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