WCWZ: So
the question on most of our minds is why Ambition Mission decided
to stick together instead of breaking up and why the band was
going to break up in the first place?
Annie: Junk,
man. Fucking junk. Horrible addictions, man. Nearly killed us.
WCWZ: When
did the band start up and what bands were you in previously before
forming Ambition Mission?
Annie: Ambition
Mission is the only band that matters.
Jake: I used
to be in Face to Face.
Bryan: I played
bass for Rustweiler for a couple of years. Then I was in the Mushuganas
awhile before that.
WCWZ: Tell
the readers a little about the Community Showers Loft. History?
Booking info?
Annie: The loft
started when me, Jake, and Bryan got the place a little over 2
years ago. It started as a place for touring bands only to play,
especially smaller ones that had trouble getting a Fireside show
or something. We've had some really good shows here and met some
really great people, folks who I will probably stay in contact
with for life. The shows are very cozy and not much trouble has
happened. The whole 2 years we have been here, only one person
has ever gotten kicked out (for being lewd to ladies). But we're
not gonna be doing shows regularly anymore because it's too hard.
It's not like we're a club or anything. We live here too and just
about everything in the house has become stiffened from spilled
beer and whatnot. So sometimes it gets frustrating. We'll still
do an occasional show, but right now it's too close to home -
it is our home. The shows happen in the kitchen. So we just need
to take a break for awhile.
WCWZ: I know you have
been playing in and listening to punk rock bands for awhile. What
do you like most about the present Chicago scene in regards to
the scene four or five years ago?
Annie: I like
that there isn't really a huge problem with skinhead violence,
except for in the northern suburbs (insert chortling laughter
here). I like that more gals seem to be rocking out. What I don't
like is this whole fascination with fashion rock that has seemed
to bloom the past few years. It's changed people's attitudes and
personalities in a negative way. Call me old fashioned, but...
Jake: My favorite
part about the scene is how the majority of the older "punks"
hang out at the bars instead of hanging with the kids.
Bryan: It seems
that people are enjoying themselves a lot more now-a-days. Instead
of just attending the same venue every Friday or Saturday, people
have been setting up shows and more importantly beyond that, it
seems more people are getting along outside of the band atmosphere
and setting up non-music related events, avoiding the band/audience
monotony. A lot of people I spend time with are always talking
about how they can't stand going to shows or whatnot, and it's
kind of funny because things are a fuck of a lot better than they
were 5, 10 years ago or whatever. It's gone beyond the hierarchy
shit were fools are strutting around shows because their bullshit
band got signed to some California label and all their mob sulks
behind in admiration. Intelligence seems to play a part now, and
the kids are finally seeing beyond the whack shit. Yo.
WCWZ: What
are some of your favorite local bands lately?
Annie: Local?
Fuck... The Replacements, The Who, This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, Nar,
The Bananas, Shotwell. They're not from Chicago but they all live
on this planet so I guess that would make them local, universally
speaking.
Jake: Chauncey
is a good local punk band and they are young too so thats
cool.
Bryan: Local?
How about Wilco? They're kind of close. To be honest, I can't
think of much off hand. Chauncey? John Brown Battery? I've really
been on the old SST shit as of recent, but that shit changes every
month. I really miss My Lai, The Strike, and our rim job partners
Trepan Nation. La Mantra De whatever is a cool new band, but I
have yet to see them live or remember their full name.
WCWZ: What
do you like most about zines? Do you think that they are valuable
to the punk scene? If so, why?
Annie: Yes, though
I have always preferred the personal zine rather than the music
based ones. I really don't give a crap about reviews and rarely
read interviews unless it is a band I like. I would much rather
read about someone's crazy adventures than whether they think
the new Queers record sucks or not. I think in the personal aspect,
it is valuable because it lets me peer into the psyches of other
people in the punk rock/DIY way of life. It serves to kind of
alleviate some of the alienation that always hangs over me knowing
that there are other people who have the same thoughts, politics,
strife, or weird habits, like the NAMBLA newsletter, for instance.
Jake: I think
they are important for the sake of getting different points of
view. It's always nice to see how different topics or issues are
filtered through another pair of eyes.
Bryan: Like em
a whole bunch. I agree with my colleagues, but I'm kind of picky.
I just can't read something that's poorly written, which is what
I seem to come across more as of late.
WCWZ: Were
you ever in the Pen 15 club?
Annie: What in
tarnation kind of itshay is that?!!?!?
Bryan: No, but
I was totally into the band Pen from a few years back, Jake has
20 copies of their seven inch in his distro.
WCWZ: What
records do you have out and what records will be coming out in
the future?
Annie: Four 7"s
(2 splits, one comp, and our first 7"). We have a full length
coming out on Community Shower/Planit X/No! Records soon. It's
all recorded as of this interview but we still have yet to get
it mastered and send the fucker out.
WCWZ: Closing
words of wisdom?
Annie: Don't
go sticking tweezers into electrical outlets. I know from personal
experience that it sucks.
Jake: Stay golden,
Pony Boy.
Bryan: Give me
a call, we'll hang out or something. Let's do the next interview
in person.
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