THEY'RE THE DICTIONS. PERIOD.

Interview With The Dictions

El Monte

From Issue 2.1, September/October 2005

When we go to shows, we go and say, ‘we’re The Dictions,’” said bassist Javi.  “We don’t go and say, ‘We’re The Dictions from El Monte, CA 91732.”

It’s quite clear that The Dictions play music for themselves and their friends and would rather you not think of them as a “band” in the typical sense of the word. 

Unlike bands who have to make it a point of being rock stars and making a big production at announcing who they are at local, backyard shows (like how Javi explained above), this is not the story of that kind of band.  This is the story of The Dictions and proof that they’re just regular guys. 

Not a band.  Not punks.

For starters, they do not like being labeled.

“A lot of people see us as ‘oh, you’re punk,’” said Javi.  “But if people knew us, we’re working class.”

The Dictions are not out to be admired.  They don’t strive to be punks nor do they strive to be rock stars at gigs, and for that, The Dictions have earned a lot of respect from their peers who have seen them play live.

“When we go to a gig,” said Javi, “people who are cool with us, are our homies-not our fans,” said Javi waving off the word “fans” as if it was a disease.  “Then the next time they see you, you say, ‘hey, what’s up.”

The Dictions, which takes cues for its name from the idea that diction is all a matter of how one chooses to express one’s self, also includes singer and guitarist, Germs, drummer Luigi and newest member Lalo also on guitar.

The Dictions officially became a band in May of 2002.  Their first show was at a McDonald’s where they used to work, but according to Germs it was the “worst show ever” because they were playing to an audience who did not care for their style of music, which is loud, fast and abrasive.

Yet, unlike many of the bands who claim to be “loud and fast,” The Dictions sing about some pretty serious topics.

The first song they ever wrote was “Prison.”

“It’s about how this country is starting to be like a prison.  There’s so many laws that your life is basically controlled,” explained Germs of the song.  “When you come as an immigrant, you have no rights; this country runs your life.”

Mildly political, but more insightful observations of reality than anything else, The Dictions lyrics seek not to persuade people to join a cause.  They just retell stories of things the members of the band have seen in life.

Gritty guitar progressions and thudding rhythms pounded out through the drumming of Luigi and Javi’s bass, tell stories of immigrants in the United States or poverty in Mexico.

The song “Ninos de Los Calles” is a song about the children in Mexico who Germs often sees when he visits family there.

“We’re relating ourselves to the kids that get rejected [in the song],” said Germs.  “You know, they [the kids] sell gum for like a couple of cents.”

“Over here [the United States],” said Javi, “people complain about shit.”

“Over there,” Germs added, “the only thing [the kids] have, is a dog.  Those kids living in the street, know the true meaning of life.”

Germs went on to describe the biggest difference between Mexico and California by explaining that here, a person can collect cans and buy a cheeseburger, which is not possible in Mexico.

“You know,” broke in Javi, “people are always talking shit about selling oranges or something on the street.”

Lalo interrupted to point out someone pushing a cart as an example of what Javi said, on the outskirts of the El Monte park where The Dictions interview took place.

“At least those people,” continued Javi, “are selling shit to make money instead of begging for shit.  They don’t go and ask for money.”

“We were raised to work,” added Germs.

They fly rather low on the radar as far as the mainstream music scene (they’ve declined on invitations to play in Hollywood and when Germs was pressed about where they were asked to play and could not remember, Javi dismissed the idea with “who cares?”).

The Dictions prefer the backyards over structured venues knowing most of their friends would not pay 10 bucks to see them when they can see the band for two dollars in a backyard.

“I’d rather play on the ground than a damn stage,” explained Javi.  “[venues are] just lights and a stage-that’s all it is.”

In a sea of bands who lack any context or perspective as far as their music is concerned, The Dictions stand out because they are so down-to-earth.  They have no desire to “make it” any further than what they are doing now. 

And why should they?  They have the respect of the people who are listening to them, which is more than what some of the big label bands can even say about the kids they call their “fans.”  After all, Lalo started out as someone who was just listening to them before he was asked to join The Dictions.

As Germs stated, “It’s just for fun, something to do in the afternoon.”

They also do not go shooting their mouths off on generic subject matter.  When someone sits down to actually talk with them, you get the ever-increasing feeling that each one of them knows what they’re talking about.

They love music and they’re not immune to the smaller occurrences in life few people tend to point out or see.

One major difference in what they sing about that differs a lot from many of their peers is on the subject of singing about suicide, which is what many bands choose to sing about.

“We do not talk about suicide,” said Javi fiercely.  “It’s the stupidest shit.  If you’re talking about suicide, you do it.  You don’t sing about it so people feel sorry for your ass.”

Javi went on to discuss Gigi Allen, who, as he put it, sang about suicide and then went on to actually do it.  Though he has no beef with the bands who do sing about suicide if that is their thing.

“If you have the balls to sing about it, then do it,” he continued.  “That music, what’s the point of listening to it?  If you make that kind of music, then play it for yourself.”

“We’re trying to succeed,” added Luigi as to why they choose not to sing about suicide.

All of this probably explains why no weekend backyard show in El Monte will go without The Dictions playing a set.

Kids know their names from the music.

Cops know their names from the number of shows that get shut down each weekend.

The El Monte City Hall knows them as well after their neighbors complained about the noise from their practices.  This is why they do not practice that often and do not have the number of songs that they would like to have.  That’s not really stopping them from playing though.

But in the end, the finish to their story would be simply this:  They are known.  They are liked (maybe not by the cops, but by the people who matter to them the most).

They are The Dictions and they like to play good music.  Period.