Piledriver
14, 185 km away from Madball's home of New York, U.S.A., is Laguna, Philippines, home to Piledriver. One might quickly assume that such a great distance would separate bands on either side of the globe; however this is far from reality. The music of Laguna hardcore kings, Piledriver, is heavily influenced by New York acts, yet is presented in a manner that is particularly Filipino.
In celebration of ten years together, the band played its debut international show at Hong Kong's Pier Pressure. Lucky for me, I got to talk to them about their music, the Philippines, and their up and coming album, Southside Kings.
Could you introduce yourselves and what you play?
Gilbert: I'm Gilbert, the vocalist for Piledriver.
Reggie: I'm Reggie, the drummer.
Johnner: Johnner; guitar player.
When and how did you form the band?
Gilbert: We formed Piledriver in 2000, so we're currently celebrating our ten years right now—ah! 2- '98, '98. Part of our celebration is to play here in Hong Kong, so we're really glad the guys from Shepherds the Weak invited us here. So, before Piledriver, we had lots of bands, side projects and stuff. We just started to form a New York hardcore style cover band- we started out as a cover band- and eventually became Piledriver, and we made originals and stuff.
Johnner: Well, actually, I'd been with a lot of bands prior to joining them, I actually don't deny my metal roots. I was in a previous band which was kind of sketchy and stuff, so I quit them- directly because I grew up listening to hardcore, so when the opportunity came to jump in and join the guys, I accepted it full force. It started as a cover band, doing some originals, a lot of line up changes, and currently standing ten years strong, and we're still here to prove that we can make it last.
Who are your influences? When you were a cover band, who did you like to cover?
Gilbert: We're more into New York hardcore. I personally listen to a lot of Madball and Agnostic Front. When it comes to music, I'm really diverse, so I also listen to Hip Hop- but not the mainstream kind. I listen to Cyprus Hill and Jedi Mind Tricks.
Johnner: During the time it was a cover band, the majority of the music we covered was New York hardcore – Sick Of It All- and it's a common notion, and we directly admit it, we're heavily influenced by Madball. Not copying them- there's a feel that it's Madball, but it's still different and it's still unique at the same time...
I've heard that when you go back to the Philippines, you're going to be releasing a full-length album. Have you gone into the studio yet?
Gilbert: Actually, we've recorded some material, but we're still in the process of mixing and stuff. Hopefully, before the end of the year we'll be releasing our second album- Southside Kings.
Was there any difference in the recording process between this album and Santa Rosa City ?
Gilbert: Yeah, it's been a bit different when it comes to the studios, because the first album was recorded at our local studio. We're trying to make sure the second one comes out good, so we chose another studio. I guess musically, it has more punch.
Johnner: Basically adding on to that, the new album would be expected as somewhat more mature- ten years. Collectively, the material presented in Santa Rosa City- half of it is mostly of older Piledriver stuff, which we mix matched, remixed, whathaveyou – and that's what came out. What you'll see in South Side Kings would be where the Piledriver crew is currently at. It is more tight, the lyrics are more mature- it's more straight forward basically, but the groove is still there, it's still the same old crew, its just more refined. Plus the studio we're currently working at is quite good.
Are there any topics that you are specifically addressing in your new album?
Gilbert: The new album deals with personal things, and its all about the crew back at home- I guess its basically the same thing as the first album- but its more mature and straight forward- no bullshit, you know?
Johnner: The topics basically are still the same street wise, day to day, in your face themes that hardcore kids – even non hardcore kids- can relate to.
If you had to use one phrase to describe the new album what would it be?
Gilbert: Beat-down
Johnner: More in your face.
Reggie: Hardcore.
You've played in a lot of cities. Which one did you enjoy the most?
Gilbert: Personally I enjoy playing in our hometown because we can see the people are really supporting the band. The Philippines has a very small hardcore scene, but back in our hometown it shows that the kids are really into it- not just for fashion.
Johnner: Since it's mentioned, its collective- hometown, of course. Besides the home town, it would be our next adopted city, the south- Cebu. The Cebu crowd is – next to the hometown crowd- fucking crazy. They go all out. It's like a second home to us.
What kind of styles do Cebu bands play?
Gilbert: basically it's just a mix and match of New York and …
14, 185 km away from Madball's home of New York, U.S.A., is Laguna, Philippines, home to Piledriver. One might quickly assume that such a great distance would separate bands on either side of the globe; however this is far from reality. The music of Laguna hardcore kings, Piledriver, is heavily influenced by New York acts, yet is presented in a manner that is particularly Filipino.
In celebration of ten years together, the band played its debut international show at Hong Kong's Pier Pressure. Lucky for me, I got to talk to them about their music, the Philippines, and their up and coming album, Southside Kings.
Could you introduce yourselves and what you play?
Gilbert: I'm Gilbert, the vocalist for Piledriver.
Reggie: I'm Reggie, the drummer.
Johnner: Johnner; guitar player.
When and how did you form the band?
Gilbert: We formed Piledriver in 2000, so we're currently celebrating our ten years right now—ah! 2- '98, '98. Part of our celebration is to play here in Hong Kong, so we're really glad the guys from Shepherds the Weak invited us here. So, before Piledriver, we had lots of bands, side projects and stuff. We just started to form a New York hardcore style cover band- we started out as a cover band- and eventually became Piledriver, and we made originals and stuff.
Johnner: Well, actually, I'd been with a lot of bands prior to joining them, I actually don't deny my metal roots. I was in a previous band which was kind of sketchy and stuff, so I quit them- directly because I grew up listening to hardcore, so when the opportunity came to jump in and join the guys, I accepted it full force. It started as a cover band, doing some originals, a lot of line up changes, and currently standing ten years strong, and we're still here to prove that we can make it last.
Who are your influences? When you were a cover band, who did you like to cover?
Gilbert: We're more into New York hardcore. I personally listen to a lot of Madball and Agnostic Front. When it comes to music, I'm really diverse, so I also listen to Hip Hop- but not the mainstream kind. I listen to Cyprus Hill and Jedi Mind Tricks.
Johnner: During the time it was a cover band, the majority of the music we covered was New York hardcore – Sick Of It All- and it's a common notion, and we directly admit it, we're heavily influenced by Madball. Not copying them- there's a feel that it's Madball, but it's still different and it's still unique at the same time...
I've heard that when you go back to the Philippines, you're going to be releasing a full-length album. Have you gone into the studio yet?
Gilbert: Actually, we've recorded some material, but we're still in the process of mixing and stuff. Hopefully, before the end of the year we'll be releasing our second album- Southside Kings.
Was there any difference in the recording process between this album and Santa Rosa City ?
Gilbert: Yeah, it's been a bit different when it comes to the studios, because the first album was recorded at our local studio. We're trying to make sure the second one comes out good, so we chose another studio. I guess musically, it has more punch.
Johnner: Basically adding on to that, the new album would be expected as somewhat more mature- ten years. Collectively, the material presented in Santa Rosa City- half of it is mostly of older Piledriver stuff, which we mix matched, remixed, whathaveyou – and that's what came out. What you'll see in South Side Kings would be where the Piledriver crew is currently at. It is more tight, the lyrics are more mature- it's more straight forward basically, but the groove is still there, it's still the same old crew, its just more refined. Plus the studio we're currently working at is quite good.
Are there any topics that you are specifically addressing in your new album?
Gilbert: The new album deals with personal things, and its all about the crew back at home- I guess its basically the same thing as the first album- but its more mature and straight forward- no bullshit, you know?
Johnner: The topics basically are still the same street wise, day to day, in your face themes that hardcore kids – even non hardcore kids- can relate to.
If you had to use one phrase to describe the new album what would it be?
Gilbert: Beat-down
Johnner: More in your face.
Reggie: Hardcore.
You've played in a lot of cities. Which one did you enjoy the most?
Gilbert: Personally I enjoy playing in our hometown because we can see the people are really supporting the band. The Philippines has a very small hardcore scene, but back in our hometown it shows that the kids are really into it- not just for fashion.
Johnner: Since it's mentioned, its collective- hometown, of course. Besides the home town, it would be our next adopted city, the south- Cebu. The Cebu crowd is – next to the hometown crowd- fucking crazy. They go all out. It's like a second home to us.
What kind of styles do Cebu bands play?
Gilbert: basically it's just a mix and match of New York and …
Reggie: L.A.
Gilbert: L.A.
What about where you're from, is it mix and match as well?
Johnner: Its also mix and match. There are also metal and punk rock bands. Basically the scene in Laguna, it ain't about the music, it's about being part of one big family. So whatever music you play, or if you're in a band or not- it doesn't really matter, its just if you support your scene, then you're a part of it- so that's it.
Are there any specific topics that Filipino bands address that are different to what bands from other places would talk about?
Gilbert: Basically it's all the same thing- the everyday struggle and all that. For us, being in a third would country; it's much harder I think cause of the struggle in everyday life. But I think it's just the same thing, it's just that the level of what you experience in the States or here [Hong Kong], or the Philippines is different.
Johnner: It's pretty much the same, it might be a different place, but it's the still the same issues. What we bring is a unique Filipino flavour to things. Admit ably, Filipinos are good musically- that's what we bring , and that's where we stand out- we deliver the message in a manner that is distinctly Filipino because we're not sugar coating reality. We're being honest with our stuff – how we play, how we write our songs, how we write our words – its just plain honesty
Do you think that sugar coating goes on a lot with other bands?
Johnner: Most bands I know.
What are some defining Filipino bands that you look up to?
Gilbert: To name a few- Tame The Tikbalang, Bio feedback, and personally I really love seeing Badburn play.
Johnner: It's pretty much the same. The godfather of Laguna hardcore is Bio Feedback, that's like De Nero- himself. Second, would be Tame The Tikbalang, then a couple of bands—it grew into such a big family, it started off small- branching it out scene wise, its like the granddaddy of all things would be Bio Feedback, though age wise, its kind of close. It made an offspring out of Tame The Tikbalang, in a way, because they are in the same age bracket, so to speak. But on my hierarchy there would be Bio Feedback, then Tame the Tikbalang, then it branched out to loads of Motherhood, Screwheads—they are like the uncles, we're the nephews, we're the younger generation of the scene – so to speak, despite the ten years. We were watching a couple of old videos, we had thin necks, it was like total kids in the scene running around, it was like "hey, you forgot your mic!", "hey, where do I plug this?" Those were the bands that we were really looking up to – its like "shit man, one day I want to be just like those guys!" Those guys really inspired us to still do thing, despite keeping legit day jobs.
Congrats to Piledriver on their ten year anniversary, and thanks!
http://www.myspace.com/lagunapiledriver
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