interview with Endpoint
How was the band formed? We formed in 1987 as young high school students who wanted to play aggressive, yet melodic hardcore with a message that we didn’t see manifest in our local music scene in Louisville.
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? At the time, just to play music and some local shows.
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? It’s loud but has melody. It is hardcore with political lyrics. It is music meant to foster community.
Where was your first gig? We played the living room of Tim Furnish (Crain and Parlour) in 1987.
Where was the latest gig? We did a reunion last summer in Chicago and Detroit. We will reunite in the summer of 2015 to play a few festivals in Europe.
Who writes your songs?/ who writes the music who writes lyrics? Most music was written by duncan barlow. Some by chad cassetter. Rob Pennington wrote the lyrics.
Who has the best sense of humor in the band? All of us joke around quite a bit. Humor is a good way to alleviate stress.
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? We’re hardcore. Not like what people consider hardcore. We are from another era of the genre. At this point, everything in the band is good. We enjoy the ability to play the old songs from time to time.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? We made quite a few. They are still available from Doghouse Records, save for one, which was last repressed with hand printed covers by Simba Records.
Do you have any clips on YouTube? I think old fans posted them. I’m not sure. I try not to google myself. It seems very depressing to do that.
How old are you?/What got you started in music? We are all in our 40s now. For me, I always loved music. I bought my first guitar when I heard the Smtiths’ “How Soon is Now.” I bought my first distortion pedal after I saw Samhain in the 1980s.
Best/worst gig you've played? There was a good combination of both. These years, they’re all good shows. We love having the luxury of playing. We don’t take it for granted like we did as kids.
Which band is the best you´ve seen? Many bands are great. What I listen to now is radically different from what I listened to as a young man.
Have you had any bigger tours from start to now? We always rejected big tours. We rejected major labels and big business when we were a band. We believed that hardcore was a movement that best existed outside the sphere of mega industry.
How do you get psyched up for a gig? I show up and see my old friend and meet new friends and this always makes me excited.
What are your sources of inspiration? Inspiration comes from everything. It comes from the weather, music, art, literature, political discussions. We should always allow the world to influence us.
What's the first step when making a new song? I pick up an instrument and play in the dark. I let the song tell me what to do.
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? I don’t see a lot of royalties either way. I think people should pay for things, but I also think the landscape is changing. If someone downloads music, it is an ethical obligation of that person to see the band play live and buy merchandise so that the band can survive. At least, that’s my opinion at this moment. I suppose if I made a living off of music, I’d think differently.
What do you hold most dear? Academic Freedom, friendship, and my cat. Man, my fucking cat rules.
What would be your greatest fears for the future? Blind ideology.
Have you been part of any other projects? Yes. A few: Guilt, By the Grace of God, The Lull Account, The Aasee Lake, Good Riddance, d.biddle, hollow talk, (rye)zome, shears.
What do you work with outside of the band and the music? Rob and I are professors at universities. Chad manages a music store. The long list of other members would be too long to detail!
What would you do if there was no music? Invent that shit!
How important are your fans? We don’t see the distinction between the band and the fans. We are the same and we interact.
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? I always liked Caste and I like Dirge for some reason. I wrote that song on tour, Köln, Germany during sound check in 1992.
What do you feel is the best live band you've seen? Ignition 1986.
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? Yes. You’re just a musician. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Be in the moment because the moment will pass all too soon.
Describe your show, visually and musically We like to break things. Rob gives mini lectures.
How do you view the musicindurty of today? It’s a bloated, dying corpse that hasn’t realized it’s dead yet. Temporary Residence, though, that’s a brilliant fucking label.
What are the biggest obstacles for a band? Ego.
What is best/worst with playing the clubs? Hurrying up to get there and then waiting around in a dark, dank club.
Tell us about upcomming gigs and why we should be at them? 2015. You should be there because it’s going to be great. We can all get pizza together.
How would you describe your sound in one sentence It’s the sound of the midwest in the early 90s.
What is your favorite crappy instrument? I have this J.Mascis Squire Jazzmaster that I play more than my top shelf guitars. But not in Endpoint.
What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? All the time. We were kids and we had attitude. We don’t argue now. It’s pretty wonderful.
Do you have anything to add? Thanks for the interview! By the Grace of God (BTGOG), Endpoint, and Trial will likely come through in 2015, swing by if you’re free!
