Interview w/HAVE NOTS.

There are some terms which separate ska from punk, ska from Reggae and melodic punk from punk rock but there is one band which brought all those elements together and it sounds like something you never listened to before. Have Nots bring the mid 90´s punk sound with a raging improved and fast melodic punk which you can define just as “DELICIOUS” Ladies and Gentlemen with you HAVE NOTS!! (Check their videos at the end of the interview)

Tell us something about the origins of the band.

Jon: 3 of these guys were playing in another band and I was in another band and well both bands split almost at the same time and we accidentaly joined forces and here we are.

When was the year that Have Nots consodilated as a band?

Jon: We play now for about 5 years.

Jameson: Yeah I believe is going to be 6 years during Halloween.

Is this your first time in Europe?

Jon: No, we were here last year in october.

In which shows do you have more fun in big festivals like the one you played at Mighty sounds or a small show where you can interact more with people?

Jon: Really depends, Mighty Sounds was awesome but next show at Pöllau were only 30 kids there and it was awesome too as long as we have an audience to project us then doesn´t matter how many people come to our shows.

In your young carreer maybe this is too early to ask but did you already notice big differences between Serf City and Proud?

Jon: I think the new record is more a broader aspect of musical influences. On the first record we were more like ok we are playing punk rock with some ska that´s what we do but well in the new one we mixed some other things like sneaking in a bit more country, some reggae, techno hahaha no, no techno.

I´ve seen this posted in many forums, youtube, etc… Who made the guest vocals in “Secret Machines”?

Jon: It was my friend Kathy from Boston. She is a Boston´s premiere MC and she kicks ass so Kathy Kathotic look her up.

Back to the USA with which bands you enjoy sharing the stage?

Jameson: Possibly the Street Dogs and Swinggin´Utters those were great and in Boston Burning Streets they are great guys, Far From Finished you know those are really great guys to hang out with.

What do you think about the fact that the attacks in Oslo were perpetrated by a white catholic man and only because of that the word terrorism hasn´t been meant in the media world wide?

Jon: Well we were watching the BBC the other night and they were mentioning the word terrorism about it, but well you know? terrorism is terrorism do you know what I mean? If you commit a violent act brings terror to people´s hearts so it´s terrorism it doesn´t matter if you are a muslim, christian or an atheist and well since 9/11 the word terrorism has been associated with muslim people from the middle east but that´s not what it´s about.

What do you write about in your songs?

Jon: Well most of our songs are political songs not that kind of mainstream political songs but personal politics, like how we react to different situations like our first Cd was really political and the new one is a bit more introspective.

Shout outs.

Jon: We are just stoked to be here, touring is awesome, touring Europe is awesome been in places we never been before, meeting people and well I think so far the best part was at Mighty Sounds, I never played something like that and after the show I was like what the fuck!! that was awesome!! that´s what is all about for me spreading the word of HAVE NOTS.

By: Miguel Guinness

Supported by: Famous Stars and Straps www.thefamousshop.com