Graphics by: Bas Spierings
Night Birds from New Jersey have been at it for about 6 years now with 3 full lengths, some EP’s and various other tracks floating around out there in punk rock land. The latest one is “Mutiny At Muscle Beach” which is the band’s first LP with Fat Wreck-Chords. It just came out a few weeks ago and you should really look into getting it because they have this thing about them. The word that I am looking for is escaping me at the moment but give me a second while I think some more and …. Oh yeah… It is that these guys are friggin’ ORIGINAL, they have their own style and sound and it is amazing. They really don’t sound like any other bands that I know of and no other bands that I know of sound like them. Just a great blend of punk rock and old school West Coast style hardcore from 4 guys from New Jersey. Go figure. Props to In Effect writer Carl Gunhouse for consistently pushing this band on me even when he probably thought I wasn’t listening to him and the Core Junkie Mark Anthony G for digging up some factoids to discuss here in this November 2015 interview with lead singer/screamer Brian Gorsegner.
IE: What's up Brian? I guess the thing that I got to get out of the way first is the band's name. The Night Birds. It is definitely different and unique and from the first time I heard it I thought... why? How did you all come up with this name?
Brian: At the time we chose the name, Night Birds which was an Andy Milligan film from the 70’s that had been previously unreleased. The film has since come out and it's awesome! The name was a suggestion by our mutual friend Evan.
IE: Night Birds have a brand spanking new album out on Fat Wreck Chords called “Mutiny At Muscle Beach” and you all have really been busy pushing and promoting it via interviews like this one and social media and I guess wherever else you can to get the word out. How many interviews would you guess you guys have done in the last month or so and would you say this is the most attention ever thrusted upon you guys in this short of a span since you've been together?
Brian: Yes, this is definitely the most we've done in such a short period of time. I love talking about myself though so I don't mind at all! Ha. Truthfully I think music journalism and writing has always been important and I have enjoyed a lot of it since I got into music. Writing can be a good creative outlet and a way to contribute to punk just like playing in a band, doing a label, doing artwork, booking shows, or any of the other key elements that go into making this whole thing work. Sure there are a bunch of hacks and lame publications but it's like anything else. I've definitely checked out my fair share of bands on the word of Maximum Rock ‘N Roll so I just think it's cool anyone likes us enough to want to talk about it in the first place.
IE: Mutiny is your 3rd full length and first one not on Grave Mistake Records. You guys and Alex from Grave Mistake probably have a lot of good war stories from the road with him putting out your first two full lengths. I've read stuff where you really praise the guy for going beyond what a label usually does for a band. So when Fat Wreck Chords came calling for you guys how hard of a decision was it for you to make that move and did Alex immediately give you his blessings with your decision? It seems like there had to be some mixed feelings in there at some point after all the hard work you all had put in together.
Brian: As far as I can recall, he was cool about it right off the bat. And the cool thing about the built in fan base at FAT is once the label signs a new band, people will check it out, and if they like it, they are all in. We've noticed a ton of new people picking up the back catalog, so something like this is mutually beneficial to everyone. This is maybe an extreme example, and by no means am I comparing us to the Descendents, but I recall picking up “Everything Sucks” on Epitaph shortly after it came out in the 90’s. I had no idea who they were but it was love at first sight. Finding out that they already had a hefty back catalog was like striking gold. I slowly got into them one album at a time. But at that point, I was a young kid, and there was nobody to tell me to check out their albums on SST ‘ya know?
CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO WATCH THE "MUTINY AT MUSCLE BEACH" VIDEO BY NIGHT BIRDS
IE: With the new album comes a twisted video for the title track where you all get tied up and offed by a demented fan. What's the song about and can you also tells us about the making of this video. It looks like you had to have a good time getting a microphone shoved down your throat while watching your band mates get killed in other torturous ways.
Brian: A couple years back, this guy Chris La Martina got in touch with us about using our song "New Cults" in the opening credits of a horror film he was working on called “Call Girl of Cthulhu”. He said in exchange for the song, he would do a music video for us at some point. We were unfamiliar with his work but said sure. He sent us a screener for the movie a little bit later and we loved it and realized the guy was the real deal! So when the time came we took him up on his offer and drove out to Maryland to this barn like place out in the sticks and shot the video in a day. He had a whole crew of people there with a special effects guy and everything. Was so sick! One of the funnest times I think we've ever had as a band.
Part of the inspiration for the video came from a story a good friend of mine told me once. He was working for this company that made DVD’s for bands. One day he was going through hours and hours of tour footage when all of a sudden, the VHS scrambled out and the footage that had been taped over came onto the screen. It was a member of said band receiving oral sex on a pool table. He said it was only like a two second blip before scrambling back to the tour footage…he needed to rewind to see if it was really there, and sure enough it was. So the concept of old VHS tapes scrambling out when you taped over them sparked this idea of some sort of snuff film mashed up with live footage. I love how it came out!
IE: I tend to notice many bands say that their newest album is their best when it first comes out. I think this is mostly due to the songs still being new and fresh to all the band members. With that said is Mutiny the bands best work in your opinion?
Brian: Yeah it is. Things just fell into place. We always try and write good songs, but I think this is the best collective chunk of songs we've ever written at once. It's also the best production, and that's mostly due to the experience we've now gained from doing our other albums. Actual good songs and production are two of the most important aspects, and like I said, it all just came together for this one. Our "Freak Kills" collection is probably my favorite collection of songs we have on a 12", actually, but that's 4 different out of print releases rolled into one, and writing a good EP is way easier than writing a solid LP. So yeah, this is my favorite Night Birds album.
IE: Favorite song off the new one and why is it your favorite?
Brian: I think maybe "(I'm) Wired". I discovered coffee at the age of 30, after having our daughter, and then I wrote a song about it like I had started taking real drugs. It's really dorky actually, but I think we pulled it off well. People think it's about real drugs. Don't tell anyone and spoil our rep! I've never even sipped a beer or taken a drag of a cigarette, so coffee was a real shock to my system. I love it! I also was really happy with how the music came out, and it's always fun to play an album opener live. Especially a fast one like that.
IE: “Miskatonic Stomp” is a 2 minute instrumental that pops up towards the end of the album. It's a great song and in my opinion one of the albums stronger tracks. Was there any temptation to try and throw some lyrics on that one and will it ever see the light of day at a live Night Birds show?
Brian: Nope, all of our records have an instrumental track or 2. We actually did an EP last year of just 4 surf instrumentals on our now drummer's label, Wall Ride Records. It was called "Monster Surf". We've even played a few all surf instrumental shows, and will likely play a few more. A couple years ago we were playing in Italy and the bill was just us, by ourselves. No opening bands. So we opened with a full instrumental set, and then kicked into our regular set. We've talked about me starting to play rhythm guitar for some of that stuff but I'm lazy. Maybe one day.
IE: “Golden Age of TV” is another standout track that kicks off and also ends with some old TV soundbites. I get a kick out of the one where the guy says “You see what happens Larry? You see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?” Where did that soundbite and the other ones used in that song come from?
Brian: The "Larry" clip is an edited for TV version of a classic clip from the movie "The Big Lebowski"... Also in there, if I can remember them all... A Seinfeld clip, Kids In The Hall, Twilight Zone, a Mick Foley wrestling clip, a clip from the news, and a clip from a very short lived television show (just the pilot as far as I know) called "Heil Honey I'm Home" which was this tongue in cheek 50's spoof, goofing on Adolf Hitler.
IE: What are your 3 favorite TV shows (past or present) of all time?
Brian: Oh man, loaded question... Seinfeld is undoubtedly on the list. I think it would be a real mental battle to try and narrow down the other 2. I like television. The State, Kids In The Hall, Mr. Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The UK Office and Extras... Too much. I like funny TV, and sarcasm, and shows that make fun of society's bullshit. Larry David for president!
IE: And…. If you had to be trapped INSIDE any TV show for a month which one would you want to be in?
Brian: American Pickers. Cruising the back roads with my buddies Frankie and Mike W. hunting for garbage treasure.
IE: The band now has multiple well received albums under your belts over the course of the last few years. Does that fact and the fact that you now have a label with a lot of punk rock lineage with a good reputation standing behind you to promote and push the band tempt you guys into trying to make the Night Birds a full time touring band ever?
Brian: No, it's just not cost effective in 2015. We'd have to make a lot of money to be able to pay our bills. If it was 10 years ago and we all lived with our parents maybe, but even still... I feel like we'd all grow to hate each other. I have no idea how any group of people, regardless of how great of friends you are, can manage to live on top of one another for seven months out of the year. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. I love my bandmates but I'd eventually wanna stick my head in a microwave. I play in a band for fun, and doing it "pro", even if it were financially sustainable, which it is not for us, would suck the life right out of it for me.
PHOTO BY: KATIE HOVLAND
IE: What does everyone in the band do for work these days anyway?
Brian: I work at a hardwood floor store, PJ screen prints, Darick does construction, and Joe is an electrical engineer.
IE: Night Birds have grown a lot over the past few years and many more opportunities to play with various bands have come from the bands growing popularity. With that said who have been some of the bands that you have played with so far that you or the other band members may have “geeked” out over playing with?
Brian: Getting to play a couple times with Cock Sparrer was really cool. They are one of the best live bands I've ever seen. It meant a lot for us to get to play with Government Warning at their "last show" and their last little tour. As far as modern bands they were one of the main ones that initially made Joe and I want to start a band in the first place. Getting to play with ALL at Punk Rock Bowling after party last year was really cool too! Oh and touring with the Zero Boys... I just asked Paul nerdy questions every night.
IE: What are some other bands out there that you would love to share the stage with at some point?
Brian: Really we just want to tour with our friends bands. Getting to do some shows with CJ Ramone would be cool... Toy Guitar and Means Jeans too. We could book some rad newer Fat Wreck Chords package tour thing. We just got to do six shows with Dillinger Four (whom I should have mentioned above) and they were a bucket list band of mine to get to play with just so I could watch them every night. Best punk band of the last 15 years, easy.
IE: After all the years you guys have been in bands and with Night Birds being around for I’m guessing 6 years now does packing up the van and heading out on the road for a few weeks still get everyone in the band excited? What exactly is the motivation or what is the “high” for all of you to coordinate your vacations together and leave your families and jobs behind for a few weeks?
Brian: Yeah, it's the best. I can't speak for everyone, but personally I like touring now more than I ever have before. Real life is stressful so getting to go see places I would never be able to afford seeing otherwise, with some of my best friends, and get to play songs for people every night, it's the best. Its way more fun than going on a cruise or some lame shit. It won't be forever we'll be able to do this, so gotta enjoy it while we can.
IE: What is your best piece of advice for a young band reading this who have not yet embarked on a band in a van for a few weeks type of tour?
Brian: Don't be annoying on tour. Be self-aware. People living on top of one another can very easily suck, and sucky people is the main culprit for making it unbearable. Then again I guess the same can be said about everyday life. Just don't be an asshole. Getting to go on tour can be such an incredible experience, but it can also be tough and a lot of work. When it's time to load in, you help load in. When it's time to load out, you load out. If it's your turn to drive, then drive. Don't be lazy. Pitch in. Just don't be an asshole. It's that easy. I love touring with my dudes, and would go anywhere with them. I have bad anxiety, but they make it easy. They look out for me. I love ‘em like brothers. Even when PJ takes way too long to tell a story and tells the same dad jokes over and over again.
IE: What are some of his worst?
Brian: I've heard him tell this one joke about a duck walking into a bar like a million times... The duck asks the bartender for grapes, which the bartender does not have. The bartender is polite at first, each day the ducks asks for grapes, bartender eventually gets mad and threatens to nail the ducks beak to the bar stool... So the next day duck walks into the bar and asks the bartender if he had any nails... Bartender says no... Then the twist. Duck asks if the bartender has any grapes! I actually really like that joke. One of PJs better ones.
PHOTO BY: KEITH MARLOWE
IE: Please finish the sentence. The most dangerous situation the Night Birds have ever been involved with while out on tour was the time when…..???
Brian: Pretty early on in the band we were driving up to Boston in a crazy snow and ice storm and we were on the Mass Pike and the windshield wiper on the left side flew off and the snow and ice was building up and we were in the middle lane going like 60 miles an hour. I recall rolling the windows down and trying to navigate the van to the shoulder so we could go grab our wiper blade off the highway! That was a good one.
IE: That’s about all I got Brian. We really dig the Night Birds here at In Effect and hope you guys continue doing what you are doing for many more years and hopefully you guys are around for a long while. Is there anything else you wanted to add before we wrap up?
Brian: Thanks for the interview. Your zine rules. Thanks for doing it. How cool is the Raw Deal demo? Man, that thing rules!
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CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FOR "(I'M) WIRED" OFF OF THE NEW NIGHT BIRDS ALBUM BY CLICKING BELOW
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