This spring Kirby Unrest conducted an email interview with Colin Campbell, frontman of Boston hardcore outfit, Colin Of Arabia.
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If you could introduce yourself/age/band position?
My name is Colin Patrick Campbell; I am the singer, screamer, and booking agent, in COA.
How/when/why did Colin of Arabia form and who else is in the group?
COA started in the summer of 2004 with me and Mikey who has played guitar since the inception of the band. We wrote some songs together and Kris, my best friend, pressured me to do a comp that he wanted to put out. We got together with a couple more friends and made it happen. Nick who plays drums, joined about 6 months later after a revolving door of percussionists couldn't handle what we were doing. He was in a metal band called Terminally, Your Aborted Ghost (www.tyag.com) with Matt Rowe. When our bass player quit, Matt stepped in as our permanent fourth. He truly rounds out our sound and completes the line up.
What made you choose the name? It's definitely not run of the mill, especially when the frontman's name is incorporated into it.
COA was chosen because it was different than everything else. If there's one thing I have always been in my life, it is an individual. I'm little crazy, a little weird, totally hardcore.
When you formed initially, did you have any specific goals for what you wanted to sound like?
We just wanted it to be fast and urgent. There is also this thing we refer to as "second string mosh" when people start moshing after the 4th measure because all the guys who mosh hard are done by then. I hope you are catching my drift. Well we just don't write breakdowns that last for those kinds of folks; we have no love for B-sides. For those guys who like to toxic waltz in the mosh pit, some advices from us: LESS SPIN, MORE KICK.
What is the writing process like in COA?
Mike or Matt will have a riff or I will think of a band or song I want to rip off. We will play it a bunch. I will have an idea of what I think the next part should be or how we will construct the song. Nick will put a drum beat to it, usually he does crazy stuff. He is fucking awesome. Usually I have either the fast part or the slow part written. I try not to do chorus, verse, chorus, verse. Someone sometimes has a full song already in their head. I would say that everyone contributes equally. We cover a bunch of tunes as well.
You released "Illegal Exhibitions of Speed" not too long ago. How did recording go for that and how has the reaction been to the record been so far?
The record is an awesome testament to our first year as a band. The lyrics to those songs reflect a time in my life that I will always remember. I think we've grown from that point too though. It's cool when kids know the words, it makes me feel flattered.
When is the next COA full-length set to drop?
We are set to release a split CD with Palehorse from CT. a Seven inch will be out in the summer on Rock Vegas Records, tentatively called "Bad Ideas, Worse Advice" to preview a new full-length for the fall.
I really liked the layout for "Illegal." Who designed the booklet/CD?
Jay Reason from Stillborn Records/The Distance did the layout for Illegal. He also did the layout for the new "Our City Is Burning" seven inch out on Rock Vegas Records.
Speaking of the good feedback from "Illegal," I've noticed a lot of people speak well of your lyrics, which are definitely personal, but also not afraid to tell it like it is. What do you seek to express with your words and what is your favorite song that you've written thus far?
I really like the new ones the best. I think I've become better, just like anyone does with time. I try to use humor in my writing now. Like I said before about the chorus and verse thing, it's just never worked well for me. I think my favorite is "Slavedriver." It is a new song about my old boss.
You guys did a cover of "Paint It Black" for the Rock Vegas comp awhile back. Do you do any other covers live and do you plan to put any to tape?
Just Can't Hate Enough - Sheer Terror
Teenage Terror - The Trouble
Paint It Black - Rolling Stones
The Day My Thoughts Turn To Murder - Slapshot
Back On the Map - Slapshot
Johnny Was - Slapshot
Nervous Breakdown - Black Flag
Six Pack - Black Flag
SkullsThe - Misfits
Where Eagles Dare - Misfits
Last Caress - Misfits
138 - Misfits
She - Misfits
Halloween - Misfits
Bro Hymn - Pennywise
Behind This Tongue - Infest
This Is Boston Not L.A. - The Freeze
The Regulator - Bad Brains
We record covers every time we record something. It's fun and quick and if it never sees the light of day, who cares. It's fun to do cool songs other than your own live. Hardcore is now on its second and sometimes third generation. Influences should be proud to be shown. As for committing some to record, we did "Day My Thoughts..." on Illegal, on our 2006 Demo, we did an Infest song.
Boston is an extremely well known and beloved hardcore scene, with far too many great bands to name. What groups from your home state personally influenced you the most and what are your thoughts on the current state of BHC?
SSD, Slapshot, Blood For Blood, The Trouble, In My Eyes, and American Nightmare rank in my personal favorite bands ever. Boston has been home to the greatest hardcore bands ever. Personally, I think Boston has some bands right now that are destined for greatness. The Current State of Boston Hardcore is alive and well. Anyone who says it's not is insane. The current lack of violence and venue stability in the area is tremendous. The QQVC in Worcester, the Tiger's Den in Brockton, the Hudson Roller Derby, Re-Generation in Allston, and Club Lido in Revere have all be having constant shows in the Boston Area. Kris Mission is Boston-core's MVP.
I remember when I first met Kris Mission (Rock Vegas head honcho) at a show in CA a couple years ago and was first introduced to the label. I remember you guys really sticking out. Rock Vegas has a pretty diverse roster now (A Loss For Words, 12Cent, Dead City, Roses Never Fade) that runs the gamut, but a lot of the stuff is straight up, brutal hardcore. COA is still fast, to the point hardcore, but I hear you drawing a lot more from old school crossover/thrash and flat out punk rock than the usual chugga chugga breakdowns or "get low" scene that so many kids are into. Do you think people are ever surprised to hear COA, thinking that because you're from Boston or on Rock Vegas that you might fall into one of the aforementioned categories?
I think putting music into categories is stupid. The only thing we have in common with lots of bands on Rock Vegas is that they are our friends. I love the diversity of the records on the label. All the bands you mentioned before are undeniable. I think we are just a regular hardcore band, so fans of hardcore music take note. Rock Vegas means sweet tunes, across the board.
You're pretty well known for your contributions to the Boston Beatdown series. How did you get involved with that project and will a third in the series be released anytime soon? For those who may not be familiar with the Boston Beatdown videos, can you sum up your position on violence in the scene, FSU, etc?
I won't be involved in a third of the series. There may be one in the works, I have no clue. I got involved with the DVD because with how I was acting toward normal assholes. I was acting completely anti social and going pretty crazy, some of it was caught on tape.
I think violence at hardcore shows is the worst enemy hardcore has faced in its entirety. Through out the entire history of the music, it has been marred with violence. Somehow in Boston, I think we are finally getting it right after 26 years. It takes the right people to do shows. The right level of respect with bands, kids, and promoters is a must. Through my own eyes in the last ten years, the violence level accepted when I first started going to shows would be intolerable now.
Also, I am in FSU, they are my homeboys. Much Love World Wide, 666. All that jazz. Boston Crew. 2006
What are your thoughts on the growing commercialization of hardcore (Hot Topic, Fuse, HC bands on Ozzfest and Warped)? I mean there are obvious benefits, but also downsides without a doubt. What is your take?
I think the growth of hardcore is cool. A band changing their sound to cater to some industry types is lame. In the current state of pop culture, a normal person is closer and closer to hardcore due to some bands breaking out. Are we truly breaking down the walls? Time will only tell. When the status quo swings to something new, I will still be here. Can you stand the test of time?
I know you book a lot of shows in Brockton at Romans/Tigers Den. How is that going? Do you have any problems with the cops/community in regards to complaints about noise/fighting/etc? I personally booked shows for about 5 years at various venues and was the house agent @ Westcoast Worldwide and while I loved it, I definitely recognized there was a lot of stress, whether it was dealing with dumb kids looking for fights, bands complaining about payments or lack of turnout. Are those issues with those shows you've done and if so, how have you dealt with it and the general frustration that often comes with booking shows?
Brockton Hardcore is alive and well. It's in a pretty rough section of town so the cops don't sweat the small stuff. There is basically no fighting, everyone is very respectful. Bands are happy to play, kids are happy to see them. Every Friday night you have something to do. Sometimes the shows are big, sometimes the shows are little, they are always fun. Stuff gets real rough inside on occasions (DBD). There is virtually nowhere to hide. There is only one rule: no being an asshole. If you are in the front, expect to get hit hard.
What bands are you currently backing?
Shipwreck, Palehorse, Cut Throat, The Wrongside, Death Before Dishonor, November Coming Fire, Dragon Force, Dead Hearts, Shoot To Kill, Ruining Tomorrow, Guns Up!, Donnybrook, Killing The Dream, A Loss For Words, Down To Nothing, Ruiner.
Anything else you'd like to add/shout outs/etc?
I would like to thank you, Kris Mission, Brockton Hardcore, the Tiger's Den, Jimmy, Brian, Frankie, Jinx, Paul, Al, Johnny, and Chris. Shout outs to the Boston Crew, the Nation of Nations. And H Squat. Check out Coacentral.com
