… And the hits just keep on coming; An interview with Chicago’s Haymarket Riot

Haymarket Riot is a band with an impressive punk rock pedigree. Members cut their teeth in Gauge, Traluma, The Sky Corvair, Orwell, Managra, Hero of 100 Fights, Sweep the Leg Johnny, Check Engine, and the list goes on. They have been described by more than one reviewer as a “blue collar rock band”. This description seems fitting, considering the band’s name comes from a historic event that involved Chicago workers protesting unfair working conditions.

Haymarket Riot has been through enough in the last couple of years that would cause most bands to pack it up and call it quits. From injures & financial disasters to a seemingly revolving-door cast of second guitar players and drummers, Haymarket Riot saw more than their share of misfortune.

Despite these setbacks, and not deterred by the fact that for a majority of 2003 3/4 of the band lived in 3 different states, Haymarket Riot recently released their second full-length album “Mog” on Chicago’s (via L.A.’s) Thick Records. Perhaps it is this blue collar work ethic that keeps them going throughout whatever bad luck is thrown at them. Or maybe it’s because they are truly one of the most innovative, exciting, and explosive bands in independent music today.

Interview conducted by Steve Thompson. Pictures provided by Steve Thompson

Names: Fred, Kevin
Band: Haymarket Riot

Bettawreckonize: Do you believe in the idea of a sophomore slump? Did you feel that you had anything to prove with this album considering the success of Bloodshot Eyes?

Fred: I don’t think like that… sophomore slump. But like all artists you want to try and surpass your last work. And with all the member changes and accidents, demographics, etc that we went through, making a bad record was in our favor. But I think we beat it and made our best work to date. I think that’s the way its supposed to go… I'm happy.

Kevin: Happens all the time in baseball, so I'm sure that it can happen in rock-n-roll. I wasn't too concerned with the idea, though. I felt that it was important to work on the songs as best as we could. We all have a good sense on when something isn't working out, so we don't force the issue. People are going to form their opinions one way or another. I know that when we finished the record that we all felt really good about it.

BW: Did your choice to record with Albini factor into this idea at all?

Fred: Well, when deciding all we wanted to do is be comfortable with a.) our setting, and b.) the people involved. so, we were in very good hands with both Steve and John (Congleton) in our corner. All we wanted to do is play the songs.

Kevin: We wanted to have a different approach on this album than we did on our last. We spent 3 1/2 weeks working on Bloodshot, with Mog we wanted to go in and knock the record out. Most of it was done live - all four of us playing the songs together. Aside from a couple of minor guitar overdubs, vocals were the only thing we added later. It is what it is - a no bullshit, no frills rock record - and we felt that by working with Steve and John, we would accomplish this.

BW: Do you feel that the songs on Mog are a natural progression for Haymarket Riot, or do you believe that the two new members helped to change the sound of this album from your previous recordings?

Kevin: It's natural in its own weird way. Both Shane and Chris have added a nice dynamic to the band and their style of play will cause the sound of the band to change - I welcome it. But, I feel that there are still many of the basic elements from the original line-up in place.

Fred: The thing that is different is that two new members came into the picture with their own personal style at their instruments. I feel great with the new line up. They both brought in amazing ideas that helped make our record the best it could be.

BW: Do you feel like the popularity of a band in the independent music scene is based on the quality of the recorded work and the live show and is not related to the amount of promotion provided by outside sources (record label, promotion, radio play etc)?

Fred: Honestly, Haymarket really has no promotion monster behind us. We have nothing. I'm sorry that we had a publicist for one tour a while back. It helped, but it was done very half-assed. Our best promotion is when we play out.

Kevin: Aside from close friends who lend us a hand, we haven't had too much help in terms of "outside" sources. There was publicity work done on Bloodshot - mostly reviews, but I feel that the majority of our success has come from us playing out live. Thick has helped us out as much as they can, but they don't have the promotional resources that "larger" independent labels have. Fred and I do what we can with pushing the band through Divot. But, there we are limited as well because we have day jobs and don't have a lot of money to throw out at promotions. I take it back - our popularity is due to Fred's stunning good looks!

BW: In addition to running a record label with an impressive catalog – Divot Records - you have been involved in successful "productive" bands (i.e. bands that put out records, tour, etc) for ten to fifteen years; do you feel that the recent surge of popularity in Indie, Punk, and Hardcore among mainstream listeners has made it possible for bands with significantly less talent than other bands to gain popularity based on the amount of promotion provided them?

Fred: Sure, just listen to the radio. It kind of makes me sick. And not just mainstream radio. On the independent level there are bands sprouting up all the time with the lack of talent and they get this hype about them for what reason I dont know...but it has nothing to do with music. That's why for Haymarket and I, we still listen to our favorite records from back in the day. Naked Raygun, Government Issue, etc. It was so much better back then. This surge of bands and music makes me shy away from it. We steer clear of it.

BW: How much of your band business is conducted through the internet?

Kevin: A large amount. Email is definitely cheaper than making phone calls. We also do a decent amount of mail order through the Divot site for Haymarket Riot CDs and shirts. The internet was a huge help in setting up our European tours - it made it easy to keep in touch with the booking agent.

Fred: It's been a helpful tool for awareness. It has been nice to be able to sell our record online. That’s great, but again, our best tool is playing out.

BW: Do you feel that Haymarket Riot's popularity/success would be different if the internet did not exist?

Kevin: Hmmm..., maybe in terms of getting shows. Having a web site helps a promoter learn about your band at their convenience. That in itself can be a double edge sword - they can take their own sweet time - or not even bother. So, as far as getting shows and getting our music out there, I would say that the internet has been a help to our success, in addition to Fred's stunning good looks!

Fred: I think it would be the same or more. As much as the internet is a great tool, its very distracting for a listener. We like to get out and play. They should put internet stations in clubs so kids can kill two birds with one stone: watch their favorite band and at the same time find their new favorite band.

BW: Do you think running a record label has made you expect different things from Haymarket Riot's label? Is it hard for you to give up control of all aspects of production and marketing of your album?

Kevin: It helps me keep things in perspective. I'd like to think that I have a good understanding of what my expectations are with Thick/Divot. I've learned to work within the limitations both labels have and do the best I can with them. That's the way it is - no use complaining about it, just deal with it and make the best of it.

Fred: No, it’s not hard to give up control because with our deal as it stands we have all the control. We control how we're represented, we provide all the promotional materials, we decide when we tour, we do the artwork. We do it all. Thick Records are close friends of ours, so its easy.

BW: After the release of your last album it seems the fates were against you; two members quit and Kevin broke his hand and was unable to play for months. At any point did you seriously consider giving it up? If so, what kept you going?

Kevin: There are always doubts, but if you love doing something you'll find ways to make it work. There were some tough moments, we had to be creative in order to keep moving. As I've gotten older, the concept of time becoming shorter is more of a reality - so, if I really want to do something, I'm going to do whatever I have to do, within reason, to make it happen.

Fred: I don’t think Kevin and I ever had a conversation about throwing in the towel. It was never an option. It was tough for a while, and still is. We are always struggling with what is best for us. We don’t want to spend months on the road spinning our wheels for nothing. Our common denominator here is that we all like each other very much and we enjoy writing music together. We've done so much over the years, at times it seems like its all icing on the cake. I still think we have lots to accomplish. Yeah, we’re all in our thirties. But we'll still take the young punk lads out any time, anywhere.

BW: At this point in your lives do you feel that you are giving up anything to have the opportunity to get in a van and tour for months at a time?

Fred: Well, we have more to lose nowadays. Steady jobs, mortgages, etc. It definitely gets harder as we get older. But I think its just prioritizing what's right for us as a band. We have opportunities thrown at us a lot, and we think about them; if its good, we'll do it. If not, we pass.

Kevin: If it's something that we all want to do and have a passion for, I don't see it as giving up anything. I feel very privileged and lucky to have had the experiences that I've had. When I get older I would much rather look back on my life and say, "Yeah, I went to all these amazing places and did these amazing things" than say "Yeah, I could have done this or that..." There are certain moments in my life that made me very aware that time is short and you have to make good use of it when you're here. I know..., that's some deep shit, man. But, its true.

BW: If you could never play your instrument again, what would be your creative outlet?

Fred: Woodworking.

Kevin: After my accident I put so much work into my rehab, that I never thought about the "what if" - even though I understood it was a possibility that I might not play again. So, that being said, its a tough question for me to answer. Maybe make movies - not those movies, though (wink, wink).

BW: Was this album named as an homage to John Candy's character in Spaceballs?

Kevin: I remember seeing that movie the first time it came out. My friend, Howie, and I rode our bikes down to the movie theater for a matinee showing. He and I could not stop laughing when they "jammed" the radar - classic scene! In my opinion Spaceballs has been overlooked in the Mel Brooks catalog. Although, it doesn't come close to Blazing Saddles. I also thought John Candy was funny as hell in Planes, Trains and Automobiles - "those aren't pillows" - great stuff!

Fred: Negative. My Donuts Goddamn. M in the “My," O in the “Donuts”, and G in the “Goddamn." Remember this, you might know who we are, but WE KNOW who you are.

Haymarket Riot are their own best friends, and their new album Mog is available at Divot Records’ website (www.divotrecords.com) or via Thick Records (www.thickrecords.com). Haymarket Riot are touring in support of Mog in the U.S. this Fall, and in Europe beginning in November.

Band website – www.divotrecords.com/haymarket
Listen to “My Donuts, Goddamn!” from Mog - http://www.divotrecords.com/haymarket/HMR_mp3/Donuts.mp3