Interview with Live Fast Die Fast
By Slimedog
Live Fast Die Fast is Thrash N Bang’s favorite band from New York on out site. Okay, okay, I know we have like, maybe one or two other bands from there, and these guys are from Long Island, not the city. Okay, erase that- let’s start over. Live Fast, Die Fast is one of our favorite hardcore bands on our site. And we’re so glad that they visit here fairly often and we make a point to see them when they do as they are a great live band.
As explained in the interview their style is old school hardcore punk and they really bring an excitement, realness and authenticity to this style. They consist of Paul (vocals) Lenny and Rich (guitars) and a rhythm section of Marc and Nickel. The interview was conducted at the Firehouse in Providence with Paul and Lenny. It was a bit noisy in the back stage area so we went to a connected stairway that led up to at least one apartment. I became aware of this when a young boy was taking out a large bird wrapped in a blanket and passed us; he explained it was an injured hawk they were taking to an animal shelter. I know this sounds like I made it up but it’s true and while we were chatting a bit before the interview the following took place.
Voice from upstairs- How did ya get in here? Who’s there?
Slimedog (directed towards the band)- Is it okay for us to be here?
Paul- We’re just doing an interview and we needed silence. I’m sorry.
Slimedog- Fifteen minutes, we’ll be out of here.
Voice from upstairs- Usually, I need to know- but it’s okay.
Slimedog- Thank you.
Paul and Lenny- Oh, I’m sorry about that. Thank you.
Slimedog- So how did you guys get together?
Paul- About four years ago- Lenny, myself and Rich were on a bus ride to see the Dropkick Murphy’s and The Bosstones in New Jersey and we were drinking and it just so happened we wanted to get together to play old school hardcore. And we got together one night and from there it became a family. We brought in Marc after our second practice. We started as a four piece and became a five piece and it’s been a family ever since.
Slimedog- How would you describe your style?
Paul- Early nineties hardcore punk. We love true hardcore. We love Agnostic Front, Sick Of It All and the bands from around here, you know- Slapshot; Philly bands like Kid Dynamite.
Slimedog- Do you have any plans coming up?
Lenny- Hopefully recording, we got a bunch of new songs. We got like nine songs.
Paul- Hopefully that and just get out and tour. (Editor’s note: Pronounced in New York accent as “tore” in Boston accent it would be “too-ahh.”) Last record was May 2011 so we wanna record. Long Island’s a great place, it’s our home but when we come to places like Providence and Boston, Philly, Watertown N.Y. And Syracuse and all the other places we’ve been blessed to play, it’s nice to see new faces going off to the music.
Slimedog- How do all these places compare? I don’t want you to put down someplace; I don’t want you to get in trouble- what’s the best place?
Paul- The best area? Boston.
Slimedog- Really?
Paul- When we get asked to play Boston and New England area in general it’s…We have more friends here than when we play a hometown show. We love our hometown but it’s very divided. There’s a clear line drawn in the sand. And it’s unfortunate ‘cause I grew up at a time when the scene was all together. It’s like the cool kids and the uncool kids and we’re definitely with the uncool ones.
Slimedog- You should be happy to not be with the cool kids. Who writes the music?
Lenny- All of us.
Paul- Yeah, it’s a joint thing.
Lenny- Everything comes together.
Paul- Somebody’s got an idea, you can tell the light-bulb’s going off. I write all the lyrics.
Slimedog- Who drinks the most in the band?
Paul- Me and Lenny.
Lenny- Hell yeah. (Laughter)
Paul- Especially last night.
Slimedog- So the people being interviewed are the drunkest?
Lenny- (Laughter) We’re the heavyweights, yeah.
Paul- But everything works for a reason, so we need the designated drivers to get us home so us guys can be the fuck-ups and the other guys can get us home.
Slimedog- So you’re the designated drinkers, without you their job would be meaningless.
Paul- Exactly.
Slimedog- How about a favorite dive bar?
Lenny- The bar I work at, it’s called Sinclair’s Pub. We play shows there.
Slimkedog- Oh, I’ve seen that on the events.
Lenny- It’s a good bar, if you want to call it a dive bar.
Paul- Any place that has vodka for me and scotch and whiskey for the other guys.
Slimedog- Who’s most likely to become a serial killer?
Both- Rich.
Paul- Our second guitar player, the one with the long hair. We think he’s the Beach Killer of Long Island. They haven’t caught him, he kills prostitutes and buries them at the beach.
Slimedog- Oh, so this is a real news story and you figure he’s the one. I’m sure the authorities will be happy when I report this to them.
Lenny- If there’s a reward I’ll turn him in.
Paul- We can find another guitar player.
Lenny- Yeah, a guitar player is easy to find.
I left Paul and Lenny at this point as the talk turned to exactly when they were going to alert the police and what they would be purchasing with their reward money. So I guess it’s safe to say they are currently looking for a guitarist, get in touch through their facebook page, I would just make sure your past is spotless, just for your sake.
