Like a Hurricane: An Interview with Year of the Fist
Like a Hurricane: An Interview with Year of the Fist
Year of the Fist are a much needed short in the arm of rock music. We chat to vocalist/guitarist Squeaky.
Oakland based rock n' roll band Year of the Fist are the kind of the rock n' roll band you can't bring home to meet mom. Evoking the sounds made famous by labels like Sympathy for the Record Industry, Year of the Fist are "a hurricane of swirling rock n’ roll poundage". Unrelenting and visceral, their music is the unforgiving wave in a sea of safe rock music; a sentiment best exemplified by their brand new full-length album, Revive Me. And like the title itself, Year of the Fist are a much-needed shot of energy; raw, no-frills, and urgent.
We caught up with guitarist and vocalist Squeaky, who, along with the band, have just returned from a short trek through California and Nevada to showcase their new album. We talk about the history of the band, their fantastic new record, Oakland, small-town shows, and rock n' roll.
Congrats on the new record- reception has been positive to it (we loved it)- how do you all feel?
We are all very happy with the way the album turned out. The last year and a half working on felt like an eternity but it's done and I am stoked.
How did the writing and recording for the record go? It sounds fantastic- did you self-produce or work with someone in the studio?
The album is self-produced and the recording was a multi-step and studio process. We were lucky to work in some amazing studios with some terrific engineers.
Do you have a favorite song from the new record? Or maybe one you all love playing live in particular?
I believe I can speak for everyone when I say "Ghosts" is one of our favorites off this album to play live. And speaking for myself, "Red Lights Flash" is another one I really like playing.
Revive Me
Revive Me is your third full length; what were some of the things you wanted to get done with this record- things maybe you learned from the two LPs prior?
It is actually of 2nd full length. In between the two, we released a 4 song EP. To be honest, I always have an idea in my head on how I am going to approach something and it never works that way. There is always a curveball, an emotion, a gut feeling that pulls you a different direction. So I am trying to get better at going into something with no direction to be honest ..... we’ll see how that works out.
You are based in Oakland- are you guys all from the area and how did Year of the Fist come together?
Our lead guitarist, Katie, is the only member from the Bay Area. I am from the East Coast. Our drummer, Hal, is from the Mid-West and our bassist, Serge, is from Russia. Hal & I met on tour in different bands, I believe sometime in 2006. He lived in Washington and I was in California. Hal eventually moved down to Oakland and we started YOTF in 2011. We anticipated it being a 2 piece band but after writing the first few songs we knew that wasn’t going to be the case. I knew Katie from playing shows throughout the Bay Area, so she jumped on board, then skip ahead 8 years, we found our bassist, Serge. We played with several bass players over the years but now I feel we have found our fit. Serge was one of us within minutes of meeting him.
Do you remember what your first experience with rock n’ roll was? Was it a show, something on the radio, a record, or a band?
I was raised in a rock n roll household so I don't recall a 1st experience, my upbringing was the experience. As far as going to punk shows, I was living in Richmond, VA and I went to my first punk show at 12 or 13. I was immediately drawn to the energy. I was already playing guitar but after seeing a hundred punks packed into a tiny, sweaty club and feeding off the energy coming off the stage I knew I wanted to be the one on the stage.
What makes Oakland a good place for a rock n’ roll band? Is it the venues, the community?
Oakland has its ups and down with good punk venues to be honest. It seems we will have a ton of good rock venues for a few years and then it takes a nosedive for a few years. It’s tricky like that. Oakland is such a diverse city it keeps every band from being full of a bunch of white straight men. It’s a breath of fresh air.
And some of you pull double duty in multiple bands?
We sure do. Hal & I are in a 2 piece rock band called Cut-Rate Druggist while Katie has a solo project that goes by her name, Katie Cash, and a rock/funk band called Skip The Needle. Serge is the only smart one by not burning the candle at both ends.
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You played a bunch of shows in July- across California and then to Nevada- what are some of the things you enjoy most about being able to play these songs live?
We just wrapped up that quick 4-day run and it was terrific. There is nothing like seeing people singing the words you wrote, seeing their body move to a particular part in a song that makes your body move the same way, to have someone tell you how much a song means to them. It is so therapeutic. It is the best shrink that I have ever had.
I used to live in Stockton; it was a tough place when I lived there. But it was always exciting to know bands stopped by (when they did)- how important it is to you guys to find new cities and towns to play in each tour?
Really? You lived in Stockton? What a small world!!
I really enjoy playing smaller cities/towns. The crowd isn't as jaded as big cities. I don't mean that as an insult, hell, I am probably one of those jaded people. Living in a big city you can see awesome local and touring bands any day of the week, it gets taken for granted. When you go to a smaller city that has 2, maybe 1 rock show a month, people appreciate that you drove 4-6 hours to get there.
What are the plans for Year of the Fist for the rest of the year and beyond?
We have some light US touring in the fall along with playing FEST in Gainesville, FL. And maybe getting some rest!
Year of the Fist's new album Revive Me is available now via Heart On Records.