Chris Dodge is one of those who dosent need an introduction.Having played in so many amazing and infulential groups (Spazz, Low Threat Profile,Lack Of Interest,Despise You,Stikky, among others) and being the founder of Slap A Ham records and a contributor to Short,Fast and Loud! magazine,he is already a legend in the extreme music community.I was so nervous and nerdy when i first met him (i probably came off as a tool haha) but he still was super cool and answered all my questions and put up with my nerdy fanboyness.well,without further adieu,my uncut interview with Chris Dodge.
36: First off how was Despise You's east coast tour with Magrudergrind?
Chris: Friggin' amazing. Off the hook. I have complete & utter respect for the Magrudergrind guys. Awesome band, awesome guys. They're the real deal. Couldn't have asked for a better band to tour with. They treated us very well & every show was great.
36: Speaking of Magrudergrind,what are your thoughts on the recent surge of promotion of extreme music by the car company Scion?
Chris: I think it's weird, but I don't have any issues with it. I know a lot of people get bent outta shape about the whole "corporate" thing, and I understand, but I honestly couldn't give a shit. There's actual REAL problems in this world. A company is hooking up my friends, and there's no real downside, aside from people who complain about it. It's hilarious that people get pissed off at Magrudergrind for putting out a free record and playing free shows, all on some company's dime. I'm not on the Scion payroll, but all of my friends who have played their events have had nothing but positive experiences, and that's good enough for me.
36: How did the recording of DxY's split with Agoraphobic Nosebleed go? Love the Fear cover.
Chris: Thanks. The recording was tedious. I think it took too long, only because we weren't exactly as prepared as we should have been. We took forever to record, but then I didn't feel bad because once we finally got our shit together, it took ANb another year to record, and then Relapse another 9 months to put it out. The finished product came out nice. I'm glad we did the Fear cover, only because it breaks up the "brutality", although Fear's sensibility brings its own level of "brutality" in their approach.
36: Any Upcoming plans with Lack Of Interest? the this comp kills fascists tracks are amazing.
Chris: Bob & Kevin recorded a ton of new shit over the summer. I still need to go in & lay down bass tracks & Rick needs to do vox. Not sure what it'll come out as. Probably a few different releases. The comp tracks did come out surprisingly good. That was another dysfunctional recording, but that's a much longer story better left untold.
36: So I gotta ask,whats up with Low Threat Profile?Ive heard some rumors of a possible reunion?
Chris: Well LTP never really went away. We're actually working on a ton of new stuff now. There is a new 7" on the way with Matt on vox, and me doing a few backing vocal lines. Joe from Infest is out of the slammer, and word on the street is he's going to lay down some vocals on our upcoming recordings, but you didn't hear it from me...
36: Back to DxY,what are the bands upcoming plans? any new recordings in the works?
Chris: DxYx is actually laying low for a while. No plans for anything. The East Coast tour was a big deal. Most of us are working stiffs with spouses & kids, so the tour was a real rarity for us, and a true labor of love. I imagine next Spring we'll probably talk about doing something else. Probably a few shows for next summer. There's been talk of a weekend in Canada. No recording plans yet.
36: what is your favorite release of all the records you did on Slap A Ham?
Chris: Lots of favorites, which is why I put them out in the first place, but the #1 spot has always been held by the No Comment "Downsided" 7". From the moment I first heard it on a rough cassette, I've considered it a classic. The DRI 22 song record has always been one of my all time favorites, and I consider the No Comment record the natural progression, the next step in the evolution of high speed hardcore that's pissed off, with guts and honesty behind it.
36: What are your thoughts on the recent resurgence of Powerviolence groups forming?Any new bands coming out you enjoy?
Chris: It's cool, and strange. I didn't really know PV was "back" until I signed up for MySpace 5 or 6 years ago. I got a deluge of correspondence from 18 year old kids who were huge fans of Spazz, Capitalist Casualties, MITB, etc. It's flattering, humbling. Really cool. I'm really bad about keeping up with newer bands. Backslider is friggin awesome live, I can tell you that. So is Coke Bust.
36: How is it being in 2 of the most well known PV bands around at the same time? Is it hard juggling touring and recording with both?
Chris: I'm pretty lucky to be in the bands I'm in. All good guys, and old friends with common goals, or lack thereof. Not much of a conflict most of the time, because none of the bands are that active. DY plays out maybe 3 times a year on average. Lack moreso. LTP has only played 2 live shows ever... we just rehearse new material, drink beer, talk for hours, and that's about it.
36: So Final Question,just because im a huge nerd for Spazz,any plans of reunion in the future? do you still ever talk to Max or Dan anymore?
Chris: Max & Dan & I have been in touch a lot lately because we've been working on reissues of the Spazz LPs. "La Revancha" should be coming out soon. "Dwarf Jester Rising" isn't too far behind it. We've received a lot of offers to play fests, and a lot of them sound fun. I'm not sure we'll ever do it. We all live too far apart, and I don't feel like the motivation is really there. Most likely it'll never happen, but you never know...
36: Thank you so much chris! cheers and happy new year!
Chris: thank you!
Despise You on facebook
Lack Of Interest on Facebook
Low Threat Profile on Myspace
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