Blowing up the Bay Area
by Jacob Fouts
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Normally, anyone who titles themselves a “bomber” would be arrested and locked up by Homeland Security. But the destruction Midnight Bombers cause can’t exactly be considered a serious terrorist threat...yet. The only thing they’ll blow up is your auditory system. Based in San Francisco, these guys pack a ripping sound in the vein of Dead Kennedys, and early 80’s Nardcore. Somehow, we at Zero were lucky enough to catch them before they returned to their underground hideout. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Bay Area, meet the Midnight Bombers.
First off, introduce yourselves for Zero readers.
We are the Midnight Bombers - the world's greatest opening act. Our identities must remain anonymous since we are wanted in three states. We can release first names and aliases only. Jerry B. - Vocals, E Ball -Guitar, Jay Jay -Bass, Buick -Drums, We’re from San Francisco and we play paranoia infused skate rock!!
How long have you all been playing together?
Jerry B., E Ball and Jay Jay all met while kicking around in various bands. About two and a half years ago we started the Midnight Bombers and started looking for a permanent drummer. After riffling through seven drummers, Eric suggested Buick. We all saw him play a show at Annie’s one night and liked his style and asked him to play with us, we’ve been together as a band with Buick for just over a year now.
Your new album is awesome, and it's on The Grannies' label, talk a little about how it all fell into place.
Thanks the album is awesome, maybe even totally awesome, and you can get it at CDbaby.com, Amoeba Records SF, and soon on iTunes. We’ve known the Grannies forever. We practice in the same building @ Rodent Records rehearsal studios. A lot of our first shows were opening for the Grannies. We have played a bunch of shows with them over the years. When Sluggo heard we were looking to put out a record we talked about putting it out on Wondertaker and it seemed like a no-brainer since we are all friends with most of the other bands on the label. It’s great, cuz we’re local and we see each other all the time. We can always talk to them about ideas for the band etc. They take our calls, they actually pay attention to us.
Where's your favorite place to play shows in Bay and why?
We love the SF Eagle because there are no attitudes and it’s always a fun atmosphere, any place with a backyard patio is pretty cool with us. They treat the bands well, and even pay them! There’s always an interesting crowd, for the Thursday night rock shows.
We also love Annie’s Social Club on Folsom @ 5th, It’s where the legendary Old CD Saloon used to be and is still basically a great room, It’s fun because it’s like playing in your friends basement. We have a show at Annie's January 27th, it‚s gonna Rock!!
Sadly the best all ages club, The Pound (RIP) We are looking now to play more all ages shows.
Favorite pre-show drinks?
We each have our own secret mixes, anything flammable will do. I’ve seen Jerry down a few vodka Redbulls before a show and Buick favors Crown & Coke (AKA - Blacktooth)
What are some main inspirations for your songwriting?
Emotionally and lyrically, paranoia, desperation and sex. Generally we like to dissect those small complex moments in life when your feeling overwhelmed and utterly devastated. Musically we channel early 80‚s hardcore, a mix between the angst and politics of Boston and the fury of the nardcore scene from southern California.
Name some newer bands who have influenced you or who you have been listening to a lot.
We’re all over the map. As far as newer(ish) bands we like Chimaira, Tomahawk, the Fleshies, This is My Fist, The Twots and Turbonegro. And of course anything on Wondertaker or Rodent Records. Grannies, Everything must Go, Cobretti, Bevelacqua.
Do you have any tours planned for the near future?
This year we are hoping to go to Texas and Boston as well as up and down the west Coast. If Texas is God's country, he's gonna need some earplugs! Look for us coming through town. Watch out, Davis, Reno, Chico, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Los Angles, San Diego, Phoenix, Austin.
If you could put together your dream show where would it be and with whom?
Either in front of 400,000 people in Barcelona playing with Slayer or maybe just opening the American Music Hall with / Melvins / The Freeze / and the Dead Kennedy‚s. We’d open the show, of course, so we could get to partying and watching all those great bands. Then maybe we can all get onstage at the end and do "Holliday in Cambodia" or "It can happen" by Agression as an encore. It can happen.