Newspaper Page Text
DEEPLY PENE7R&7IN6 R&WK
I magine a probable definition fox "punk lock:"
loud, fast, minimalist, anti-authoritarian to
the point of being almost juvenile, and
loaded with attitude. Now take a look at Donkey
Punch, The Athens quartet is God-awfully loud
and fast, certainly minimalist, indeed juvenile,
and has enough attitude to weigh down a Mack
truck. Yet, the members insist it's not a punk
band!
"We're not punk, but there are elements of
punk in what we do," guitarist James Lewis
explains. "But if I say we are, only 5 percent of
this town comes to the show, and they all wear
spikes. We are whatever will bring people to a
show,"
Drummer Jason Richardson counters, "Don't
ask me, I say we axe a punk band."
Whatever. Despite its own rather schizo-
phrenic self-view, what is certain is that Donkey
Punch is a pretty damn fun bare!. Loud and rau
cous, DP plays a blitzkrieg form of loud rock and
roll that draws from hardcore roots, taking influ
ences from AC/DC, Guns TT Roses, The
Supersuckers and particularly The New Bomb
Turks and Zefce. Richardson and bassist Jeff
Rapier keep the rhythm section chugging along
at a break-neck speed, white Lewis and guitarist-
vocalist Jon Koontz whip out crunchy riffs. And
like its influences, DP claims to be nothing more
than rock and roll, which should be good
enough for anyone.
"Basically, It's about girls and jock and rcll,
and that's pretty much it," Rapier says.
"We have a lot to say about nothing " Koontz
adds. "Me and James just write lyrics that com
plement the music, which is the most important
thing. No one can hear ’em anyway."
Donkey Punch has its origin in the oddest of
places, a wedding band. Lewis was playing in the
band and sweet-talked Koontz Into joining him.
The pair shared a passion for loud, juvenile rock.
This was, mind you, about four weeks after
Lewis got his first guitar, so the need for sim
plicity was a must Rhythm sections came and
went, and Rapier came aboard in February 1999
with Rkhaidson joining that summer. The four
began to work and refine their sound, moving
away from their hardcore roots to a purer form
of hard rock.
The band released art album in 1999 fitted
Champion Destroyer, which was a "disappoint-
mwtf" and In no way representative of the
band.
Despite its insistence of non-punkitude, the
band readily admits to having the influence in
Hi music as well as sharing that snot-nosed atti
tude. Pr oblem is, the boys pomt out. modem-day
punks «* roof* interested m uettmg the right
hate dye and leather jacket than making musk
that comet horn the heart or, in DP’s caw, a bit
lower m the body*
"I can sit here and write 6,00 pop-punk songs
in five minutes," Lewis boasts. "Anyone can,
really, it’s not that hard." Richardson adds,
"With oid-school punks, it was about the music;
now it's about the image."
Fair enough, but one can't hold a discussion
with Donkey Punch without touching on the
subject that's given the band tons of notoriety
but has also haunted it in recent monUts. DP's
on-stage antics and daredevil tactics to keep an
audience's attention are locally notorious. There
have been several twisted ankles, truckloads of
bruises, a few death threats and a broken bone
here or there. Lewis, the main nut job, once
leaped 25 feet into a steel chair. But, as one gets
older, such antics get a bit more painful, and
Lewis maintains that white the shows will always
be high-energy affairs, he's not killing himself
anymore.
“A lot of it was just stupid stuff we did
because the show was so bad we wanted people
to remember " he explains. "There's two ways
people remember a band: they're good or some
thing they do. We weren't good, so we had to do
something to grab their attention. I don't want
to hurt myself anymore. The people who come to
see me inflicting pain, I don’t want 'em there."
"We have never, save one or two times, hurt
anyone in the crowd," Koontz says, to which
Rapier quickly adds, "And after that, we felt
really, really sorry about it."
That's sweet of them, but those wild boys do
seem to be maturing a 1st with age. Their songs
have become better, and their shows have
become tighter, relying less on the antics and
more on the band's increasing musical skill.
They've been playing out a bit more and gar
nering acclaim and fans wherever they go.
The band hopes to get back into the studio
soon to record a disc that's a more accurate rep
resentation of its sound and hopes to be touring
soon. Is it possible those once rowdy young
punks are becoming serious rock and rotters?
"I honestly think our shows and especially
our music have really matured," Koontz genu
flects, at which the rest of the band laughs
heartily. "Shut up, man. xt i true!" Lewis adds,
"It's all about making some money and getting
some chicks, the same reason everyone else gets
in bands. We just want to have fun,"
MatlThompicn
WM
HhKnhBHF
2
mmrnviTimmminmvrmnmnTrmmrnmR
*i .‘os*' *g*o r 5* 3a ■ Co ‘o’ .oootes
YVV serve Ki^httunis juices
WtUlMtSDAY. JlJIXJf 2 1
FRANK BLACK
& THE CATHOLICS
REID PALEY iouenst
limns i>|k n .it "V'-i
THU ft SHAY. ,H INI 22
O fyeball Music
fj F'
Ath!Fest video Showcase
t I ; I- n . J,
I <1 ■ ‘l 1 • ' 11' l\ f p . ■ ■ ■ I p I
r R1 DAY. JUNE V3
ATHFtSTPRESENlS
AthTest ■redneck greeceueidx
TRUCkADeUC
ODD Ferrelue & The In Foil Stars
AMYTiKElOF TriE LOST CONTINENTALS'
<UfI(T -> llj't II ,1* 1 Up I
ill ‘‘.r . VV«* 'Mi 1 1 ■ . Jit V, 'I 'll nl'J
SATURDAY. JUfvJL 24
ATHFESTFRESENIS
o
A,„fe T IONA •IHlPOSSIBIlS
WiDERECEMRS • JACKPOTCflY
MUIMDAY. fUrof 2U
yy~> i d, ere t
nit st jay. juNt v i
hi
J(>4cuhclNl \^NCt & Th. SdfefacfcoN MachisE
SECOND SHIFT • THEORY CLARK METHOD
OOIV1IIMG SOON
CROOKED FINGERS / EMPIRE SUNNy OAy REAL ESTATE 7/1S
STATE 6/30 WEEN 7/19
JENNIFER NETTIES 7/7 PATTI SMITH/RICHARO
IMPOTENT SEA SNAKES 7*8^ THOMPSON 7/25
* Ticket* AvaSlabte at Big Shot & to yo yo \
JUNE 21, 2000 PLAGPOLB IB