Interview with the Band Bad Fathers By MandyG [8 more lists]

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Austin Galante and Juan Hooks, founding members of the Los Angeles based band, Bad Fathers. Actually, I sit around with them often, usually with a beer in hand. This time I thought I'd make it productive and help you, my readers, get to know the guys a bit and find out just why I like this band so much. Just a little caveat, these guys may come across lofty, but it's really all tongue in cheek and beer in hand. They were laughing at themselves pretty much the entire interview. If you are sensitive to R rated content, you may want to look away. Eyes rolling heavenward...Boys.

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1

Introducing Bad Fathers

M: Hey guys, thanks for taking some time for me and our readers at Ranker.com.
J: You're welcome. You're fucking welcome. (Inspiring a hearty mocking laugh throughout the room. What a smartass.)
M: I want to help people get to know about you, where you came from, what it is you do. Plus I'll throw in my two cents as an avid fan and sometimes for much needed clarity (as the only moderately sober person in the room)...

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Who Are Juan and Austin?

M: So let's get you introduced. Austin G and Juan, who are you guys and what roles do you play in Bad Fathers?
J: That is alot harder to answer than you may think...
A: Who am I... I'm, uh, a curious learner with too much to learn. I do vocals for the band. I do graphic design. I do alot of promotion stuff. I've helped write some of the songs...
J: I'm the black guy. (trademark grin)
A: Always pulling the black card. (smirking)
J: I have super powers...power of angry black guy.
A: I also have super powers. Mine are angry white guy and I DON'T think you'd like to see it. If I dress up and put on a suit. That's my Clark Kent.
J:I'm a vocalist.
M: Juan is the self-proclaimed Chocolate Rocker and is indeed the only fudge brownie in the band.

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How They Got to Los Angeles

M: Ooookaaay..... So how'd you end up in Los Angeles and where did you come from before that?"
J: I came here to be a stripper originally. (sarcastically).
A: I would say we ended up in LA because our manager at the time was here, and I like warm weather.
J: I like bikinis.
A: I love fake t**s... (looking up thoughtfully) I also love real t**s...
We had a map and we went, alright, where would we like to live. We put pins in a couple places...Atlanta, Chicago, New York and LA. Our manager was here, and it's warm. Several of us wanted to pursue some acting as well as music and there's more opportunity for that. We made a trip out here, me, Juan and one of our other friends. And now we're here.
J: We came from the midwest.

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How They Sound

M: How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn't heard Bad Fathers before?
J: I describe it as...I don't want to give it a genre. It is what it is. It embodies all the music that we personally enjoy and we've somehow made a hybrid out of it in our way. We suggest the listener come up with their own title for the sound.
A: There's a very large hip hop influence and a very large rock influence and there's quite a bit of punk rock attitude involved. I like music that sounds good. Everyone likes music that sounds good. Everyone has their own tastes in music. We are all open minded about music and we pull a little from all of our likings. Time is too short to be stuck doing exactly one thing for all of it.
M: If I had to draw comparisons there are definitely some influences from Chili Peppers, Outkast, Rock-a-billy, Punk in general...but different.

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Where to Catch a Show

M: What are some of the venues fans can catch you at around Los Angeles these days?
A: Aqua Lounge, we just played with Shifty Shell Shock.
J: The Good Hurt.
A: Not the Knitting Factory anymore, apparently that's closing down....we'll see. (not confirmed).
A: Cranes.
J: King King.
A: Club 605 in Hermosa, it was the (Guitar Center) battle of the bands and we won the first round, but had to drop out after that.

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6

Why Catch a Bad Father's Show Live

So let's do a rundown...what are the top reasons someone should come see a Bad Fathers show?
Let the countdown begin...

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Genital Exposure

A: There's a decent chance you might see one of our penises.
J: That's always a good time.
M: I know why we might see one of your penises, but could you break that down for our readers.
J: Males may not appreciate that. I don't appreciate unannounced penis.
A: Well, they can take this as a warning. It could happen.
M: Ok, obviously I have to explain. The boys occasionally perform in loinclothes. It's good fun, but yeah. It's a good idea to express the potential for seeing something unclean. I've not been that lucky yet.

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Fun

A: We're a fun time live.
J: My personal goal is to get the crowd entirely naked. That's not a joke. Get fucking nude. Butt. Ass. Naked. Like Woodstock hippie s**t. But shaved.
A: I don't know...I've never seen our show. I've never been in the crowd.
M: Well lucky for the readers, I have. The show is energetic, diverse, and well balanced. You don't need to know the band's material to dig it right off. You can have a great time the first time. The guys show on stage like they grew up there together since kindy-garten and carry about the same zeal.
A: A: Wait, I have been out in the crowd a few times and turned to watch the guys...I just stood there. It was pretty fun. I just recalled that. I've had a few to drink this evening.
J: I just have fun. If I'm having fun, it's going to be contagious.

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Conversation

A: If you feel like having an endless conversation, Juan will gladly steal your ear after the performance.
J: I can stop
A: I don't think you can.
M: I agree. But it can be interesting. Juan has alot to say on life from pretty much any angle.
<This is Juan

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Mohawks

M: Let's talk Mohawk. You had a whole band full at one point. What was that all about?
A: Well, at one point I decided I wanted a mohawk. So I got one. It's a good conversation starter. I've had it like 6 years, I'm not sure.
M: Juan what kept you from getting a mohawk?
J: I have an afro.
<This is Austin's real hawk

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Parties

A: There's a good chance there will be a party at the drummer's house after the show.
J: Boom boom party starter.
M: These ARE fun, but make sure you can get a ride home after. Also, beware. They may force you to sing or play an instrument even after you assure them you are NOT the one.

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12

Antics

A: The faces the bass player makes on stage are priceless and you can only see that at the show.
M: True! The drummer goes crazy too. It's amazing to watch. All the boys are very passionate about what they do and express it in...well....their own epileptic ways.

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13

Sex

A: Our show will make you want to have sex with someone.
J: Oh! That's true!
M: (eye roll...again.)
A: That'll do pig. That'll do.

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By the Way...

Austin wants you to know, none of the Bad Fathers are ACTUAL fathers. And Juan adds, "to our knowledge". You can listen to Bad Fathers on Myspace, Youtube or check them out online and download several of their songs for free at www.reverbnation.com/badfathers. Hope to catch you at a show!

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