying playing shows in the UK even though people never dance?
Chad: Yeah, what’s up with that?
I don’t know to be honest, maybe people get nervous...
James: In America more or less you find the dancers in the backyards, I think that’s because they’re mostly wasted. The drinks are so cheap people can just buy 3 forties for five bucks, rather than spending $10 on two drinks.
Ok, last one – what song would you have at your funeral?
James: I’d just have cold, miserable silence.
Kimo: I’d definitely have ‘Highway to Hell’
James: Ha ha, good one...
Funeral Party play Bush Hall on Monday.
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