This interview was during in-between shows at a recent show at Awakening Church in Murrieta, CA and is split into two parts, as you will see. This is like the third time I've interviewed Evan, my former roommate, but the first time I was able to transcribe it before my phone was destroyed. Enjoy.
IAN: This is Ian, I'm talking to Evan from The Coltranes, as well as other groups - The Ugly, etc...We were just kinda chit-chatting, we're outside a show, outside the Awakening Church; it's like, a hardcore show, and you kinda had something to say about how there might be a disconnect between what you guys have been presenting as "hardcore" and what I might be presenting as "punk" or "emo" or whatever [versus] what the scene at large might be doing. How would you like to elaborate on that?
EVAN: Uh, yeah, like I said earlier, I think that people have become really self-conscious and like, they've missed the whole point of hardcore and, like, punk in general which is just to be your fucking self. It just seems like, I don't know, everything makes them feel uncomfortable and [a lot of people] are just always on edge.
I: Like, what's the point of even doing this if you're not having fun?
E: Yeah, exactly. Maybe I'm just bitter but it seems like [some people] just come here as like, a fashion statement or something
I: I feel you. You've been around the country, you've toured around the country. I have not done that. Is California worse off than other parts of the country [regarding fashion]
E: Well, not blatantly, but in some ways, yeah. Alot of things are super fashion-sensitive and even fashion-driven really, which, I mean, I guess, in some aspects of punk the fashion can be part of the act, which is cool in some cases, but in most cases not really. But I don't know, in places like the Midwest, they just...I don't know, that's the only scene that I can think of where they just don't give a shit about anything and they're just there to have fun and it's really cool.
I: Well I can imagine that might be because they're a bit more isolated from the big media scenes; But [anyway,] we're here at a church [for the show tonight]. Me and you, well, I'm not gonna speak for you...
E: No, I'm full-blown atheist
I: Okay there ya go
[Laughter]
But like, this isn't a space we would normally inhabit or support; how do you feel performing in places like this? To me, I have a double view about it: I like that they open their doors to us
E: Yeah
I: But on the other end, I don't want to be in any way obligated to them or like, bring credence to what they espouse
E: Right
I: How do you feel [about the mater?]Because you've performed much more than I have.
E: Yeah, it's kind of a double-edged thing. I'm always iffy about it if I know a cut from the door is going directly towards the church. That's something I don't support in any way. You know, fuck that. But on the other hand, you know, it wasn't that uncommon like in the 80s to, like, rent out a church to play punk shows and that's cool, I guess.
I: Alright well it looks like [the next band] might be going on soon; I've interviewed you like, four times and this might be the only one that gets transcribed. You know what's coming next: What's your favorite breakfast food?
E: Fucking eggs florentine
I: Eggs florentine.Okay you gotta describe that fully
E: Okay so you know what eggs benedict is?
I: Yes of course
E: Okay, so eggs florentine is just a spin on it where it's just an english muffin topped with spinach and a poached egg and then hollandaise sauce. It doesn't have, like, canadian bacon on it.\
I: What is in hollandaise sauce? It's like the yolk and then something else mixed with it or something?
E: I actually don't know. That's actually something I've never known. I just eat it.
I: Okay well we'll figure this out on the next episode
[Laughter]
Well thanks for talking with me, we'll be talking again soon
E: Of course
PART II
I: Alright Evan, we're doing an extension of the interview [from earlier]. We just talked about general stuff, music, etc. but [on a more serious note], you had a stroke recently
E: A seizure
I: A seizure, I'm sorry. That was a couple weeks ago
E: Yeah, three weeks ago
I: I worry about you, man, I really do. Explain the circumstances of what happened
E: Well, essentially I, like, pumped a lot of narcotics into my body for a week straight and then on top of that I drank alot of alcohol and, um, also I'm very emotionally stressed out. I was having a little crisis and I had a seizure while I was working at my job
I: Which job was this
E: I was a fry cook
I: Okay
E: The seizure...luckily, my fucking manager, like, grabbed my head cuz I would have hit my head. She had seen me and my eyes started to roll in the back of my head while I was still standing up and she...I basically fell over and she caught my head before I landed straight onto the fucking corner. Which I am thankful for, I guess, but...yeah
I: I'm thankful too. Okay so because of that you had lost your driver's license for awhile but now it's back?
E: Yeah. I don't know what's up with the hospitals around here but this is the second time I've had my license revoked cuz of a seizure, but it, like, wasn't really revoked. The DMV never got notified and they never sent me any paperwork.
I: So they just told you it was revoked
E: Yeah they basically just lied I guess cuz I called the DMV and they checked and my license is still valid. But I mean I'm not gonna have any seizures any time soon. I'm 15 days sober, and that's what was causing my seizures I guess...withdrawal
I: Well, you're gonna head out from here, I'm gonna stay for the rest of the show but I'm gonna extend my normal ending question since you already answered it: What's your favorite song, right now, right this second, favorite song?
E: "When I Get The Time" by the Descendents
I: "I Get The Time?"
E: Yeah, you know, [singing]"when I get the time to sit down a write a song for you"
I: See I would go with [singing] "I saw the sign, I opened up my eyes I saw the sign"...you know, Ace Of Base?
[Laughter]
Alright Evan I love you man
E: You too
I: I'll post this once I have both parts typed up; who do you think I should interview next? Have you noticed anyone interesting?
E: Yeah, I liked that band who was playing when everybody tried to fight you. They were good, [but] I don't know who they were
I: You're right, everybody tried to fight me
[Laughter]
Nobody fought me at all
E: Nobody wins, we all lose. Dead for nothing
I; This is gonna be a good interview. Enjoy the soul, live together.
UPDATES:
- Googles definition of hollandaise sauce: An emulsion of egg yolk and liquid butter, usually seasoned with lemon juice, salt, and a little white pepper or cayenne pepper.
- The band who was playing when everyone tried to fight me was Frustrated and I have an interview with them regarding all that and more coming soon.
http://thecoltranes.bandcamp.com/
