Horace Pinker Interview

Horace Pinker have a new album out. They are a band that have been adjacent to my radar but not quite on it for the last 2 decades. After listening to the new record I’m left wondering why. It is a melodic song celebration. It is out now on People of Punk Rock Records and you can spend a wonderfully peaceful 35 minutes listening to the soaring anthems.

I sent some questions over to the band.

You are heading to Europe next year, is it still exciting knowing you are traveling to different countries to play music to people? What gives you the drive to continue?

Scott: 100%! We haven’t been since 2012 and can’t wait to get back. We used to play in places like Belgium and Germany every year, so we’re excited to see old friends and play to entirely new audiences too. Would love to hit the UK and Ireland!!

Greg: Hell yeah it’s exciting. Especially since we have a new record. Playing music is great. Traveling is great. Together, it’s one of the best things ever. 

Bryan: It’s incredible. After all these years it still amazes me that people are interested in our little band. Touring the world, seeing old friends and making new ones has always been the best part of doing this band and I think we’re very fortunate to be able to do it for this long.

The new record is as good as ever, do you consciously sit down and say we have to perform here, how does the song writing process differ these days from the early days of the band?

Scott: It’s pretty relaxed–we write together and focus on the music first. Sometimes Greg and I put together different riffs and find what works, other times we’re all jamming. It’s a collaboration, which makes it a lot more fun for all of us (I think!).

 

Greg: I’ve been a part of writing three full-length records and I don’t think there is any real plan for how we approach song writing. We all contribute and we all have different ideas. 

Bryan: Agreed. I think we all work well with each other and are able to bounce ideas around without anyone getting their feelings hurt. It’s always been that way, even back in the early days with different lineups. No egos in this band.

 

You have been on a lot of different labels, how has that evolved? Do you ever find yourself thinking “well such and such label wouldn’t do that”? How come the link with People of punk rock records? 
Scott: I like working with different people from different parts of the country and from around the world. But in the end, we like to work with labels that are excited about what we’re doing and believe in the same DIY ethics that have informed our music since day one.

Greg: When I was young I thought the label made the band, but now that I am older I’m glad I was never in a band that on a label that had expectations. It’s not like it was only hard work that got a band somewhere. It was image, being “cool” and a lot of luck. 

Bryan: Unfortunately we’ve never been the cool band, from the cool city on the cool label. It would have been nice to follow up our seven inch release on Fat Wreck Chords with a full length and be part of a “label family” like a lot of other bands, but Fat Mike never liked anything else we sent him. We have always recorded our records on our own, then sent them out to labels to see who’s interested. We’ve been very fortunate to always find a home for our releases.

8 albums in do you think the band has a legacy? Or what would you like that legacy to be?

Scott: Not doing what’s popular or changing our sound to please anyone but ourselves.

Bryan: I hope what people get from our legacy is the honesty, passion and DIY ethic we put into the band. I hope it has resonated with younger bands that if you put in the work then you can make music and play shows all over the world without being on a big label, booking agent or having management. 

Do you get mellower with age, with the music you listen to or the words you write?

Scott: I love a band like Slowdive, but I also loved going to see GBH a few days ago (in Chicago!). If anything, I’m more open and honest with age, but mellow, probably not!

Greg: I used to be punk rock or nothing, but I have opened up to different styles now. I actually think it helps me come up with new ideas for the songs we write.

Bryan: I think everyone gets a bit mellower overall with age and experience. It definitely has an impact on how, what and whom you align your priorities with and I think that takes a lot of pressure off things that you used to think were really important but realize they are not so much anymore. To me that translates into really enjoying the little things in life and I think that’s reflected in how we operate as a band now.