CORRECTION: tonight's Los Monjo show is at the Black Lab, tomorrow's is at the Red Gate.
People who were bummed to miss Alien Boys at the Rickshaw can also take heart that the band will be opening for the Black Halos there this coming January. More to come on that!
My first question actually had to do with Los Monjo. I know nothing about Mexican punk, it turns out. Never really thought about it, never had the chance to see a Mexican punk band, that I know of; I know the works of a few American punks with Mexican heritage - Kid Congo, Tito Larriva, Mia Zapata, Alejandro Escovedo - and I know Todd Serious of the Rebel Spell used to drop reference to Mexican political issues, mentioning Chiapas and the Zapatistas in his lyrics (tho' Erin of that band, now in Alien Boys, tells me that the band never toured that far south)... but actual Mexican punk rock is a foreign world to me. While I addressed most of my questions at Alien Boys vocalist Sarah, it was actually Lindsay, Alien Boys' drummer, who fielded this question about the Mexican punk scene and the bands on it. She writes:
Los Monjo are a great band, saw them for the first time in 2016 at Manic Relapse, a punk fest in Oakland, CA. We played with Canibales, also from Guadalajara, in Edmonton at the Grizzlar a few years ago too. Mexico has a great punk scene and tons of great bands and a handful of our friends bands from here in Vancouver have done tours in Mexico, including our friends Grave Infestation, who are touring this upcoming December. As far as some other current active Mexican bands for people to check out, MESS is a catchy and tough Oi band from Guadalajara, and in Mexico City, Electrika are top notch punk, Malcria are a very fun and chaotic noisy punk band, Medvsa are a great crust band, and Glia are a very fun synth pop post punk band with members of Zotz, a darker post punk band that existed for a lot of years and I got to see live down there a couple times. We’d love to do a Mexico tour one day!
Lindsay by Bob Hanham, not to be reused without permission
As for Sarah, my first question had to be about their - Sarah uses gender-neutral pronouns - new motherhood! I am in italics, Sarah is not. All photos below by the great Bob Hanham. You may also enjoy my interview with Sarah for the Georgia Straight, here.
Sarah and Erin by Bob Hanham, not to be reused without permission
Allan: I am very curious about your new baby! How has having a baby changed your life and perspective on life or on your music? Does it change anything about your role in the band?
Sarah: Becoming a parent is a trip! It is one of the most transformative things I have gone through, to say the least. I think the perspective shift is mostly this: having a child brings a whole new level of accountability. Not only does it make me learn how to undo certain patterns or ways of thinking, but it solidifies that I need to lead by example, advocating for change in the places that need it most. It isn't as though any of those feelings are new, it's just that having a child around really amplifies those functions of personal growth. As for the band, the only thing that has changed is the act of finding a babysitter on nights where we play shows! My partner, Morgan, plays in Blacked Out and ATD. We went into this ready to support each other. The communities we share through music are incredibly meaningful to us. Now we have an extremely cool sidekick to share those things with. My identity shifts and changes constantly, and it is a unique and beautiful part of the privileged way in which I get to live (now enhanced with wonder and radical love).
You mention that you are in school - what are you studying? Is it interesting and enlightening, or a slog? Is there stuff about the experience of academia that pisses you off, or have you found a really exciting field, or...? What is the light at the end of that tunnel - is there a career or such you are aiming at?
I'm currently in a PhD program in Public Health. Being embedded in the Downtown Eastside and working in harm reduction for so long really fueled the decision. Watching the daily violence of repeated systemic barriers minimizing opportunities for connection and support is beyond frustrating. We have some incredible programs available for people who use drugs and more direct, community-based solutions are being discussed every day. Some of the challenges we face involve the ability to foster political will and public support. Overdose deaths are preventable, and we have to provide solutions that come from the bottom up. Since 2016, there have been over 30,800 apparent overdose deaths in Canada (https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants/). This is wildly unacceptable. And what can I do about it? I can leverage something. Academic access is a privilege that I have, and, if it all clicks, then I will try to facilitate conversations and connections to fill the space between dialogue and action. If you have a cause you believe in, see it through. We all have ways to contribute. No matter which path I take, I hope to find ways to continue supporting aspects of knowledge exchange and inform policy and program development with the voices of those who know best.
I'm currently in a PhD program in Public Health. Being embedded in the Downtown Eastside and working in harm reduction for so long really fueled the decision. Watching the daily violence of repeated systemic barriers minimizing opportunities for connection and support is beyond frustrating. We have some incredible programs available for people who use drugs and more direct, community-based solutions are being discussed every day. Some of the challenges we face involve the ability to foster political will and public support. Overdose deaths are preventable, and we have to provide solutions that come from the bottom up. Since 2016, there have been over 30,800 apparent overdose deaths in Canada (https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants/). This is wildly unacceptable. And what can I do about it? I can leverage something. Academic access is a privilege that I have, and, if it all clicks, then I will try to facilitate conversations and connections to fill the space between dialogue and action. If you have a cause you believe in, see it through. We all have ways to contribute. No matter which path I take, I hope to find ways to continue supporting aspects of knowledge exchange and inform policy and program development with the voices of those who know best.
Coming back to Alien Boys - what is the current lineup of the band? (There has only been one member change?).
Our most recent member is Ivana from WANT. She is playing bass in the band and is a dear friend and wonderful fit. It has been over 2 years now, and it's all seamless as can be.
Our most recent member is Ivana from WANT. She is playing bass in the band and is a dear friend and wonderful fit. It has been over 2 years now, and it's all seamless as can be.
Has it been difficult getting together through COVID? Was anyone writing music, or using the time otherwise...? How many gigs have Alien Boys played since lockdown?
It was difficult because, like everyone else, none of us really knew what to expect. We wanted to be careful around each other for a lot of reasons, personal, professional or otherwise. After a while, though, we got back to it and started writing for the new record! We have probably played 10 gigs since we've been back to it at this point. Some here, some in Ontario and Quebec. Looking forward to more, always.
It was difficult because, like everyone else, none of us really knew what to expect. We wanted to be careful around each other for a lot of reasons, personal, professional or otherwise. After a while, though, we got back to it and started writing for the new record! We have probably played 10 gigs since we've been back to it at this point. Some here, some in Ontario and Quebec. Looking forward to more, always.
Sarah by Bob Hanham, not to be reused without permission
Are there any new songs that we will be hearing Nov 5? (What are they about? May we read the lyrics? Where did the inspiration come from?).
Yes! We will be playing three new songs! We have played them most recently at the Propagandhi show on September 13th. We have more than that in the bank, but that's all we're test driving for now. Inspiration is mostly from the state of politics and social issues affecting all of us with that kind of wild-eyed, snotty-sarcasm we love delivering.
Very curious what you make of COVID and the sort of cultural war going on over it, and the extreme failure of communication between opposing factions, from people who are adamantly pro-lockdown and want to shame and pressure people into getting vaccinated, to people who are incensed to find themselves losing work, being barred from public spaces, and being censured on social media for being vaccine hesitant... I myself am triply vaccinated, but not without concerns, and I know people who have lost jobs because they did not trust the vaccines. I can understand their anger, even if I disagree with them - I think people should have a right to make informed decisions about medical treatment. I also don't much like that Trudeau granted himself emergency powers to do things like freeze protestors' bank accounts during the convoy episode... I can see that sort of power being abused in other contexts... tho' at the moment I kind of feel like we've been abandoned by the government and that anti-vax messaging is making a bit of headway... what's your experience of COVID been?
There are certain aspects of social accountability that can become deeply entrenched as identity politics and have repercussions for everyone involved. This is where things become dangerous. With any public health emergency, experts and decision makers are supposed to collaborate to find the most effective solutions to protect society's most vulnerable. I think that society provides people with the opportunity to opt in or opt out for a relatively insignificant period of time. In my opinion, it is the option that matters most.
Yes! We will be playing three new songs! We have played them most recently at the Propagandhi show on September 13th. We have more than that in the bank, but that's all we're test driving for now. Inspiration is mostly from the state of politics and social issues affecting all of us with that kind of wild-eyed, snotty-sarcasm we love delivering.
Very curious what you make of COVID and the sort of cultural war going on over it, and the extreme failure of communication between opposing factions, from people who are adamantly pro-lockdown and want to shame and pressure people into getting vaccinated, to people who are incensed to find themselves losing work, being barred from public spaces, and being censured on social media for being vaccine hesitant... I myself am triply vaccinated, but not without concerns, and I know people who have lost jobs because they did not trust the vaccines. I can understand their anger, even if I disagree with them - I think people should have a right to make informed decisions about medical treatment. I also don't much like that Trudeau granted himself emergency powers to do things like freeze protestors' bank accounts during the convoy episode... I can see that sort of power being abused in other contexts... tho' at the moment I kind of feel like we've been abandoned by the government and that anti-vax messaging is making a bit of headway... what's your experience of COVID been?
There are certain aspects of social accountability that can become deeply entrenched as identity politics and have repercussions for everyone involved. This is where things become dangerous. With any public health emergency, experts and decision makers are supposed to collaborate to find the most effective solutions to protect society's most vulnerable. I think that society provides people with the opportunity to opt in or opt out for a relatively insignificant period of time. In my opinion, it is the option that matters most.
Meghan's last gig with Alien Boys, Feb. 1 2020, by Bob Hanham, not to be reused without permission
Curious about the decision to go by gender neutral pronouns. I can see there being more than one reason to adopt gender neutral pronouns; do you mind giving yours? (Do you identify as non-binary in private life, or is it more of a public/ political gesture, for example?). It does kinda screw up being able to describe Alien Boys as an "all female" punk band - is there another way to phrase that there are no dudes in the band? Do you ever find yourself in conflict with older-school feminists who are ambivalent about trans rights? (I am trying not to call anyone a TERF, but feel free).
I was raised in a religious institution, and we were not given the appropriate tools to unpack or explain things like the difference between sex and gender, sexuality outside of procreation or relationship alternatives to monogamy, for example. Through the years, I have switched in and out of different variations of forward facing masculine or feminine presenting visual cues. I use gender neutral pronouns because it feels better than trying to balance one or the other. Identities are fluid, and it's a great privilege of mine to bring whatever energy I feel I can bring wherever I am. Dresses aren't inherently feminine. Bowties aren't inherently masculine. If gender is performative in the Judith Butler kind of way, then I might as well make it my own in the day to day.
Are there songs you are most excited to sing at the November 5th show? (Are there ever gigs that cry out for playing particular songs or others?). Anything else we should say about the gig?
The gig is going to be HUGE! We are really looking forward to it. I think the new tracks are some of my favourite to rip through now because it gives us the chance to feel the energy around them to pack into how we wind up recording them later. That and Gentrifriction will always be an absolute hit.
CORRECTED: Los Monjo play two nights in Vancouver, Nov. 4th at the Black Lab and Nov. 5th at the Red Gate, with Alien Boys opening the second night. Tickets and more information here (tho' note, they seem to be only selling for the night of the 4th, or for a two-day pass - not quite sure what's going on there).
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