An interview with Druglords of The Avenues

I remember the first time I saw Swingin’ Utters in Mesa AZ (with AFI in tow!) back in the mid 90’s I was floored. I thought punk like what the Swingin Utters brought to the table, with that much melody, soul and ferocity was dead and gone. Vocalist Johnny “Peebucks” Bonnel has since been involved with a few other bands including Filthy Thieving Bastards and more recently Druglords of The Avenues which just released a new album (their 2nd full length) on Red Scare Records in May of 2013. Druglords play a brand of tuneful straight forward punk with heaps of charisma and passion that’s been a trade mark of a Peebucks band since the very beginning.

This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on 

Interview by Jay Castro

Shock Treatment: Please introduce yourself and how do you contribute to Druglords of the Avenues?
I'm John Bonnel and I do vocals, lyrics and album art in the band.

Where are you all from originally?
JB: I'm from Santa Cruz, Ca., Matt Grayson is from Modesto, Ca. and Jeremy Korkki is from Flagstaff, AZ. The two Robs are from Mars.

ST: What is the bands origin story? How did you guys all meet and start playing music together?
JB: I met Matt working at Cinderblock, a company that printed shirts for touring bands. He was in a band called Forfeit The Day that
played pretty fast intense hardcore punk. I sang a little piece on one of their songs they recorded. They lost their singer for some
reason and Matt was a fan of SU. We had similar taste in alternative music and decided to put our interests to work. I told him to
write music and I will take care of the lyrics and melodies. We got offered a chance to be on a Replacements tribute record on
1-2-3-4 Go! We jumped at the chance to do Favorite Thing and it just snowballed after that, in a positive direction.

ST: When starting Druglords of The Avenues, was it another outlet for your songwriting that didn’t quite fit in with Swingin’ Utters or Filthy Thieving Bastards?
JB: It was definitely another outlet, but not because it didn't fit FTB or SU. I think I have more freedom and less insecurities with DOTA because the rest of the guys are more open to my weirdness. It's really a lot of fun to come up with lyrics for Matt, Rob and
Jeremy to sing back-ups to without losing it. Those guys can't look mean singing, "Might we dance at your gay and lesbian disco?" Homophobia is prevalent in this world and it needs to be pointed out how ignorant and hurtful it is.

ST:  I must inquire about the name. In sounds so cinematic, like it could be an old lost Scorsese film? Where did it come from?
JB: I got that name from a documentary on a Jewish community in New York's Alphabet City. It was said more than once by the narrator and it just conjured up so many ideas and images. It was first used as a FTB song title, but I always thought it sounded like a band. When I read books or watch movies or TV I'm constantly looking for lyrics, song titles and band names. When I was younger I thought all the best band names were taken, but now I know that's not true. My resources are endless! In everything I do, songwriting, drawing, screen printing, sculpture, I always am aware that it will never be the best. To strive towards better art is my fuel to live and love. I feel the greatest band names have a danger mixed with a heroic quality. Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Kinks, Wu Tang Clan, Tribe Called Quest are such great names to me.

ST: In your bands bio, you list new sounds and new art as influences. Can you name some contemporary bands or musicians that influence the Druglords of The Avenue sound?
JB: King Kahn and the BBQ Show, Sharp Objects, The Caves, Parquet Courts, Pixies, JD McPherson, The Widows, La Plebe, The Death Set, ToyGuitar, The Spits.

ST: And speaking of art, Johnny I didn’t realize you did the artwork for Druglords and FTB album covers. It’s quite impressive. You also have quite an impressive portfolio on absolutearts.com. I remember seeing the album artwork for a FTB album and the art really left an impression on me. I didn’t know anything about the band either! What or who influenced you to embark on this endeavor as well?
Thank you first. Yeah, man, I just love this way of getting my art across the world. Sometimes getting into a gallery is such a pain in the buttock. I really like the idea of showing my work on shirts, albums, tattoos, flyers, patches and the like. It's more grassroots and humble. I'm pretty low-key when it comes to my art. It pisses off my dad's generation that I'm not out there selling my art. It's
just not me, fuck capitalism, it's gross!

ST:  I’ve heard that out of all different art forms, music has the power to alter a person’s disposition the fastest. Do you agree with this? Do you have any favorite music that you can put on that will always lift you from a slump?
JB: I can agree that it's the fastest, but my life has been changed by all forms of art. Reggae always seems to lift me up and a few of the albums I listen to are Toots and the Maytal's Funky Kingston, The Wailer's Burnin' and Culture's Two 7's Clash.

ST: I noticed you guys play shows around the bay area, any plans on taking Druglords on the road?
JB: We would love to but I can't afford it. I believe I will die broke with no health issurance, so my main goal is to situate my family as best I can. Music has never paid the bills.

ST: I don’t like using the term “guilty pleasure” because I don’t think anyone should be made to feel ashamed of anything they like. However with that being said, what to you listen to that you think a lot of fans may be surprised by?
JB: Abba Gold is one album I played at Cinderblock where everyone was sort of shocked I liked. It's great music and no guilt what
so ever.

ST: What music have you unleashed on the world and where can people go to hear it or buy it?
JB: Swingin' Utters have released around 12 on FAT, Filthy Thieving Bastards have released 4 on TKO and BYO and Druglords of the Avenues have released 2 on Red Scare. Interpunk and record stores and the labels are where you can get them.

ST: What do Druglords of The Avenues have in store for us in the near, or not so near, future?
JB: We're currently writing new material for an EP maybe? I will continue to create and write until I die so keep your eyes and ears pealed!

Hey! It's The Impulse International!

When I first heard the full-length album Point of Action (on LP on Deranged and CD on Dirtnap Records) by Impulse International I felt an overwhelming sadness and disappointment. Sad and disappointed in myself that a record of this magnitude can exist in the world since 2009 and I am barely hearing it in 2013! Boy did I miss out on this one (I still hang my head in shame as I am typing this). Impulse International set loose music that’s got elements of catchy as a cat’s claw punk rock bang, power pop groove amid stabs of new wave strut while holding hands with 1960’s, mod , and r & b cool. This band somehow chews all of this together, swishes it around and spits it out in your face, and the taste is delectable.

This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on November 18th, 2013

Interview by Jay Castro

Shock Treatment: Who’s answering the questions here?
Adam: This is Adam, a.k.a Julius Buck, a.k.a Captain Beef Shield


ST: Who is in the band and how do you all earn your keep in it?
Adam: I play guitar and sing. JD Romeo plays the bass and Rob does the drumming.


ST: Are you guys all originally from the NY/NJ area?
Adam: I wish we all were. I took a like hiatus to go back to school and have kids. That took me to Florida where the grandparents are aplenty and the University is cheap.


ST: You said the band formed when you were “orphaned from previous bands”, that’s a hilarious way of putting it! What bands went to the corner store for a pack of smokes and never came back for you guys?
Adam: My old band, Dirt Bike Annie, started losing members one by one but we would still keep playing shows. A member would announce their last show and have a big send off . Eventually, it was just me and the drummer.

Rob played in Jersey City bands the Ankles and the Alpha Males. I think there was band rivalry that caused both dissipated at the same time. It’s hard to share a drummer.

JD played in Philly hardcore and noise bands. He has a semi-hollow Fender Coronado, which would feed back like crazy. He got kicked out for being too darn loud.


ST: What sound did you have in mind when starting The Impulse International?
Adam: I had a friend Heather (a.k.a. Suzy Sleaze, a.k.a. Saturday Suzie) who would make me mix tapes (actual cassettes) of garage and power-pop bands when I was in Dirt Bike Annie. She turned me on to all this great 70s/80s Rock’N’Roll like the Boys, the Only Ones, Holly and the Italians. It was the perfect musical progression from pop-punk, still catchy and fun, but with a little more bravado and swagger . I tried changing the style of my song writing in Dirt Bike Annie, but we just couldn’t pull off. It sounded forced and lame. When we broke up I started writing non-stop; simple, catchy, wild, Rock’N’Roll. Within two weeks, I had a new band together.


ST: Who were some of your musical role models growing up? Who inspired you to learn how to play music and pick up an instrument in the first place?
Adam: Well, obviously, The Jam is an influence, being a powerful, clean tone, three-piece punk rock band. As for mod style, its cool for bands to look sharp. I cringe ever time I see a guy in shorts on stage.

Growing up, I was a skateboarder. So I would by every tape of every band I saw referenced in Thrasher and Transworld magazines. So, The Dead Kennedys, Agent Orange, Black Flag, The Dickies, Butthole Surfers. I guess I grew up on quintessential American punk rock. In the late 80s, punk rock was still pretty fringe. All my friends were into metal (like Ozzy) or guitar wankery (like Joe Satriani). None of them played bass (who would want to be the guy who stands behind the guitar wankers? Right?). Anyway, a friend drove me to the music store, helped me pick out a bass and I was playing Crazy Train by the time we left the store (there is not really much to the Crazy Train bass line).


ST: You are recording some new songs, how is that going?
Adam: Being that I live in Florida right now, this is hard. Rob and JD just sent me some files of Bass and Drum takes they did, but living in a house with wife and two kids, finding the time and space to lay down proper guitar over dubs is a challenge. When I do have a chance to record, sometimes things just down sound right and I’m back to the drawing board and I’m banging my head thinking I’ve just wasted so much time and have nothing to show for it. That can be frustrating. I miss the days of having a regular rehearsal space where all the gear is set up and I can just flip some switched and press record.

There is also something to be said for recording in the same room as the rest of the band. I know Guided by Voices used to record long distance and all, but man, it is hard. You miss so much when you can’t communicate on the spot. And Skyping while you’ve got all your music software open just isn’t convenient.


ST: I recently read that out of all different art forms, music has the power to alter a person’s disposition the fastest. Do you agree with this? Do you have any favorite music that you can put on that will always lift you from a slump?
Adam: Well, I don’t know if its true for everyone, but yeah, crank up some Jossie Cotton and try to stay in a bad mood. On tour I would listen to Andrew WK’s first album (specifically, Its time to Party) right before we would have to play because it would put me in a 100% psyched mood every time!


ST: Do you think Rock N Roll can still be an influential force for kids in a fast food age?
Adam: I hope so. I’m in college now and this kid was all shocked and in awe that I actually know band’s names and had whole albums by these bands on my iPod. The kids I met in school mostly listen to and rely on Pandora to introduce them to new music. There was one girl in my class that never heard of the Violent Femmes. I almost threw up. I imagine the ones that want to find unique Rock’N’Roll will seek it out. When they hear it in a movie, they’ll scan the credits to see the band name and then get that record, or pirate download it or whatever they do. The medium may have changed, but teen angst can’t be gone, right?


ST: You guys have been around for quite a while now, and have been around this great big world. What has been the most memorable show the band has played good or bad? Where was it and what made it so unforgettable?
Adam: By far, the Idiotarod show we did in Brooklyn. The Idiotarod is this crazy dress-up shopping cart race through Brooklyn and Manhattan and The Impulse got to play the after party. It was a giant costume party with bands and DJs and everyone was having a ball. They Roller Derby girls got on stage for our song “1 Girl 8 Wheels” and it was just wild. I lost my phone at the after-after party. It was that good.


ST: If a year from now you were celebrating the best year the Impulse International has ever had, what would you be celebrating?
Adam: We would probably be celebrating a tour. If we were tour again, that would mean people really cared to see us. Sadly, having family responsibilities sort of means that you don’t get to hit the road to play VFW halls to 15 people anymore.


ST: What music have you unleashed on the world and where can people hear it or buy it?
Adam:  Greennoiserecords.com, Derrangedrecords.com, Gethip.com
Hmmm…a quick Google search tells me that eBay may be a good place to shop, too.


ST: What are does the band have in store for us in the near future?

Adam: New songs for sure, but probably not a vinyl release. It may have to be online only as this internet does not seem to be going away.