PUNK GLOBE:
Can you tell us the current band members
Slumlord Radio:
Tommy “Capt. Hollywood” Erickson – Vocals/Guitar,Mike “El Ace” Todd – Bass,
“Rattlesnake” Matt Claucherty - Drums.
PUNK GLOBE:
What inspired you to start this project and how did you
all decide on the name?
Slumlord Radio:
Well it all started in 2010, with us being a bunch of
out of work truck drivers/Swedish models looking for some direction.
We got super far behind on our gambling debts and owed our bookie a
ton of cash. So we thought “Hell, lets go for Let's Talk Punk with Slumlord Radio By: Lisa/PunkrPrincessm a band.” Plus we were
offered a slot to open for Mini-KISS as a first show, so we figured it
must have been written in the stars. The name just came about because
we have all lived in the slums from time to time, the radio part is
just pure sexy. It’s a good mix of grim and shine.
PUNK GLOBE:
Where are you all from and where are you currently living?
Slumlord Radio:
We hail from parts unknown, but all currently live in
Grand Rapids, MI
PUNK GLOBE:
How would you describe your music to the readers?
Slumlord Radio:
Gnarly, dirty action rock. It’s really a mish mash of
styles but definitely with some Detroit grungy (MC5/Stooges) filter to
it. Freewheelin’ rock, with a scruffy Midwest punk swagger. Big Riffs,
pounding fat bass, fancy drums that sound like they are playing with
Louisville sluggers, whiskey/nicotine raspy vocals.
PUNK GLOBE:
How would you describe your show?
Slumlord Radio:
It is like a tornado tearing thru a trailer park. Just
a rowdy, high energy affair. Lots of interaction with the folks who
attend the gig, people jumping up on stage, singing along, us falling
over, goods times had by all. We like to make a lot of our own merch,
with the help of our friends Alesheia and Burt. So sometimes our merch
table looks like a damn flea market.
PUNK GLOBE:
Do you ever get nervous before performing?
Slumlord Radio:
Naw, it’s more so we get super excited.
PUNK GLOBE:
What can we catch you doing before and after a performance?
Slumlord Radio:
Besides drinking beers and doing cartwheels?
PUNK GLOBE:
Describe your local music scene.
Slumlord Radio:
Pretty good. Grand Rapids is full of insanely
talented/good looking folks. Great bands/artists like Murder Party,
MOTO, The Bitters, Dead Eyed Zack, Head, Westside Rebellion, Rip Van
Ripper, etc. Everyone is super supportive, and great to be around.
PUNK GLOBE:
Tell us about the making of your music.
Slumlord Radio:
It is usually created by sitting in a enclosed garage
with no ventilation, and painting a bunch of stuff. Then have a couple
beers, bench press the dog, swim a lap in the local pond and then the
visions of the songs just come about!
PUNK GLOBE:
Who are some of the local bands you have had shows with?
Slumlord Radio:
The Holy Warheads (who are label mates of ours on
Honyock Records, along w/ Seritas, The Outlaws of Zen, American Zombie
Inquisition & The Bitters). The Mongrels, The Jackpine Snag,
Antilogical, Whaler, Bleed The Water, Bonehawk, Desiring Dead Flesh,
Torn Into, Stoneclover, The Tosspints and many others. If you got a
second it’s worth it to look up some of these Mitten bands online.
PUNK GLOBE:
Do you have a memorable show?
Slumlord Radio:
Oh man, there have been many memorable shows! Also we
have heard about some memorable shows we have played, but don’t
remember. Some random dude dressed like Alice Cooper in the middle of
July, handing us pizza in the middle of a set
A wild German Shepherd running through the bar causing havoc, some
drunk old guy jumping on stage with a washboard to help us on a FEAR
cover.
Rev. Charles pissing in a beer mug in view/front of a packed house on
stage during a Record Store Day gig.
Our Manager Chris “Big Rig” Riggie wrasslin’ a live bear to earn us
money to make an album. It’s all a whirlwind adventure in Slumlord
Radio land.
PUNK GLOBE:
How often do you practice are they planned or random?
Slumlord Radio:
We usually try to rehearse about once a week, but we
definitely don’t roll on Shabbos.
PUNK GLOBE:
What do you enjoy most and least about being in a band?
Slumlord Radio:
We enjoy the free hot air balloon rides, hanging out
with friends and making noise. As far as what we like the least, being
in Michigan it snows a ton, so it seems like we are always driving
across the land, in the nastiest storms. That is our least favorite
part.
PUNK GLOBE:
Any upcoming shows or tours you would like us to be at?
Slumlord Radio:
We have some real doozies coming up this summer. A
couple festivals and of course some good ol’ shindigs with our pals in
the Mitten. We are trying to set up a fall southern tour to go play
some wing-dings with friends Indighost and The Lovebuzzards.
PUNK GLOBE:
How can the readers find you?
Slumlord Radio:
People can check us out at any of these fine websites:Slumlordradio.bandcamp.com
Facebook.com/slumlordradioMI
Reverbnation.com/slumlordradio
Please also check out our infamous music video for the song “Bullwhip”, which we filmed in Beijing with the help of Three Goats Moving Pictures. Slumlord Radio is now banned in China. Go to Youtube put in “Slumlord Radio – Bullwhip” Strap on your helmet and roll the dice! WOO!
PUNK GLOBE:
Any shout-outs you would like to make?
Slumlord Radio:
Well definitely all the folks we mentioned in the
previous answers. We’d also like to shout out to Alex DeYoung who is
always at the shows taking pics, Silver Maple Kill Records, Big Daddy
J. Wood and Regina, Lisa, Punk Globe, and to Jay Lev cuz he brings his dog to shows and shouts stuff. Really anybody that comes out to see us, or hugs us for that matter.
PUNK GLOBE:
Thanks for the interview and for your awesome music played
on Whatever68 Radio.
Slumlord Radio:
Oh man, the pleasure is all ours, thanks for having us Lisa!
