Brian Mastrobuono:  We're here to bum everyone's scene out, maaan.  No, really the HC scene for thrash hasn't ever had much except Dropdead and whatever band Aaron is in at the moment so I think we're appreciated on that level by the few who care.  Some of the arty dudes like us.

Aaron Ulcer:  Straight forward hardcore/punk has never really been the 'hip' sound here in RI, so I'm not sure where our place in the scene is really.  With the exception of Dropdead and maybe Verbal Assault, no hardcore or punk bands have ever stuck around long enough here to get established, so it doesn't look like HC or punk will ever get really big here in Providence.  Most Load bands aren't really my thing, although I must say that Landed and Vincebus Eruptum were very intense and great bands even if they weren't necessarily 'punk'.  We'll play with any bands that are cool, nice people and not rockstar assholes, so I really don't care if people around here 'get' our music or not, so long as the shows are fun and the people are cool and open minded about what we are doing.

Josh Philbrick:  Honestly, besides the two bands that Aaron mentioned I know nothing of the local noise scene.  It's not my thing at all.  As for OUR place in the scene, we're that band you see when any touring band comes to Providence.  We don't usually play any shows where Straight To Hell "headlines".

John Gorman:  The Providence music scene is so fictionalized that I really only see our place with similar hardcore bands.

Scoots:  How do you feel about the preponderance of noise acts currently playing in Providence?  Does this movement seem genuine to you or is it an easy way for people to live out a dream of performing onstage without actually learning an instrument?

Brian Mastrobuono:  It is rather easy to get a noise project going and I can't fault anyone for trying it since I did it myself (back in '92).  I don't know what other's drives to do anything are however.

Aaron Ulcer:  I've seen a lot of really awful noise bands here that (in my opinion) didn't offer anything worthwhile musically or even in their 'wacky' performances.  However, as I stated before - the band Landed were really intense (in a destructive G.I.S.M. sort of way) at one time, and the members of that band were all excellent musicians who were into hc and punk as well as the more avante garde 'jam' type stuff they were doing, so it's not like ALL noise/jam/improv bands sucked.  For awhile a lot of posers were jumping on that bandwagon and starting really crappy bands - but that has really fizzled out over the last couple years thankfully.

Josh Philbrick:  No comment.

John Gorman:  I really don't care to listen to any of that stuff.  Some of those bands are good live but very honestly I can't find myself buying and liking their records.  I may feel that it's a genuine movement, but just because some band is breaking new ground musically does not mean that it's good.

Scoots:  Your members have served tenures in quite a few well-respected bands.  Tell us a bit about your individual histories and how they have affected Straight To Hell as a group.

Brian Mastrobuono:  I've played drums in Dropdead since day one, I was interested in playing with Aaron during the gap after 1998 when Dropdead was somewhat inactive due to Ben working out of town for a couple years straight.  I think playing more and at slower tempos has helped my drumming for sure and these guys probably would have had a hard time finding a drummer to suit them if I wasn't around so I think we make a good team.

Aaron Ulcer:  Previous bands I was in that were established were Ulcer and Paindriver.  Ulcer sucked hard and the only reason why I did that band for so long was because I couldn't find anyone else to play 'extreme' hardcore with at the time, as I certainly didn't see eye to eye with the other members very often.  Paindriver is a lot less embarrassing to me because it was much closer to what I wanted to do musically.  Straight To Hell is THE band I always wanted to be in because these guys can write excellent songs that somewhat capture the elements of old US HC, Japanese and Scandinavian HC, as well as a bit of metal and punk.  We also get along really well, which I would attribute to the fact that there are no spoiled rich mama's boys in the band or kids going through a punk phase they'll eventually grow out of.  Those were significant factors which contributed to the demise of Ulcer and Paindriver, so I'm thankful to finally be in a band with members who are reading on the same page and pulling their own weight.

Josh Philbrick:  I'm a band virgin.  I've always played guitar, but Straight To Hell popped my cherry.  You never forget the first one.

John Gorman:  I played guitar in this metal band called Advocate for about 5 years.  Aaron recruited me at an Advocate show as a matter of fact.  I basically learned how to actually write songs that make sense towards the end of that band. I think the only reason why Straight To Hell got any attention in our early days was because of Brian's superstar status.  Man, did we fucking suck.

Scoots:  Is the anger real?  Will you ever write a "happy" song?

Brian Mastrobuono:  I'm not angry I just drum.

Aaron Ulcer:  For as trite and clichéd as it's become, hardcore punk is more relevant now than it ever was.  Hardcore is what we will always play, and the medium is the message - pissed off protest music that pulls no punches and tells it like it is.  The original hardcore bands started in the 80's during Reagan's (RIP- rest in pain) regime, and that asshole was nothing compared to Bush and his cronies.  Until I live in utopia I will always have my eyes open, always try to keep my survival skills finely honed, and most likely always be pissed off about something, be it my own personal problems or the fucked up things I see happening around me.  I was born with an inquisitive mind and a conscience, and even though my anger has mellowed out a lot over the years, I still have the curse of empathy and awareness which means I will never be able to look at injustice or intolerance towards myself or others of the underclass without getting really fucking aggro about it.

Josh Philbrick:  I just write songs that sound driving and intense.  I'd be bullshitting you if I said that I really try to portray my anger through my songs.  I never have a bad day, go home and pick up my guitar.  Usually if I have a bad day I'll start right in on the alcohol abuse.  I'm no gem, I have plenty of issues as most know.

John Gorman:  I have a great time when we play.  Aaron's just naturally a bitter person on the outside so he writes fucked up lyrics.  Deep down he's a cuddly badger.  But seriously, how fucking lame is it when bands write songs about how cool and uplifting our day to day is?  Playing hardcore is a cathartic experience where you take out your aggression from everyday bullshit.

Scoots:  Do you feel the need to give the audience what it expects?

Brian Mastrobuono:  I do, more precisely I feel that I have to uphold a certain standard for myself.  I don't drink before we play for this reason, I'll leave it at that.

Aaron Ulcer:  I certainly don't want the audience to feel ripped off or bored, although lately I've been getting a lot of stupid "shut up and play" comments from the audience, which kind of irritates me.  I mean, we're not Crudos or MDC, but I DO have something to say.  There's got to be a happy medium between having fun and rocking out, and also maybe trying to spread a message and learn about something.  Too many shows today are just about the music I think, and I'd actually like to see a bit more discourse and communication.  Given the current political situation - how can you NOT care about anything?  However, I definitely DON'T like it when hardcore turns into Crimethinc./ hippie drum circle shit either

Josh Philbrick:  My theory is that when you go to see a band and they're not visibly getting into their own music than how can you?  As a bass player, though, I have a lot of room to fuck up or slack off (not that I do).  I've only totally blown it once.  Me and my buddy Jack Daniels.

John Gorman:  I don't care as long as we get paid.  Haha.  Personally I give 100% effort every time we play.  We stand and deliver.

Scoots:  Hardcore has typically been a younger man's genre, does Straight To Hell's age make them different from the bands started by teens?

Brian Mastrobuono:  I think this is less true now, the other 2 guys who are not me or Aaron are the same age as many dudes in hardcore.  It's not 1985 anymore hardcore and over 30s are fairly common now.

Aaron Ulcer:  Hardcore is in my blood.  Even if I drop out of the scene tomorrow, my tattoos will serve as a perminant reminder of my years of involvement in the scene.  Playing with great bands full of energetic, pissed off sincere young kids like Cut The Shit and RI's Third Death are all the convincing I need that neither STH, myself, or hardcore are outdated or irrelevant.

John Gorman:  I'm still young man.  But age = experience and I take things more seriously from people who have stood the test of time rather from some 18 year olds writing jaded songs about how hardcore isn't what it used to be or about how life fucking sucks when you work at the GAP and mommy pays your car insurance and daddy gives you a stipend.

Scoots:  Is hardcore more about spreading a message or personal catharsis?

Brian Mastrobuono:  For this band, I don't know what I get out of it besides just playing.  I don't get that much release from it and we aren't spreading any message I'd personally endorse, I guess.  That sounds kind of jaded, I do really like playing with these guys though.

Aaron Ulcer:  Both for me.  As I said before, the world is more fucked up now than it's ever been - so how can you turn a blind eye to that?  But also, if what is weighing on my mind mostly are personal issues at a certain time then those are what will be expressed in my lyrics.  It's all about being angry and telling it like it is for me.  Hopefully the outcome is positive though, that being the music that we make out of our frustration.

Josh Philbrick:  For me hardcore has always been about hating everybody else, I know it sounds childish but I have terrible social skills.  I don't really have any message that I'm trying to push.  Gorman has been one of my close friends for a long time and being in this band has made us even better friends, as for Aaron and Brian I'm just using them as a stepping stone to secure my place in the scene.  So to me hardcore is about quality music, writing good songs and hanging out with friends.

John Gorman:  As I stated earlier, I find it as a release.  Spreading a message?  If you're into punk then you probably already got your foot in the door as to an "alternative lifestyle" so it's like preaching to the converted.  But I have no problem with bands that spread the good word.  Just as long as the word isn't some stupid crap like "jesus rules" or "drinking sucks".

Scoots:  You've covered bands like Anti-Cimex and COC.  What are some bands that have influenced you that might not be readily apparant to the listener?

Brian Mastrobuono:  Let Aaron and Philbrick talk about Squeeze for an hour here.

Aaron Ulcer:   Ahhhh, Squeeze.  Between them, Devo and the Police (other favorites) there have never been better lyrics written about relationships gone wrong, except maybe by Out Cold and early Sheer Terror.  Similar bitter sentiments have often been expressed in my own lyrics, as well.  I also really get into the snotty vibe of old US rock and punk bands like The Germs, The Lewd, Zeros, Stooges, DMZ, etc.  I also like tons of thrash and black metal bands like Celtic Frost, Bathory, Onslaught, Blasphemy, Sacrilege, etc.  But my favorites will always be good hardcore/ thrash bands like Poison Idea, Discharge, Death Side, Bastard, Terveet Kadet, etc. etc. etc.

Josh Philbrick:  I can't really comment here since for the most part we all like the same bands.  Especially me and Aaron.  We're cool for cats.

John Gorman:  Blue Oyster Cult, Sweet, Neil Young, Boston.  I listen to a lot of classic rock as of a year or two ago.  All that japcore, foreigncore, obscurecore stuff is hip now so I wouldn't be naming stuff unheard of.

Scoots:  Do you identify more with current music or "classic" acts?

Brian Mastrobuono:  "classic"

Aaron Ulcer:  Classic bands, as all the greatest HC and punk bands have had a finite lifespan.  Naturally my favorites are broken up, but there are some great bands around nowadays who keep me involved in HC and remind me that the scene certainly isn't dead.  I'd rather support them than any of these lame 'classic' bands getting back together to cash in just because hardcore is cool again.

Josh Philbrick:  I'm more of a classic hardcore/punk fan but there are bands like Victims, Hellshock, World Burns To Death, Toxic Holocaust, etc. that I'm wicked into, and would love to play with.  Hint Hint.

John Gorman:  I don't identify with anyone.  Especially those out there with delusions of grandeur that they can make a steady living off a type of music that is unlistenable to the average ear.

Scoots:  What do you value more in music, innovation/uniqueness or being the best at your own particular thing?

Brian Mastrobuono:  Hm.  New doesn't mean better, nor does different, although I can appreciate it.  Distilling and refining a style has a definite appeal to me.

Aaron Ulcer:  I just like straight ahead rock n roll of all kinds, be it punk, metal, hardcore or just rock n roll.  Once we start to get into 'innovative' territory that only serious musicians can understand, I have absolutely no interest anymore.  So I guess I favor time honored, catchy, predictable music over anything else.  I never said I wasn't one dimensional....

Josh Philbrick:  I think that being the best at what you do is very important.  There are a thousand hardcore bands out there, why should anybody listen to you if you're not memorable?

John Gorman:  If you're going to do something is life, you might as well do it to the best of your ability so I would have to go with the latter.

Scoots:  How do you feel about the commodification of "punk rock" in the last decade?  Do stores like Hot Topic dilute punk to just another fashion trend, or are they providing a service by exposing this culture to kids who might otherwise not experience it?

Brian Mastrobuono:  Probably the former to a large extent since the scene can't absorb and "educate" all these people to "our ways" effectively.  I don't feel any bond of community with someone wearing a Black Flag or Misfits shirt anymore, that's just how it is now, though, I guess.

Aaron Ulcer:  Again, I'll reply with another cliché.  (Ahem...) "let the corporations and the media try as hard as they want - true hardcore and punk can't be compromised".  Even though in the history of 'punk rock' there has been major label involvement since day one, real hardcore (at least in the US) has pretty much remained under the radar and will most likely stay that way.  I can't think of any real hardcore bands that ever went for the gold and signed to a major except for Sick Of It All, and that didn't seem to last too long.  And when I say REAL hardcore and punk I mean the good, sincere, angry stuff, not mosh metal gangsta core, postcard punk oi oi garbage, Warp Tour crap or wimpy pop punk MTV shit.  Those bands are punk and hardcore in name only, and have nothing to offer except happy syrupy love ballads, stupid postcard fashion punk statements, or bad downtuned groovy shit that jocks kickbox each other to.  Fuck those kids.  I am a totally different species than any of those dickheads, and I don't care if this sounds arrogant, but I swear I've got more soul in my little finger than all of them put together.

Josh Philbrick:  I think that the "mall punk" stores are a direct link to older generation punks who decided that they wanted to make some money on something that is easy to market.  It had to start somewhere and my generation isn't responsible.  Everybody wants to look "punk" nowadays, everywhere you go you find studded belts in big retail stores, which is why I personally don't go out of my way to look overly "punk".  Back on the subject of older generation punks - what the hell is the deal with these older bands that put out scarce records and want lucritive amounts of money to repress them?  I'm not gonna name any names, but that is just fucking lame.  If you love your music why wouldn't you want people to hear it?  Excuse me while punch somebody.

John Gorman:  That's not punk, that's bullshit.  People are supposed to get into punk because they're alienated virtually everywhere else in life.  Not because they get some lousy, watered-down excuse for personal expression shoved down their throats via cable TV.

Scoots:  You come from the age of print zines and tape trading.  How do you feel about this aspect of DIY culture being largely supplanted by the Internet and filesharing?

Brian Mastrobuono:  Well it's different, access is easier for sure, I don't think it "means as much" as it did when you really had to dig for information and it was on hand made tapes or xeroxed zines, it does feel a bit more soulless now but I admit to mp3 trading of rare stuff and I think music maniacs still do appreciate the content they are getting in electronic forms.

Aaron Ulcer:  I always hated most zines actually, albeit with a few exceptions (I just can't handle bad amateurish writing, knee jerk opinions and biased one sided propaganda - sorry kids).  I do really love the internet though, and I have made so many great contacts and acquired so much great music for virtually no money at all.  Yeah, I agree, zines had a lot more heart and soul - but the internet is just so fast and convenient I couldn't resist it anymore.  Trust me - I was staunchly anti-computer for many years.

John Gorman:  Technology will always replace the old.  Always.  As long as the microprocessor speed doubles every 18 to 20 months accept the reality that there's nothing you can do about it so make the best use of it.

Scoots:  You've written songs denouncing the police, intro'd a song with "this song is about what a loser my dad is" etc.  Is there any subject that you feel is too sensitive or taboo to write about?

Aaron Ulcer:  I try not to get TOO personal about my own issues or political views, but the whole point of STH is to just write about whatever the fuck I want to write about, with the exception of something that would totally break format like a happy love song or some shit.  Both Ulcer and Paindriver had a lyrical agenda, but with STH I wanted total freedom to write about whatever the fuck I wanted to write about.  So far it hasn't deviated much from those last two bands, although the 'political' styled lyrics of Ulcer are kind of toned down, and the fake posi youth/scene unity crap of Paindriver has been thrown in the trash where it belongs (I didn't write those cheesy songs, by the way).  I've actually written about some really personal shit with this band, but I always try to keep it universal and coherent, without sounding like an emo crybaby who's looking for sympathy.

Scoots:  Your lyrics and between-song banter are brutally honest and appear to be truly sincere.  Has this candor ever worked against you?

Aaron Ulcer:  Usually people think what I say is pretty funny, although as I said before, lately when I try to say something serious the audience just yells at us to "start playing".  Also as I stated before, I think its important to have fun - but I mean, I actually do try to sing about things that are relevant to everybody.  I have gotten a few "you guys were the only band who said anything worthwhile" comments recently, which I guess is the proof that at least SOME people are listening.

John Gorman:  Only when the jokes haven't been funny.

Scoots:  On the current punk scene, in "Den Of Thieves" you say: 'recycled opinions, repeated slogans for clones who have no brain stale fashion poses, useless statements for drones who act the same'.  How do you rectify these lyrics with the fact that you often embrace elements of the punk/hardcore uniform yourself?

Brian Mastrobuono:  I dress metal myself.

Aaron Ulcer:  I'm the most 'punk' looking guy in the band, and I've even toned down my image over the past few years...  Den Of Thieves was written as caustically as it is because I hate sheep, I hate posers, and I hate people doing insincere things to try to be 'cool'.  However, I'm a punk and proud of it.  This music and lifestyle defines who I am, and I'm not going to let a few stupid kids ruin it for me just because they also like to wear black denim and spikes.  I understand that there's not really anything original about what I look like or the music that I play, but I certainly hope that my dedication and honesty makes my 'uniform' a little bit more meaningful.  Den Of Thieves was written about the 'try hards' not the 'die hards'.

Josh Philbrick:  I'm a jeans and t-shirt guy myself.

John Gorman:  I use and assimilate what I consider is useful.  There's way too many people into punk who try to fit in by believing rhetoric that comes out of the mouths of singers or printed in zines.  Imagine if people just took the time to honestly think about what they value and consider true.

Scoots:  After playing infrequently over the last few years, you've been much more active lately, playing several excellent local shows.  Do you plan to maintain this more aggressive live schedule?  Any plans for a proper tour?

Brian Mastrobuono:  I'd like to play more, it's up to those guys I don't usually book things and I leave it up to them.  The tour thing isn't looking good due to my time being very limited with work and the "other band".

Aaron Ulcer:  Eventually we'd like to at least tour the east coast.  As Brian said, other commitments prevent us from playing as much as we'd like to, but the motivation is definitely there - esp. since our LP finally came out.

John Gorman:  Ideally I would like to play two or three times a month.  Tour-wise, I'd love to conquer and pillage this country for a week or two.  That would be a nice start.

Scoots:  All your releases thus far have been vinyl-only.  Is this a decision based more on economic necessity or personal preference?  Any new recordings on the horizon?

Brian Mastrobuono:  You'll also notice we didn't release any of them it was up to whoever pressed them on which formats they'd release them.  Also vinyl rules, everyone knows that.

Aaron Ulcer:  We plan to release a CD discography very soon, possibly on Gloom Records.

John Gorman:  If you don't own a record player I suggest either buying one or switching to eurotrash disco music.  Our stuff will probably be available on CD format some day, but don't hold your breath given how long it took for our 12" to come out.