Al Pist interview

I recently sat down with Al Pist from The Deacons and asked him some questions. Here is part of that interview.

DHR- Describe the Deacons:

Al Pist - I think that The Deacons is the most unique band that I've ever been in. The one thing that I can truly say is that the band has got heart. Rich's songs all revolve around people that we know, and things going on in our lives and he puts his misfit perspective on it. The band is what it is. There's no pretense, posturing or in-your-face political message. We've also got a revolving door with members strewn all across the country, who show up and play when they can. Sort of a home for wayward souls who don't fit in anywhere else. Musically, it's kinda punk mod rock-n-roll skinhead hardcore.

DHR - you have been in what is arguably the best CT punk band of all time. although its not the same it was while The Pist were in their hey day, but how do you feel about the state of the Ct punk scene today?:

Al Pist - Aw shucks...I can't say that we were the best band, but I think we did a good job of getting the kids fired up and hopefully inspiring them the way that we were inspired by the bands that came before us...As far as the scene today, I see a pretty dedicated core of kids, especially from the Eastern part of the state that are making things happen. There's also places like the Whitney House in Hartford that are providing some awesome DIY basement shows, and giving people a place to hang out. New Haven's got a decent bar scene, and some spots to play, but it needs to fill that gap that Tune Inn left. There's good bands and good people there, but no place for the kids to go crazy.

DHR - What are your influences? Al Pist - More than anything, I'm influenced by what is around me at the moment. The bands that we play with, the other solo people that I play with, my friends, etc. Almost all the music I've ever loved was introduced to me by my friends. Starting out, some of my main influences were the old CT bands. Although I loved Minor Threat , 7 Seconds, DKs etc. our local scene really inspired me to start playing and writing music. 76% Uncertain, Lost Gen, NMOT, Vatican Commandos, Violent Children, Seizure. These bands all seemed like they were just a bunch of people like me, who weren't hung up on the fashion aspect of punk. They were more about the fun, the energy and the message.

DHR - you are also in another band called M13. What is the difference between the two bands?

Al Pist - M13 is a bastardized Brutally Familiar reunion band that is starting to flesh out its own sound and identity. At the moment, the lineups in M13 and The Deacons are pretty similar, but the music and the vibe is different. M13 is way heavier, faster and more direct. The aim is to bring it with intensity and take no prisoners.

DHR - If you could join another CT punk band for a day who would it be?

Al Pist - I always wanted to be in Brutally Familiar, and M13 is a close as I'll ever get so that'll have to do. As far as current bands...I don't think any of them need an old guy like me hanging around.

DHR - you have been all over the country playing shows. How would you say Connecticut rates in comparison to other punk scenes?

Al Pist - I think that we have as much going on here as anywhere else. Every scene has its good and bad points. We've got enough people involved to support touring bands when they come through, and we certainly have our share of decent bands that span a pretty wide range of punk and hardcore. As far as I can tell, everyone gets along with each other pretty well and there's not a lot of rivalry between bands and scenes.

DHR - What does the future hold for you and the Deacons?

Al Pist - For the Deacons? Who knows? Maybe some more new members...(we just got Mike from M13 on 2nd guitar.) Rich and drummer Mike LoPorto have been working on a set of the more quiet Deacons stuff that has more of an acoustic feel. We'd also like to get in the studio and record some songs that we never were able to do in the past. As for me...I just want to keep playing, writing and going to shows. It's really not as easy as it used to be, but the day that you stop pushing yourself and doing things that you think you can't do is the day your soul dies. I'm 41 now, and I see people in their 50s still doing it, and that keeps me inspired

Al and The Deacons are playing Elm Bar (372 Elm Street) in New Haven on Wednesday April 27th with Sadplant, and yes Please

Sean Beirne of Death To New England sits down and chats .

Thursday January 27th Sean Beirne and his band Death To New England are playing at Daniel St Club in Milford, Ct. It also happens to be Seans Birthday that night. I recently sat down with Sean and asked him some questions. As opposed to the usual which is having some drinks and talking music...wait thats what seemed to have happened. Oh well here are some questions i asked Sean....

DHR - You've been involved in the New haven music scene for over a decade now. How do you feel about the state of the "scene" at the present time?

Sean Beirne - there used to be more unity and support amongst the bands. everyone would go out to everyone's shows. also, there used to be more opportunities to play. rudy's had music at least three times a week. eric bruce had a weekly show at one of the dance clubs on crown street - and a bunch of crazy rock n roll kids would invade the dance club for a night. if the vultures were playing everyone from kill gweneth paltro, groovski, the battlecats would be there i feel like an old fart!

DHR - What do you think New Haven has to do to make its self more of a "music city" like the way Northampton, Mass is now?

Sean Beirne - Northampton is a great town to play, they are very supportive of the local music.
new haven has to get off its ass and put the time, money and effort that it takes to be more of a scene. also we need more places to rock. more clubs and bars that accept original rock n roll.
if you play they will come. the advocate used to be more involved in the scene too.

DHR - You've been in a few bands since the breakup of The Battlecats, who were a very popular band in the Elm City. Is it tough to get past the popularity of that and make people focus on the current project?

Sean Beirne -Hell no! death to new england is a better band! jimmy jude is coming up with the best songs of his life and i feel lucky to be interpreting them

we just need to play in the Hayve more and people will see that we are in top form

DHR - You're working with Jimmy again - who was also in The Battlecats. what makes it different this time around?

Sean Beirne - we are just coming up with better tunes and tightening up our live show. our singer/guitarist little jo has become our secret weapon. she sings like a bird and rock the guitar at the same time. drummer big joe is totally dedicated to the song and what is best for the song. we got the biggest guy we could find to pund the shit of the drums and a sweet little bird to sing.

DHR - nice. im psyched to hear it. the last time i saw you guys you were a 3 piece.

DHR - You seem to have a love for really good garage rock. Who are your most influential bands?

Sean Beirne - chuck berry is my hero. i love that chuck berry school of playing: johnny thunders, keith "motherfucking"richards and steve jones from the pistiols johnny ramone has that nasty down stroke too. a local band from about 10-15 years ago called the botswanas are also influential in my song writing. IGGY...he puts everything he has into playing wrtiting, performing...i try to do that too

DHR - dude the Stooges rock. Which reminds me " Fun House or "Raw power"?

Sean Beirne - fun house, motherfucker! but my favorite is actually the lust for life album

you can beat bowie and iggy together or bowie and lou reed can't beat. when i first strted hanging out with jimmy jude we bonded over the first few stones and first few bowie albums on vinyl...his dad gave him all of his old records and we were like kids in a candy stroe sifting through hundreds of records

the animals on vinyl!
bill wyman's solo album!


DHR - Rudy's is about to re-open. Cafe 9 is going through a massive overhaul, and some new places are popping up ( Elm Bar, Outer Space, and now Anna Liffeys is getting more shows) Do you feel like New haven may be on the cusp of something good?


Sean Beirne - there is definitly a lot of potential. we just need to bring back that sense of unity that seemed to die. bands need to be supportive of each other.f not...we have nothing. just a lot of planets bounceing aroundspace and not a unified and diverse galaxy

DHR - What ever happened to Joanie Loves Tchotchkes?


Sean Beirne -joanie loves tchotchkes were a cool little band. after we recorded at the awesome firehouse 12 with two of the best guys around: dean falcone and greg dicrosta we felt like we were done. we accomplished what we wanted to do. play some shows and record a real album with real professionals. that was such a fun and tedious recording process. par for the course.

DHR - What would your all time band be ( 4 piece )?

Sean Beirne - paul westerburg on vocals and rythem guitar, kim deal on bass and vocals, charlie watts drumming and SEAN BEIRNE on lead guitar!!!!! but where would i put john lennon and sam cooke?

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone, Lets ring in 2011. Finally! This year is going to be big for us. We have a couple releases coming in the early part of the year. The Black Noise Scam will release "Sound The Alarm" and a compilation is also in the works featuring : Loud Youth, Sadplant, The midnightmares, The Hulls, The Black Noise Scam & others. Our first show of the year is January 27th At Daniel Street Club in Milford, Ct. On the bill is Kimono Draggin', The Field Recordings, and Death To New England (it will also be Sean Beirne's Birthday). Live Mike will also Dj Before, between and after the sets. Come down to see what is going to be a great kick off in 2011 with Die Hipster! Records.

7 questions with Ben Social

7 questions with Ben Social of Sadplant




Ben Social is the singer/guitarist of the Connecticut punk band Sadplant. If you dont know who this band is you should A.S.A.P. They have taken not only the thriving Connecticut punk rock scene by storm but most of western Massachusetts and all of New England on a complete joyride through a black hole of phenomenal punk rock over the past 3, almost 4 years. I sat down with Ben recently and here are some Questions i asked him.

D.H.R.- You've been involved in the Connecticut punk scene for awhile now. How do you feel about the state the"scene" is in right now?

BEN SOCIAL - its definitely better than it was 5 years ago and definitely worse than 10 years ago. im a glass half full guy so lets just say its better than it was 5 years ago.


D.H.R.- Do you think there are any bands today that have the "staying power" of bands of yesterday (ex - the Pist, Death Threat, Hatebreed)?

BEN SOCIAL - shit, tough one. every time i say shit like "this is the best band in CT" they break up within a month. i dont wanna jinx anybody.


D.H.R. - Sadplant covers some unusual songs like "Gay Bar" and "Dammit". Why do you choose these songs as opposed to more traditional punk songs?

BEN SOCIAL - i dig hearing bands cover shit like minor threat and black flag, but i know playing blink bums kids out and i get off on it. fuck the kids.


D.H.R. - What are your main influences?
BEN SOCIAL - motorhead, the jerks, black flag, old school shit. they influence the shit out of me, im just no good at ripping their sound off.


D.H.R. - It seems there is a plethora of Sadplant material. Do you have an immense back catalog, or are you just a hit machine?

BEN SOCIAL - i can write 5 songs in a day some days. i dont have alot to do.


D.H.R. - What C.T. city do you like playing in the most and why?
BEN SOCIAL - i like new london alot, kids come out and are pretty fucking nice to me....yeah, new london without a doubt


D.H.R. - If you could join one band for a day who would it be?
BEN SOCIAL - fuck! any band that is touring alot i guess, i would love to stay on the road.

Check Sadplant out on the web at www.myspace.com/sadplant.

December 4th

December 4th 2010 is another great Die Hipster show. It takes place at Cherry Street Station in Wallingford, CT. on the bill is the band voted "best punk band" in New haven by the readers of the "New Haven Advocate" The Black Noise Scam. Also playing is grunge/punk rockers Murdervan from New Haven, Ct, Skate Punks Sadplant, and 10piece ska band The Hemsteadys hailing from New London, Ct. Don't miss this show. its going to be a party.

The Field Recordings

So i dont normally go nuts about bands that i dont know. However last night i saw The field recordings. They are from Southern Connecticut and although its not normally my style of music i totally dug it. They call them selves "noise pop", i just say "really fucking good". I also feel like being cool dudes and talking all night is a huge plus. there are alot of bands that stay to themselves when they are at a show. Check them out for yourself. http://www.thefieldrecordings.com/

Murdervan Returns!

It has been just about a year now, maybe even over a year since Murdervan has played their last show. Maybe they broke up? Maybe a little hiatus? I really don't know? What i do know is that on October 21st at Cafe 9 in New Haven Ct Murdervan returns! Check them out http://www.myspace.com/murdervan. Also playing that show is all girl punk rock band from Connecticut The Damn Broads, "New Havens best punk band" as voted my the New haven Advocate and it's readers B.N.S. ( the Black Noise Scam), and D.J. Live Mike. There is no cover posted on the cafe 9 Website yet, so this leads me to believe that it is FREE!!!!. As always the show is 21+, ans starts at 9pm