A couple weeks ago we got an email from a band called Glue asking us if they could play an upcoming show we had planned. Not being very familiar with the band we checked them out and were quite surprised. Glue is the new band from the Schumsky brothers featuring Red Ranger (attitude/Eternal Youth) on vocals. We are stoked to have been able to do this interview with them. Glue play montreal on August 16th at the legion. Click below for the full interview.
How did Glue come about?
I actually began writing the songs that would eventually come to be on the glue demo while on the last think i care tour… i’ve always been into the punkier and rockier side of hardcore… whenever i write songs, i basically write the kind of songs i wish someone else would write (so i could just chill and listen to them!) anyhow, i knew i wanted it to be an edge band and I knew that my brother, in some way shape or form, would be involved. we had a few different “vocalists” before finally going with the red ranger… most notably, sweet pete, morgado, and, if only briefly, sweet pete and morgado. we had josh hynes on bass briefly, but he bailed when sweet pete bailed. this is when we got natalie on bass (she played in r.’n'r. and so be it…
so we knew she could hang.) this is the genesis of glue.
Who is in Glue and what are their favevorite soft drink
glue consists of the red ranger on vocals, my brother (aaron shumsky) on guitar, his girlfriend natalie kacian on bass, and me (joe shumsky) on drums. i’m not going to speak for everyone in glue… but i drink a lot of crystal light and diet barq’s… i also know my brother, despite having a strong edge, is developing a bit of a red bull “problem”…
I know you guys are situated in different parts of the country, how do you go about practicing, writing, etc
we actually all live in central ma except for the ranger who reps syracuse. basically, we practice weekly sans vocals. actually, funny story regarding the demo… we actually recorded it without a single practice! i showed my brother the songs on the bass and he learned them. when we met in the
studio, it was the first time i played those songs on drums (and the first time i’d played the drums, period, in roughly a year.) i played bass on the demo, as well.
Straight Edge in 2008, not going too strong. Whats it like singing about ‘bottles and pills’ to a modern hardcore crowd?
honestly, i must admit that i’m a bit out of touch with the current state of hardcore. many of the bands that are around right now are the same bands that were around when think i care broke up… i’m not really feeling most of them… bands like righteous jams, suicide file, stop and think, shark
attack… that was the good stuff! and as far as straight edge goes, i could care less what’s “in” or “hip”… giving the kids what they want to hear is some weak-ass, pussy shit, man!
You guys seem to be playing out a lot for a young band on a demo. How have
shows been? Would you say current gas prices are seriously affecting hardcore tours?
we are trying to play out as much as possible. we have a two week tour in august… and then some more sporadic shows… in january, however, we go full time. look the fuck out! i’ll let you know how seriously gas prices affect my per diem on the august tour…
The Schumsky basement does not seem to let up. Can you give us a list of
bands that were born and raised in there?
the shumsky basement has actually moved from winchendon to leominster… regardless, bands that have practiced there include fit for abuse, think i care, r.’n'r., so be it, close call, riff raff, glue, etc… we used to have shows there all the time, as well. some amazing bands have played down
there: tear it up, suicide file, dropdead, vorhees, the a-team… good fucking times!
Most of you are/were in a bunch of other bands, what motivated you to do Glue?
I basically wanted to do an edge band that didn’t really sound like an edge band. i wanted to do a band that sounded like stuff i wish someone else would write… i know i’m a bit of an ego-maniac, but i guarantee you that i listen to the glue demo more than anyone…
Are you guys working on a record? Who writes the songs?
We are going to be recording our first 7″ entitled “sick sick sick songs” in late september. it will be out for the world tour that will commence in january. i write the songs, and the ranger writes the lyrics. my brother embellishes the guitar parts with greg ginn type shit and natalie writes
bass lines that would make entwhistle proud…
Is your name inspired by SSD or by the Ghent League of Unbreakable Edgemen?
Our name is actually inspired by a thick, white, sticky, semi-gelatinous substance that, despite what you may be thinking, isn’t semen… who’s ssd?
What should motivate a young french canadian to go see Glue?
ssd, in my eyes, stop and think, righteous jams, and, most likely, dys covers. toss in our demo to that mix and you have one god-damned hell of a good time! the ranger is actually a very snappy dresser, as well. tell me i’m wrong!
what can we expect from you guys in the future?
East coast tour in august. record and world tour in january. web cam broadcasts of practices as soon as i get the bugs worked out… more ill songs (i’ve got the entire band’s catalog already written…)
last words?
straight edge in your face!