1. Hi so at first can you introduce your
band, members (hobbies, work, age…) and tell us how you met each other.
We are Concrete Elite, we hail from Austin,Tx
. I'm Manny I handle vocals and been a screen printer 15+ years. Kevin on guitar which is an electrician. Ram plays drums and works with Dr.'s. Cody
the young blood plays guitar and just graduated college. JJ plays bass and
manages Electric 13 tattoo shop.I am pretty sure our hobbies are playing
in this band and hanging out haha Three out of the five us transplanted here
from Laredo,Tx and the Rio Grande Valley. We all met from going to shows
and having similar interests in music. I been playing in bands with Kevin for
almost 10 years.
2. When
and why came the decision to start a band and why name Concrete (or Concrete
Elite which I saw on some posters)
Concrete was established winter 2011/2012.
Just wanted to hear what I could not find out there at the moment and also have
a reason for friends to get together.
We chose Concrete cause it is heavy and full of grit just like we sound. Had to
add "Elite" due to legal issues I will just leave it at that on that issue haha
3. Have any of your members experience with any bands before Concrete?
Some of us been active in bands 15+ years so
there are alot left out but here are Past/present bands we have been in and are
currently in PAST One Against Many, Night Siege, Coptic Times,
Streetcleaner, Hardside, Bitter End, and Bulemics PRESENT Glue,
Impalers, Prions, Kinetic Discord and Breakout
4. You have released EP´s on Cadre, Rebellion and One Track Mind records…how do you came in cooperation with those labels and how are you satisfied with them…?
Cadre who gave us our start is my old
friend Austin's(The Broadsiders) label which he runs with a crew of solid
people out in Dallas,Tx. One Track Mind is run by friends out
in Milwaukee which is like our second home, it seems like the entire Midwest is
our home away from home. We also have releases with Joe Pogo, Oi! the Boat, Rebel Sound and American Oi! Records. Rebellion is our home and we are proud to call it that. All the labels we have worked with were great no bullshit just handling things old school with hand shakes and taking each other for our word.
5. Except the compilation We Are All Subculture Street Troopers all your stuff is out on vinyl…do you prefer vinyl instead of CD?
YES! We all collect records and its been my #1
way of putting music out since the start of playing in bands. The only thing
better than getting records in the mail is getting YOUR bands records in the mail!
6. Your sound is very cumbersome and heavy mixture of HC and Oi! core … what are your musical influences? Are you more into new breed or classic bands and do you prefer bands from Europe or States?
We like to draw influences from early American
hardcore and the early heavier European Oi.
7. You have official video to the song Strike the Rat Down…can you tell us something about shooting of the clip (location, time, crew…)?
Daaaaaamnn now that was a great time! Our
drummers wifes parents were going to demolition the house so we had free reign
on it. We only had a week to prep and put it all together for one solid
day of shooting. Our old band mate Sam(Complete Control) works in the industry
and called in a ton of favors. Still can not believe how lucky we were to
have that done for us. Huge THANK YOU to all the video crew, prep crew and
friends that made that possible.
8. Can you also introduce your lyrics to our readers…what are they about and who is responsible of them?
I handle all the lyrics. The earlier
lyrical content mainly the first 12"EP was based on when I first moved to
Austin(in 2001) and alot of the street politics/clashes involved. That was also when the back bone of the first
EP was written musically, being fresh out of high school living at the
Yorkshire(Krum Bums) house in a state of hostility. Wild great times I
would not trade for the world.
9. You have released spilt EP with Assault and Battery which are from the other side of the States…how do you came in contact with them?
I met Johnny Milwaukee(A&B drums) at
Holidays in the Sun in 2002, he gave me place to stay. Been great friends ever
since, I would bleed for that fucker and the entire A&B crew. All
stand up people, our chosen family. Had a great time with them on the
"Pure Grit" tour last year!
10. You came from the city of Austin in Texas, can you told us something about life there and also what is interesting in your city for tourist and skinhead tourist (bars, pubs, crews, bands…)?
Damn this place is a world of its own,
growing insanely from day to day. The way I look at it for every 10,000 people
that move here we have to get at least one or two quality people haha
Lots of folks that just moved here 5 years ago like to complain about how it is
getting too crowded and changing. I say just adapt and survive or get out and
move to the next hyped city. We got the mainstay pub Bull McCabes which
is the spot to meet up with fellow punks, skins and the like. We also got the
Mohawk and the new Sidewinder holding it down for
shows. Also got the old Casino el Camino if your looking for drinks and the
best burger in town. There are a ton more venues and diy(houses, restraunts)
spots that come and go on the regular. As far as local bands go I would
not know where to start besides the other bands we are in we got Lower Class
Brats, Punks on Parade, Gutter, Breakout, Ironhead Division, Sniper 66,
Commoners, Klax, Strutter, Body Pressure, Institute, Vaaska, Starving Wolves,
Stacker, Nosferatu, Equinox, The Real Cost, DYE, Kurraka and a ton of other
quality bands coming out of this city right now.
11. Are you fans of some sport?
I am not really a fan of any sports but I do enjoy the atmosphere of a futbol match. I know JJ follows futbol, Kevin and I enjoy playing golf nowadays.
12. Where can we order some of your stuff…?
Overseas- Rebellion Records
America- Rebel Sound Music, One Track Mind Records or concreteusa.bigcartel.com
13. Are you thinking about European tour?
We just confirmed a European Summer tour!
First date will be at Contra Bash #2 on May 27th with Crown Court, Lazy Class,
The Detained and a handful of other great bands. We will be over there for about 15 shows. Big thank you to Master
Brille for making that happen! Keep up to date at www.facebook.com/concretenation and Pogorausch Concerts
14. Do you know anything about Czech Republic?
Not much other than Pirates Press getting
their records from there and I am guessing there are great kolaches haha
15. Plans for the future…
We will be releasing our LP "Stronger than Ever Before" via Rebellion Records hopefully by
September. We already have about 9 songs written looking to get 10-12 solid tracks. I lost my mother last
year and one of our guys lost his father so the LP will mostly be about death,
strength and struggling to leave something behind. We are working on getting
our "We are all Subculture.." CD pressed onto a 12" via
Rebellion for our Euro tour, also just sent off a track titled "Above the
Rest" for Oi! Ain't Dead Vol.5 which will be bring the hammer down. Really
looking forward to getting over to Europe and having a great time.
16. Last words…
Many thanks to you and the subculture
street troopers worldwide for all the support! We are humbled and greatful for
everything that has come our way. Clenched fist smash the world.