Backstage Pass - Twat - Interview

ATP

For the record, who's answering the interview?

TWAT

That’d be me, Afab Matty, drummer and accomplished, high-functioning drunkard of TWAT

ATP

What is your band's name? How did you come up with that name?

TWAT

Well- it’s not a very interesting story. I just thought of it. Then I threw it at 8-ball and he didn’t hate it. Then we tried to come up with witty explanations like: (Emo band) Truth Will Always Triumph, (Comedic-punk) Tina Wants A Taco, or (anarcho-punk) The War Against Truth. Basically we just said fuck it…we’re TWAT!

ATP

So who's in the band and what instruments do you each play?

TWAT

Well, there’s 8-Ball Toofar, he plays guitar and sings, then Savage Steve K. on the bass and singing, then yours truly- hitting things and screeching uncontrollably. (that’s why I sit back there)

ATP

How would you describe your sound. What makes you unique?

TWAT

We’re just another shitty punk band from San Francisco. No-really. We are. Nothing original here. Move on people. Get back your lives.

ATP

What bands have influenced each of you?

TWAT

All of us grew up around the same time in various scenes around the country. Steve has the NYHC background, 8-Ball came outta Florida (apparently he saw Johnny Depp play a show there once), and I grew in the SoCal / Cuckoo’s Nest era.

ATP

How experienced are you on the stage, a virgin or whore?

TWAT

Do whores get paid? I never could figure out the difference ‘tween a whore and a slut. Guess we’re both. We play a lot, don’t get paid, and always feel sore in the morning.

ATP

How would you describe your shows?

TWAT

Rip-roaring family fun. Some venues, however, frown on fluids (bodily or otherwise)

ATP

Tell us about your favorite show and why?

TWAT

Hmmm-Favorite show ever played? That’s a hard one. We have a good time at every show. Meeting new bands, seeing old friends. I guess one (3) that stands out is on our last tour down to SoCal. We played 3 shows, the Dollhut in Anaheim w/ Terminally Ill, DMF, The Bancroft in San Diego w/ Midnight Track (thanX Sick Girl) and wrapped it up at Scotland Yard w/ The Big Problem, Social Conflict & the 40 Ouncers. It was our first sojourn out of the Bay Area and we booked it all thru emails and phone calls. We had to put a lot of trust into what we were being told and everybody really came thru. You could tell they were genuine. If anyone ever tells you the scene is dead and that nobody cares- tell them to FUCK OFF! Because it just isn’t true.

ATP

Tell us about your worst show and why?

TWAT

Worst show ever played? Gosh, there’s a couple. I guess the best (worst) example: We were playing a multi-genre show at the (now defunct) Red Devil Lounge in SF. The club was pretty packed for a Thursday night so we had a good crowd to play for. The 1st guy, a sitar instrumentalist was weird…but not bad. It was the band right before us (whose name I’ve erased from memory). They were kids, like 17. They were all dressed up in their Hot Topic fasho and really excited. And then they started- God, it was the most horrific racket you could imagine. Not just bad-bad. Like- they couldn’t play, sing in key, tune their instruments bad. They cleared the club in 2 songs. No shit. Everybody just put down their drinks and walked out. The bartender was so pissed he had the sound guy cut them off at song 3 and told them to leave. We were already there so they let us play and gave us free booze, so that worked out- but man we were fuckin’ furious. A perfectly full club cleared. I’d never seen that shit before. Anyhow- that was it.

ATP

Tell Us About Your Dream Show, who you'd like to play with and where?

TWAT

Punk Rock Bowling, Rebellion Fest, Warped Tour (20 years ago) and lastly- either the Hurricane or Rock am Ring festivals ‘coz they’re in Germany and those fuckers go off at them concerts.

ATP

Do you have a street team and how can you join?

TWAT

We had a coupla crackheads that hung out at our old studio down at 6th & Jessie. Now they’re turning that building into condos. We wrote a song about it on DeGentrification (our 2nd record). It’s called “Bumsex Alley”

ATP

Do you have a record label and if not are you looking for one?

TWAT

We’re not really tied to any label at the moment (hint-hint) but we have a close relationship with Lead Pipe Records (SF)

ATP

What are your plans for the future, in a year, 5 years?

TWAT

Booking shows for 2015. Cementing a spring tour with stops in Las Vegas, Bakersfield, Long Beach, (insert your town here). Anyone that’ll have us.

ATP

Finally, do have any words on what Arm The Pit means to you?

TWAT

It’s another portal to find killer bands that make great music that will “never” be part of the mainstream and that’s fuckin’ OK. Coz we don’t wanna be. Unless you offer me a Nike commercial, then I’ll write your G-Damn jingle Mr. Ad Man. (ha ha ha)