Interview
with Jeremy of Old Ghosts 2012
By
Bradley Smith
Hells,
I just wanted to say I am a recent convert to your
music and was immediately impressed by your music.
I noticed when listening to the Drowning 7” it
seems musically more serious, like there is a less of a rock n roll
influence
on the songwriting. Can
you tell me
about the development between Caskets and the Drowning 7”? How do you see it as a
growth/progression? What
emotions did you try and put into the
songs and what emotions do you think personify Old Ghosts?
I
don’t know if
it’s any less or any more “serious,” per se. It’s more where I am, or
was,
musically when I was writing. When the band formed, I really wanted to
play
mid-tempo: that was the stuff I was listening to and writing. As the
band
matured, I got interested in playing fast again and writing more
aggressive,
conscience songs. I wanted to have a decidedly “dark” feel to Old
Ghosts; not
only in the music, but also in the artwork and presentation. I wanted
to ride
the line between hardcore, punk and metal, because that’s where I am
musically.
I wanted all this represented in a bleak way, but at the end of the
day, we’re
not all grim dudes lighting candles to read LaVey or Crowley or
Lovecraft,
we’re dudes from Buffalo who are into a bunch of different things.
I
think our
newer songs are more a representation of “Us” instead of a decided
approach. I
still want people to feel the energy, whether it be dark or whatever,
because
that’s really what I try to convey in what I write.
Stepping
back a bit, can you give me a little history on
the band? Why did
you choose the moniker
Old Ghosts? Is it
sometimes hard to
gather yourself back up and carry on after a band calls it quits like
Dead
Hearts did? Or is
it easy because your
inner voice won’t let you quit?
The
name ‘Old
Ghosts’ come from an issue of the Watchmen graphic novels, which I
love. Also,
as we have 3 former members of Dead Hearts (myself included) we kind of
played
off of “Ghosts;” which was going to be the title of the Dead Hearts LP
we were
working on when we broke up. I think it’s a name that works for us:
we’re older
guys and the music/ style is slightly familiar. Well, there was a 3
year gap
between DH and Old Ghosts: Derek missed playing and wanted to do a band
again,
so getting together was easy, especially since I’m always writing
stuff. I
wouldn’t say it was easy, it was
just
something we all felt like it would be fun to do.
Both
of your releases are available on vinyl and free
digital download. Why
did you give your
music away freely and decide to only sell it in vinyl format? Why is
vinyl
important? Is it
killing the digital
industry? Heh heh.
I
don’t know. We
make the music we make because we enjoy it and have fun doing it. We’re
not
trying to “make it” or be a big or popular band or anything. It’s there
for
people to check out if they so choose. I personally can’t stand CD’s, I
think
they’re just so disposable. So, we offer the mp3’s for free and the
vinyl if
someone wants to make more of a commitment to our songs. I think that’s
what
vinyl is; a more serious commitment to a band’s work.
For
Sermon a sample from Donnie Darko was used.
Why did you choose that sample and how does
it relate to the ideology of Old Ghosts?
What is your opinion on that movie and the themes involved
within it?
I
liked the movie
when it came out and I always really liked that part. After I wrote the
song
“Dear Faith,” I knew I wanted something as like a little companion
piece before
it, much like the Paradise Lost reading before “The Devil You Know.” I
remembered that bit of the movie and thought it worked really well. I
like setting
a tone with a record as a whole, I like the journey an album can take
you on.
I’m not sure if I really care for every theme presented in the film.
Especially
involving time travel, but I felt that the discussions he had with the
therapist had some interesting points and thought it would work for my
concept.
Old
Ghosts took part in a benefit comp that goes to support
the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society.
Can you tell me how your involvement came about? Are animal rights an
important issue to you? What
sorts of issues that animals face do you
think are the biggest, most pressing issues?
And what ways do you think the average person can do to
help?
We
were asked to
be involved in the comp and “No Kill” animal shelters, to me at least,
seem like
a much more humane idea of caring for un-adopted animals. Researching
and
supporting groups involved with no kill shelters gives animals/ pets
more
potential to find caring homes. It’s pretty simple.
In
an interview you guys did with SWNK zine you mention
that the lyrical turn towards outwards factors is due to not being
inwardly
upset anymore, but seeing things scared and infuriated you. What are some of these
things and how does it
feel to you to see things like that yet being unable to control those
issues? Or do you
see that having a
voice through Old Ghosts gives you a measure of control?
I
don’t know if it
gives me a measure of control, more of an outlet to be heard. I really
don’t
participate in politics anymore, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the
need to
comment on what I see/ experience as a working man with a family. It’s
the
night before Election Day and I have a million thoughts running through
my head
concerning the future of this country and I’m having a hard time
organizing it
all. To me though, it seems like those who have money have far too much
influence over everything. This isn’t a new problem, but it’s one that
won’t go
away. I think doing what’s right should far outweigh doing what’s good
for
business.
In
that same interview you mentioned something about an
album focusing on war from different perspectives.
I was wondering your personal view on war,
and on the war in Afghanistan in particular.
I
think that war
is sometimes a necessary thing, but that war that is unjust and in the
best
interest of money and power is an absolute crime against humanity. I
have to
question whether our involvement in Afghanistan/ Iraq is to keep the
American
public safe or to keep American government interests safe.
With
this being an Election year here in the USA, what is
your opinion on the election and American politics in general? How do you think American
government compares
with other governments across the globe?
How is America an absurd place to be right now?
After
the abomination
that was the 2000 election, I stopped voting and actively following
politics
locally and on a national level. I’ve never lived under any other
government so
I can’t quite comment, though Canada has national health care and that
seems
like a good idea. I think the absurdity comes from the three ring
circus that
is fox news and the people who buy into their “brand” of news. The
absurdity
comes from political parties trying to dictate what a woman’s
reproductive
rights are. The absurdity comes from politicians lying on the debate
floor. The
absurdity comes from Honey-Boo-Boo. The absurdity comes from our
fascination
with celebrities.
Being
from Buffalo, New York I know you guys were a ways
away from the hardest hit areas by Hurricane Sandy.
But have you seen an impact where you live
from its effects? Is
there a sense of
brotherhood and community in its aftermath or has New York gone in a
different
direction in regards to humane outreach within the affected areas?
The
storm has not
impacted my life as of yet in anyway. I know there are groups of
volunteers
from here going to help, but I have not noticed any change in the
dynamic of my
community or workplace or anything like that. I live in New York State,
but
Buffalo is pretty far from the city.
The
fade of Dear Washington and the beginning of The Cost
of Doing Business bring to mind a certain effect Unbroken would use on
some of
their songs? Any
direct influence
there? And since we
are somewhat on that
topic, what aspects of hardcore appeals directly to your internal
aesthetics
and emotions? In
other words, what does
it take for a hardcore band to connect with you on an emotional level?
I
would say it’s a
definitely an homage to Unbroken, they’re a band I’ve always loved; I
even did
a show for them and Undertow the summer of 1994. I think for me,
hardcore has
to have the right amount of energy and content, but it would be hard
for me to
pinpoint what EXACTLY I like. Sometimes I like a band strictly because
of the
music, or the lyrics: sometimes it’s both all I know is the energy has
got to
be there and I don’t mean that a band has to be fast to have energy I
think a
lot of people confuse speed for energy. A lot of black metal has blast
beats
but still comes off as lethargic, if you know what I mean?
What
are some of the near-term plans you have for Old
Ghosts? New
recordings? New
shows?
Any Dead Hearts reunion gigs we should be aware of?
I
think we (Old
Ghosts) are going to record 4 new songs sometime after the Dead Hearts
reunion.
I’m not a huge fan of reunions, but as far as the Dead Hearts’ reunion
goes,
we’re playing a show December 29th to support
the Alix Rice Peace
Park Foundation. Alix was an 18 year old girl who was skateboarding
home and
struck by a drunk driver, who fled the scene. There’s now a movement in
buffalo
to have a skate park built in her name. More info and tickets can be
found at
alixrice.com
I’ll
leave any final words of chest-thumping,
consequence-ignoring machismo that you can muster!!!
Hit the readers of Nocturnal Cult square in
the jaw!
I’m
just here for
the Bolt Thrower riffs.
Check out Old Ghosts here: http://old-ghosts.bandcamp.com