Hi Jeremy, how did you end up in the hardcore scene at first ?
I was searching for something exciting like most 14 year-old kids and it appeared in the form of punk rock. From there, I met other people around my town with the same interests and before we knew it we had a little scene.
Can you talk a bit about Insight ?
Insight was the first band I did that actually accomplished anything . We wrote a lot of songs, toured the country and released a record on Victory! And, during the process, the band became friends for life.
How Insight evolved into Iceburn ?
A few of us were in a band concurrently with Insight called Brainstorm. It was a little less hardcore and a little more involved on the songwriting end of things. Both bands decided to split up around the same time, and a few of us ended up in Iceburn which ended up sounding like a good combination of the two previous bands.
Why are you only on the first Iceburn record ?
I was a confused 19 year old guy trying to go to college and be in a band. I chose college because I thought there was not much room for me to grow as a singer with Iceburn. But, really it was a matter of me not taking the time to develop my musical chops as fast as that band was growing. I ended up being sad that I left the band after the first 7".
What did you do between Iceburn and Handsome ?
I did a band called Ratchet with some ex-Iceburn guys and ended up singing in a band called Lumberjack. I would call that my musical searching period, it wasn't very productive or satisfying. And then, I quit school, packed up and moved to Brooklyn.
Who started Handsome ?
Handsome was started by Peter Mengede after he was "let go" from Helmet. It was his baby pretty much from the beginning. I think they had about 5 singers before me.
Did you write the lyrics ?
I wrote all the lyrics that were on the recordings, yes.
What are your greatest memories with them ?
There are so many good moments to choose from. I had my first opportunity to travel around Europe with Handsome. I lit a fire in our tour manager's hotel room in Chicago. Pete lit Peter's newspaper on fire in the van. We signed a record deal with Michael Goldstone. We recorded at Bad Animals studio in Seattle for 2 months. It was a crazy time in my life. I really cut my musical teeth with Handsome. It was an experience that kicked my 23 year-old ass!
How did you end up in Jets To Brazil ?
I reached a breaking point with Handsome and decided to quit the band and save my sanity. Soon after, I was introduced to Blake through a mutual friend and we began playing music together with a drum machine in his rehearsal space in Brooklyn. It was a good musical departure for both of us. After a few months we acquired Daly as a drummer and the name Jets To Brazil. It was a whirlwind. It had a mind of it's own at times.
What about Cub Country ?
I started Cub Country as an outlet for songs that I began to write on my own. Blake was a good inspiration to me as a songwriter. He was really prolific. I started to write songs and came up with a name for the project, and here I am 9 years, 4 records and 50 band members later.
I just read you played with Helmet. What about that ?
That was a really cool experience that came my way via my musical friendship with Chris Traynor. I played bass in the band for about a year and a half. We played in Europe and did the Warped Tour in 06. It was great.
What was the most important band you played in for you ?
It's definitely been Cub Country. The band has travelled with me over the years, introduced me to a slew of great musicians, taught me life lessons and made me a better songwriter. It's my baby.
Art by Leia Bell
What kind of relation do you see between growing in SLC and the music you played ?
Hardcore was huge in Salt Lake in the 80s and 90s. I grew up playing in hardcore bands from that scene and went straight into a hardcore-ish band in NYC. It seemed to make a lot of sense. But, I always listened to a pretty wide variety of music and eventually wanted to try other things musically.
How hardcore influenced your life ? Do you still feel "out of step with the world" today ?
I loved growing up and collecting punk-rock and hardcore records. The whole movement really spoke to me in a language that felt fresh and exciting. Sometimes I feel a little "out of step". It's usually when I'm talking with people who are my age and I see what radically different paths our lives have taken. But, I'm not much of a punk these days. Maybe only in my mind. Ha!
Were you straight-edge and what is your view on it now ?
I was straight-edge, yes. I was really into the views and the scene surrounding it during my time in Insight. It was a really exciting time in hardcore. But my interest in that scene eventually waned and I followed my passion for music. I don't think anything of straight-edge now.
What was the meaning of hardcore for you ?
Hardcore was all about scene unity, really exciting shows, good bands and friends. Oh yeah, and record collecting, that was the best aspect.
Who are the most inspiring people or bands you met in your life ?
That would be a huge list, but right now the short list would be: Gentry Densley, Chris Traynor, Blake Schwarzenbach, Craig Schoen, Jeff Clarke, Brian Paulson....I could go on forever really.
Iceburn first incarnation : Jeremy on the center and Gentry on the right.
Have you got other passions besides music ?
I have many passions. I love to cook. I love to build things. I love my family. I love my bicycle. The list could go on and on really.
What is the most important thing in your life right now ?
How about things ? My wife Kathryne, my son Oscar, my guitars and my bike.
Do you remember playing in a little club in Clermont Ferrand (France) with Jets To Brazil ?
Of course. I remember it very clearly actually. It was the first time I tried pastis. We were served a really great meal at the promoter's house and we were offered pastis as an apertif. We also listened to Fela Kuti records and had some lively discussion. Later on in the evening I saw Mormon missionaries outside of the club and it made me laugh a little to myself. It was a beautiful town.
Do you still drink pastis ?
Quite often. Evidently the stuff we get here in the US doesn't hold a candle to the real French pastis. I need to come and visit!
