A Public Infection - Spring Sessions

A Public Infection's "Spring Sessions" was the follow up to their demo. The demo's recording had turned out really rough, so they decided soon after it's release to rerecord all the songs from the demo along with two new songs, "You Don't Belong" and "Young Man." This was recorded by me in my bedroom at my parents house. Thankfully my parents were okay with it as they watched TV up the hall from my bedroom. I also didn't play in the band at this time, Stephen Beebout did. He moved to San Francisco for college later that summer, so I joined on drums. Not that many copies of this album were made, but I always enjoy it. So I thought it should get a post.

1. Just To Get By
2. Infection
3. You Don't Belong
4. Success
5. Young Man
6. Hit and Miss
7. Look In My Eyes
8. Fix Me (Black Flag)


Line Up:
Josh Drummond - Vocals
Jared Salsi - Bass
Ethan Campos - Guitar
Stephen Beebout - Drums

 Recorded in the spring of 2008 at Low Fidelity Studios.

DOWNLOAD

Scared to Death: Reflection 07-11

   To easily put it, Scared To Death embody what Hardcore punk is to me, in its truest form, forget all the sub-genres. I remember Danny and Joey coming into my old work and wanting to print the covers for the demo(I still have one of the color prints thanks Danny!) and listening to the demo and being blown away and at the same time wishing I could play in a band this good. They were always the band to play pretty much every local show and that band that never brought any shirts to sell at shows. They did a weekend tour with Stress Relief which I was lucky enough to get asked to play bass for them, needless to say I was more than willing to except, Stressed To Death! When I finally heard Oil I was floored, that EP kills and I think it always will. I just wished they would of toured on it, oh well. Any way, Scared To Death will always be one band that I can look back on and remember how fun each show was.

Ethan Campo

R.I.P.

This was supposed to be in a zine I had planned on doing a long time ago, but one thing lead to another and I just never got around to it. I asked Danny and Miles some questions seeing as they were the 2 most promient members throughout the band's existence.

Scared To Death has been broken up for over 10 months now, looking back did you guys accomplish everything you wanted to as a band? If not, what were some goals you had hoped to achieve?

D: . I would have loved to have vinyl put out. It was planned for the last recordings. OIL! but art work was a big hassle for some reason and eventually it was announced that we were breaking up and vinyl wouldn't have sold if you didn't tour with it. Also I would have loved to tour more than just a few days here and there. I feel it something that would have happened had the band continued.

M: We did for the most part. Our main goals we're to write songs in a cut and dry hardcore style, play shows often, record, and tour. We played something like 65 shows, recorded three releases, and got out of town. We did about all of it except for really tour. Touring was the one thing we always struggled with getting together.

For people who don't know what lead to the Scared To Death breaking up?

D: Well I (Danny) moved to Portland and at this point Joey had already been out of the band for a long time and when we started the band it was a band with my best friend type of thing. So I felt it was just time to move on. I didn't see it continuing as I would have wanted it. It's not that I didn't like the band anymore. I miss it everyday, but I just felt that it was time to move one and create new stuff with different people. So stay tuned. haha

M: It was a number of things, but when it comes down to it all, it was just time for us all to move on to other things. Right after recording Oil in the summer of 09, Danny moved to Portland, I started two new bands, and Curtis and Dylan continued on with their other projects. We had planned to put Oil out as a 7 inch and tour on it, but with all the other things going on in our lives it just didn't come together.

STD went through many lineup changes through the course of the band, what lineup to each of you was the best one?

D: The original line up will always be the best. It was the most natural thing I've ever been a part of. We clicked so well. No matter how many bands I may or may not be a part of from here on out nothing will ever feel as organic as Miles, Joey, Ethan and me getting together in the garage in C.V. and becoming Scared to Death

M: The starting line up of Joey, Ethan, Danny, and I was my favorite. The chemistry was perfect. Danny and I had each others best friends in the band. Joey being Danny's best friend, and Ethan being mine. We were the most productive in writing with this line up too. The later lines were musically tighter and played more shows, but the chemistry was different.

Between each of you what was your favorite show you played and why?

D: To me it was one of the Reno shows. We played with Punch and it was just Amazing. I can't explain it but just trust me. Also we were very fortunate to have played Set it Straights last Gilman show and our ONLY gilman show.

M: I don't have a number one favorite, but I can think of a couple that are my top picks. The one Gilman show we played with Set It Straight is one. The vibe that night felt really comfortable. Even though we were playing in a place we never had to a large number of people we'd never seen, we had a ton of friends there supporting us and going wild. Another one of my favorites was the show in Redding with Vitamin X. I don't remember anything really about our set, but the guitar player from Vitamin X really liked us and bought a copy of the Pressure EP. Coming from an amazing band like them that meant a lot.

Since each of you both contributed lyrics to STD, do you feel they still hold up? Can you still listen back to the songs and agree with the lyrics you wrote?

D: For the most part I still believe in what I wrote and what I sang... for the most part. I feel some of my early stuff was very angry irrational punk lyrics. Not complete songs but bits and pieces of some. Society Sucks for instance. Im glad I rewrote a lot of shit before I even showed it to the rest of the band.

M: I'd say yeah. Some of the songs could have been written a bit better, but the ideas express in them I still can stand for.

Interview by Ethan Campos.

DOWNLOAD DISCOGRAPHY 

Matt McCall Interview

Matt McCall came out of Redding's early 2000's hardcore scene as the singer of the straight edge youth crew band SOME STILL BELIEVE. Since moving from Redding, he has actively continued in the Northern California hardcore scene fronting other bands such as RIGHT ON, SECRET PEOPLE, and more recently COUNTER (also featuring ex-Redding hc local Ben Paulsen). All of which are rad and recommend you check them out. I'd like to thank Matt for taking the time to do this interview with me. I have always found him to be a well spoken man and great singer. 

What was your introduction to punk and hardcore?

I was introduced through the popularity of grunge, namely NIRVANA. Prior to their popularity, I listened to a lot of popular rap and other top 40 hits. After that I got into rock and roll a lil more heavily, but when GREEN DAY'S Dookie, came out it was all over from there. It took about the same path as most all people who are involved in punk or hardcore.

When did you first start going to shows in Redding? What attracted you to them?

I first started going early in High School. When you get into punk you love the music, but you quickly learn hearing it recorded is not enough. You need to take an active role, and the easiest way would be to actively go to shows. So when I would hear about some local bands playing, I always made an effort to go, even if a few ties i had to have my mom drop me off.

Do you have any top favorite Redding shows?

Easily it would be the AIDS benefit at Mondo's. It was an all day event in a field somewhere south of Redding run on a generator. It was awesome. Also the AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, DEATH THREAT, STRIKING DISTANCE tour coming through was a real good one.

How did Some Still Believe become a band?

SOME STILL BELIEVE came about after I met Duane and Nate through a mutual friend. At Shasta College we became closer friends, and there was a lull in the local scene, so we discussed starting a band. The first time i "sang" at practice I heard it was awful. Luckily the guys gave me a chance to get better.

What kind of reactions did you guys get in Redding?

You know its been a while, but I feel we got a pretty good reaction at the shows we played.

What was Some Still Believe’s reason for relocating to the bay area?

Some of the members decided to move to the bay area, and the few of us that hadn't planned on it said fuck it. We weren't doing anything terribly important, so we decided why not move collectively as a group.

Why did Some Still Believe decide to break up?

SOME STILL BELIEVE broke up mainly because it had run its course. When SOME STILL BELIEVE moved to the bay area Duane and Nate were in ALLEGIANCE, and it was very clear that ALLEGIANCE was the band and SOME STILL BELIEVE was on the back burner. After that it looked like it was time, we weren't writing a lot of new music and we all expressed doing new projects.

What would you say are the differences in being a band in a town like Redding vs. being one from a larger metropolitan area?

The main differences would just be the towns themselves. It is easier in a larger city to get shows and places to play these shows. Other than that, its just the fundamental differences between large cities and small towns. The scenes themselves are very similar. The only difference that I can think of now is a less fragmented scene in the small town, which is great.

What have been your reasons for being straight edge? Have your reasoning’s why to remain straight edge changed since first identifying with it?

I still see being straight edge as a "fuck you" to conformity, plus I save a ton of money not buying booze or ciggies. Seriously though its easy (especially in a small town) to get sucked into the everyone's doing it and there's nothing better to do attitude, and I for one do have better things to do. Not to mention I do believe I have an addictive personality when I get into something I REALLY get into it. When I got into records I bought a ton, got back into comics and now I have bookshelves filled with them and that's just a few examples, so its more than likely in my best interest not to get into drugs and things of that nature. These days being straight edge doesn't even cross my mind, I'm 32 years old why on earth would I start drinking now? I cant see any upside to it, and I'm still a little pleased that people are put off when they find out I don't drink. They cant wrap their heads around it and I like it that way.

As time goes on, a lot of people come and go from the scene. What has kept you involved with punk and hardcore?

I think for me personally its the sincerity that keeps me involved. I know some people will write it off and complain that the scene in general has lost direction and to an extent it's true but I try to surround myself with people that do believe they can have an impact however large or small on the way people think. I know its cliche but I still believe it. Not to mention the rock and roll aspect. I like to rock, so that's what I try to do. Hardcore/punk is essentially aggressive rock music that kicks ass. It's fun to be involved in it. Despite its faults, hardcore/punk is still miles ahead socially of any other music scene I know of, so I'll take it.

Here are links to bands Matt has played in. 

SOME STILL BELIEVE

RIGHT ON

SECRET PEOPLE

COUNTER