Hi Reid, first, tell me about these 5 new songs Into Another just released, how did it all come to life ?
The songs came about because the reunion shows went so well. We enjoyed playing music together and the idea of creating new material became more compelling as time went on. I’m happy to see the band chasing the art again.
How did you end up in that band and what does it mean to you ?
I was approached by the organizers of the 2012 Rev25 shows and by Brian, the other Into Another guitarist. Underdog and Bold were already booked to play the fest and so the thought was maybe Drew and Richie would be interested in playing a couple Into Another songs with Brian on guitar and me on bass. At this point, Peter still hadn’t resurfaced so Brian and I taped ourselves playing a few Into Another songs with Craig from Ignite on drums. I thought it was a longshot but would be fun to put ourselves out there and see what would happen. We got a positive response back after some suspenseful waiting and then it was on !
Into Another is one of my favorite bands. It‘s an honor to be in the band now and be making music with those guys. I also feel responsible to help preserve the legacy of Tony Bono. I try to faithfully play his basslines on the old songs and reference his style for any new material we work on. Random fact: The very first show I ever played, with Eleven Thirty-Four in 1994, was opening for Into Another. Coming around full circle is quite surreal. In the end though, I’m just happy to see the band active again. If I wasn’t in the band, I’d still be there at the shows, in the audience.
Can you remember a bit your time in Eleven Thirty-Four ?
Eleven Thirty-Four was my first fully functioning band. First shows, records, tours, etc. So yea, I remember quite a bit since everything was so new. Brian was also a member but he had prior band experience. We got toured the US a couple times and Europe once with Ignite. Also played a show in Hawaii (which obviously isn’t a normal tour stop for bands). I also played my one and only gig at CBGB’s with that band. We played a couple reunion shows over the years just for our friends. I met someone, years and years later after the band was done, who told me that his go-to soundcheck riff was an Eleven Thirty-Four riff. That was pretty cool.
What about other bands you played in, which ones stood out ?
I’ve played in lots of bands over the past 20 years and have never really stopped doing so. I’ve played lots of different styles of (rock) music and playing different instruments too. Looking back, I’m happy with a lot of the music I’ve made.
The Third Degree is one previous band that stands out for me. It was a three-piece Motorhead / Black Flag hybrid or something that lasted from about 1998 to 2001. I played really distorted bass and we played really short sets. That band was my first step away from the small pond of the hardcore scene and out into the real world.
Another was a psychedelic band called Innaway. I played guitar and keys for that band so memories of our shows and tours involve me moving and setting up lots of gear. Recording with Innaway was actually enjoyable. We had our own studio so we spent a lot of time honing our songs and recordings and tinkering with old equipment. Nerd alert: On our last record I was able to record with a real Mellotron. Made me feel pretty legit. Nerdier alert: It’s even catalogued on the Planet Mellotron website.
These days, along with Into Another, I play guitar for a band in San Francisco called Steakhouse. It’s a little Western-y twang mixed into some krautrock and post-punk. One friend referred to it as “music that could be in a Quentin Tarantino movie”.
How did it all start for you to play music anyway ?
I was an impressionable kid in the 80’s so seeing all those metal dudes on MTV with their white high tops, big hair, and Floyd Rose tremolos made me want to play guitar. They looked like they were having fun.
What was the meaning of hardcore for you ?
In a few sentences ? I don’t know. Musically, maybe stripping everything down. Less musical wank, less theatrics. Culturally, maybe embracing the DIY mindset and keeping the “I could do that too” vibe alive. I think accessibility is one of the most important things hardcore offers.
Did you feel concern with the straight-edge philosophy ?
No, not really. I never was straight edge. A lot of my friends growing up were straight edge and some still don’t partake. I’m not an extreme person so I never felt the need to sway toward one side or the other.
Which artists and thinkers inspired you the most in your life ?
I’m a big Brian Eno fan. All the music he was involved with back in the 70’s was insane: his solo records, the Fripp & Eno records, the Berlin-era Bowie stuff, Roxy Music, his work with Cluster and Harmonia. Pioneering stuff. His music from that era really opened a lot of doors for me.
But he’s a thinker too. I like his musings on the pursuit and creation of art. How random it can be and how accept and embrace that. I have a set of Oblique Stratégies. I’ll pull cards from the deck when working on music sometimes. Or even for non-music related activities.
How do you spend your time besides playing music ?
Music has been taking up a lot of my time and energy lately. Which is good but can also be tiring. Besides that, I work full-time as a mechanical engineer. When I can fit it in I like to travel (not for music or work), exercise, hang with my friends, and enjoy the city of San Francisco. There’s lots to do here.
Do you know France and do you feel concerned to some degree by European culture ?
I‘ve only visited France once; way back in 1998. The World Cup was going on there and I was in Paris for France’s quarter and semi final victories. It was very festive. But it wasn’t until I was watching, from a pub in London, France celebrating their World Cup finals victory and Parisians flooding the streets that I realized I should’ve stuck around for a couple more days !
Oh and I got bad food poisoning there. I’ve eaten a lot of questionable foods during my travels so it’s funny that First World France was the one to take me down.
