OVERSTAND - interview with Shawn

Here we go with another cool band,with their own sound...from the depths of New Jersey,OVERSTAND!

INTRODUCE YOURSELF! MEMBERS OF THE BAND & OTHERS BAND YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH?

My name is Shawn and I "sing" in the band, although I wouldn't call it singing so much. More like a exorcism escaping through the medium of my vocal chords. Brian plays the guitar and makes wonderous riffs and sounds. Miles holds it down with the Fender Jazz Bass and Jon punishes the kit. I played bass in Charge from 2001 to the end of 2006. Brian played in Charge from 2001-2007 on the guitar.Miles played Bass in Charge after I left for a bit of 2006 into 2007. Jon played drums in a band called Pray for Death for a short time previous to Overstand.Jon, myself and 2 others have a new band in the works as well but it would be a bit premature at this time to say anything more than that.

WHEN DID THE BAND FIRST START?

The band played it's first show in May of 2008. So we have been around for a little over a year. Still a young band.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE BAND THAT IS STRAIGHT EDGE? OR KRSHNA? HOW DO YA FEEL ABOUT THAT?

No one in the band is Straight Edge. I was a Hare Krsna devotee in the early 90's but as an adult I do not like to put labels on myself be it religious, political, etc. I do help host a Bhakti Yoga once a month in Asbury Park, NJ with a few Hare Krsna devotee friends on mine. So I am still somewhat in that circle but I am would not call myself a devotee nor want anyone to take me for an example of what a Hare Krsna devotee is. As far as how I feel about Straight Edge or Hare Krsna. I think like anything else there is an up and down side depending on the individual. I think Straight Edge, or living a Straight Edge lifestyle can be a very good thing but when people think they are superior to others because of it, then that is the start or problems. Also I have seen a lot of people that are Straight Edge, they may not be doing drugs or drinking but acting like an asshole, physical altercations, etc may have become their drug of choice.So staying clean of intoxication can be great depending on what you are doing with that "clear" head. With the Hare Krsna's...I learned a lot, especially when I was a teenager from the movement. It opened up a lot for me, it expanded my perception of life in general. As far as the cultural things, or political things within the movement. I do not pay attention nor do I care. I can personally find truth in a number of places and I do not feel I need to be part of any organized religion to define who I am.

INFLUENCES? (WHO SAID 108??)

I think everyone brings something different to the table and that is what makes it tend to be more unique. If I were to write out an influence list it would be long and may leave people wondering. I would say on part of everyone in the band we are influenced by numerous bands from all "styles" of music. I think we tend to have a heavy blues based rock influence. Say Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, etc. Then of course the Hardcore/Punk aspect such as bands like Bad Brains, Cro Mags, Corrosion of Conformity, Rollins Band, etc. Stuff that we really touch on very lightly, Reggae, Funk, Metal, etc.Even Hip Hop although not apparent so much in the sound sonically , it heavily influences me as a vocalist. As far as 108, I think honestly 2 of the members never even really listened to 108. I think if 108 influenced anyone it would be me as I saw them many times in the 90's in the various incarnations and they were one of my favorite bands as a kid.


WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATE OF HARDCORE UP TO YOU?

Well I think to have any type of grip on the present you need to have some sense of the roots. So you had what was called Punk Rock in the 70's which was very much a backlash to the status quo of it's time. People were doing something different with music, sonically, visually, etc. Also in terms on politics, culture, social issues, etc. You had the late 60's and the hippie culture which pretty much crashed and burned. Then out of the ash it seemed that in due time Punk Rock came up as a huge mutant monster, threw the peace signs to the wayside and waved the flag or fuck you and Anarchy. As the history goes as time went on Punk Rock seemed to have gotten watered down as many things tend to do when they hit the main stream consumer audience. Then you had what was called Hardcore/Punk. A more ferocious version of the former with somewhat more of focus on figuring out solutions to issues Punk had brought to the light. But in all that...Be it the Hippie culture of the 60's, the punk rock of the 70's and the Hardcore which came to life in the late 70's early 80's was that (dare I say!) revolutionary spirit no matter how flawed it may have been. The DIY Ethic which is very anti establishment, anti control. The political and social commentary of the music, this is as much if not more what Hardcore Punk is about then even the sound.I think now, things are watered down for sure. I was not there for the early 80's. I did not experience that first hand, so I don't know except via stories and books what that may have been like. I came in contact with this music through skateboarding in 1986 and really didn't make it to my first real show till 1990. So on that level, I have 19 years or so of first hand experience with Hardcore/Punk to base my opinion on. From what I have experienced first hand I have seen without a doubt a dwindling of that Revolutionary fire that I experienced as a kid. There seemed to be a lot more information being shared. A lot more concern on what was actually being put out there on the level of thought, ideas, etc. Now the sound, the style, the social scene seems to have over run the actual essence and spirit of the music. I'm not saying it's dead or it does not exist, it does. But I think it exists for the few. While the masses within Hardcore are just consumers in a different costume so to speak.On a certain level Hardcore has lost it's bite and really presents no threat what so ever at this point to the status quo and forced fed shit of the power's that be. That said, I do not think all is lost or I would no longer participate on any level. I just think a certain level of evolution is in order for it stay real and worthwhile.

IS IT GOOD FOR HARDCORE TO DEAL WITH RELIGION? IT'S PRETTY EASY TO PICK UP A RELIGIOUS STANCE FOR A BAND RIGHT NOW? AND YEARS AGO? HOW ARE THE KIDS RIGHT NOW ,ARE THEY MENTALLY OPEN OR...?

I think religion is one thing, an established order, etc. It tends to be dirty, political, etc. Many of the disgusting things through out our human history have been done in the name of Religion therefore Religion will always be looked at with skepticism at the least and Hate at the extreme.Spirituality seems to be more personal, more mystical and more of a evolving path then a rigid guide line with dogmatic answers to life.Spiritual culture has been there from the start, The Clash, Sex Pistols, The Damned, etc...all those bands were somehow connected with the Rasta/Reggae culture in England. Johnny Rotten went to Jamaica and hung with the Rastafarians, obviously The Clash had a heavy reggae influence, etc. So that connection to some sort of spiritual culture however loose it may have been was there. Then you had the Bad Brains in 1979 which blasted out on a whole other level. Then the Cro Mags in the mid 80's and bands like Shelter and 108 in the early 90's. I'm not saying all the results were positive, I'm just saying how it seemed to unfold. I think in the 90's you had a lot of open minds. Some people investigated and treaded softly, some people may have followed blindly as it seemed the fashion of the day. Then you had the opposite end of the spectrum with an almost blind hate for anything that could be termed "Religious" or "Spiritual". Then there of course were those who totally indifferent. I do think that there was a lot of good that came from that spiritual influx in Hardcore in the early 90's and I'm sure there was negativity as well. As for the present I think this cynical, nihilism seems to be very popular. Maybe with good reason but I feel the outcome of that will not be positive. I personally think the best thing religion or spiritual thought in Hardcore can do is inspire people to seek there own answers or paths. People need to search for these things themselves if they are interested. Only first hand experience and seeking with make a significant change in a human being.


BEST & LIFE CHANGIN LP/7'' & SHOWS?

Well there are many, many records I could name but since we are talking the subject of Hardcore, Bad Brains ROIR and pretty much all the REV 7"s of the early 90's. Burn, Quicksand, Inside Out, YOT, etc. Shows...shit...a lot. But the one that changed my life was the first I saw. Bad Brains and Leeway in 1990 @ City Gardens in Trenton NJ.



HOW DID YOU GUYS GET INTO HARDCORE PUNK? HOW HAS IT CHANGED IN THE PIT SINCE THEN?

I got into Hardcore Punk through skateboarding. Previous to that I was into Hip Hop and Breakdancing, that was around 1984. Then by 1986 I was diving into Hardcore/Punk. As far as the "pit"...no comment.


ANY LAST SHOUT OUT?

Thanks for the interview, Thank you to Adam from The Essence Records , Daniel from Cobra and Jan from Let It Ride. Thanks to the people that connect with the band and support the music. Without you, there is no us. Peace.

www.myspace.com/overstandnj