IN CROWD
In Crowd is a really cool Punk band from NY, that was nice enough to do an Email interview with me. They have a new 7" out that is absolutely tremendous (see my review).
This interview was conducted by Tom Undermine.
TX: Tom, S: Sean Cogan, B: Brian Cogan

TX: Being veterans so to speak in the DIY scene, you've seen alot of trends and bands fluctuate. How would you compare todays DIY scene to that of the scene when you were first starting out?

B: Personnaly I am amazed at how many more people are putting out zines, records and tapes and whatever kind of merch they feel like. When I was in high school many years ago I distinctly remember people making fun of me for wearing a ramones pin, or even something so startlingly offensive as a buzzcocks shirt was almost unheard of. In the early and mid-eighties when me and Seans old band Fast Food put out a 7" people looked at us like we were crazy. No one really put out thatmuch indie vinyl back then, especially on Staten Island. By the time we were in the in crowd things had loosened up a bit and Joh Lisa (Sleeper, serpico) had his own label, Tragic life, and was an immense help with the first in crowd record, It turned out that instead of selling at shows NY punk rock was getting big in Italy and France and such, somehow john worked his magic and got rid of that 7". The latest I am handling by myself and am amzed and really happy at all of the very nice people oput there who have been more than generous with time and answers to my questions and with distro. I know that a lot of the same problems exist that existed in the "old days" but all in all I am mighty pleased.

TX: How has the response been to the newest 7"?

S: Good Reviews, no sales. (Except for one review that mentioned my "somewhat annoyin voice") we are VERY HAPPY with our reviews thus far

B: so far, we have moved a few, but i still have a bedroom full of them, it's kind of tought to move it without adds in places like MRR and Flipside, but we have finally saved ebnough money for some adds. Also a few key people have been nice enough to distribute our stuff at shows, we appreciate that.

TX: You all seem to more or less have real jobs and lives outside of "Punk", do you still take music as seriously as you did at the get go? Are you planning to make music your lives or is it just for the pure enjoyment of it?

S: what is a real job? Is there such a thing as a life outside of punk? Do you have to live in a stinky apartment and be poor to be punk? I'm married I'm a teacher and i love it.

B: I'm still poor and losing money daily from the label, but i love it, I always get a kick out of playing and putting out music and if it means that we have to do it ourselves, thats life. I never thought i was going to make any money anyway, i just wanted to put out some good records like my heroes did and play some good shows. I saw a ton of great bands put out lousy records that were "punk" and a lot of good musci come from bands that were sell outs. The whole thing confuses me oiver what is supposed to be "punk" and what isnt. I never expected money or playing huge rooms so i'm not sad without it. If we can keep on doing shows that are affordable for people to see and putting out records that we can design and record ourselves, i think that is living the punk life whether we have day jobs or not. That and if someone buys me a beer every now and then.

TX: What bands first got you into this whole mess or influenced you to start playing?

S: Husker du, Doughboys, Descendents!!!!, Bad Religion.

B: Buzzcocks, Ramones, Black flag, bad brains, misfits. We have seen so many killer shows, it really gets hard to tell after a while. anything melodic we generally like. I would also like to reiterate seans selections and send a quick prayer to heaven that bad religions "into the unknown" will be reissued. I have heard it is hilarious.

TX: How would you describe your sound to someone who is hasn't yet heard it?

B: Hmmmm, good question, melodic and fun, the missing link between "walk among us" and Big Star

TX: Is there any tours on the horizon or new records to look forward to?

S: (jumping up and down) Many more records to come!! Many songs!! Hopefully some big ny and boston shows this summer.

B: We have a song on the next dizzy records comp, put out by our good friends in egghead, a truly righteous band/experience. Also some new 7" and a compilation coming up as soon as i get some more money. all will be reasonably priced and available everywhere but WAL-MART

TX: Where did you take your name from?

S: From a cocktail napkin that was left over from the seventies that had a cartoon band on it that was called "in crowd"

B: Cocktail napkins and punk rock have a long and torrid history together. I assume that this is where G.G. Allin originally got his name from as well. Of course this could be yet another unsubstantiaTED rumour.

TX: You've worked with one or two labels in the past right? Are you planning on doing a record with any labels in the future?

S: Only sony, michael jackson wouldnt steer me wrong.

B: sean was actually not supposed to say sony due to a court order. We were tied up in litigation with them for years, finally settling for some pizza goldfish and the right to call ourselves, "the artist formerly known as melon head" WE will be on g, v. n. for as long as i can keep the band and will sue anyone including myself if this is tampered with. I may also sue mr. Brett as he hasnt been sued in a few days. G, V. N. also has 2 more bands we are putting out soon, Rancho notorious, which is a noisy/lo-fi female vocalist band and the midwives, who are like a weird version of Can and reggae. Or in other words, i love having a lot of records in my bedroom, they make good bookshelves.

TX: The NY scene seems to be the kind of place where only the, pardon the pun, "In Crowd" gets to play, do you find it difficult booking shows in NY, or are you some how cemented into the foundation?

S: We find it tough to get shows other than with the few promoters who like us., mostly Tom jack (the man) at The Spiral and his few clubs are amongst the few that will tsake us anytime

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