271-recs-blog - Tumblr blog

271-recs-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Interview with Mike from Not Like You

Hello, Mike! Friends here wanna know about you. Would you tell us about you?

I grew up on the East Coast of the US in New Jersey. Got into punk and skateboarding at a young age. Starting going to shows in 1987. Was lucky to experience NY, NJ and CT Hardcore at a very instrumental stage and see so many bands people only wish they could have seen. I moved to New Mexico in 1996 and have lived here ever since. I have done fanzines on and off since 1985. I have helped book shows, worked at a record label (Gern Blandsten), owned record stores, put out records and tried to give a little back to the scene which has given so much to me for so many years.

Why do you choose Not Like You as the named of your Fanzine and Label Record?

I wanted to find a name that would convey what I was all about. To create a home for the misfits, punks, skaters and everyone else who just didn’t fit into the norms of conventional society. I’d grown frustrated and tired with cliques in the scene. I got into punk because it was a home for the outcasts, not somewhere else with a “cool group” and outsiders. I wanted to breathe that back into everything I was doing. No rules, no cool kids, just a home for everyone with an open mind and an open heart. The name comes from the Underdog song “Not Like You” which has been a favorite of mine since their 7” came out back in the 80s. Not Like You is for everyone with the courage to stand apart from the popular crowd even if it meant standing alone.

NLY could be this high, who inspires you?

I have been inspired by so many people. From every band I work with, to my friends who skate, to people have kept the torches burning all these years keeping the true ideals of what made punk and hardcore what it is. Labels who continue to put out records and support the scene thru their efforts. I could go on and on. I guess honestly you could say I am constantly inspired by some aspect of the scene and people involved with it.

You released 6 issues and 16 records, what makes you consistense until now?

It is a lot of work to do each issue and to put out each record. I do it because I love it. The zine is my way to stay connected to things while living in a place with a much smaller scene. Where I grew up there were always shows and always things going on. Out here you learn not to take them for granted because it may not happen again. So I began the zine as a way to reconnect with something that was such a big part of my life but I felt so removed from being here. The label began as an idea between myself and long-time friend Tony Rettman (author of NYHC book, Why Be Something That You’re Not, and an upcoming book on Straight Edge). We both had so much going on and he was working on the NYHC book then and didn’t have the time to dedicate to a label so I decided to do it on my own. I’ve been very lucky to work with some great bands and to keep finding others to work with. Luckily my day job allows me the time and freedom to work on these other projects. If I had the money I would put out more records, faster but all the money the label makes gets recycled into new projects and that’s how I fund them.

In your photo zine, you dedicated to one of your favorite photographer who wants you to always taking photos. Share to Indonesian friends about that?

I was at a Fugazi show in Hoboken NJ and photographer Glen E Friedman was there, unbeknownst to me at the time. I grew up a fan of his from his My Rules photo zine and his photos in other zines and on albums. Well I shot pictures of Fugazi that night and only had 2 rolls of film which I went thru pretty fast. I stopped and was about to put my camera in my bag when a hand came out of nowhere and handed me 2 rolls of film and said “Keep shooting” I looked up and it was Glen. I was blown away but I took the man’s advice and kept shooting. Here I am about 25 years later still shooting pictures. It’s always an incredible blessing when the people you look up to or admire in any aspect of life turn out to be supportive of you and what you do. I never forgot that night and it became the dedication to the “Photo Issue” of Not Like You

You released Impact EP titled Worlds Apart. Why did you choose them to be NLY’s 11th records?

I heard Impact’s Demo and knew I wanted to work with them. I got in touch with the band explained who I was and what I did and that I wanted to work together and that was it. We agreed to release their “World’s Apart” 7”. It became the 11th release by mere coincidence. It takes time to get masters ready and do cover art etc so when Impact was ready to go it was NLY-011.

What criterias in choosing band to be released? Is there any requirement to join NLY?

I made a promise to myself from the beginning that Not Like You would release whatever bands I enjoyed. It wasn’t about being the cool guy, or fitting into some niche in the scene. Not Like You is just bands and people who make music that I really enjoy and am inspired. No rules just I like your band and I’d love to work together. Keep it simple!

Since NLY formed, do you find any obstacles on it?

YES and I could talk about this all day. For the zine the hardest part is getting people who commit to interviews to finish them. If you have seen the zine then you know I try to do lengthy interviews that go deeper than surface topics and make for a more interesting read. Sometimes people say they will do interviews I spend the time to come up with 25 or 30 really good questions only to have them never do the interview. I have a couple that are coming up on almost 3 years with still no completed interview even though they told me more than a few times it was in the works. That’s hard and can be frustrating. But at the same time look at all the amazing people I have interviewed who have taken the time and have given me some incredible interviews. For the label, it’s a constant battle of financing. Putting records out is expensive. Even 7”s are so expensive. Plus distributors take less records and are slower to pay. It’s just the way music has become. Less people buy records, its so easy to find free music or whatever the case. So I find myself constantly trying to get the financing for new projects together. I’m working on a few projects right now that are in various stages of completion that I’m hoping some checks from distributors will be in by the time they are ready to head to the pressing plant.

A bit about politic, America has chosen a new President, yes, Trump. What’s your opinion?

Honestly I hate that we grow up being told we live in a Democracy because it isn’t. This election was the lesser of 2 evils (In my eyes both extremely evil). I expected to wake up the morning after the election and be extremely pissed off at who my president was but I didn’t expect to wake up and have it be Trump. Already there is so much negativity and violence and racism stemming from his appointment, it’s sad and disgusting. I really don’t know what the future holds for the US. This is something we have talked about a lot since waking up and finding the news. I could go on and on about how prior to the election Trump was the complete opposite of all the things he said during his campaign. Does he really believe those things? Did he say them to get elected? I don’t know. I do know that Rain Like The Sound of Trains sang “Lesser of 2 evils still evil to me..” I don’t believe this is a system of the people by the people and for the people. It is rules by corporate interests and the very elite ruling class.

In 2017, how many EP will you release? And what bands?

I don’t know how many releases will come out in 2017. A lot of it depends on the bands recording and when things are ready but we have 7”s planned with Concrete Criminals, Slam, King Face, Spit It Out,Enuf, Shock Treatment and a few surprises. There are also LP’s planned with Nine Lives, Frontside Five, Odd Man Out (the old skate rock band), Clay Wheels, Against the Wall discography, Minus One, and Vicious Circle. Also a couple unannounced compilations and reissue projects too.

Tell us a bit about New Mexico hardcore scene!

I live in Albuquerque. It’s a very small scene. It has some very shining moments of local bands and cool all ages spaces, which unfortunately often disappear as fast as they happen. There are always kids getting into it and always new things going on. Unfortunately due to where we are on the map we often get overlooked by bands on tour. I hope to do more to change that in the coming years too.

What are your favorite bands? Give us 3 bands and why do you love them?

The Cro-Mags When I first heard their demo and The Age of Quarrel it changed me forever. It opened my eyes to the world at large, to spirituality and so much more

Underdog Such an incredible band to see live and I loved how in your face they were. There’s a reason we are called ”Not Like You” They pulled no punches and called it like it is. They have been a favorite of mine for almost 30 years.

Avail From the first time I heard Satiate I was hooked. I have been up and down the east coast following them, and even got to do some California dates with them while they were out there in 1994. I have never seen a band live as many times as I have Avail and if I could see them 30 more times it still wouldn’t be enough

Do you know anything about Indonesia? Are there any Indonesian Bands you’ve ever heard?

Most of what I know of your country is based around spirituality. I would love to learn about some of the bands from there

A message to all Hardcore Scene in the world!

Hardcore is the one thing that breaks down so many barriers and can unite people around the world who come from different backgrounds and have never met. Don’t ever let someone’s “rules’ dictate what hardcore means to you. “Do what you want and how you want it, if it feels right go out and do it” as the Cro-Mags once said. And I will leave you with this little tidbit from Void “Why should I listen to those fools, I’m gonna live by my rules” Keep making zines, making music and supporting your scene.

Thank you Mike! NLY Rules!!!

Thanks so much for the interview. It’s an honor to speak to our friends across the globe!

0 notes