For as long as there has been music, there has been particular sounds associated with different parts of the world. When you think of early ages of rock and roll and America you might think of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry or Buddy Holly. When you think of how rock and roll changed when it came back to us from England you would think instinctually of The Beatles but then you would also think of The Rolling Stones and The Who.  Then when you think of an even more specific areas you might think of the Motown sound from Detroit such as the Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. If you fast forward a bit you might think of the same area with bands like The MC5, Iggy Pop and The Stooges and Destroy All Monsters. Time and geography have brought us some wonderful sounds and different types of music, take for instance bands who permeated New York during the seventies like The Ramones, New York Dolls, Blondie, the Dead Boys amongst many many others.  Preceded by a decade in the sixties you could find a burgeoning garage scene in Texas with bands like the 13th Floor Elevators, The Moving Sidewalks (who would later become ZZ Top) and Que Mark and the Mysterians.  This phenomena is particularly prevalent to Southern California which has a large list of bands one would consider in part largely prevalent to not only to Punk Rock but to the second wave or Hardcore. Bands like the Adolescents, D.I., Social Distortion, Middle Class, Agent Orange and the list alone could be an article unto itself. Greg Antista went to school with members of Social Distortion, Agent Orange and the Adolescents at Troy High School and would later go on to be in a band with Steve Soto called Joyride and later Foxy. 

He is now recording and playing with Greg Antista and the Lonely Highways along with Jessica Kaczmarek (lead guitar, backing vocals, mandolin, piano), Warren Renfrow (bass), and Jorge E. Disguster (drums, backing vocals). Jessica Kaczmarek is not only sponsored by Gretsch guitars but has played in The Busstop Hurricanes, Russell Scott & the Hot Rods and Bourbon Jones. Warren Renfrow has played with Manic Hispanic, Cadillac Tramps and Final Conflict.  Jorge E. Disguster has played with D.I., Mr. Mirainga, Mink Daggers, CoDependents and Disguster.  These multiple influences bring together multiple kinds of style and it is heard in the new album "Shake, Stomp and Stumble" which will be released on May 17th on Primal Beat Records. With all of the distinctly different bands that the members of this group bring into the fray the deep resounding sound of Southern California can be heard in each tract. From the Punk Rock roots to the rockabilly tone and the spanish beat each can be heard in songs that make up this first release by the band.  Greg Antista agreed to take some time out of his schedule to answer some questions in regards to music and what it is that keeps people making it for us. 

Punk Globe: What is about being from Southern California that leads to a very signature sound? 

GA:  In my case it came from the blending of  punk rock and American roots music at all of the live club shows I was attending in 1979 and the early '80s. At the Cuckoo’s Nest in Orange County, T.S.O.L. and Vandals would regularly play with Jimmy and the Mustangs. At the Starwood in LA, X, the Blasters and the Gears would share bills all the time.

Punk Globe: Punk and rap are two of biggest changes in music in our lifetimes. What do you think keeps them both on the forefront?

GA: The best punk and rap are all about questioning authority, not accepting the status quo. My older sister was a dancer on American Bandstand and the stereo was always cranked at our house. When I hit my early teens and was really pushing some boundaries at home and at school, music became my life. When a buddy handed me Never Mind The Bollocks it was all over. I couldn’t get enough of the rebellion infused into every song on that record. I think rebellion set to an irresistible beat is what keeps drawing each new generation to punk and rap. The first guy to ever turn me on to N.W.A. was Mike Palm of Agent Orange. He simply said, “Check this out. These guys from Compton are pretty punk.”

Punk Globe: With fashion and film taking on punk as a moniker is there still a roots support system for bands? 

GA:  Speaking from personal experience, it’s all I’ve ever known. The Orange County scene is alive and well. It’s all about bands helping bands. Last year I needed a last minute gig in Belgium and Efrem from Death By Stereo made it happen with a phone call. With nothing more than a nod from Efrem, the Belgian promoter treated us like family. The people making the t-shirts and stickers have always been friends doing it for next to nothing. When I toured with Joyride, bands like Cadillac Tramps and Social Distortion took us out as a favor. When I’ve toured Europe with Foxy every promoter makes sure we have a place to stay even if it’s on their floor. In the short time that The Lonely Streets have been sending out our album Shake, Stomp and Stumble for review, several reviewers have offered to hook us up with a gig in their town or sell our record on their website. From where I stand, it’s the roots support system that keeps the scene and bands like mine going.

Punk Globe: The music has now reached places on the map that previously did not have a lot of choice. Is it due to the current political climate or is it just that music eventually finds it’s way everywhere?

GA: I think the current political climate in the U.S. and around the world is inspiring punk rockers to scream their opinion into every microphone they can get there hands on. The bullshit, hypocrisy, and true motives of those in charge have always been transparent. The Reagan era of the 1980s certainly helped light the fuse to the Southern California punk rock explosion of my youth. I’m sure Trump has become the rocket fuel launching many new punk bands. Just the pure visceral emotion of punk rock, combined with the power of the internet, makes it unstoppable. I saw a post from Rancid the other day of a young Japanese girl shredding on the bass and singing along to 'Maxwell Murder.' So cool! This shit can’t be stopped.

Punk Globe: What band made you want to become a musician?

GA: I was lucky enough to go to Troy High School in Fullerton, CA. When I showed up in 1979 there were members of the Adolescents, Social Distortion and Agent Orange all going to school there. Maybe not attending too many classes, but definitely on campus. By my sophomore year I had befriended Steve Soto. All those bands were recording and releasing those first records that would put Fullerton on the map. If there wasn’t a club date on the weekend, they were playing in somebody’s back yard. Being that close to the music led to many of us picking up guitars ourselves.

Punk Globe: What makes you want to continue being a musician?

GA:  I really have no choice in the matter. Music took a hold of me at a young age and has become a huge chunk of who I am. As I said before, it’s the pure visceral emotion. There is no greater release, no greater therapy than strapping on a guitar, stepping up to the mic and spilling your guts out at maximum volume. Even if I hadn’t started this band, made this record and taken it to the clubs, these songs would have still been written. They would still be played, even if only by myself in my apartment, with no one but my annoyed neighbors for an audience. 

We here at Punk Globe want to thank Greg Antista for answering our questions and wish them luck with the upcoming release. 

Here are the links:

To purchase the record

www.gregantistaandthelonelystreets.com/preorder

The band website is 

www.gregantistaandthelonelystreets.com

For info  on the band

www.primemovermedia.com