Interview Friday: Last Shot Fired

New York based band Last Shot Fired is not your usual punk band. Female fronted and politically motivated , they entered the scene in 2010 on the heels of a previous dismantling. We were fortunate enough to sit down with two of the bands founding members; Bodhi Mike and Foxy Roxy as they let it spill regarding the band, writing styles, and even a Twilight connection…

 

Can you give my readers a brief introduction to the band, for those who are unfamiliar with you. How did you form?

• M- We used to be in a band Called All Up In Arms, but we had a falling out with the bassist/singer, so it was just me, Roxy and Danny for the better part of 2010. We frantically searched for a bassist and female vocalist, because that’s the sound we wanted. A whole slew of flakes showed up, responded, didn’t show up until around November. I actually was the facilitator for choosing a different singer--who ended up flaking after a while, and who had issues with our lyrics-- over Samantha. I felt like such an ass for making a wrong decision, but I groveled to Sam. She accepted my apology and came back. Shortly thereafter, Matt came into the band after getting annoyed with his other one. We just clicked, and LSF was actually a real manifestation.

 

When did you first start writing music?

• M- Me? Wow. I started writing music and poetry when I was very young. Somewhere around six years old. Even if it was crap, it was still doing something.
• Rox- For me individually, when I was 13 or so. With this band, my writing still has not really been heard yet, but it will be soon.

 

How did you choose your genre?

• M-I think my genre chose me. I saw a lot of strife in my family life, personal life and in the world. Punk offered me an escape from all of it by addressing the issues head-on. It made me feel like I wasn’t alone, and that the individual power I actually had was part of a bigger picture, part of a movement--rather than a scene-- that would culturally overthrow the parameters we put on each other and ourselves.
• Rox- Our melodic, political punk with a hardcore edge is a reflection of everyone’s influences.

 

Who were your influences?

• M-Musically, my influences ranged from John Coltrane, Charlie Mingus and Miles Davis, to Dead Kennedys, Nomeansno, The Descendents, Husker Du, and the list goes on. I can’t really say which one of those is specifically definitive of how I want to play or who I want to sound like. It’s a hodge podge of music, politics, spirituality and personal experience.
• Rox- Hole, Rancid, Sublime, Metallica, Alice in Chains, Choking Victim, From Autumn to Ashes, etc.

 

Did you ever take any formal music lessons?

• M-Oh, hell yes! My father was a jazz drummer, my mother, a jazz singer so I had it drilled into my head. It’s in the blood. In fact, there were times when I just wanted to forget about music, just because my parents were so hard on me about it. I went to a performing arts high school and went to music school for a stint too.
• Rox- Nope

 

Did your environment while growing up have an impact on the kind of music you make today?

• M-Absolutely. I was an only child in a single-parent household. We were always moving, changing schools, changing environments, and my mom was always working. I grew up in Texas, where the whole world is this illusory idea about the conservative adage of “hard work” and all that crap. Meanwhile, my mom is not eating just so that I could. I was sexually abused as a child by a neighbor, and then by a completely different person when I was visiting my father--who was also always working-- by a babysitter. I also saw a lot of drugs in a place like Texas, It’s right on the border, so all the cops and border patrol agents are in on the trade too. So, we have a situation of being one paycheck away from abject poverty, a single mom--who wasn’t always the most understanding person in the world, drugs and whack jobs everywhere, Ronald Reagan taxing the hell out of artists, etc. Growing up in that kind of environment, you want to see a change and get out of it. I have to do this, I don’t just want to.
• Rox- Inequalities that one faces because of gender, race, social class, or location always find their way into art forms. Being a female guitarist, growing up in a single parent, working class family in the suburbs of NYC is probably why I’m playing punk rock instead of some hipster BS.

 

Which of your works would you say is your favorite, so far?

• M-Honestly, I don’t have “a” favorite. I like them all, because I get to make music that challenges the audience to think, groove to the music, understand that the band is there with them. If I stated a favorite, that would be diminishing the significance of the other pieces.

 

How did you come up with the name of the new album?

• M-Good question. Well, Danny came up with the idea of “for external use only.” My argument--and me and Danny argue all the time-- is that why would it be external if it’s music? The whole point of music is to internalize it, make it yours, live it the best you can. The rest of the band--for the most part--is kind of aloof on issues like this. So, I got Danny to finally agree with me about titling the EP “For Internal Use Only.”

 

How do you feel about the impact of the internet on the music business?

• M- I love it, actually. It puts the distribution and publishing back in the hands of the people who actually created it; the musicians. In fact, I was really sad to see things like Napster and Limewire go, because it connected fans and musicians through a medium of closeness--even if it was digital. You know, if you really can’t pay for the music, you should have it anyway, especially if you like it. Maybe that money could go to coming to the show and buying a t-shirt. The RIAA is a draconian entity who only fights for the major record labels. During that whole lawsuit with Napster, none of the artists saw the money “won” from disenfranchised people, with families. Seriously, if you can pay for it, please do, because it costs money to produce music, but no one should be turned away. A lot of people whine about it because they’re cheap, and would rather spend $10 on beer than a record.
• Rox- The internet is the best thing that could have happened for unsigned bands! Now everyone can get their music heard and distributed and fans have a wider variety of available music and can pick and choose who’s worth listening to when back in the day you really had to search for good music or listen to whatever radio and MTV shoved down your throat.

 

Do you think major record labels are necessary any more?

• M- Fuck no. All they have done for--what?-- the past 40 years is screw artists and fans anyway. It’s all about the dollar, conformity and control. They’re part of the problem.
• Rox- Not at all.

 

How do you normally write your songs?

• M-Me in particular, I write with a melody first, fit in words, and then add chords. In the case of the collective composing process, I would say we start off with a riff and then add in from there. All it is is a puzzle and a way to read each other artistically, and at the end of the arduous process of forgetting, remembering and then grooving, you have something that speaks to everyone in the band.
• Rox- One person usually brings in an idea and we build off of it.

 

 

In your opinion, what does a good song need to consist of?

• M-Style, conviction and passion. That’s it. Everything else will fall into place.
• Rox- A memorable melody, meaningful words, powerful guitar riffs, driving bass lines, and some rad drum fills!

 

What song is most exciting to play live? Original and/or cover, please!

• Rox- Our newest one “Not in My America”. It’s fast, loud, will probably offend people.

 

Where do you see the band in 5 years? 10 years?

• M- I don’t really know, because it’s an illusion, but what I hope is that we’re all making a solid living, making more music and having a good time.
• Rox- On an indie label, touring Europe, Australia, Japan, etc.

 

Any words of wisdom for those with hopes of breaking into music?

• M- Don’t pay to play, don’t play for free, don’t give the club any of your merch money, get your contract signed by THEM--not the other way around, love what you do--don’t just like it, be original, practice, get better and don’t quit.
• Rox- PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Practice to a metronome until you hear it in your sleep! Click click click!

 

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

• M- I have so many, I couldn’t even begin to list them.
• Rox- I enjoy the Twilight movies. Team Jacob!

 

If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

• M- I would want to have a conversation with Sarah Silverman. She’s funny, intelligent, scares people and really hot. I hope she’s reading this.
• Rox- I have a bone to pick with Courtney Love as to why there are no females in her newest lineup of Hole. I read she claimed there were no competent females?!!? The few female musicians that I’ve met were all influenced by Hole and are very capable musicians!

 

Any hobbies outside of music? Sports, etc?

• M-Writing, reading, theater (watching not acting), politics, activism, cooking.
• Rox- My 2 day jobs.

 

Where do you live?

• M-Astoria, NY.
• Rox- Staten Island, NY

 

Where can we find you on the internet?

• http://www.lastshotfirednyc.com/
• http://www.facebook.com/LastShotFired?sk=info
• http://www.twitter.com/LastShotFired