It feels sort of fitting (dare we say poetic?) that a band like Urban Sprawl will play at the shop tomorrow. Being from San Francisco, California, it’s not surprising they’ve found lyrical inspiration in some of the social and economic issues of their area, which should resonate with anyone living through our current timeline, basically anywhere in the western world. But Nambour, often seen as emblematic of the slow decline of regional Australia, of once-thriving towns quietly eroding under the weight of economic neglect, certainly creates moments.
We caught up with Taylor to chat about their Australian tour and what it means for the band.
BAD HABIT: Hello. How’s the tour going?
TAYLOR: We’re on our third show and so far, it’s been amazing. Ads and Christina have been treating us incredibly well, the shows have been great, and everyone has been really receptive to us. We’re having the best fucking time!
BH: You guys have all been in bands/involved in punk for a long time. How has it changed?
T: We’re all in our mid-thirties and 40s, which is definitely not typical for punk. I’d say that there’s a lot that has changed, but also a lot has stayed the same in a big way. Seeing hardcore and punk bands playing Coachella and having some bizarre sponsorships and mainstream appeal is odd to me, but it’s not something that hasn’t happened before. And in a lot of ways, this is just another bubble that will burst when youth culture and those wanting to exploit it look for a different subculture to try and market off of.
The ways in which we consume media and music at such a rapid rate has changed our attention spans and need to produce and find new music at an unrealistic rate. All of this leading to having smaller attention spans. But despite things being different, I do still feel like the spirit of punk remains. I feel like there’s so many different lanes that you can find yourself in and it’s not really about things being right or wrong, it’s ultimately about finding what feels right to you. Cause clearly there’s still a fire lit under us after all these years or else we wouldn’t be out here in Australia playing music and finding like-minded folks everywhere we go.
BH: What do you think is punk’s role in this current horrible world?
T: To me, punk’s role is to be a community of like-minded folks to express themselves and create inspiration for people to feel refuge and motivation to help fight back against the world around us. I don’t feel like yelling into the void really changes much, but punk can provide the fire underneath us to mobilize and change this horrible world we live in.
BH: How has American punk and underground culture been reacting to whatever the fuck terrible thing is happening in the USA?
T: It’s been pretty insane how much the US has changed and moved closer and closer to authoritarianism and fascism. The writing on the wall has been there for years but we’ve entered a very dark era of history. What I feel is pretty insane, is that for the first time, the functions of oppression and the fact that the system does not function for the majority of Americans is more obvious than ever. You don’t need a punk song anymore to see how people are getting swindled and manipulated. It’s being done in plain sight and they’re no longer hiding it. Yet people are being indoctrinated into false narratives from the right that work against their best interests.
The same tools have been used to scapegoat our fellow people in order to distract from the fact that we are all being swindled. Politics in America has become an identity in the same way that people support their favorite football team. It doesn’t matter how shitty or terrible the policies are, just the fact that their team wins means it doesn’t matter.
There have been a lot of ways in our little circle of punk that people have been mobilizing to support. Things from benefit shows for those affected by the ICE raids or using punk as a platform to speak directly towards action and protest. It’s been a sort of litmus test to where people stand on issues and the true spirit of hardcore punk. In a lot of ways, it’s been refreshing to see unlikely scenes who shy away from political discourse showing their support for Palestine, immigrants and beyond. We’re truly in a time where the line is drawn in the sand, for better or worse.
Thank you so much for the interview!
Team Glasses, Bad Habit Records and Vinnies Touring presents:
Urban Sprawl live at Bad Habit Records – Monday 14 July @ 5pm sharp
With Human Condition
Free / donations encouraged
All ages, all welcome (no dickheads)
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