Artist Friendly with Joel Madden - DRAIN

Episode Date: May 10, 2023

Listen in as Joel Madden chats with rising hardcore group DRAIN in the latest episode of Artist Friendly. The Santa Cruz-based trio, who’s known for their thrash hardcore-punk sound and just released their sophomore album Living Proof, spoke to Joel about the group’s early days, the state of hardcore today, and more.  The episode arrives as Alternative Press teams up with the band for limited-edition vinyl. Head to the AP Shop to snag your copy. ------- Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠ ------- Follow Artist Friendly! IG: @artist.friendly TikTok: @artist.friendly YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly ------- Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, what's up? I'm Joel Madden, and this is Artist Friendly from Alternative Press. On this week's episode, I'm talking to the band Drain. Good to have you guys here. Dude, thank you for having us, bro. Thank you for having us. Our first hardcore band on Artist Friendly. No joke.

Yo, it's an honor. Let's go. Hey, first of many. First of many. Let's go. Yeah, I hope so, too. I think it's interesting. We use the word hardcore broadly,

but you could say like heavy music and the different variations of heavy music and hardcore being one of them. You guys, to me anyways, I feel like represent what I would say is like hardcore music today is as a younger, not as, you know, we, growing up around punk and all that,

when I was younger, and hardcore music being a part of that world, I still feel there's like, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, characteristics of it that are, that are the same. But there is also something different about the bands of today that are coming up and you guys being one of them as the one that I would recognize as like one of those bands that represents like the new youthful version of this old thing that we all love. right? Dude.

That's how I would say. I would explain it to someone. So I wonder though, like, first of all, you guys, were you just fans always of hardcore? Were you punk fans first?

How did you get into it? And then, like, what does it mean today to be in, what does it mean today to be in a hardcore band? Well, damn, there's a lot to unpack it. Unpack it. I'm just going to sit back and let you unpack.

Dude, at least for me, I feel like I actually got in a hardcore, like last. It was like punk and thrash metal. Okay. Or like it's just metal, but like specifically thrash metal was first.

And then like, not accidentally, but like certain bands, I was like, this sounds like this, but like there's something different, you know, about them that makes them not like,

you know, like rotting out. I was like, this is a dope punk band or power. Like, this is a dope thrash band. But not like, there's something that makes them

different from the other thrash bands and the other punk bands. And then like, like, oh, they're a hardcore band. And, like, then being exposed to that world after that. But, yeah, that was my intro, for sure. Oh, yeah. I mean, I started off with hip-hop originally, and then I found metal.

Then from, like, the thrat, because it's the same thing. Like, I got into Thrash at a young age. And then I would see that all the 80s thrash bands would play with, like, the Chrome ags and stuff. I was like, who are these? And then that's how I found hardcore. So, yeah. Yeah, for sure, starting out with punk.

and just kind of being a sponge and trying to absorb as much as possible. Yeah, kind of just gravitated from that pretty naturally. You go down the influence rabbit hole where you go like, oh, that band, they said that they grew up listening to that band or that band played with that band, and you end up just finding all these records that, like, I always think, like, how interesting would it be to be like a brand new punk fan in 2023 and get to spend,

been the next five years discovering records that are just like classic incredible records. Yeah, it's a trip, dude, especially finding bands like, you know, will kids find bands from their phone, you know, on TikTok, whatever, and then to like kind of go backwards, I guess it's how it's always been, but like I feel it. I feel it would all be like so sick to get to rehear like the minor threat seven inch for the first time with like a fresh set of ears, you know, like it's exciting, good to see all these kids doing it in real time. It's like, whoa, what a trip, man.

If they like it, I actually don't know, I'd be very curious. Like, I don't, I'll be honest, I don't know a ton of younger kids, but, like, I'd be very curious to see if they're like, do you, like, quality, like production quality and things are so much higher. Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised a lot of kids that are finding it now. Like, damn, it kind of sounds like shit. Like, I don't want, you know what I mean?

Like, I don't even really want to hear this. Like, I know these guys are influenced by, but I don't know, you know. Yeah. I think our ears get trained kind of by the algorithms these days, but I do think there's something really special about those shitty records. And like I think that it's interesting because I feel like what happens when this music gets unleashed in a real way on like the TikToks. And then people like think about that.

Like I don't think it's happened yet. But like imagine when there's some like really minor threat or cromags or someone on like what imagine when one of those songs goes viral on TikTok for some weird. That's going to happen at some point where it's like the new like mainstream radio discovers or find some old thing and applies it to some like completely different thing that's completely out of context or completely that's going to happen with no one has control of that. So when they start finding those bands again and putting them out in this new world, I think

that's going to be funny to watch. It's be sick. Be badass, dude. Like, well, that one, I mean, again, I'm, like, out of touch, but like that, uh, that run up that hill. Running up that hill. He's like, an old song. Oh, yeah.

And it, like, went crazy. But can you imagine it was that? It was like, like, oh, yeah, we got to know it was like some viral, like, song. It's like, damn, like, all the same. You know what I mean? Like, like, but yeah, you're right. I feel like, like, modern bands, like, you know,

obviously turns to like huge influence on, like younger kids. But, like, it would be kind of crazy. Like, like, like, like, like, through, like, TikTok and stuff. Kind of while it was like an, like, an older band. It's like, oh, damn, all these kids are just like learning about this. It'd be sick. Up next, perhaps. Down Manhattan.

Yeah. You guys are from Santa Cruz. That's cool. Yeah, dude. Have you played like through there? I have been there many times. I actually lived in San Jose for a few years. Oh, no joke.

Back in the day. Over the 17. You braved the 17, dude. When I was 21. 20, 2021, I lived there for like two and a half years. and would go to Santa Cruz sometimes, yeah, over the hill. Dude, what would you hit when you're in town? Like, you'd go to, like, the boardwalk and stuff?

The boardwalk, yeah, just the tourist, like, just the go hang and the tourist stuff. And back in the, you know, 90s and the early 2000s, it was a different, it was very, everything was kind of like by area, by, you know, so, yeah, so he was one of those people. He did a lot of, a lot of my tattoos and some really good tattoo artists. Dude, we, like, just kind of, like, recently found. doubt or like at least I have me you know like I get tattooed by this dude like he's like dude in first blood I'm like here in Sancoe I had no idea like yeah straight over the radar I was like wow dude fake local dude I gotta I gotta I gotta I gotta go I don't know just pop it I'm not I don't

really know I'm not huge first blood fan but like I know they're like so rad and I like super influential especially like Bay Area yeah yeah I'd love just pop over and just like pay some respects and say hello you know yeah but San I mean San Santa Cruz is, we make it pretty known. We rewrite for the town like that is very much where the band started and like it's just got such a cool history with like surfing and skating and punk and like just all that cool stuff and like I don't know, I love it. That's home for sure now, you know.

Where are you from? I'm from Santa Barbara originally. Oh cool. Yeah, yeah. I love Santa Barbara. Yeah, also I'm pretty blessed, man. Got to go from one cool area. One great town to another.

Yeah, yeah. But I've been in San Cruz about 10 years now and yeah, we love it. Are you from Santa Cruz? Not actually. Well, I'm from the 831, like, born and raised. Okay. So it's like I grew up in, well, I was born in Halster. I live there now. Okay. And I grew up in Salinas.

Okay, cool. Like, till I was like 20. I lived there until I was like 21, 22 or something. Yeah. And then I lived in Santa Cruz for a bit and I lived here in L.A. and yeah, I'm back in Halster. Okay. Yeah. How did you like L.A.?

It was cool for the time, but it was funny. We were just talking about that. Like, I don't know if I would come back to live here again, you know, but it was cool for like that year. It was like, I had a good time. But yeah, I think I'm like, and it might be just me getting older too. I think I'm just really down for like the small town. Yeah. Because I feel like when I was younger, I was like, I got to go to the city, man.

Like, fuck, you know. I feel that way about Santa Barbara. Like, I want to live there. It's a lot calmer and it feels like a small town. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. And LA is really fun. But it's, it's hectic.

Yeah. Oh, for sure. It's great for work. Yeah. But. Totally. And you grew up in Santa Cruz? No, I actually grew up down this way.

I grew up in San Pedro. Oh, wow. Yeah. So I was 18 and then I went to Santa Cruz. I've been there since. Oh, great. Yeah. But it's always nice coming back to Atlanta for a sec.

Well, I agree. Come back and like, dude, this is acting. This is crazy, dude. My like quiet little beast town, like, love it. Is your life predominantly now touring? Yeah, honestly. Yeah, pretty much. Yeah.

It's definitely band related, you know. For sure. It's not boring. It's like doing things in relation to the band. Behind the scenes stuff. Yeah. always drain related for sure. Yeah, it's like a pretty good, I don't know, gradual pickup, I feel like.

It was like, well, COVID was like dead stop, basically. We just practiced a lot. But then like kind of came back to tours and it was like, sometimes we'll go back and like, damn, we did all that in the year. Like this last like year, it's like, we've just been like going, go and going. It's like really ramped up. It's been dope. But yeah, now it's pretty like pretty full time.

Are you having fun? Oh, hell yeah. Yeah, a ton of fun there. Yeah. Yeah, it's all been very surreal. It's been like a roller coaster for sure in like the best way. Surreal's like probably the best way to put it. Like very fun, even here.

I'm like, dude, like what? We're in a city? I don't know. Are you sure you want us here? Yeah, like dude, it must be. You guys are cool. I wanted you guys on because I think you're like one of the coolest bands. So it's hard for me to single bands out.

I work with so many bands and I'm friends with so many bands. And I have to say like my bar for bands that I like either listen to or like either listen to or that I actually work with, I just have to like them. And the music has to hit me a certain way and it's just got to like vibrate with me a certain way. And then to meet them is important too. Like if I can sit at a table with them and hang and it feels like good, then it just feels good, you know? And I get to work with so many bands. I'm really, really lucky that my life is just so full and rich with music and like musical activities and projects and everything kind of flows around music.

But I think when I look at a band like yours, I just think, and I know you've been putting records out, I think it's 2016, 17. I think of the first, like, kind of like release. Yeah, like 15, 16, yeah, play a demo out in 15 and like, yeah. And I also, I like, one of the things, too, that I like is your art. Dude, heck yeah, dude. Sounds like, yeah. It just like looks, I just like the continuity of all the.

album covers and like the I just that that actually struck me I was like oh that's cool like things like that matter to me a little bit you know but anyways it just your your your music strikes me as like as it just feels even though it it's it sounds like hardcore music to me there's something fresh about it's what I like about turnstile when I got into turnstile from the beginning I've been a fan of theirs from the beginning I just thought that their take on it was modern And it was refreshing to hear someone making music like that today. And it feels like I would go and listen to that, you know? And so I'm always curious, like, what caused you guys to put a band together and make hardcore music, you know, when you're living in a time that that's not necessarily in vogue.

If you're like, oh, I want to do music for a living, I'll do hardcore music. You know what I mean? Like, that's a very specific choice of what comes out of you. But maybe it's just what comes out of you, and that's the music you make. And then, you know, everyone else can call you a hardcore band, but you're like, we just make our fucking music. But at the end of the day, I kind of look at it and go, like, what compels this group of guys to make this music? I mean, I think, well, thank you very much, by the way. I think, like, what, I mean, first and foremost, like, I don't think we, we never set out.

It wasn't like we're going to start a hardcore band and do it for a living. It was more just like, we just want to play in a band because we love playing in a band. And we want a tour. and there were never any aspirations to like make a living doing it. It was just something that we had we had to do because that's what that's what brings us joy in this world.

You know, that's what we love to do. So I mean, I'm sure there's a lot of bands like that but I think that's kind of what I feel would separate us from maybe some other bands is that we never really set out with aspirations to like, you know, get big or like do big stuff. We just really wanted to be in a band and play music like first and foremost. It was never like definitely wasn't like we're going to start a hardcore band.

And I think that we all come from very different influences and just bring something different to the table. And one of those happens to be hardcore. But yeah, I mean, it was never like a, it was never a mission to like be a big successful band. It was like, we just, we just want to play in a bang. And we're going to do whatever we can to make, to make that happen. You know what I mean?

But yeah, that's, I just want to be out there. I think that's, like, pretty spot on. Like, when we, you know, started doing it, I was like still, I was going to school. the first two years I was doing drain I was like doing you know I was in school and like all right graduated and it was like well we're gonna keep doing it because it's like it's fun and that's the only that makes me happy so it's gonna stick with it and it's gonna lead me somewhere good because it brings me joy and it's not like a destructive thing is a healthy thing you know but like definitely was like I mean the first like couple drain runs we'd stay in

Sanpid in my folks house there's like one particular like dad like flipped out it's like all you guys like you gotta get jobs what the fuck you guys do it we're just like I don't know. I was like, lokey blow out. I was there. I can attest that. Very uncomfortable.

Very uncomfortable. Was I in the shower during that? I think he came down. I was like, whoa, the vines are kind of, yeah, we got to go.

We got to go. We got to go. We got to go. I get it. Your parents are nervous. Like, I was talking about this the other day. It's funny because it wouldn't be music.

If my kid came to me and goes, Dad, I'm going to do music for a living. I'm like, great. Yeah. We're going to fucking kill this shit. Right.

But if they came to me and said, dad, No, you're not. Because I don't understand it. But it is a real job. Like I could say it's like that's why I'm not harping on. I'm not putting down a YouTuber or a TikToker. I'm not.

I'm saying it's one thing when in the artistic medium, if I thought of a of a medium that I don't quite understand, it would be the modern content creator in the short video form. I just go, what the fuck are you doing? I don't understand how you spend all day, long coming up with these little ideas and making these videos and then hoping and then promoting it so people are interested and it just I'm not critical it sounds mean I'm not being mean but if my kid came to me and was like I'm going to be a YouTuber I'd be like no you're

not and if he was hanging out with all his friends and they were making YouTube videos I'd be like get out of this house get your shit together you know what I mean like to guitar on go to your room that to me that's the modern version of when I think of like when I told my mom, like, I was 17, we started a good charler when we were 16, 15, 16. And we were like, this is it. We're doing it. We're going to go. We're going to go chase it down, right?

Try to make it. And I was the opposite of you guys. I did want to be big. I wanted to be in a fucking big rock band. I was like, I want to make it. And we were like, we didn't have a lot of money. And my mom, God bless her, was just like, you're going to go to college somehow. And then you're going to get a good job.

and you're going to get married and have a house with a white picket fence and a dog and you're going to have a good life and that was like, God bless her, that's a good idea. Like, no, we're going to go to this band and she's like, not in this house, you're not.

And so, yo, it was good for us though. We left home and we just started trying to figure it out. Pouring in a minivan and whatever show we could get. I think that's the thing, you know, shout with my mom and dad, love him at death. I think because they were like, Like, you're going to, like, you know, if they're on board, it would be helpful, you know. But I think because there's like, like, dude, what are you fucking talking about?

And I'm me being stubborn. Like, I'm like, no, I'm going to do anything I put my mind to you, especially with, you know, these guys might do like, we're going to do this. We're going to do this shit. I'm going to show you. We're going to fucking kick ass. We're going to go do whatever it is. Even though it didn't have a clear vision. Like, we're going to get to this, like, you know, we can do this.

Whatever that, like, really looks like. I don't know, but, like, we're going to do it, you know? Yeah, we're going to make something happen where we at, where we do this thing and we have proof that we can. Yeah, and it wasn't, like, smooth at first, but like, now I'm like, yo, dad, you can't, like, you can't come to the show and just, like, take pictures of people. He's like, they're wearing your shirt, badass. Like, he's like, walk out. He's like, that's my son's bad. Like, Dad, delete that.

Weirden people out, dude. But they're, like, all stoked and they're hide to everybody that's listening as in L.A. For sure, seeing my parents are at every L.A. show, just losing their mind. And it's just cool to kind of be like, yo, like, we've had them be like, you know what? We're wrong. You proved us wrong. It's like that's like the whole mantra I feel like a train is just proven everybody that has some opinion about what we are, who we are. It's like, no, we're what we want to be.

And we're going to show you what's up, you know? Like we just do it. It's kind of dope. This drink's kicking, dude. Oh, my God. Yeah, dude. Green water. Like water.

I'm just some tripping, dude. Let's go. All natural. Head break. There's no drugs in it. There's no drugs in it. It's all natural. It's my favorite.

I drink it every day. I think that, you know, and a lot of times when we have these conversations here on this show, what I really try to do is try to find the things that the people out there listening that are living in their real lives, whether they're in a band or not, or whether they are starting a business, or whether they're just trying to accomplish something personally. Like maybe they're struggling with addiction and they're trying to stay sober. or maybe they're trying to lose weight, or maybe they're trying to just change their life

in a positive way. I always try to find the pieces of our conversations because you guys are successful artists. You're having success as artists. Whatever your perception of that is personally, however you internalize that, from the outside, you are. Kind of wildly, be honest.

Whether you know it or not. Because you're in a bubble. I know what it means to just be. be touring and be in your bubble and you're also dealing with a real life where there's still problems. So the word success is a very broad sounding kind of like everything's good. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying like you're having success at what you set out to do. It's working, right? And you don't have to actually think about that to. much because you're in process. So you're making a record, you're going out and touring and you're

not necessarily living with the results every single day. But on the outside, we're watching and we get to see the results of your work. And in fact, we could kind of just see the high level highlights of your work. And it doesn't mean that life still isn't full of problems to solve and things to deal with. But from the outside perspective, someone would watch you and go, that looks amazing. That lifestyle looks amazing. They're doing what they love.

And I think that's inspiring, first of all. I think that's important. I think the people watching that wish they could do art for a living and maybe they just don't have the support or the confidence to take up the road less traveled, right, to break out and go, I'm just going to do this for a living. This is what I really want to do. Not everyone has the confidence or the support to do that. So I always try to open up these conversations for the people that we can't see listening because I do think that the ripple

effect of our work and of our conversations that we share with people, what we let people in on to see has a profound effect on the future of culture. I sit here with you guys and you're really nice. And then I listen to your music and you're like, you've got a chip on your shoulder and you're angry, which I love. It motivates me. That's what I need when I listen to music. I need that like, I need the anger somewhere to come out.

I need like, that's how I get it out. If I go work out or if I'm driving, I put on mostly heavy music. More hip hop. Just motivates me. your easy hang but I don't know that I necessarily want to like get when you're playing your music I don't know if I want to go in the pit at your show

you know what I mean? Yeah, I feel it man No, I don't know how it's a trip dude Where does that come from? Is it a need to prove? Is it a chip on your shoulder for real? At least for me, I think it's a need to prove and it's funny you say

Sometimes I do want I'm like, like, it's a little bit of both. It is to, for sure, my self. Not, not particularly,

to be honest. Yeah, not particularly like, like, like anyone else. Yeah, just like an average amount. Yeah,

like, normal like stuff. I mean like, mid. Yeah, I got mid bullied. Yeah, not,

not, I know, like a particular kid. We all had a nemesis. Yeah, as a kid, I mean, I was like,

oh, my kid's kind of jerk, you know, like, yeah, like, no, it's normal.

Yeah, I don't know. I think, yeah, at least for me, you know, not to get like whatever, but like, for me, you know, just grow up pretty traditional, like family, household, you know, I think just kind of like wanting to maybe do, kind of be like, yeah, like, I love so many aspects of this, but like, I don't know, I'm just really certain things I don't, maybe align with, you know, like, want to do things when I become an adult, like, and I grow into an adult in my own way and, you know, finding music early on in life and just kind of like wanted to do that.

And then, you know, I don't know. I mean, you're very nice guy. Oh, dude. And when I listen to you sing, you're like an angry, kind of pissed off. But like, and emotional in all the right ways. Like, it hits me all the right ways. It's not the kind of anger that's, like, annoying. It's kind of like, God damn, I kind of feel this way.

Yeah. Yeah. Fuck yeah, man. Like, like, I wish I could rap like that. You know what I mean? Like, that's how you feel when you listen to good singers. Yeah. I want to rap like that.

And it comes together with all of you in a very like, it's all the right amount of melodic to it. But it's still heavy and it's still raw. You know, there's still a hardcore quality about your music that is like that feels traditional. There's like there's elements of your music that just feels like it's back in the 90s. But it's now. I feel now too. I don't feel like it's some throwback. It's like really, it's interesting.

Yeah. That's dude. You're blowing me away, bro. Thank you. That's sick. It's cool. It's cool. It's cool.

It's cool. Yeah. We've always tried to keep it pretty organic. Like even from the get-go, it's like we're not going to do it. We're not going to do the thing where like one person writes everything and then, you know, transcribes it on Pro Tools and sends it to another guy. Yeah, yeah. We would always like, no. Like, first and foremost, we're friends.

We love each other. We love hanging out with each other. We love playing music with each other. So let's get in a room and let's just jam it out. Let's, that's write what feels right. even if it takes a long time, if it takes a short amount of time, like let's just let's go until we're stoked on what we made. And then...

Were you guys best friends first? Or band first? What band first? Honestly, like... Yeah, honestly, we were friends first, but like when... Yeah, like, I feel like I got... Once you joined the band, I was like, that's when we got to know each other, like, really well.

Yeah. Just like... Same with Cody, yeah. Yeah, I didn't meet these guys until, like, maybe what, a year after the band started, I think? Yeah, yeah. Yeah. But then, I mean, Ralph the Gates, I was like, dude, these guys are really. cool man, you know. And then we hung out into your garage.

Yeah, it's being stupid. You know, it's fun. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, at least it best. And I think that's like even something that maybe, I don't say it's a lost art, but maybe it's overlooked the importance of how important that really is. You know, like, it is so funny sometimes when you, you like, kind of like what you're touched on. If your kids seeing it, I think there is so many kids I think get the wrong idea, you know, just in general. This is kind of related, but kind of different too. It's like, kids like, dude, like, I want to be where you guys are at. It's like, that's cool. like, like, like, like, dude, you guys blew up overnight.

It's like, that's, that's not true, you know? And that's why it's like, well, how do it, like, you know, once it blew me, like a younger kid would be like, dude, like, how do I, like, I want to do the cool stuff like that. It's like, just do it. And like, I feel like it's like, dude, like you can't look at like, like you said, the highlights, the highlights that we allow you to see. Yeah. And we as like bands.

And as people, too. Yeah, people. I'm only putting the highlights on my Instagram for sure. I'm putting all the laundry out there because I'm, I'm sorry. He's still watching it. Yeah. Dude, that... You put it best, dude.

It's like, yo, I mean, we just got together to jam because we're like, yo, we like to play music, so we just do it. And, you know, absolutely sure it's kind of like, okay, this is how, this is where we found our flow. We didn't set off, like, this is exactly the way we need to do this. It was like, this is what we feel like works best

and really good, and we just stick with it. It's not broken. We have a lot of fun doing it, you know? And, like, it's funny because we've all been friends with so many other bands where it's like, we write this way exclusively. One guy writes, he programs, We were like, dude, like, I don't know.

We just know how to jam. That's kind of all we started as. You know, it wasn't like we really were like, we even really gave thought to other stuff. It was like, oh, this feels good. So let's just, that's what we do, you know? But yeah, man, and just, you know, a lot of that. And I think that's the thing, like, dude, you guys play so tight live.

You know, even though we might have moments like, yeah, I fucked this up, whatever. It's like, you guys play so tight live. It's like, dude. What happens after hundreds of shows? Dude, that's, I tell people like, like, we, all of us, like, dude, There's shows. They're like, dude, we messed up because they didn't have good monitors.

Like, dude, I don't need to have shit. As long as I got, like, literally to see you guys. Monitors can be falling off. There's no PA. I can't hear myself. It doesn't matter. Like, we are so locked on the back of our hands with each other for the most part, you know, because you can't buy that.

You can't force that. That's just hours and hours, but just getting locked in. You know, like, we know each other's patterns. We, like, communicate, like, on that, like, third eye type thing, you know. And not to sound like an old man. man, but like I feel like with today, like this whole like viral kind of culture and like videos blown up overnight or like singles blown up overnight. I think you kind of lose the idea of just starting a band just because you want to start a band and play music because you love it. I think it's like I've seen it on a lot of younger bands where it's like they'll want to start a band and then they want to play this fest and then do this and then do this and like they have their whole career mapped out before the band even starts.

And it's just such a weird like it's a weird thing. I don't think and that's not to say you shouldn't have goals and aspirations. but I think, sadly, it's like a lost kind of thing where you just want to start a band to play music because, like, you've got to do it because you don't want to do anything else. Right. You know, and I, unfortunately, I feel like sometimes that gets lost. I see that, though. Yeah.

I see that. I think there's a results-driven person. And I find that from my experience, and I can only say of watching, like, lots and lots of different kinds of bands. Because I've been in and around the world of rock music and so many different. like places. And so the spectrum of rock music, if we just called it rock, like you guys are a, if we zoom out, you're a rock and roll band of a certain kind of in style, right? Yeah. But so if I look at the spectrum of rock music and just, just there, but we could go beyond rock

and we could say there's just in live music or we could call it organic music, all the things. however we define it, music, I see the artists who care about what they're doing, long-term they do better. I see the artists that are driven by goals and outcomes more than a need to create this art the way they want it. And there's some kind of nuance there that I notice over time, I see the bands who are more artistically driven and feel a need for control of that artistic their art. I see them over time, a lot of them over time end up, I think, doing better or being around longer or however we would define that long-term success.

There's a lot of ways you could. I see the ones driven by results a lot of times. And now this is not a generalization of all. And I'm saying like a most that I notice. Because I could argue there's ones that have had long term success that are really just results driven. And I could argue there's ones that are art driven that have not had long term success. And I could tell you why I think.

But I'll finish what I was what my, my, where my thought is on this. I see that and I think that the need to make something the way you want it with the detail that you need and with like all. of the artistic expression that you feel you need to make, I actually think that that's the most important part of being an artist and being in a band. I actually, when I listen to your music, I go, these guys are, you're making good music

and I can tell you you care about it. Thank you, man. Seriously. Would you say that's like correct? Absolutely. Oh, for sure. That's also wild to think that people would put right off like punk music historically for that

Because you listen to the bad brains or the Chrome Mags, it's like, you can't not care and play that music. You know what I mean? Like, it's just too good to like not care about it. But yeah, no, I would say that's absolutely correct. Totally. Yeah. If we didn't care, I don't think we would do it.

Exactly. Yeah. The simple as that, you know. It's like from, you know, it is funny. It's like there's like certain things like you should care about. And there's some where it's like, like, how to explain? Like, I feel like what we care the most is like when we're like, we're like, building stuff and like creating it, you know, like writing music and stuff.

I feel like the ones where we're pretty lenient. It's like when we're, we already got the songs ready. We're here on tour. Like, yeah, like, and we've seen it. You know, you get people like, do like, where's my stage house? I can't play that. Or this, this one or something. That's where it's like, okay.

There's certain things you should care about. And like, I feel that's one we're pretty like, obviously we prefer every night to have the best sounding speakers and this and that, a perfect sound check and a line check and everything. It's like, sometimes you just got to get where you go and like you don't throw a fit. But like when it comes to the writing, it's like, dude, it's always like just, you know, writing music, always like, okay, how can we, how can we make this better? How can we make this more interesting for us to play, for people to listen to, you know, down to the artwork? It's like, I don't think there's ever been one thing where it's like, hey, man, like, we made this for you.

What do you think? Like, yeah, 100% it's runs. Every time like, all right, love the idea. Let's expand it. Let's tweak this. Let's tweak this. Like, let's curate everything. So it's exactly like where we think is dope, you know?

And I don't know. I don't know that makes sense. It was funny. It doesn't make sense. Yeah, it's like the one thing that I kind of recently, like, we know, we've had like, it's been the three of us basically, you know, for the most part. We've had like different friends like play base or just like lately like fill in on base. Like one, you know, buddy do this run or buddy do that run.

And it's funny like I even don't realize when we start having someone new and I'm like, we are so locked in the three of us. And then we have someone new. And I'm like, oh, like, oh, dude, there's actually like, you, you miss this one thing. And it's like so subtle. But like, you know what I mean? I'm like, damn, we have a lot of those. You know, I don't.

I don't even realize in the moment when we're doing him, but I'm like, dude, it's like a lot of those little things. Like, you do that the same way the whole time, but like this one, you've got to do different and, like, choke it. You know, whatever it is, it's like a lot of those little ones, little subtle intricacies, but it makes a big difference, you know? And it's crazy, man. It's dope.

Who do you guys feel like listens to your music? What are your, like, what are your fans like? Do you feel like it's like a wider range of people? You know what I mean? A lot of young people for sure, but like, I don't know. I feel like a lot of different people. We've, like, come across a lot of different people, like, being fans of us. We're like, damn.

Some, it's like, oh, that makes sense. And there's others where it's like, oh, fuck, that's crazy. Cool. But cool, you know. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I feel like a lot of young just, like, stoked kids.

I feel like kids in like, and like, and let's be real, though. I, you know, I think, they're a successful band. But I think it's a lot of bands. Like, it's, it's the young kids that keep this shit alive and keep it afloat. That's it. So it's like the fact that. That's who goes to shows. My ass is definitely not going to a.

show that often. Totally. I mean, if we're not playing, you know, like, do what it can. But I feel it's like, it's one of those things I feel like some people write music for certain people specifically. And it's like, dude, like, especially in our genre, it's like, you know, like, that's dope.

You could totally aim it towards the people. Those aren't really people who are buying shirts. They're not paying for tickets. You know, it is what it is. It's dope. But it's like, I feel like to kind of unplan, we didn't really like consciously plan that, but to be doing something that, like,

younger kids can resonate with. and identify with. And it's so cool because I've literally seen it and so many like kids sing along lyrics that's cool. Like yo, the song means it lots of me that's cool.

Kids like, yo like this dude makes me want to play guitar. You know what I mean? Like dude, that's rat. Like you can't really plan that and like young kids in high school like dude I'm trying to learn your song guitar like I check my cover out.

Am I getting it right? It's like that's so cool that kids can identify with that and relate to it. And those are my favorite ones to have of the show. And I hope. I think they're the most important ones.

Yeah. And I hope like you're saying as a kid watching this video or a kid at a show. I'm stoked to see in 20 years what some kids is like, yo, like, Drain. I hear what I do that dude, Drain is my first hardcore show. I'm still to see what those kids are doing in 20 years

and like what doors we might open by, you know, this new record is called Living Proof. And that's like, it's a very positive thing. It's like, yo, we're living proof. Imagine what those kids who are getting into it, that they sit and like resonate with that record what they're going to do. If they listen to the message, like,

yo, we can do something. Let's see what they're going to do. It's going to be awesome. Yeah. There's a weird, like, like negative connotation associated within hardcore, I think, where when there's like new kids that no one's seen before, it's like this weird, like, who the fuck is that?

Why is this kid? I've never seen this kid before. This is mine. Exactly. And it's like, we've never been about that. This will never be about that. It's like if there's new kids at the show and it's their first hardcore show ever, or it's their second or third and they have a bunch of their friends

who've never been to a heavy music show, period. Like, that's the coolest, that's the coolest thing to us. Yeah. That's like, that's our bread and butter. If younger kids are listening to our music, I mean, that's all I need. I feel that, though, in your guys' music and in all of the things you put out in the world, I feel that.

It's one of the reasons why I like your band. I feel like a deep need for music to be inviting to everyone because you never know, and this is, again, when I go back to the, I talk about this all the time here, the ripple effect of what we do. And we don't know at what point in what chain of events, what we started here or what the interaction with this person in our art caused this, this line here, and this line ends up somewhere where someone is because of the chain of events,

they're doing something that's making the world a better place or a safer place or they're contributing to the positive. And I just see life, like, spiritually, I feel I see things. very black and white. I see good and bad. And so I think we're either contributing to good or we're contributing to bad. And I feel like my and my understanding of spirituality is to choose, and anyone, you could call it a bunch of different things, but the simplest way for me to put it, it's to choose good over bad, to be a part of the good chain of events and not the bad. So that's why the little actions are so important when we can, when we can, when we can interact with someone in a positive way, it's always a choice. We could choose to be also mean

to someone. We could also choose to say something we didn't need to say. I always think like what little action I'm making that's setting off a negative chain of events and what actions am I doing to set off positive? And I just like, that's how I define like my simple, like that's my simple version of like my own spirituality, right? It's like that simple because it can't just be mental spirituality is actually like an actionable thing. If we're just saying we believe in something but we're not acting on it, then it's not really real. My version of spirituality is very much action-based in the little actions I make every single

day. Am I being a contributor to the good or the bad? And that's why I like this show because I open up these conversations that I think musicians understand more than anyone, but we get written. off as wishy-washy, not serious, or what you guys have done from starting your band to getting here is you could go and teach a master class at a college about being an entrepreneur and starting a brand and then building an audience. And there's a bunch of now at all the colleges, they have music programs.

So they have all these people studying how to do what you guys have done. Organic, living, breathing things, and especially in art, I think, strike people. And I do think that, like, hardcore music, punk music, heavy music gets written off as angry, not complex enough, not real art, unintelligent. It's kind of false. It's majorly false because when I listen to bands that I like, it's the art that strikes me. I mean, and then you think, I think about heavy bands. It's like, I think there's my, one of my favorite bands of all time is architects.

I just love architects. When you listen to their lyrics, they are saying some shit. And it is about the world. And it is about the state of humanity. And I just think it's beautiful art. And so I think that what you guys are doing is super important. when talking about that ripple effect. I know I'm all over the place.

But I promise you, there's some kid that's coming to your show that didn't fit in anywhere. And he comes to your show and he finds he makes a friend and they start listening to music. And they bond over your band. And they start. And he then has a supporter. And then he goes down the road and they go to shows together. and they start developing as young people. And he gets just enough confidence to try that thing.

And then it takes him down the road, and he ends up following his dream of being a surgeon. And then one day he's operating on people's hearts and saving lives. And it was all because of that moment that he went to that place where he didn't have anywhere to belong. And he met that friend. and they bonded over art that you guys made. Like that to me is like, that's the reality of what's really happening in music and it shows.

Dude, straight on them. To you. All of that to just say, good job, guys. But do you ever think about that? Yeah, honestly, I do. I think it all do, you know. Just make a welcome place. Well, yeah, and just like, I mean, I think I'm sure you guys feel the same way,

but it's like I'm, that's what inspired us, too. It's like seeing bands do it And then thinking to ourselves, dude, if they can do it, we can do it too Like, why can't we? There's no reason we can't do it Yeah So if anyone comes to a drain show And so he's like, damn

If anyone sees me, my dumb ass, sit down and play drums They, I hope they look at me and be like, damn, if that dude can do it I can for sure do it, I can for sure do it a lot better And I will do it Like that's the ultimate, man That's the ultimate straight up Like that's the coolest thing in the world I feel the same way for like young guitarists and stuff

That's like really Keep that close to my heart So every time I see a kid or a kid deems me, he's like, bro, like, you know, I play guitar too. And like, I love your riffs and everything. I'm like, do keep going, man. That's, that's my favorite shit, you know? Yeah. Yeah, you speak guitar.

Oh, yeah. It's a language. It's a language to itself. And like, real guitar players just speak it. It's cool. I love it. I'm always looking for the guitar players and trying to bond with them and everything. Yeah.

Yeah, I love it. It's dope. It's just like, I don't know. Like, you know, I just feel like the life is tough. The world is hard enough as it is already. Life is full of suffering. Yeah, dude. And so I'm just like, man, I don't know.

If for 20 minutes I could just make like your try to help, you know, and someone just like kind of turn their brain off for a sec and just like focus on like right here and now like I don't know how to go like hit people. Like we just move some energy around and like feed they feed off us and we feed off them and just kind of give this weird zone with like there's really no rules and you can just. You want to be the singer drain. You're a singer drain now. jump on my back, take the mic. You want to be an airplane and fucking fly through the air? You can climb off and jump off. You got the full green light.

Whatever you want to do, I'm bringing a trampoline. Yeah, straight out. It's like, it's cool. My favorite, you know, like kids like, dude, I've never done a stage die before. That's my first stage diet tonight. I'm like, yeah. Tonight's the night.

We will like give you the soundtrack for like that. Let's do it, you know? Do you like festivals or shows better? What's your, or do you not care? I like them both, to be honest. I'm both are really cool, man. I like shows more, for sure. It's more intimate and just more like you feel more of a connection with the crowd.

We make it pretty well known that it's like there's no distinction between the audience and the band, in my opinion. It's like we're not better than you because we're in the band and you're not better than us because you're in the crowd. We're all, it's all one show. Get up here, take the mic, you know, jump on the drums, whatever. That's, in my opinion, the way it should be. Like, that's why we do it.

I like the fest because I'm like a big fan of like. events like it doesn't matter like what it is like I just like kind of being around a bunch of people just walk and like oh I'm gonna get some food like watch some bands it's like oh then we play at like three and then you get ready for that you know so I like those vibes too you know the experience of the event yeah yeah totally totally the festival thing has been fun lately because we're starting to do some things that are like like you know we started a hardcore band still you know love it done as many you know so many years of hardcore touring and shows like that in festivals and we've done like the major ones.

And so now we're starting to do like, still doing that as well. But it's really cool to be kind of like, like in tomorrow we're doing this like punk in the park. Like we're playing with like, you know, it's like more punk rock than we're kind of. Who are you excited to play with there? Dude, honestly like, I think it's suicidal and like in like L.A. Rotting out, obviously. Shrown rotting out.

Strung out. Pennywise. Yeah. Like literally all of it is going to be so fun. But it's like I know we're kind of like the wild card in that like, not not really. But like, you know, no one really knows us. And so I like, I like, I get a. sick thrill. I think we all do in a sense of being like, you have no idea who we are,

but you're going to know and after this. And you're going to remember this set after. Like that's the goal. Like make it. And that's my favorite. I feel like, y'all, I've never heard of you guys. I loved it. I want to buy a t-shirt. I want to see you guys next time you come. And I think that trying to try to really step into that world, which is just not like a specific place, but it's just different. We did like a hip-hop show. Yeah. You could totally tour with hip-hop. You guys are so, I'm telling you, your band is, people are going to fuck with you guys big time. I know they already are,

but like there's going to be levels to this because you guys could totally tour with all kinds of like hip hop and all different kinds of like music because of the, I'm telling you, it's beyond hardcore. I love hardcore.

There's an expression in the music. That's what I feel about turnstile. I feel like they express themselves in a way that through hardcore and sounding music. And certainly they've gone really melodic and they've like, I think they've touched in all these places

that I think they were, it just feels unique to me that like they're, because when you're, when you come from an authentic place, but you grow, you learn to express yourselves in all these different ways.

And I think that you guys have a lot of potential of where you could go and who you could play with because the music, to me, is authentic. The emotion in the music is authentic. Because we have to be a little larger than life when we make the music. It's the only way we could get behind a mic and sing. Like, there's something about us that has to feel like what we have to say is important enough that we should be recording it.

Totally, yeah. But it's just delicate balance. It's such, it's like there's not one right way by feel. It's like there's some, some things will just like, nope, that's too much. Or like that's not enough. You know, it's like it's finally like that perfect middle ground. Yeah. And like, especially when you're writing lyrics, I mean, you go to record, it's like, that's set in stone.

That's there for life. It's like you got to get that right. Make sure you convey what you're trying to convey like properly because you don't really get a second chance. You know, like. You better be willing to stand by it because it's, you're bearing a little bit. Like you're letting people see. And I struggled with that. whenever I said something that made me blush or made me feel like I was being too honest.

Yeah. Those usually were the best. Those usually were the best, like, they ended up being the one, the stuff that people resonated with the most. But you're really opening up saying, like, I'm going to say how I feel about this or whatever. Yeah. It's, it's, it's, yeah. These guys, they don't know the lyrics, the songs until we record.

They're literally until they're in the other room and I'm in the booth. Yeah. I'm like, I guess this song's done, you know, I don't know. And some people, it's like, maybe it's just different. I'm like, I'm like, I'm just ride about shit that I feel like pretty strongly about or like at least hits for me. So I'm like, because that, I don't really want to sit down and be like, hey, guys, check out.

I'm right. You know, it's like, I don't know. Maybe that's a weird thing on my end. I'm just like, I don't know, you're going to hear it. I'm just like, you know what I mean? Like sitting like kind of like tabletop reading like, hey man, man, here, take it. Literally like, this is if I had a diary, this is my diary. That's basically what it is.

You know what it is. And it's like, I don't know. It's pretty personal. And so it's cool when you do see kids like that really can like grab onto something, you know, because it's like, yeah. And you're straight edge. Oh, straight edge. Yeah.

Is that you've always been? No, no. I've been, I'm going on like seven years in a little bit here. It's straight edge still kind of like the way it was back in the day was it was kind of like a movement a little bit. It was kind of like a group for sure. And there were certainly like bands and stuff. And it was almost like a little subgenre in itself in a way in the scene. But like is it still a thing like that?

Or do you feel like it's just a characteristic of you that you could identify it as straight-eds? But you could also say like, I just don't drink or do any drugs. Yeah, like, it's honestly fine. And like this might be like a weird thing. You know, it's like some dudes. Like, I don't really have a favorite straight-edge band. Like, I heard one day and the lyrics were like so moving to me. You know, I'm just like, dude, honestly, man, like, there's just no way I could do alcohol

and music. And, like, it was one of the other. It's a healthy lifestyle. Yeah, it was just like there's, you know, when we first started, I loved to drink. I had a lot of fun partying. It was just dope. And I was just like, dude, this can be fun. It can be messy, but it can also be, you know.

Yeah, I was one of those use I knew. Like, yeah, I'm not good at this balancing thing. It doesn't really. It actually never really actually leads to anything good. Yeah. It's just the people who are good at. that managing it to a point where it doesn't lead to bad things are the ones who are successful, you know, partakers of the, of the, I don't know where I fall in that because I don't have a stance.

I don't do drugs. I never have done drugs. But I don't also like judge people who do drugs, but I also don't understand necessarily why they do drugs. So it's a weird. But I also grew up around a lot of different people who struggled with addiction. So I also have a weird relationship with that. So it's a really messy blurred. My relationship with drugs and that whole world is really messy and blurry because I never got into it.

But I also like, and I also have a lot of friends that I've died from it over the, you know, I'm 44. So over the 25, 26 years I've been around music, there's a lot of drugs in different ways. I still don't know how I feel about drugs, though. because I'm not anti, I mean, definitely not anti, like, I don't know if I even count marijuana as a drug. Totally, yeah. I don't count mushrooms as a drug or maybe it's not like, it's like alcohol. Like I don't judge anyone, but I personally like am not a big time like drug person. You know, I've never done cocaine.

Yeah, totally. You know what I mean? So I don't know how I feel about it, but I do understand like straight edge. I go, that's a very clear description of your stance on your personal choice, right? Totally. Which I think is cool. Yeah, definitely not like hard line though. You know, I was a bartending, you know, bartender.

I love, dude, like kids, honestly, I'm like, dude, just get wasted. Every time. Are you vegan? I'm not vegan. Okay. Yeah, no, I mean. That's the thing, too, straight edge vegan. Yeah.

Dude, XVX, that's the whole other level, dude. But also, like, vegan as a description is, like, important. It's like a, you could say I don't eat meat or you could say I'm vegetarian or you could go further and say I'm vegan. Like as a descriptor, it usually says something about like the things you're into or like, and straight edge to me is it says like someone who tends, someone who listens to hardcore music who doesn't drink or do drugs. That's what it says to me.

Totally. Yeah. But I'm with it. You know, but once I have a good time. I'm like, dude, have fun. That's dope. Like we're, I'm full. You want to get, we want to jump on stage with shock and a beer.

let's do it. Like, you're not going to bump me out. Yeah, yeah, I'm not going to get in your way of like, yeah,

your first beer at my show. I feel like you definitely like the party vibes in the atmosphere, but like obviously without the actual, I'm a fake partier. That's what it is.

I'm a fake party. No, no, I think you're, I think you're self-disciplined. I think that says self-discipline. I don't know what you're disciplining yourself for,

but no, but it's a, it's a, it's a way of life. It's healthy. Right? So you're likely healthy, you likely have healthy habits. I actually do think there's like a descriptor that says like I put my health first.

I put my mental sanity first. I put my like because truthfully, alcohol is poison even though we drink it and we like it sometimes. And then most of the time anyone who drinks too much wakes up the next day, they don't feel great. I mean it's fact. Fact. You have all you. Everyone has their own emotional experience.

the next day. Mine is not good. Mine is like very dark. But that's why I avoid it because I avoid drinking too much because I will go, oh my God, what did I say last night? What did I do? Like, that's me. I just feel depressed and I feel bad.

I don't know. So, like, I think I'm a little too messy emotionally to, like, have a party lifestyle. Totally. But I also don't judge, like, people that I see that. want to party because you get one life and you got to live it how you want and band guys. I just feel like we're looked at people probably look at us and go, oh, you do drugs for sure. What's it like to be your kid? You're irresponsible.

You don't get up until 2 p.m. You drink all the time. Groupies. You're just like, yeah, you're just out there. You're not a good father or husband or you're just a mess. And you're like, no, actually not. I get up there pretty early. I remember I had a boss once.

I was working at like a warehouse job. And we were going to go on tour. I was trying to get, you know, time off. And he was just like, oh, man, I bet you guys have like a treasure chest full of drugs in your van. I'm just like, bro, no. Like we have like a case of water or something. I don't know. Like a couple energy drinks maybe.

I don't know. But other than that, oh, what the fuck? Yeah. I mean, it's funny too. I mean, like that's always a fun one to you. Like, you know, I don't know, like the dirt. You know, like the dirt on like Netflix. But it's just what tour's like?

I'm like. Yeah, dude, it's just like, yeah. No, dude, like, what? It was like, if you saw it look like, that almost looks more glamorous. Like, damn, this is, this is tour? You just sit in this van. You're peeing in, like, bottles. Driving through Iowa for like 15 hours.

Yeah. What I see, when I see artists doing heavy drugs, I'm just being honest. I'm not judging. I'm just telling you how I feel when I see it, right? Because I could be completely wrong. But when I see artists doing heavy drugs or heavy anything, I immediately become like a therapist. And I go, what happened to you in your childhood that you're running from it so hard?

Like, no one was going to stop you from becoming a successful artist because you were running so hard away from your childhood in that direction. And now you're feeling the trauma, you know, with drugs that you don't have to deal with the pain and suffering of realizing that like the success you thought would fix all that from back there is. going to fix it. Like, that's where I go. I just go, what kind of pain are they in that they're doing all this lean or all these pills? Yeah. Yeah.

It just feel bad. Like, dude, I get into the sense. Like, dude, life's tough. I'm also like, dude, life's really awesome, you know? And it's like, I implore, you know, again, not that my word has any way or means me. I implore you to, like, cut out those things that are those stressors in your life or those things that are bringing you, if you can.

You know, obviously, sometimes it's in the past. I'm like, dude, like, and just try to find that. that piece and you get to live with that piece because it's like dude you're dude you're 100% right whether you you know you you I hear you I don't want to come off judge you're preaching at all but there is no doubt that like a healthy lifestyle leads to good results like a better life like you're healthy and what you eat what you put in your body what you the drugs alcohol if you find habits that you can stand long enough the healthy ones that you can stand long enough to make them a habit, they will affect your life in a positive way.

And if you create a habit with a bad thing, drugs, alcohol, all that, it will affect your life in a negative way, no doubt, period. Like, argue me on that all day. And I'll tell you, like, it doesn't mean you can't do it. I'm not going to stop you from drinking, but I'm, but if you ask me, do I think that's a good habit? I'm going to say, no, I think it's not a good habit. I think it's a habit I don't want to develop.

So I don't. I think the journey you guys are on making music is part of that. I think you guys, not only for yourselves, but other people, you're making soundtracks for people to have success. And I don't think bands understand that as much as I wish, I want them to. Because my success in the world, in my businesses, and in my family, my personal, the soundtrack is music. that's so rad.

My playlist. Yeah. When I'm thinking, you know? And so I think you guys are a part of that. I think it's great. What other hardcore bands are coming up that you guys feel like akin to or you feel like you love or you feel like are your favorite bands? It doesn't have to be hardcore. But like heavy music and the music in the world you guys exist in, what are the other bands you guys feel like you love?

your fans of or you love playing with or they're your friends like what are the bands you love. I'm gonna'amena. And, like my music, my cabo can't change with me and has to be able to to continue my rhythm. For so, Potion Nine of Sebastian Professional has all what my cabellio needs.

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of the now of the now I mean well fuck I mean shots out to coil I mean I feel like they're always fun to play with and just the best dudes you know so yeah yeah coil from Long Island for sure big time like they just

yeah they just embody their shows are fun they're insanely nice people they're nice people they yeah I just can't speak highly enough about them yeah doing a sound I feel like it's just like it's just different

you know than like you know they've all played in heavy bands and stuff and just doing a band that's like not, I guess, the on paper, like what you write out the gates, but like, oh, this is like, people are going to like this. I don't know. I just think it's really cool. And I think they do it really well. And it's very fun and enjoyable, you know.

Yeah. Shots out to our friends in Scowl, too. I love Scowl for sure. They're killing it. They're super cool. Yeah, we've been friends with them forever. That's cool. Yeah.

They couldn't be more stoked for him. Taking over the world and we love to see it. Yeah. The guitar player, I do Malachi, is like, I feel like he's been. been, he's been with us since, like, early years of Drain, you know, a good friend of ours, and there's always been, like, the guy, like, the books of shows. He's always done, like, done bands, but maybe he just didn't quite, like, take off, you know? Yeah.

And so it's so sick. I remember, you know, just talk. He's, like, I want to, like, get to do what you guys are doing, you know? And then, like, it's so cool. Like, dude, you're above and beyond most people we know, man. Like, you're the guy who's just, like, the go-to-booker and, like, housed bands when they'd come through. But now you're, like, you're the guy on the... You're the guy on the...

You're the guy in Madison Square Garden, dude. Like, you deserve it, bro. It's so sick. He taught himself to play guitar and took his band all over the world shortly. It's the coolest thing ever, man. That's awesome. Yeah. Like the most inspiring.

It's super cool. Yeah. Should, well, shout out to Zulu. One of my best friends, Braxton, plays guitar in that band. And it's just cool to see, like, you know, just both, like, doing everything, you know, just playing guitar. Yeah. Just torn and stuff like that. Just, it's awesome, you know.

But, yeah, shout out to them for sure. Yeah, dude. It's one of the things is, it's tough. My God, there's like so many bands. That's a good group. Yeah, dude, that's a good. That's a good little like, if a kid's listening and he goes and checks out three or four other bands, that's always to me is like really cool when you find, you know, a little world of music

and you start finding all these bands. Yeah. Good for everyone. Yeah. I feel fortunate that like all those bands are your name. It's like, I mean, well, I guess Scott we knew before and like kind of Zulu we knew before. But like, it's just cool. Like, I don't know.

It's just dope seeing people that you just. like as people and watch them start bands and watch them just also get just grow you know and it's just so cool it's like dude everyone deserves it man these guys are all just people just like us that love this and do it and have done it before they're in a cool band you know just because they like it and they did it you know with bands that maybe didn't quite take off but just for the love of it so to see it's like dude it's a very cool to be be doing this right now you know and like I feel like just our like generation of bands that we've all like I don't know I was feeling like like Zulu It's like all those, you know, we've played like so many floor shows with with their old bands, you know, to live like 40 kids and like, you know, a warehouse in SoCal.

And now we're like all in Europe together. I'm like, what's up, dude? Like, you know, it's great. Like we're all here for the first time because a lot of our bands also came up like during COVID, you know, like that, that area or that time frame. So the first summer of festival is back. It's like, dude, every band that we know is in Europe right now this summer. And it's like, dude, we just went from like playing a garage show. Europe's great.

Yeah, dude, it's just so real. I like Europe a lot. Yeah, Europe is really fun. Yeah. It's really fun. That is my favorite place to tour, I think. It's just such, the shows are great, and it's never boring. I just always, like, captivates my imagination. Cool place all over.

Big fan of the festival circuit, too. Yeah. I'm really excited for the stuff we got coming up, too, you know. This summer stuff is so dope. I'm so bummed, man. Yeah, it's just so cool. like, you know, we're definitely, you know, we've, like, like, super seen that we've done, you know, done the States, like, quite a few times, you know, like, there are full U.S. or even just regionals. So, going, we're now Europe, we just got back for our second European tour and it's like, man, it's just feels so cool. It's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, all right, now, how do we navigate through this? You know, how do it, like, learn, like, different, like, customs and norms and, like, things out there and, like, and just kind of expand on it every time and meet more friends just like, oh, like, I met that kid the first time we did Czech Republic. he's back now and like the venues are getting bigger

but it's the same kids like I saw you the first time there's only 10 kids here you know it's like so rad I predict that and I think Drain's a great example of what I think is coming and I see this movement of new

kind of hardcore being born and I mean it in like from a fan perspective I think kids are young kids need a place to go they need a place to go again I think they're over the overworked algorithmic music. And by the way, I'm not even

criticizing any of the artists that make these different kinds of music. I didn't even, that's not even where I'm coming from. I think that the ear needs to hear something different. And I think that live music, especially heavy music, especially hardcore music, there's,

it's not just about the music. It's about a bunch of things you discover about yourself. I think we're going to see a real, movement of kids coming into this and discovering it for the first time. And you guys are one of, in what I think are one of those bands that'll be a magnet for these young kids coming in and discovering a world of music that they weren't aware of. And what do you think for Drain the latest record and beyond? Like, where do you see the band going? Is it just make

these records in tour and just keep letting it do its thing like just you're going to grow however you're going to grow it's going to be probably organic for you guys um i'll tell you right now you're going to grow and your shows are going to get bigger but like where where is it is it just like let's let's make records and tour and just keep doing this is that it damn see i don't even know like that's like that doesn't sound bad that's for sure sounds good to me i'm like been so fixated on like just this this next record you know like that like whatever that stuff cycle is, at least for, you know, and kind of just taking it like planning, but also taking it one day at a time.

But like, I feel like leaning into that feeling of like, okay, we know who we are, we know what we're about. Now let's take that into a world we may not know so well. You know, kind of like step out of the comfort zone, but like be comfortable in ourselves while we step out, you know, and just get in front of, for me, that's the big thing. I just want to get in front of as many kids and as many different kids that, not just hardcore kids, you know, like, and just take it where, we're, wherever they're at. I like that.

Show them what we're all about. Even if it's a complete, we were the odd band out on the bill, I love for some band, like, damn, I went to a hip-hop show, saw some crazy, like, do we do we do that, that rap show? We played this band, this group, City Morgan. They're like, we've never seen a rock band. I've never seen a band with, like, a guitar player, you know? Like, is your whole record like this, or is there, like, like, beats and stuff?

I'm like, no, I was just like, it was just a band, you know? What you saw on stage is what's on basically on the record, you know? Do you have to come? I'm like, that's sick. Okay, we're going to come back and they came back. Just one. You know, I'm like, damn, if we did that for a full tour, we only did a one off with them, but it's like, dude,

I think that's the feeling kind of showing kids. Like, damn, there's a lot of crazy stuff going on. But we like it. We can identify with it. And let's just see, you know, I don't know. That was my thought. Awesome. Thanks for coming on, guys.

Thank you so much for having. Hell yeah. Dude, thank you so much. It really, really meant a lot for me. I'm really happy you guys are here. Thank you. I appreciate having us, dude. This is dope, man.

Appreciate it. Thank you, dude. Thank you so much. No bad times. I don't want to bed. Hey, thank you for checking out today's episode with Drain. We'll see you next time. This car only take premium gas.

I love my engine. If I'm not smoking on gas, I'm smoking up. If that's my kind, I don't want no bad times. I don't want to have bad.