Play It Again

Interview With Barbie and the Hookers

Norwalk

From Issue 1.6, July/August 2005

It is already well into a couple hours of practice and Xavier seems a bit irritated, maybe even downright pissed-off by this time.

Practice has been going fine, it is the intervals in-between songs where members of the band’s friends (who have come to the practice) like to interject their two cents, or lack thereof, that’s starting to get to him.

In the middle of one of their new songs, “Twisted Individual,” they stop.

Frontman Chief says he’s not hearing the changes.  Xavier exclaims, “These are easy changes.  You’re going into it way too fucking late and that’s why you’re struggling to keep up.  It’s, ‘I see you sitting there and I see you’re pretty face,” he said aloud to the correct rhythm.

Friend Brian starts mimicking lyrics to one of the songs, “I see you’re pretty face and ...”

“Hey, shut the fuck up,” Xavier says shooting him a look from across the room.  “Hey, who invited these assholes?” he says in reference to everyone there that night not in the band.

Later on during a break, he explains, “It’s one of those things where there’s four guys in the band who have four other friends, so there’s like 10 people in the band.”

But in reality, there are only four people in Norwalk band Barbie and the Hookers:  Chief on vocals, Xavier on bass, Ryan on guitar and Ray on drums.  The band has been plowing through the backyard and concert venue scenes and is set to officially start a South Bay tour in July.  Semi-thrash with rhythmic bass lines, the band is all serious when it comes to the music and all comedy routine in their down-time together.  Dichotomy though it seems, the sense of irritation that seemed to be emanating from that practice space seemed to be only telling of this band’s passion and desire to get the job done, get out of California and set out to tour-which is all any of them want anyhow. 

One part of them seems to be stuck in endless party mode, the other part is serious musicians and a talented band.

Southern California and more specifically, South Los Angeles County seems to have gotten a little too small for them as they are poised for a change of scenery.

“I’d rather tour,” said Ray, “even if it’s two hours away.  It’s getting boring in Norwalk.  Everyone knows our songs.”

And the rest of the band seems to chime in unison with their drummer.

“It’s time to move on,” said Chief.

Added Xavier, “I’d like to play more and get the fuck out of California.”

“We’re saving up for a van,” said Ryan.  “So far we have 50 cents.”

It is that twist between their sense of urgency “to get the fuck out” as Xavier bluntly stated, mixed with  ever-consistent joking and occasional mix-ups on practices, that is Barbie and the Hookers.

Not the type of band that chooses to discuss at length any deep-seeded meanings in their songs, makes it all the more shocking when one actually looks at some of the lyrics inside Xavier’s black, three-ring binder that might make anyone want to take a step back and conclude, this isn’t just another band of lazy brats polluting backyard scenes and other gigs with a load of nothing.

Amidst the lesser than interesting conversation over friend Brian’s idea of getting dancers from Ambrosia to open up for them, faux-hawks, Ray’s mentioning of the Carl’s Jr. commercial with Paris Hilton and a brief fight over the movie opening of “Star Wars,” is of course the band’s music.

About a week earlier, Ray missed a practice the discussion of which led to heated debate considering this particular night’s practice was now wearing away.

“I was sitting at home watching The Simpsons,” Ray said excitedly to justify his dismissal of the practice.  “Then, put down [he instructs to the interviewer] that my friend Rick from The Dysfunctionals called and said ‘go to the Anarchy-there’s tons of fucking beer’-Guinesses in a dark room.”

So, the appeal of Guiness in a dark room seemed to win over their drummer, and practice got cancelled that night.

The band rarely practices making Ray’s complete dismissal of the band that evening even more infuriating to Xavier, but that’s beside the point now.  They had not practiced for five months saying that they play shows so often, practice is not necessary.

Their only concern that evening was to run through the new material Xavier wrote for their show that Sunday at The Anarchy Library in Downey-a venue they had been banned from two years ago for inciting bad behavior from a rowdy crowd.

And according to them, some labels seem to think the same.

“They say we’re too much,” said Chief.  “Big Mike said we need to get sober.  We’re too bad for the Anarchy and too drunk for Vomit.”

Formed in 2001, Ray and Chief are the only original members left in the band.  Xavier joined the Hookers three years ago with Ryan’s arrival into the band a year ago. 

However, all of them were good friends from the beginning and came from a bunch of other bands-everything from the Liberats, to Disturbed 98 and the Worthless Bastards.  Originally, Chief had been on guitar, but switched to vocals once the original singer left.  For now, most of the Barbie and the Hooker lyrics are written by Xavier who said he wants more of everyone’s input into future songs to balance out what the band produces so they do not come across as sounding only one way.

Song content includes everything from living a life of self-destruction (“Self-destruct”) and lower class social theory (“No More”).

Back to the band’s practice in an industrial section of Paramount, it is nearing 11:00 p.m. and those in the band who have to work the next day are getting ready to leave-especially after Xavier confirmed that too many people came that night.

Earlier that evening, Chief had said “out of all of this, it’d be Xavier” who is the most serious in this band.

“‘cause I want to do more,” Xavier shot back in defense.  “I would like it to do something more than backyards.  Money is not the issue.  I want to tour.  All I want to do is tour.”

“You have to get money to tour,” said Brian.

“No job will give you three weeks off,” added Xavier.

“It’ll take you a lot of time to get out of California,” said Brian.

“Yeah, no shit,” said Xavier.

As Xavier rolled down the window in his black SUV, he said to come down to the Anarchy show Sunday-the show they were practicing for that evening. 

It wasn’t quite evident if he had gotten the practice he actually wanted that evening, or if any of them had gotten what they wanted that evening.

They ended up playing their show, playing another show and are packing for their tour, well on their way to “getting out.”