The only bands worth anything these days are the ones that kind of scare you. The ones who, if you go to their show, you're probably not going to leave the same person physically and/or mentally you were when you walked in. Yeah, yeah, same disclaimer over and over, all this extremely alienated sleep-deprived rotting youth shit is older than Moses's dandruff. And everyone says that, and then goes "But wait!" and usually whatever's served up next is bullshit too. So let's go one layer deeper, past the fascia to the muscle. Hi. Now meet Bad Party, these two guys from Detroit who've played in tons of bands like White Devil and Tamion 12 Inch, who really are like that. They sound meaner than a pan left frying on the stove with nothing in it, and they don't like to talk much but they answered a few questions for us anyway.
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Nate S: That's a hard one to answer. Girls…the government taking too much control over personal freedom…I see the world around me disintegrating…
K Michael: Its more a sense of disappointment, in the state of things, then outright hostility.What happened?
Nate S: I was born in Detroit. I was cursed at birth, been close to death many times. What's it like there now?
Burned out buildings everywhere, Zombies walking around, breaking into houses. Gotta have a pit bull. Filth. Yeah, it seems like the Midwest keeps getting creepier.
I think it's always been fucked up, but yeah it's getting creepier.Sounds rough. Why stay?
K Michael: I choose not to leave for a multitude of reasons. I love and hate Detroit in equal measure; it's like no other place I've ever been, and its my home. There is a lot of freedom amidst the chaos and despite what you see and hear, it is not exactly like Night of the Living Dead (although a well placed shotgun could be comforting).What do you do all day?
Same as most people, I suppose. Shop at the local farmer's market, ride bikes through the ghetto, drink insanely cheap beer and sing karaoke with crazy Vietnam vets and off duty cops. I work at a museum, as a preparator. I DJ a disco night, called Disco/Secret, at the Detroit Eagle, a 70s-style leather bar. I've painted, booked shows, acted, been a robot who gets destroyed by humanity, and I have also played in countless "one off" bands: Encroachment, Perfect Hooded Nun, VI VI VIking, Night Bird, Sex Problem, Orphans, Detroit Fire and Ice Boyz.
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Nate S: Most of the shit going on in Detroit sucks (a lot of hippie jam rock bands) that move in from the burbs. But I like Youu, Hobo Gangbang, PWB, Spaceband…But I guess new isn't always important. I still listen to that Tamion 12 Inch record allll the time.
K Michael: Thanks. I think the ten people that actually bought it all say the same thing.Nate, I heard you have a lot of fake teeth. What?
Nate S: Yeah for real, I got a few. 'Cause I've always been a smart ass and an asshole I guess. Fighting for what you believe is right isn't always a good idea if you are outnumbered, but I'm gonna take down as many as I can.
K. Michael: He has a big mouth.So when you're not losing your teeth and being Bad Party, what else do you do?
Nate S: I drink a lot, and other things. I'm working on opening an art gallery, got a few art shows. One's tomorrow at MOCAD in Detroit and another's at CPOP gallery next month. You know, tryin' to keep busy cause there are no jobs in Detroit anymore. Michigan is working toward 100% unemployment in the next few years.Here's "Not That Kind of Girl," coming out on 7-inch on Chondritic Sound:LIZ ARMSTRONG
