KILLING CALIFORNIA: Hails & Horns Interview

UPCOMING SHOWS

updated Mar09' - Upcoming

April 10 - Phoenix, AZ- TBA
April 11- Tucson, AZ- Surly Wench Pub-Tucson Tattoo Expo Afterparty w/ Deadbolt and more
April 16- Long Bch., Ca.-Alexs Bar w/Frontside Five and Hightower
April 22- Venice Bch,-Air Conditioned Lge w/ Pistolero and Stab City

Past
Mar 13- Beach Hut, San Clemente...return to San Clemente w/Thing w Two Heads
Mar 6- Coconuts, Dana Pt w/ Stitches, Smogtown and more-beneit for Norm
Feb 20-Gypsy Lge, Lake Forest,Ca. w/ Shattered Faith and the Pegs
March 7th-Mandarin Garden, Big BearLake, Ca. w/the UnMentioned
1-24-09 Alexs Bar, Long Bch, Ca. with BEOWULF and Tijuana Knife Fight
2-6-09 Coconuts, Capo Bch, with BEOWULF, Thing with Two Heads and Human Hater

8.15.08 Etnies Skatepark, Lake Forest, Skateband Jam w/ JFA, the Stitiches, McRad, Axelslip and many more!

East Coast Tour w/ Superbuick
Aug 27- Sidebar-Baltimore, MD
Aug 28- JC Dobbs, Philadelphia, PA
Aug 29- Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY
Aug 30- Mr Beerys- Bethpage, NY
Aug 31- the Dragonfly, Harrisburg, PA

Sept 12- Gypsy Lounge-Lake Forest, Ca. w/SMOGTOWN
Sept 13- Relax Bar-Hollywood, Ca.
Sept 21- Live in studio KUCI- Irvine Ca.
Oct 2- Avalon Bar- Costa Mesa, Ca.

DISCOGRAPHY

Sept 18- "Bones & Sand" Basement Records, 6 song CD EP
Aug 2008-"Smash it Up" Motherbox Records compilation, songs "Road Debris" and "39"
Jan 2008- "Wrong Side of the Trax" Basement Records Compilation, song "Now I'm You".
Sept. 2007 - "Goin South" Basement Records, full length CD
2007-"Radio Disaster" Basement Records Compilation, song "Man in Black"
Dec 2006- "Dancehall Troops" No Front Teeth Records (UK) compilation, 4 songs
Sept 2006- "Kamikaze Broadcast" No Front Teeth Records (UK), Compilation, song "Self Medicated"
June 2006-"Ropeless Romantics" Brealight Music, self released full length CD
July 2005-Split E.P. -M.A.L. records, w/ the Needles

REVIEWS

New Reviews- "Bones & Sand" EP- 2008 Basement

KILLING CALIFORNIA "Bones And Sand"
Six songs of pissed off, full powered, high octane hardcore punk from KC on this new EP. These guys could very well be this generation’s Black Flag or Poison Idea, they’re just that fucking good! Every song on here is a killer, fast & powerful with no letting up. Even better than their debut LP & that was one of the best records I’d heard all year, can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next! So goddamned good that it’s almost scary. -JRM (AMP Magazine)

Killing California – Bones & Sand EP
Killing California is back with a new 6-song EP and on it they do what they already did so well on their full-length “Goin’ South”… play kickass OC hardcore punk with additional rock n roll swagger that sounds as pissed off as a dude leaving a peepshow with his pockets empty and his balls blue. Balls is something these guys definitely have because I don’t see any of those emo pussies cranking out angry and intense songs like “Blue Heron Bridge” and “Hombre En Negro”. If you’re a fan of The Bronx or Black Flag, don’t hesitate and pick this one up. Wake up people, it’s killing time!
Score: 8 out of 10- (Punk Rock Theory.com)

Holy Hand Grenades Batman! This freakin' EP really turns up the crank.
Angry, hard and intense, I don't know if this is punk or hardcore? and it doesn't matter! Killing California's Bones & Sand EP is just great adrenaline pumping music. Play this sucker really loud in the morning and you won't ever miss that fake ass Mountain Dew cheap sugar rush again. Forget that corporate crap, go for the real shit. Good Morning! It's Killing California time! - 5/5 Stars - REBEL NOISE

Reviews- "Goin' South" CD- 2007 Basement

"reminds me of a heavy version of Rancid...like Rancid and Aus Rotten had a bastard child that they kept locked in the basement..and that bastard child started a band...."- kendall

AMP MAGAZINE
"Holy shit, is this for real? Killing California ha...Holy shit, is this for real? Killing California has managed to put together a nearly perfect collection of songs on "Goin' South"! No pop punk or emo nonsense here, this is Orange County hardcore with some serious balls!! The best comparison for these guys would be Dez-era Black Flag mixed with Zeke & early Neurosis. Fast, heavy, mean, loud, in your face & fucking intense! 10 out of 10 for this one." –

GEEKBURGER
Goin' South was released way back in September, 2007, rendering it "old news" by now, but it's no less worth a listen after aging for six months. Comprised of gruff, driving punk rock and heaps of classic, rocked-out guitar riffs and leads, the record is catchy despite its lack of big vocal hooks and energetic without being overly aggressive. Vocally and occasionally musically, Goin' South reminds me of the elusive Fucked Up and their Hidden World effort, but Killing California is ultimately much more direct and straightforward in their approach.I like the balance Killing California has found. I like even more that Goin' South is a punk rock record with just a tasteful amount of rock n' roll swagger -- a nice change of pace when, more often than not, it's the forced swagger that gets bands places. This is a fun little rec

MUTINY MAGAZINE
"Basement Records has done it again! Another new band added to their roster that, in my opinion, suits them to a tee. I give to you So-Cal's newest gang of vigilantes out to destroy the "pop world"...Killing California. It's a welcome change to the usual cookie-cutter punk rock and to music in general. Right from ye old get-go with the track, "Song In A" you're put on your ass. "Goin' South" starts off with a fast-paced guitar intro and never slows down. Gritty...hard. ..knuckles- up punk rock! Gruff vocals, break-neck drums and intensity all combine to provide one helluva good listen. Please do what you gotta do and check this band out. If you don't...I will fight you!"

NO FRONT TEETH MAGAZINE
KILLING CALIFORNIA – ‘GOIN’ SOUTH’ CD
Well, it’s no secret that we really dig what KILLING CALIFORNIA represent since we helped distribute their debut full-length ‘Ropeless Romantics’ here in Europe. ‘Goin’ South’ takes their unique attack to the next level. Their sound is a truly interesting mix of rock ‘n’ roll and hardcore- they are heavy but never metallic, they have some serious riffs and tons of balls but they don’t have any needless aggression bullshit. They are forceful in all the right ways, energetic and urgent and always individual. This is a band that plays by their own rules, follows no trends and that’s very apparent in the outcome. There’s hints of BLACK FLAG and TSOL here and there and at times they remind me of BONECRUSHER or DISCONTENT but only in little bursts here and there because they have no set of rules, they just do what they do and it’s heavy, intimidating, melodic and exciting all at once…they are their own category and that’s the very definition of KILLING CALIFORNIA

PUNK ROCK THEORY
Killing California - Goin' South, Basement Records did it again! Where do they keep getting these bands from? Killing California is the latest addition to the Basement roster and they are sure to turn a lot of heads with "Goin' South". It's just ten songs long and clocks in at just under half an hour but man, what a rush! With all the energy of a hardcore band and plenty of rock n roll swagger, they set out to destroy all things pop and do it with enough grit and dirt to choke everyone up. Think Zeke, Motörhead and The Distillers all rolled into one and you've got a pretty good idea of what you're going to get hit with!
Score: 8

PRICK, TATTOO ONLINE MAG.
Punk’s not dead, and Killing California is thick with original punk values. Although their songs are a little longer, they still follow the speed riff and shouting vocals formula. Perfect for screaming along with, this is the sound that comes out of your favorite dive bar and scores a well deserved record with an indie label. There’s nothing pop about it, these boys are bringing back that ‘70s staples with the whole feeling of leather jackets, safety pins, and studs. Don’t worry, it has the modern rock elements that we all love, but this album might make you pull out the Ramones and the Clash between songs. - Switchblade Siouxsie

LOUD FAST RULES MAGAZINE & AMP MAGAZINE
Low slung punk rock scraping the bottom of the barrel to obtain its gritty, street-level sound describes Killing California's 10-track offering GOIN' SOUTH. With nuances of Nashville Pussy, TSOL, The Bronx, and Black Flag rearing their heads throughout the course of tracks like "Underground Girl" and "New Bad News", the angst supplied by this unit drips with the heartfelt realism you can't get from what the mainstream passes off as punk today. Bringing it back to a more dangerous time when punk was exclusive , this quartet wastes no time to jack the joint up with its fangs bared and their fierce punk rock battle cries leading the onslaught. -Mike SOS

ROCK MIDGETS MAGAZINE
Furious as a hungry pit-bull slapped in the face by its owner's steak dinner, Killing California come snarling out of the speakers like the bastard child of The Bronx and Black Flag, having all the pugnacious aggression of the former and the raw fury and force of the latter.
It's fast, chaotic stuff at times, cuts like 'New Scene's visceral assault will find appreciation from fans of the new breed of hardcore bands such as Ghost Of A Thousand and Gallows, 'New Bad News' is a song the aforementioned Black Flag never wrote, whereas the title track itself adds a more, well, Southern ingredient to the mix. It all pays off well, giving them a diversity across the album that's as interesting as it is exhilarating.
Killing California appear to be here to try and make amends for the awful things that Californian 'punk' bands have done over the years. They couldn't sound further from the stereotype of an Orange County punk band, and though the jury's still out on how effective they'll be as aural vigilantes, Goin' South is nevertheless an exciting ride and a great album.
Rating: 4/5 by Phill M

PRETTY NOISE MACHINE
Review: Killing California "Goin' South"
The latest band to be picked up by Basement Records. The opening track will give you the basic feel of what this record is about: straight ahead punk with a rock and roll vibe. The singer has a real throaty approach that makes it sound like he has had more than one too many cigarettes and bottles of Jack -- which is a good thing. The slower tracks don't really offer enough hook or groove to be worth the slowed down pace (I found myself skipping over them on repeat listen), and it's the faster numbers on the CD that make it worth your while -- complete with chant alongs and slow "rock breakdowns". It's more melodic than their counterparts in the rock'n roll punk/hardcore scene, but fans of Crash and Burn, The Bars, Emmanuel, and Suicide Files will eat this up.

PUNKNEWS.ORG
Killing California hands out an blend of dirty whiskey rock that burns on its way down your throat (so to speak), a dash of stoner to thicken the recipe and add some muscle, much in the way of punk punch and its in-your-face attitude and a napalm blaze of hardcore (leaving a scorched trail of listeners in its wake). This is an abrasive yet melodic sound that is dual natured. It’s a heated melding together of classic influences and rock innovation in a fast, heavy, filthy fuck-you of a mosh dance. Dig way down deep inside and you’ll find that this is essentially rough-and-tumble rock-n-roll in its heart of hearts. But isn’t that really what punk rock is, when it comes right down to it? Punk was as much lifestyle and attitude as it was specific sound, though the sound that was common among “punk” bands became inextricably entwined with the term and a genre of sound was born. But the point is that punk was simply the rock of the people (versus the rock of the corporation). And Killing California is one hairy, smelly, crunchy, saucy asshole bastard of a punk band. (And, surely, the band will take that as a compliment. Any true punk band worth its salt would. And Killing California is definitely worth its salt.) The band passionately performs gritty, grimy rock-and-roll tunes with one helluva snarl (gargle with lots of lemon juice, bro!) and some punked out playing. Like it or leave it, Killing California is bound to make an impression. They’re punk, yeah, but definitively so. Which means convention doesn’t mean jack. Even punk convention. The band incorporates whatever the hell it feels like into its sound (go back and read the first sentence for an abbreviated discussion of that). And you can like it or lump it. Or maybe get beat up if you yak too much around people who do like Killing California and its harsh but harshly accessible sound. It's convergence of styles may actually help it cast a wide net and draw in a bigger crowd of listeners than you might normally expect from a punk band, reaching, as it does, for more than a stripped down this-and-only-this sound. Yet it’s faithful enough to what makes punk punk that only narrow-minded “punk rockers” who don’t fuckin’ understand what the whole punk thing is all about ANYWAY will diss. And, they, too, have that angry contingent of Killing California fans to deal with — those guys will probably have enough energy left after beating up those other guys that lumped it instead of liking it. Look, in the end, it’s about attitude, and Killing California has it. The band does the sound that it wants to do, and it does a good job of dumping a bucket of musical grit on top of front row listeners’ heads. (And, by all means, in the context of this review, that bucket of grit is a good thing. Out in the real world, a bona fide bucket of grit might not … you get the point.) To sum up: In many ways, despite its diversion from the norm (a punk norm? hmmm ...), or perhaps because of it, Killing California finds itself closer to the truest spirit of punk rock than many who sound more like what punk is “supposed” to sound like. And yet, Killing California sounds like punk. Again, hmmmm ….

CORAZINE
Killing California hands out a blend of dirty whiskey rock, a dash of stoner, much punk and a blaze of hardcore in a sound that is both classic and innovation in a dirty mosh dance. Rough rock-n-roll at heart (as per the true punk ethic), Killing California plays gritty rock tunes with one helluva snarl and some punked out playing. It's a convergence of styles and will probably venture wider in audience-finding than some punk bands who cling to the standard "punk" sound. In many ways, despite its diversion from the norm (a punk norm? hmmm ...), or perhaps because of it, Killing California find themselves closer to the truest spirit of punk rock.

LOUD FAST RULES MAGAZINE
KILLING CALIFORNIA"ROPELESS ROMANTICS" CD Angry tough hardcore thats is musuclar,tight and pretty melodic for the genre.Think the CRO-MAGS better moments,with a dash of the controlled speedand power of mid-period MDC. I'm nottoo fussed about this genre, but theseguys do it real good. (RK)

Press

Highwire Daze, Los Angeles

1. Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in KillingCalifornia, and how long the band has been together.
I’m Danny….I am vocals and guitar#2. The band has been together since January 04’…so it will be fours years this January….damn.
2. What are your impressions of the local OC musicscene and where do you guys fit into the scheme ofthings?
Ooooh…how do I not shoot myself in the foot on this one? Is there a scene? Sometimes it feels like it but mostly it seems like you’re on your own
or maybe that’s just how we fit into the scheme of things. To me it’s always seemed real cliquey; know what I mean, like a lot of the same bands seem to always just play with each
other, bands that all stick together through a real similar sound and style. Hate to say it but at its current state it’s kind of boring to me. Hopefully we continue to fit into the scheme of things by not
actually fitting in, like your favorite pair of shoes that you don’t wear too often because they kind of hurt your feet, but you don’t throw them out because they’re bad ass.
3. Why is it "Killing California" compared to someother exotic location? Where did you come up with thename?
Wow, I never thought of California as an exotic location….I guess we could of called it Killing Cool, Killing Greed, Killing the Environment, Killing Hollywood, Killing Music, Killing Big Business, Killing Developers, Killing your peace of mind, Killing because of road rage, Killing Moguls, Killing Arrogance….I could go on and on…..but I guess using ‘California” just summed up the whole microcosm of California’s influence that transcends into some aspect of everyone’s life good or bad whether your from California or not. We are all affected by it on some level. But don’t get me wrong, I fucking love California!!!…. I’m actually a transplant; I’ve only been here 17 years so it could mean I’m contributing to the very thing that’s killing California….it’s totally open to interpretation. Ask me tomorrow and you might get a whole different answer. No hidden meaning.
4. Describe your music to an elderly relative.
It’s basically just good old heavy rock and roll Gramps….lots of guitars, which are loud and angular but groovy. These days Gramps some kids call it “punk” some call it “hardcore” which are both considered aggressive types of music. So we take little bit of Chuck Berry rock-n-roll and wrap it up with some punk and hardcore and whallla…..you have Lawrence Welk on a three day whiskey and cocaine bender marching to the apocalypse.5. Where do you get the ideas for some of your songlyrics?
I draw a lot of inspiration from people I see or from friends of mine. I’d say most of my lyrics are about or drawn from some experience I’ve had with someone
I know or that is a friend of mine. I can’t make shit up; for the sake of making it up; the lyrics are usually just an extension of what I perceive a situation to be or not to be. It allows me to articulate
and express myself without having to do it through usual conversation.

6. Who is Joe and what is his song all about?
I can’t believe you just asked that question. Joe was my best friend. Unfortunately Joe passed away just 3 weeks ago. I just got back from his funeral. Joe was the Ace of Spades, one of a kind.
One of those dudes who you knew was special. I felt so lucky to have him as my friend that I had to share him with everyone else by writing a song about him. The song is just about random things
I knew about him and things and rules he lived by. I got to tell you something supernatural happened two minutes before his funeral began; I was sitting in my brother’s truck listening to fungus on XM feeling sad and really dreading having to go face his funeral when all of a sudden our fucking song comes on the radio….the first time I had actually heard it aired on the radio. The hair stood up on our arms, it was as if he was saying “quit being a puss and get out there”. True fucking story….he was a bad ass, still is!
7. Who are the Black Collar Kids?
The Black Collar Kids are us, all of us that are into this thing called punk rock, hardcore, rock-n-roll, whatever. It’s a way of saying we’re not blue collar kids, we’re not white collar kids, we are the black collar kids! I identify with the black shirts, all the kids out there into the music and rocking their favorite bands t-shirt. It’s all my friends and I ever wore so I just thought I’d write a little ode to all the punk kids out there who we’re and are just like us.8. Describe a live Killing California show for thoseof us who have yet to see you play.
Hopefully intense, that we leave it all out on the floor. If I had it my way I’d be six songs; 20 minutes and a cloud of dust. I get a lot of shit from the rest of my band for playing too short. There’s nothing
worse than a band playing too long, especially if your not familiar with their music. Get on and get off, make them want to come back and see you, the Dwarves do it the best, straight for the throat,
now we’re outta here! You will get more than six songs these days though so don’t worry. We like to have a good time and party with our audience. Give it all you got and cheers um’ afterwards.

9. What was it like playing with the legendary TSOL? Did you meet them?
Awesome, we’ve been fortunate to have done about 4 or 5 shows with them over the last couple of years. They’re all very nice, humble guys to us. At their going away shows last year at the Vault in Long Bch. Jack was gracious enough to add us last minute to the show, it was really cool. We ended up playing poker all night downstairs in the actual bank vault with all the dudes, it was a stacked table, a lot of heavy hitters from the old OC punk scene, it was very cool to be included. Our drummer Ryan hung in for a long time and actually ended up taking some of their money; it was a classic night for us. Yeah TSOL pretty much rules in my book.
10. If you guys were invited to appear on a TributeAlbum to Motorhead, which song of theirs would youwant to cover and why?
That’s a good one. We actually did do a Motorhead cover, it was released on a split and we covered “Don’t Need Religion”. If we we’re to do another one maybe “Bomber”. It’s rad song, every Motorhead song rips, we’d actually cover any of them if we were to be on a tribute album.
11. What are the future plans for Killing California?
We’re going to just keep gigging right now trying to get our new record “ Goin’ South” out to the people. Our label Basement is also releasing a comp. that will have a new track of ours that will be out in January 08’. It looks like we will be playing SXSW in March, so we’ll tour out to Texas and back as well as continued tours up and down the west coast. Keep your eye out; we’ll be around a lot over the next few months. You can also see what we’re up to by going to our cyber sites: KillingCalifornia.com and MySpace.

12. Any final words of wisdom? Not any real wisdom just common sense; pack your trash, try and be humble, have compassion, live lean and mean and never forget TRUE GRIT !. Thanks.

KILLING CALIFORNIA

Monday, August 18, 2008

Hails & Horns Interview

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