A Classic Case

Interview With The Politicians

Orange County

From Issue 1.2, November/December 2004

Somewhere in between Andy randomly walking out of the interview to go outside and Mike spinning on a bar stool with a half-crazed laugh [perhaps out of sheer boredom], a very clear picture of Orange County band The Politicians, began to emerge.

This picture was one of a band whose members are content with being down-to-earth, boys next-door-types  rather than holier than thou rock stars.  Instead of whining about wanting their music to be heard, these four Politicians exercise an attractive subtlety in their non-confrontational music.

Perhaps this is because they know their music is good.  So, why bother pitching it during an interview? 

The Politicians  six-song EP, “Good and Dead,” provides ample evidence of these musicians’ talent and creativity with style reminiscent of The Clash.

“We are a rock band that uses punk as a format,” said guitarist Pete.  “I think punk is one of the last salvations for rock and roll,” - a well said sentiment, which could prove true. 

Images of gangsters and an era of decadence come to mind when listening to The Politicians.  With lyrics like Andy’s, the band dangles clever bits of history and the  idiosyncrasies of everyday life in the face of so many other bands who depend on a string of empty words to fill their lyrical voids.

“We sing about getting old, drinking beer and we sing a little bit about history.  Historical stuff.  One song’s about the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.  Everyone thinks it’s a love song though.  Another song is about Jack the Ripper,” said the band’s vocalist, Andy.

The Politicians evolved two years ago from a sort of garage band project with Andy and Pete playing covers in the garage with drummer Rob.  However, it was Rob who persuaded them to stop being a cover band.

“I basically said screw covers.  Your stuff is good enough,” said Rob.

“We didn’t know about booking shows.  We practiced but that was about it.  We were pretty musically stupid,” added Andy.

“We were dreamers,” said Pete.  “So, thanks Rob.”

Bass player Mike was asked to join in January, and band’s lineup was seamless and complete pairing the experience of Mike and Rob, with the energy of Pete and Andy.

Originally, Mike grew up playing the drums.  His dad was a drummer in what he called the “old school, East L.A. music scene.”  Later, he took up the guitar because it was cheaper and then eventually, learned the bass for very pragmatic reasons.

 “There were more openings in bands for bass players.  I probably wouldn’t be in this band if I were a guitar player,” said Mike thinking aloud. 

Drummer Rob has been playing the drums for about 14 years and has been in bands for 12 of those years.

“This is my first punk band.  Most of the other ones I was in were alternative or emo.  This is a totally new adventure.  The whole energy is different.  The stage performance is a whole different story onstage.  I get tired a lot faster; I still think I’m kind of learning,” said Rob.

Andy picked up the guitar around the age of 10.  “I tried to teach myself Rolling Stone.  I never really got around to it so I was sent to lessons.  I pretty much just showed up to that.  Basically, they want you to go home and do these drills.  What’s the difference between that and schoolwork,” he asked.

“Andy basically showed me how to play,” said Pete remembering his start in music.  “I think we played Nirvana’s ‘Drain You’ until my mom came out and told us to shut up.  I did that for awhile, and then I kind of just gave up on music.  I had this naive notion that I was going to make up my own music not even understanding what it was all about.”

“The Politicians was just my idea to write songs,” said Andy.  “You know when you’re like 18 and you write a bunch of love songs and then you get older and realize things that are important to you?”

“We came up with the name before the political climate of today,” explained Pete of the band’s name.

“It was basically inspired by the roaring 20s, bootlegging, alcohol-the Prohibition Era.  It had more to do with prohibition of alcohol and who was behind that?  The politicians,” said Andy in a brisk string of  speech.

“Some people listen to music for the sake of music.  I think we stay away from stepping on a pedestal.  The name is just kind of sarcastic,” added Rob.

“Basically, we have enough of our own problems let alone alienating other people with our music,” said Andy.

“We’re the best unknown band,” said Mike laughing.  “We have our own label:  Made to Lose Records.”  Well, not really.  He was just being sarcastic.

 As a result, there’s a bit of charming irony in this band.  They have an unpretentious knack for getting under one’s skin by not flaunting their talent.

Even more charming is a band that calls itself The Politicians, but hesitates to create an arrogant stir to make people see things their way through the music.  It’s classically cool and, perhaps more revolutionary than they think-or, want to be.