2008 Woodie Awards
Instant Asshole chucks booze, finds name
By: Shea Cardinalli
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: Entertainment
What: Instant Asshole, Gruk and Death Crisis
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Monstros Pizza
One may be inclined to conjure images of unruly, beer-guzzling heathens and unsightly Mohawks when punk comes to mind, but what can be easily overlooked are the subtleties of a genre, a label and a culture many know little about.
Despite its name, Oakland-based Instant Asshole is a punk band that subscribes to some, but not all, of these genre stereotypes. The band plays at 8 p.m. Friday at Monstros Pizza.
In reference to the assholes and idiots that alcohol turns people into, Instant Asshole makes a great band name.
"It fits me perfectly, I am an instant asshole," said lead singer John "The Baker" Eppard.
Realizing alcohol was a catalyst for his own rowdy and unlawful behavior, Eppard decided to quit drinking at age 21 - a decision his bandmates and fans can appreciate, he said.
In 1994, Eppard was arrested at the Woodstock music festival in New York on account of obscene and vulgar lyrical content, he said. A lawsuit emerged when Eppard sued the town of Woodstock for $1 million, but the dispute ultimately settled for $20,000 out of court.
Despite the rough start, Eppard sees the punk scene as a genre that is maturing, particularly through its inclusion of more women, he said.
"People are just starting to see how powerful women are stepping up and taking their rightful place in the rock world," Eppard said.
Instant Asshole, Gruk, and Duck and Cover all have female members, marking Friday's event as the not-so-typical Monstros punk show.
Leasa Cartera performs bass duties for Instant Asshole, while Gruk's lead singer, Rachel Loveless, crunches out raspy vocals. Duck and Cover's drummer and frontwoman sock it to the male-dominated genre, applying Rosie the Riveter novelty to banal punk rock.
Punk music has proliferated through underground venues and all-ages shows for a long time. Part of the allure is the spontaneity of a show that could be dissolved by police, but an even larger appeal comes from love for the music.
It is not uncommon for punk bands to sidestep bars altogether in favor of all-ages venues, said Adam Rusch, drummer for Death Crisis, which is also on Friday's bill.
"Any hardcore band worth their salt is going to prefer underground and all-ages shows over playing at some lame bar where everyone is more into drinking," he said.
Legitimate punk has always lived by its own set of ethics, Rusch said. It is a code that secures the continuation of these informal and lively shows, but it is also what keeps the music alive.
Ensuring a venue's ability to host punk shows involves everyone making sure no idiots ruin it for everyone else with their behavior, he said.
Equally supportive of this mantra are the venues hosting these shows.
Monstros enlists volunteers who invest their time and energy simply for the love of the music and the do-it-yourself mentality that is prevalent in the punk scene, said Monstros volunteer Zeke Rogers.
Punk rock may still retain some of its bad rap from the '70s and '80s, but one can't realistically blame the bands or concert promoters anymore. Much of the irresponsible and reckless behavior has gone by the wayside, ensuring a fresh and modern approach to a genre that couldn't have needed it more.
Shea Cardinalli can be reached at
scardinalli@theorion.com
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Monstros Pizza
One may be inclined to conjure images of unruly, beer-guzzling heathens and unsightly Mohawks when punk comes to mind, but what can be easily overlooked are the subtleties of a genre, a label and a culture many know little about.
Despite its name, Oakland-based Instant Asshole is a punk band that subscribes to some, but not all, of these genre stereotypes. The band plays at 8 p.m. Friday at Monstros Pizza.
In reference to the assholes and idiots that alcohol turns people into, Instant Asshole makes a great band name.
"It fits me perfectly, I am an instant asshole," said lead singer John "The Baker" Eppard.
Realizing alcohol was a catalyst for his own rowdy and unlawful behavior, Eppard decided to quit drinking at age 21 - a decision his bandmates and fans can appreciate, he said.
In 1994, Eppard was arrested at the Woodstock music festival in New York on account of obscene and vulgar lyrical content, he said. A lawsuit emerged when Eppard sued the town of Woodstock for $1 million, but the dispute ultimately settled for $20,000 out of court.
Despite the rough start, Eppard sees the punk scene as a genre that is maturing, particularly through its inclusion of more women, he said.
"People are just starting to see how powerful women are stepping up and taking their rightful place in the rock world," Eppard said.
Instant Asshole, Gruk, and Duck and Cover all have female members, marking Friday's event as the not-so-typical Monstros punk show.
Leasa Cartera performs bass duties for Instant Asshole, while Gruk's lead singer, Rachel Loveless, crunches out raspy vocals. Duck and Cover's drummer and frontwoman sock it to the male-dominated genre, applying Rosie the Riveter novelty to banal punk rock.
Punk music has proliferated through underground venues and all-ages shows for a long time. Part of the allure is the spontaneity of a show that could be dissolved by police, but an even larger appeal comes from love for the music.
It is not uncommon for punk bands to sidestep bars altogether in favor of all-ages venues, said Adam Rusch, drummer for Death Crisis, which is also on Friday's bill.
"Any hardcore band worth their salt is going to prefer underground and all-ages shows over playing at some lame bar where everyone is more into drinking," he said.
Legitimate punk has always lived by its own set of ethics, Rusch said. It is a code that secures the continuation of these informal and lively shows, but it is also what keeps the music alive.
Ensuring a venue's ability to host punk shows involves everyone making sure no idiots ruin it for everyone else with their behavior, he said.
Equally supportive of this mantra are the venues hosting these shows.
Monstros enlists volunteers who invest their time and energy simply for the love of the music and the do-it-yourself mentality that is prevalent in the punk scene, said Monstros volunteer Zeke Rogers.
Punk rock may still retain some of its bad rap from the '70s and '80s, but one can't realistically blame the bands or concert promoters anymore. Much of the irresponsible and reckless behavior has gone by the wayside, ensuring a fresh and modern approach to a genre that couldn't have needed it more.
Shea Cardinalli can be reached at
scardinalli@theorion.com
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