MusicJournoTwin City Faction Interview
November 7th 2006 05:26
An interview with some members of Sydney hardcore band Twin City Faction. Chris (vocals), Grant (drums) and Jimmy (guitar) provide the answers.
What do the words ‘twin city faction’ mean?
CHRIS: The name originally came from the drummer we had for our first three rehearsals, Peter. He was from the south of Sydney, ‘The Shire’ to be exact. The rest of us are all pretty much from the Northern beaches (originally anyway). At one of the three rehearsals Peter was talking about the old days of travelling around the city of Sydney to see/play in bands. He said he always felt at home when up on the Northern Beaches. He said that there was a kind of kinship between the South & North. Even though they were separated by the inner city the North & South were essentially the same. Driving home that night the name just came to me.
What is the significance of the rant at the beginning and the end of the set? Is this done at every show?
CHRIS: The rant or intro we do at the start of the set has been with us since we begun:
“We’re back in action
Without distraction
Not some knee jerk reaction
Just 100% pure guaranteed satisfaction
We are the….. TWIN CITY FACTION!!!!!”
I am not sure where it originally came from. I remember driving to our first gig, at this house party up on top of the hill at Manly, & these words just kept going around & around in my head. I couldn’t shake it. Then when were about to launch into the first song it just came out. As soon as I said “Twin City Faction” the boys just ripped into the first song, right on queue. Since then it has just stuck with us. At about our third or fourth show we tried dropping it but the set just felt incomplete. Ever since, we have kept it at the beginning & end of our sets.
It gives me a buzz to shout it out before a set – it gets me ready to roll. It’s funny recently I have noticed crew in the crowd yelling it & punching the air – ha ha. One committed TCF fan says he only comes for the intro. I think when we decide to drop the intro it will be time to drop the band.
You’ve mentioned before that every show feels like it could be the last, as it’s not a full time band – why is this?
GRANT: Mainly due to the fact we all have other commitments as well as some of us being in other bands also. Plus we like it that we don't play every week, it keeps it more refreshing and fun for us every time we do get together.
Grant, how do you differentiate between TCF and the other bands you play in? (Four Days in a Maze, Frank Rizzo) – EG. Do you consciously alter your style of drumming?
GRANT: In a way, yeah I guess I sort of try to mix it up a bit with all the different bands I'm in… for me, it keeps it a bit more challenging playing with different people cause they all play differently to each other, and that's what I like. That gives me a chance to try something that I may not be able to try with that same person/people if only in 1 band etc… it always keeps me thinking, haha
Jimmy, how do you differentiate between TCF and Grand Fatal?
JIMMY: When I write music I usually know straight away if it’s going to be used as a TCF or Grand Fatal song. The 2 bands have similar energy but I think TCF is more frantic. Sometimes I come up with an idea and I’m not sure which band to use it for and then it comes down to who I jam with first.
Each band moulds an idea into their sound.
You’re currently working on some new recordings – will this be an album or an EP (or something else entirely?)
CHRIS: Yeah we have been working on new material since the end of 2005. At present we have about 6-7 songs pretty much nailed. They all vary in their sound, but they are still very much TCF. In the past we have written about 8 songs & just started recording – hence the last two releases being mini-LP’s. This time we are focused on nailing at least a dozen. I think it is really time for us to release a full length – I know we have it in us. The songs we have been writing are all killer, so I think a full length should not be a problem. However you know how these things are – the best laid plans & all that crap. To tell you the truth I wouldn’t be fazed if it ended up a couple of comp tracks, a split 7” & a full 7”. We’ll see.
The main thing I want to ensure though is that these songs make it to vinyl. I’m so sick & tired of CD’s. They have pretty much gone the way of the 8-Track already. No one values them anymore, with file sharing, the CD is pretty much redundant. However at the same time vinyl seems stronger than ever. When you put your cash down for a record you get the whole package – big 12 inch cover, cool inserts & if you are very lucky some coloured vinyl. Plus they sound soooooo good. What do you get with a CD??? Just a bunch of plastic!! Yep these tracks need to make it to vinyl.
What do you think the advantages of an EP are over an album, or vice versa? Is this a reason why you choose one and not the other?
JIMMY: I think with explosive faster music like TCF the format must also be short, sharp and to the point. The sound and message is urgent and a streamlined EP is the perfect medium to deliver this.
All members of TCF have other projects and busy lives so when we have a group of songs we are 100% happy with we feel its time get it documented. The band operates with sporadic bursts of creative inspiration and live shows when we come together from our other time wasting projects. This time around we are gunning for a long player as we have come up with a larger range of material that is sounding killer.
I caught you guys the other night and noticed the lineup had expanded to six people – as Jimmy had broken his hand and opted to do backing vocals rather than sit the gig out. How did you break your hand/arm? How has this affected the band?
JIMMY: I took a bad fall and broke a couple of bones in my hand. It has stalled the song writing process for our LP a few weeks as we all work the songs together at TCF HQ. We haven’t missed any of our booked shows and a friend Matt filled in on guitar. It has been frustrating for me waiting around for bones to heal but we’ll be back stronger than ever.
How do you guys go about the process of writing a song?
GRANT: Jimmy (guitar) or DG (guitar) will generally have a riff or two they have been toying with, bring it in to practice, and we all take it from there… Chris (vocals) handles all the lyrics side of things and shares his ideas with us also for riffs and song structure etc, when we're writing. We reckon it works the best for us this way, so far so good anyway!
How would you describe the sound of Twin City Faction to someone who hasn’t heard you? What bands would you compare it with?
JIMMY: Hooky punk rock with elements of garage rock. Some reference bands could be: Trapdoor Fucking Exit, Born Against, early JR Ewing to Rites of Spring.
In what direction would you like to see your music go?
CHRIS: This is a hard question as not one person within the Faction has an overall say on where the music goes. It is really a group thing. We all contribute – I think that is why all of the songs we are writing are coming from different directions. However as it is TCF writing the songs, they still have our distinct sound. If I was to give a hint it would be to say our songs are getting heavier, especially compared to our last disc.
Dumbest thing you’ve ever seen at a show?
JIMMY: I saw a performance art/punk band years ago called “Thou Giddian”. They used to gaffa tape dead fish and cow hearts to their bodies and writhe around on the floor chatting lame social political slogans to this terrible music. Two of the “band” members started this retarded sexual carry on using dead animal parts. That was pretty dumb.
What do you write your lyrics about? Are there any kind of topics or style of lyrics you try to avoid?
CHRIS: It’s funny I spend a hell of a lot of time agonizing over the lyrics in TCF tracks, but due to my vocal style (both live & recorded) not a lot of people can understand them. Just the other day a friend said that she read the lyrics for the first time & realized she had no idea what I had been singing about all these years. If you have our previous discs, take some time out to read the words.
I am not sure about avoiding topics; however I do like to sing about things that are directly affecting me. I like to sing songs about empowering yourself to do better. To lift yourself out of a personal funk or situation. To say “FUCK THIS. I CAN DO BETTER”. I really think that is important, to take some personal responsibility, to change. Some examples of these would be “Johnny’s Been Drinking” & “It’s Hard To Stumble When You’re On Your Knees”.
I must admit I spend quite a lot of time singing about the burdens placed upon through work & the bullshit ways that we are treated by the people pulling the strings (retrenchment, poor pay, long hours, cycle of debt etc).
In the past I have also looked at the things that make me happy & sung about those. A song we like to open our set with, 33 & a Third, it is also the lead song from the Secrets disc. It is essentially about staying up all night with your friends; playing records until the sun comes up & you can no longer stand. However I am finding this harder to write songs like this as in the last 12 months we have seen some fucked up things happening in the world & closer to home. These include the worsening state of affairs in Iraq, the way U.S. treated its own people with Hurricane Katrina, the IR laws that Howard has pushed through with hardly a whimper from Joe Public & the bullshit that occurred in Cronulla at the end of 2005. All of these events make it harder for me to write flippant songs – it makes me feel like I have some sort of obligation to at least point this shit out & say something.
Final question. Any plans to tour coming up? Anything else you’d like to say to the person(s) reading this?
GRANT: Yeah, as soon as we get our next release out we're gonna do some more Sydney and interstate shows to launch it... At the moment though we have a couple of new tunes left to finish, then it's in to record, which we are all gaggin' to do… so yeah, all according to plan, the new album should be out round July/August with a tour to follow.
Ideally, we’d love to get o/s also for a run of shows… maybe towards the end of this year once the newie is out. See how we GO!
What do the words ‘twin city faction’ mean?
CHRIS: The name originally came from the drummer we had for our first three rehearsals, Peter. He was from the south of Sydney, ‘The Shire’ to be exact. The rest of us are all pretty much from the Northern beaches (originally anyway). At one of the three rehearsals Peter was talking about the old days of travelling around the city of Sydney to see/play in bands. He said he always felt at home when up on the Northern Beaches. He said that there was a kind of kinship between the South & North. Even though they were separated by the inner city the North & South were essentially the same. Driving home that night the name just came to me.
What is the significance of the rant at the beginning and the end of the set? Is this done at every show?
CHRIS: The rant or intro we do at the start of the set has been with us since we begun:
“We’re back in action
Without distraction
Not some knee jerk reaction
Just 100% pure guaranteed satisfaction
We are the….. TWIN CITY FACTION!!!!!”
I am not sure where it originally came from. I remember driving to our first gig, at this house party up on top of the hill at Manly, & these words just kept going around & around in my head. I couldn’t shake it. Then when were about to launch into the first song it just came out. As soon as I said “Twin City Faction” the boys just ripped into the first song, right on queue. Since then it has just stuck with us. At about our third or fourth show we tried dropping it but the set just felt incomplete. Ever since, we have kept it at the beginning & end of our sets.
You’ve mentioned before that every show feels like it could be the last, as it’s not a full time band – why is this?
GRANT: Mainly due to the fact we all have other commitments as well as some of us being in other bands also. Plus we like it that we don't play every week, it keeps it more refreshing and fun for us every time we do get together.
Grant, how do you differentiate between TCF and the other bands you play in? (Four Days in a Maze, Frank Rizzo) – EG. Do you consciously alter your style of drumming?
GRANT: In a way, yeah I guess I sort of try to mix it up a bit with all the different bands I'm in… for me, it keeps it a bit more challenging playing with different people cause they all play differently to each other, and that's what I like. That gives me a chance to try something that I may not be able to try with that same person/people if only in 1 band etc… it always keeps me thinking, haha
Jimmy, how do you differentiate between TCF and Grand Fatal?
JIMMY: When I write music I usually know straight away if it’s going to be used as a TCF or Grand Fatal song. The 2 bands have similar energy but I think TCF is more frantic. Sometimes I come up with an idea and I’m not sure which band to use it for and then it comes down to who I jam with first.
Each band moulds an idea into their sound.
You’re currently working on some new recordings – will this be an album or an EP (or something else entirely?)
CHRIS: Yeah we have been working on new material since the end of 2005. At present we have about 6-7 songs pretty much nailed. They all vary in their sound, but they are still very much TCF. In the past we have written about 8 songs & just started recording – hence the last two releases being mini-LP’s. This time we are focused on nailing at least a dozen. I think it is really time for us to release a full length – I know we have it in us. The songs we have been writing are all killer, so I think a full length should not be a problem. However you know how these things are – the best laid plans & all that crap. To tell you the truth I wouldn’t be fazed if it ended up a couple of comp tracks, a split 7” & a full 7”. We’ll see.
The main thing I want to ensure though is that these songs make it to vinyl. I’m so sick & tired of CD’s. They have pretty much gone the way of the 8-Track already. No one values them anymore, with file sharing, the CD is pretty much redundant. However at the same time vinyl seems stronger than ever. When you put your cash down for a record you get the whole package – big 12 inch cover, cool inserts & if you are very lucky some coloured vinyl. Plus they sound soooooo good. What do you get with a CD??? Just a bunch of plastic!! Yep these tracks need to make it to vinyl.
What do you think the advantages of an EP are over an album, or vice versa? Is this a reason why you choose one and not the other?
JIMMY: I think with explosive faster music like TCF the format must also be short, sharp and to the point. The sound and message is urgent and a streamlined EP is the perfect medium to deliver this.
All members of TCF have other projects and busy lives so when we have a group of songs we are 100% happy with we feel its time get it documented. The band operates with sporadic bursts of creative inspiration and live shows when we come together from our other time wasting projects. This time around we are gunning for a long player as we have come up with a larger range of material that is sounding killer.
I caught you guys the other night and noticed the lineup had expanded to six people – as Jimmy had broken his hand and opted to do backing vocals rather than sit the gig out. How did you break your hand/arm? How has this affected the band?
JIMMY: I took a bad fall and broke a couple of bones in my hand. It has stalled the song writing process for our LP a few weeks as we all work the songs together at TCF HQ. We haven’t missed any of our booked shows and a friend Matt filled in on guitar. It has been frustrating for me waiting around for bones to heal but we’ll be back stronger than ever.
How do you guys go about the process of writing a song?
GRANT: Jimmy (guitar) or DG (guitar) will generally have a riff or two they have been toying with, bring it in to practice, and we all take it from there… Chris (vocals) handles all the lyrics side of things and shares his ideas with us also for riffs and song structure etc, when we're writing. We reckon it works the best for us this way, so far so good anyway!
How would you describe the sound of Twin City Faction to someone who hasn’t heard you? What bands would you compare it with?
JIMMY: Hooky punk rock with elements of garage rock. Some reference bands could be: Trapdoor Fucking Exit, Born Against, early JR Ewing to Rites of Spring.
In what direction would you like to see your music go?
CHRIS: This is a hard question as not one person within the Faction has an overall say on where the music goes. It is really a group thing. We all contribute – I think that is why all of the songs we are writing are coming from different directions. However as it is TCF writing the songs, they still have our distinct sound. If I was to give a hint it would be to say our songs are getting heavier, especially compared to our last disc.
Dumbest thing you’ve ever seen at a show?
JIMMY: I saw a performance art/punk band years ago called “Thou Giddian”. They used to gaffa tape dead fish and cow hearts to their bodies and writhe around on the floor chatting lame social political slogans to this terrible music. Two of the “band” members started this retarded sexual carry on using dead animal parts. That was pretty dumb.
What do you write your lyrics about? Are there any kind of topics or style of lyrics you try to avoid?
CHRIS: It’s funny I spend a hell of a lot of time agonizing over the lyrics in TCF tracks, but due to my vocal style (both live & recorded) not a lot of people can understand them. Just the other day a friend said that she read the lyrics for the first time & realized she had no idea what I had been singing about all these years. If you have our previous discs, take some time out to read the words.
I am not sure about avoiding topics; however I do like to sing about things that are directly affecting me. I like to sing songs about empowering yourself to do better. To lift yourself out of a personal funk or situation. To say “FUCK THIS. I CAN DO BETTER”. I really think that is important, to take some personal responsibility, to change. Some examples of these would be “Johnny’s Been Drinking” & “It’s Hard To Stumble When You’re On Your Knees”.
I must admit I spend quite a lot of time singing about the burdens placed upon through work & the bullshit ways that we are treated by the people pulling the strings (retrenchment, poor pay, long hours, cycle of debt etc).
In the past I have also looked at the things that make me happy & sung about those. A song we like to open our set with, 33 & a Third, it is also the lead song from the Secrets disc. It is essentially about staying up all night with your friends; playing records until the sun comes up & you can no longer stand. However I am finding this harder to write songs like this as in the last 12 months we have seen some fucked up things happening in the world & closer to home. These include the worsening state of affairs in Iraq, the way U.S. treated its own people with Hurricane Katrina, the IR laws that Howard has pushed through with hardly a whimper from Joe Public & the bullshit that occurred in Cronulla at the end of 2005. All of these events make it harder for me to write flippant songs – it makes me feel like I have some sort of obligation to at least point this shit out & say something.
Final question. Any plans to tour coming up? Anything else you’d like to say to the person(s) reading this?
GRANT: Yeah, as soon as we get our next release out we're gonna do some more Sydney and interstate shows to launch it... At the moment though we have a couple of new tunes left to finish, then it's in to record, which we are all gaggin' to do… so yeah, all according to plan, the new album should be out round July/August with a tour to follow.
Ideally, we’d love to get o/s also for a run of shows… maybe towards the end of this year once the newie is out. See how we GO!
| 58 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
