The new breed of Geek-Core is upon us. And Sinkhole are leading the revolution, geeeek-style, and doing it with some incredible power-pop-punk music. this interview was done in early ‘95 (February i am guessing) over email.
HOW HAS THE RESPONSE TO THE ALBUM AND NEW 7" BEEN?
JON- Well, I'll tell you what the overwhelming response to the new 7" has been: "This f@cking
thing skips!" We had to send them back to the plant because they were skipping and now the plant
is taking their sweet time repressing them. Unfortunately, we has sent out 200 promotional
copies. The album has proven to be great fun for the whole family.
THATCH- Consensus of the public, upon examining the band picture is that I have the best figure.
ELIOT- Well, it's somewhere between "platinum" and "not platinum".
DO YOU LIKE STRAWS WITH OR WITHOUT THE FLEXXY PART?
JON- For me, the ones with the flexy part trigger impotence anxiety, so I prefer the ones that are
continuously long, tall and stiff.
MR. POTATO HEAD: OLD SCHOOL HARD OR NEW SCHOOL SOFT?
JON- Well, I've been hearing a lot of talk how Mr. Potato Head has sold out to the major toy
companies ever since he signed with Mattel back in the 70's, but I haven't seen any evidence of
compromise at all, unlike that corporate cock-sucker GI Joe who let the MAN tell him he had to
tone down and shrink to 5 inches.
ELIOT- Baked, with sour cream and bacon bits.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME?
JON- Angry Samoans "Back From Samoa"; Ramones "Rocket To Russia"; Descendents "Milo
Goes To College"; GG Allin "Always was, Is, and Always Shall Be"; Kiss "Double Platinum";
Replacements "Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash"
THATCH- Jawbreaker "Unfun" & "Bivouac"; Angry Samoans and Descendents as above.
Nuisance "Confusion Hill"; Treepeople "Guilt Regret Embarrassment"; Drunks With Guns, the
black album; Johnny Cash "Greatest Hits Vol 1"
But if I were stranded on a desert island with only those albums, I'd go crazy because I've listened
to them so many f@cking times. Instead I'd bring the Go Go's catalog, both Tribe albums, RKL's
Greatest Hits On Mystic, Doc Hopper, a Rocket From The Crypt album and some Green Day.
ELIOT- Jawbreaker: "Bivouac"; NOFX: "Ribbed"; ZZ Top: "Tejas"; Drive Like Jehu: 1st LP and
"Yank Crime"; Curtis Mayfield: "There's No Place Like America Today"
WHAT IS YOUR TOURING/ SHOW VEHICLE LIKE?
JON- Right now it's a 1941 de-commissioned Navy Destroyer, which pretty much limits our
performances to cities with good ports.
WHERE IS THAT FABULOUS PIECE OF ART ON THE ALBUM COVER AND POSTER
FROM?
JON- It hangs on the wall at Fort Apache studio in Cambridge, MA. Gary Smith's (Juliana
Hatfield, Belly manager) crazy ex-girlfriend made it.
ELIOT- It was a Jane's Addiction cover out-take.
ALSO ON THE PROMO POSTER IS A BAND PICTURE, IS THAT REAL? CUZ YOUR
FEET ARE AWFUL LARGE IF IT IS!!
JON- It's real alright. It was taken immediately after an all-you-can-eat buffet at Garbon Chinese
Delight, which explains our unusual physical condition.
THATCH- I think it was the MSG.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF GUMBY?
JON- Gumby's O.K., but Pokey and Goo carried his ass on that show.
DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING?
JON- Parking tickets
THATCH- Ex-girlfriends.
ANY PLANS TO PLAY A SHOW WITH SINKER AND HOLE?
JON- We played a show with Landfill. Quicksand might be a good match for us too...
THATCH- I'm holding out for the ultimate battle of the bands: Sinkhole Vs Mountain.
SO IS THERE A GOD/ZEUS/ODIN/YAHWEH/ALLAH/PEE WEE HERMAN?
JON- I think we met God in Flint, Michigan, back in 1992. He was going by an assumed name:
Bob Edwards, Telecommunications Expert.
WHERE DO YOU GET THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR MUSIC?
JON- We steal other people's songs that we like.
617-HUB-TOFU, HUH? (THE BAND PHONE # ON THE ALBUM)
JON & ELIOT- yup. unh-hunh.
THATCH- You can also reach band members at 617-HAM-VILLE and of course,
603-OLY-PK1M
JUST WHAT IS THE "MAGICAL MUSICAL THING" THAT ELIOT IS LISTED AS
PLAYING ON "COME SAIL AWAY?"
ELIOT- it's magical, it's musical, it's a thing. Watch for my solo project, "maximum magical
musical mayhem thing".
AND WHO IS "CAPTAIN" WHO DOES THE INTRO ON "WATERBUG?"
ELIOT- My ex-roommate's norwegian grandfather. a wise man.
ARE YOU SICK OF ALLUSIONS TO LATE DYS, IRON MAIDEN AND PETER, PAUL &
MARY?
JON- Hell yes, and if I hear one more comparison to the Marshall Tucker Band, I'm gonna kill
someone.
THATCH- Ned's, dude.
ANY FUTURE PLANS? TOUR? CONTESTS? ACTION FIGURES?
JON- Watch for a new line of Sinkhole brand frozen vegetables. Also in the works: a "Beat
Sinkhole at Whiffle Ball, Win a Washer/Dryer Combo" contest.
THATCH- Sinkhole brand eyeglass polish.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OPERATING SYSTEM?
JON- I like to operate on people without anesthetics. It's more *real* that way, you know? Plus it
helps me live out my fantasy of Revolutionary War field doctor.
THATCH- I'm an MSDOS nerd, but I've got a soft spot in my heart for TOPS-10.
ELIOT- Solaris 1.
I READ IN SHANGHAI SURPRISE ZINE THAT RINGING EAR IS JUST A STEP
TOWARD "THE MASSIVE SELLOUT." WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
JON- Growing our hair long and dressing in silly basketball outfits on stage.
HOW MANY JELLYBEANS ARE IN THE JAR? HOW'D YOU GET THAT?
JON- 3. Just a lucky guess.
REVERSE INTERVIEW!!! (GIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ANSWERS)
Grey, shiny, and flat, but it has all these holes in it.
ELIOT- describe a very flat collander.
GOOD QUESTION!! I'D HAVE TO SAY WHEN I WAS 11 OR SO. IT WAS SO COOL! I
JUST HAD TO BUY MORE.
JON- When did you discover the Reggie Bar?
ELIOT- You got into bondage gear when?
LIVE DESCENDENTS TAPES, I THINK.
JON- What was in that package I sent you *besides* the explosives?
ELIOT- and you were peddling your ass to finance your habit for what?
WELL... THAT IS EMBARRASSING! BUT, OK, 25.
JON- How many copies does the average issue of your zine sell?
ELIOT- what is the most embarassing number you can think of?
(OK, NORMAL AGAIN, *SIGH*)
WHAT DO YOU WANT ON YOUR GRAVESTONES?
JON- "She's a dancer, a romancer, I'm a Capricorn and she's a Cancer." -Paul Stanley
THATCH- "Have a good time... ALL the time." -Mick Shrimpton
ELLIOT- "Pro Child Pro Family Pro Wrestling"
wombats are played out, but here's the brain:
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