Please enjoy this emcore interview with Brian Coakley
Brian and I first met each other when The White Trash Debutantes and Cadillac Tramps played a show together at The Town Pump in Vancouver, Canada.. . Punk Globe did an interview with him a few years back. So I thought we should catch up with him and find out what he is doing.. Please enjoy the interview
Punk Globe: Thanks for taking time out during this time to do an interview with me. Tell us about your new project?
Brian: This whole thing started out as just a way for me to let out some the anger building in me from the world going mad over the pandemic/lockdowns/racial tensions and the fool divider in chief trump we have/had as president
Punk Globe: Is this your first solo project Brian?
Brian It’s the first time I have ever released an album where I wrote all the songs/ recorded and mixed all the songs AND even mastered and distributed all the songs. Before this I had done a song here or a song there but never before a whole album like this.
Punk Globe: Is Frank Meyer involved with the project?
Brian: Yes Frank came aboard very early on. I usually share things I’m working on with Frank. He is so talented and motivated he will say “send me the track and I’ll lay some harmonies on it or some additional guitars” etc. The songs kept coming to me so I kept sending them to him. He played on the whole thing eventually.
Punk Globe: I imagine that you have been friends with Frank from the old days when we were able to play shows?
Brian: Ya Frank and I are also in the band Blind House. We were picking up some great steam and packing shows for the year before the pandemic and then boom! Dead stop. It has been really hard on all our friends in bands and all our friends who own clubs!
Punk Globe:Is there anyone else besides you and Frank on Anti Virals?
Brian: Yes! Jim Perault from Infamous Stiffs played Bass on 6 of the tracks. (He appears courtesy on Die Laughing Records where they just signed!).
Punk Globe: Tell us about the album title, how did you come up with it?
Brian: t’s based mainly in the deception programs being run against our society by the Russians and others who are actively trying to tear us apart from the inside. From conspiracy theories to false made up “press” on YouTube and all over the internet. Russian hackers are placing memes and false facts literally all throughout our free and open internet and social media. Feeding this sickness of soul and ignorance of facts! Dividing us! It is a smart program they are running! It is totally working. We all can see that even if we can understand the why. The song Brainwashed sums it up. “You think it’s you but it’s really not. You’ve been brainwashed by a Russian spy bot”.
Punk Globe: Are you with a label with this recording?
Brian: We are releasing it on Nadine Records Media (NadineRecordsMedia.com). That is the label my wife Jamie Sims Coakley and I started back in 2003 to release the Waxapples records and also the place where we released the Cadillac Tramps Documentary “Life on the Edge” that she filmed and directed. ALSO HUGE SHOUT OUT to Carmen Rimple who made the awesome cover art!!! She is so talented and has done several really cool Punk Rock album covers!!
Punk Globe: Will The Cadillac Tramps be back playing after we are all clear of COVID 19 and whatever clubs that are still around to play at?
Brian: I seriously doubt it. We just passed the 4th anniversary of Gabby’s passing and there really is no going forward without him.
Punk Globe: I enjoyed Five Ugly Guys In a Van and Brainwashed. Did you you write all the tracks
Brian: Yes I wrote all of them except Five Ugly Guys In a Van. That one was mainly written by my 91 year old mother Peggy Coakley. She wrote the song in the 90’s about the Cadillac Tramps. She has a great sense of humor and now I see she is also where a lot of my song writing chops must come from.
Punk Globe: Your album was released on January 10th Tell the readers where they can obtain it?
Brian: It will be on ALL digital outlets. iTunes, Amazon etc etc….There will also be an on Demand CD option on Amazon for people who need a hard copy. Since there won’t be liner notes and lyrics etc that one would get from the albums we all bought when we were kids we are going to post all kinds on additional content on our Facebook page. So we’d like you all to come and join us there…https://www.facebook.com/The-Anti-Virals-104414854749296
Punk Globe: Your video for Brainwashed is very political.. We both share a huge dislike for the tangerine terrorist. Did that start when he came down that escalator?
Brian: The dude has been a piece of crap from birth. I’m political yes for sure. But I can disagree with a political position and still have a degree of respect for my fellows. This guy though is not a good person. Not a good human being. He’s a liar a cheat and a thief. So I have no love for that fool or his idiot followers! I will say this. Less than being about politics….this record is about exposing ignorance and stupidity! At least for me. I mean report after report have come out about the Russians and others meddling with social media yet when trump echoes the fake shit they all eat it up?!
Punk Globe: I believe the first time we met was a White Trash Debutantes/ Cadillac Tramps show at The Town Pump. In Vancouver. Charlie Quintana R.I. P. was playing drums for you.. Do you remember that show? Punk Rock Patty R.I. P. met her love Gabby R.I.P. ?
Brian: Yes I do remember! I love all those past memories and we all miss so many friends now gone! The White Trash Debutantes were so much fun and electric that night.
Punk Globe: We also chatted after your show at Punk Rock Bowling that was a really fun show.
Brian: That would be one of my future goals for the Anti Virals! Playing at PRB. Once this pandemic is under control I will be forming a band around this album and playing live!
Punk Globe: Do you have any Internet addresses you would like to share with the readers?
Brian:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Anti-Virals-104414854749296
Punk Globe: Describe yourself in three words?
Brian: Honest, Open minded, Vigilant!
Punk Globe: Any last words for Punk Globe readers?
Brian: Yes! I would love to say thank you to all the friends who got songs texted to them in the night! Thank you for being my spring board and helping me to accomplish the making of this album!