I was born in 1982, making me officially 20-something. Now in some ways this is a good thing, being able to wear a mac without looking like a crazy old weirdo is one example, but in other ways it really sucks. I missed everything; 2–Tone, Kiss, Run The World, but what really bums me out is that I missed Black Flag and the whole SST thing meaning that I never managed to witness the whole experimental hardcore thing first hand. OK, so I saw At The Drive-In once – but that's not really the same.
I'm holding out some hope for No Age though. A duo comprising Dean Sprunt and Randy Randall, two guys who used to play in LA hardcore stalwarts Wives (a band that were known for their gnarly stage antics like fist fighting and back flips), these guys have been hailed as the spiritual heirs to both Thurston Moore's wide-eyed experimentalism and the all-encompassing, stark art-is-life aesthetic of the Crass collective.
Making fuzzy, sample-laden indie where pop-punk hooks and thundering drums collide to create a sound that can only be described as The Angry Samoans playing in a wind-tunnel or something, they're also responsible for the whole art-house experimental scene that swept through London's DIY scene last year, the first time punk rock got interesting in almost a decade.
Add to that the ability to totally shred a mini-ramp and you know you're on to a winner.
So are you guys still skateboarding?
Dean: Not as much as I used to, but I try to as much as I can – but it's mostly transition ramp stuff.
Have you guys ever skated the Southbank Centre – it's apparently a world famous spot.
Errm, no. I'd like to, but I've never been able to bring my board over. Me and Dean carry all of our band equipment with us, so we barely have room for clothes let alone skateboards.
I did skate in Paris last time we were in Europe though – it was awesome!
I've seen you guys compared to everyone from the JMC to the Descendents – how do you react to that?
I like to call us distortion rock. It's the most generic term I can think of.
EPs are often vehicles for bands to experiment with their sound. Is there anything you're trying out on 'Losing Feeling'?
I think this record was kind of a chance for us to play around with how we write songs. We've tried to expand the collage-elements in our songs, by adding samples, re-recording parts to create a more layered sound.
Has using samples changed the way you guys play live?
In so far as improving it? Then yes. As a two-piece we kind of reliant on traditional instrumentation, so using a sampler and a sequencer adds a 3rd and 4th member to the band.
Has living in LA influenced your sound?
LA is a big weird place, where a lot of different cultures collide. In our neighbourhood we've got Chinese, Mexican and South American influences, and musically we feel that all these things are up for grabs.
People in LA are all sort of ambitious. On one hand this is quite inspiring, as everyone is really motivated about what they're doing, but on the other hand it's kind of repulsive. There's a real 'stab your best friend in the back' attitude here, and growing up with it, we've consciously tried to do the opposite by just playing with our friends and keeping everything pretty close knit.
How has being signed to Sub Pop been working out?
Really well. It's always cool to have someone to pay for your crazy ideas, like printing a full-colour 64 page book to go with our new record or whatever.
It's also meant we can give up 9-5, which was a bit of a nuisance, it seemed like you had to fit your entire life into the short hours before dark. Then again, it's been a bit weird not having it – you sort of feel like you're not busy.
So what's next for you guys?
Well, we'll be over in Europe next month (October), and of course, we have the EP 'Losing Feeling' out on Subpop. After that we're probably going to be working on our new LP which is due out next spring. It'll be new songs, but still sound like No Age, y'know?
No Age will be playing the Scala on the 19th of October alongside Thrash Kit and Gentle Friendly. Should be pretty bad-ass.
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