This band really beats it out!! It's all a hail of drum and bass punk that habitates a full-fledged slam pit.
New punk with an old soul or old soul punks fighting new atrocities, however you describe them it all spells out the same thing:
This punk band is here to stay. Riot a go go is a San Francisco based band that was formed in early 2001,
the fateful result of a craigslist post "punk dance band". Since that time the band has managed to elicit a loyal fan-base and rack up an impressive showcase.
Riot a-go-go is Nova Lee (guitarist/vocals), Matt Kreutz (drums/green tea), and Quiche Lorraine (bass/vocals).
They are fast, loud, and contagious, with a beat and a message. In August of 2002 their EP, "Radio Calisthenics" was recorded which was
highly recommended by SF Weekly in their yearly Listen Up music supplement. They went on to play some 50 different shows.
Including being chosen to represent San Francisco versus Los Angeles at the Yerba Buena Center's Rock-off. KZSU Stanford featured Riot a go go as #1
on their Heavy Shit play list two weeks in a row, scoring the #2 position overall. 'There is nothing more to say', as stated in their song Negativo,
which is featured on the newly released album A Piece of It. But you might have heard them prior to this, picked out of 700 bands,
Riot a go go joined Springman Record's annual compilation on Punk Rock Strike Vol. 4. This is Pure San Franciscan punk with all the connotations.
Nova's strong and richly intense telltale vocals give the band a new energy previously noted in bands such as the Distillers and Team Dreash.
But there is a beat that sets this band all apart.
With a strong melodic bass and a balanced drum beat that is not all toms (such as all other punk bands seem to lean on).
The band seems to amplify a group unity of mutual emotion and force that is conveyed to all involved, either show-goers, or now, headphone wearers.
There is an overall benevolence teeming from Riot a go go.
They do not need to overcompensate for it by being overly "fuck the government" or notoriously brusque. There is no need.
Riot a go go genuinely cares about their listeners, making any old peace punk proud.
There is a concern for the state of America today; consumer culture, what people are told and whom they are told by.
I met them at their auspicious practice space. Someone had tagged so appropriately ‘Down with Bush' on the entrance wall.
SFB: Is there a certain sound you really aim for?
Riot: Well we just really try to jam with punk.
We go through fazes and we try to experiment a lot.
Our moods and life circumstances really come out and is always fluid in that way.
We play around with some classic rock, soul, and would like to concentrate a little more on doing some ska as well.
SFB: For those who haven't heard the new album or been to a show, name two bands you are between?
Riot: Is this one of those 'who are your influences questions?' We don't like to compare ourselves with anyone.
SFB: Who are your influences?
Riot: Oh..Well ok, Minor threat, NoFX, Fugazi are just a couple bands; we are influenced by bands who want to say something,
expose a lie and tell a truth. But we don’t compare ourselves to them.
SFB: Whom have your fans compared you to?
Riot: Well, we've heard the Damned (totally bass wise), Lunachicks, Stooges, and Distillers.
But its odd to anyone, we wouldn’t compare ourselves to anyone.
SFB: Some previous venues? Memorable one’s?
Riot: Bottom of the Hill, LA’s Knitting Factory, and Skutter Fest
SFB: How was A Piece of it recorded?
Riot: Well Kris Dugan had done our EP. We were really happy with it and so he recorded us in a Pittsburgh (east Bay) studio this past July.
It actually only took three days to lay down all the tracks.
I think it took us a full two months to do all the artwork.
SFB: Are you all along the same line of musical motivation or is there more of a diversity amongst you?
Riot: Well we definitely all have our own inputs, our acute talents; like sometimes Quiche brings in a blues quality and Nora a more basic rock that really gives our punk a richer depth. Yet we feel we are a very drum based band because it really contributes to one of our main focuses.
SFB: And what is that?
Riot: That we want our fans to have a good time.
We don't want to see them standing there just nodding there head.
Yes, hear our lyrics but physically participate.
Create the energy behind the message.
Dance; get it, a-go-go!
SFB: What are your thoughts about getting on a label?
Riot: Doesn’t really matter, our motivation is to play. Make people feel the message and move.
SFB: (How punk rock can you get)
SFB: So you don't really care about being on a label then?
Riot: Well it would make things a little easier, especially distribution wise.
SFB: Day Jobs?
Riot: Matt is a bread baker to ensure they never starve.
I (Nova) am a massage therapist and studying at Mills for alternative medicine. Quiche works at a retail store.
SFB: How long do your sets run?
Riot: About a good 40-45 minutes, our song list is about 13-14 songs.
SFB: Do you guys ever really experience any internal turmoil? Especially being on the road so much.
Riot: No not really, except for financial problems, we each pay for this practice space a good price
plus our own living & rent expenses, in Frisco this all adds up.
Plus the usual fights we have to get into our studio space.
SFB: (Ya, damn I saw that guy on the way in)
SFB: Band Message?
Riot: We want you fuckin' dancing! And maybe you’ll just learn something.
SFB: Future plans?
Riot: Well the CD was our main focus for a while now. But I guess we’d have to say to just experiment a little more; shit maybe well try doing a slow song or two. (looks all around)
Riot-A-Go-Go Interview
By Jennifer Mendoza
