The Scalper chats it up with Ali and John of the PA band Fall River...

• Introduce yrselves!...Ali: I'm Ali; vocals. I'm a feminist. I have a degree in Women's Studies. Right now I'm a sexual health educator, which means I get paid to do cool things like teach people how to put on a condom. I'm a vegan. Surprisingly, I absolutely adore booty music; and, even more so, dancing to booty music./JOHN: I'M JOHN. I PLAY THE DRUMS IN FALL RIVER. I LIKE TO ROCK AND EAT. I DRIVE THE VAN. I MAKE EVERYONE LISTEN TO METAL.
• I know a lot of you played in Manhunt before forming Fall River (as I put on a show with you myself). What other bands have you performed in, and how did all of the members of Fall River meet?...JOHN: WELL, FALL RIVER IS ACTUALLY 3/4 OF MANHUNT, SO ALI, KEV AND I ALREADY KNEW EACH OTHER FROM MANHUNT. DAN IS A REALLY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS. HE PLAYED BASS, SO WE KIDNAPPED HIM. KEV AND I WERE FRIENDS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ALI WAS FRIENDS WITH MY OLDER SISTER AND USED TO PLAY IN A LOCAL RIOT GRRL BAND THAT WE ALL LIKED./Ali: I was in a riot grrl band called Addle Girl when I was like 15 years old. I actually met John because he used to come see us play a lot. A few years later, John introduced me to Kev, and along with our friend Mike, we formed Manhunt./JOHN: MANHUNT WAS MY FIRST REAL BAND (I PLAYED GUITAR BACK THEN), BUT I'VE PLAYED IN A COUPLE OF SIDE PROJECTS THROUGH THE YEARS...NOTHING THAT WENT ANYWHERE, THOUGH. BUT WE'VE STILL GOT ALL THE DEMO TAPES LOCKED UP.
• You are a rare breed...a female-fronted band where the vocalist screams (I only know of maybe five other bands that have vocals like yrs)! How would you describe yr sound to those who had never heard you play?...Ali: It always seems like people are really surprised that a girl can be good at screaming. It's almost as if people expect you to suck because you're a girl. In my experience though, I think girls actually have to be twice as good as a male hardcore singer to get even half the respect or recognition that he would get. It sucks./JOHN: I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF FEMALE FRONTED HARDCORE SINGERS THAT SOUND GREAT, THE PROBLEM IS THAT WOMEN ARE GROSSLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE HARDCORE SCENE. IF YOU START LOOKING AT MALE FRONTED HARDCORE BANDS, YOU REALIZE THAT THERE ARE A SHITLOAD OF THEM THAT HAVE SHITTY SINGERS, BUT IT'S JUST THAT THERE ARE SO MANY MORE MALE FRONTED BANDS THAT PEOPLE FORGET. I ALSO THINK THAT IN A MALE DOMINATED SCENE, PEOPLE LOOK FOR A WAY TO DISCREDIT FEMALE-FRONTED BANDS, SO A LOT OF ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE ONES WITH POOR SINGERS./Ali: Anyway, describing us...I would say we're off-timey hardcore with some one-noter grooves. Hardcore meets rock. Whatever it is, I'm really proud of it. I love being in this band and I love the songs we have.
• What do you consider yr influences?...Ali: Influences...wow, there are so freakin' many. I am all over the place with what I listen too. Some of my favorites are Coalesce, Botch, ATDI, Sleater-Kinney, Cursive, Drowningman, Zao, Blood Brothers, Mars Volta, Pretty Girls Make Graves.....I could go on forever. Vocally, I really am influenced by a lot of male hardcore singers, mostly because that's what I listened to when I first got into hardcore. Lyrically, I'm inspired by people who have something to say. I like songs that challenge ideas and make me think and feel.
• I know you are very strong protestors against rape and I believe you belong to an anti-rape organization (I know you pass flyers out at shows)...how did you get involved in this?...JOHN: I'LL LET ALI TALK MORE ABOUT THIS, BUT BASICALLY IT'S A CAUSE WE ALL BELIEVE IN, AND WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. INCORPORATING IT INTO OUR LYRICS AND PROVIDING INFORMATION AT SHOWS SEEMED THE ONLY THING TO DO./Ali: We're not really tied specifically to any anti-rape organization. We are however, a very feminist band. We tend to flyer/spread info about a lot of causes we believe in and rape prevention is just one of those. We've done others on veganism, domestic violence, child abuse, etc. I feel like as a person in a band, I have a chance to express my feelings and spread information, and if I don't take advantage of that I suck. I also am really proud that although we have causes we believe and support, we still are a fun band. I feel like preaching 24-7 is not an effective means of spreading information. Plus it's just not who I am. I have strong beliefs but it doesn't mean I can't laugh at myself or take a joke. I'm content to flyer or speak up at a show when I need to, but other than that I'd rather be rocking. I'm also really into one-on-one conversations at shows. I love talking to other people about their ideas, beliefes, etc. I think that is often way more effective than the 'minute rant on stage' method.
• What other issues do you feel strongly about?...Ali: Veganism/Animal Rights, Domestic Violence, Our Public Education System, Homophobia, Sexism, Racism./JOHN: WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF REALLY LIBERAL IDEALS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY NONE OF US TRY TO BE PREACHY. WE'LL HAVE INFORMATION AT OUR TABLES, BUT IT'S ALL THERE FOR DISCUSSION, NOT CONFRONTATION. TWO OF US ARE VEGAN, WE THINK PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE, ETC, ETC. I COULD GO ON AND ON. COME TALK TO US AT A SHOW IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE.
• Who writes the lyrics/songs among you? Do you take turns?...Ali: I write the lyrics, the guys (John and Kev) write the music.
• What do you write about a lot?...Ali: I write a lot about how I see the world, which is obviously influenced by the fact that I'm a girl. I write alot of reactive lyrics because of the experiences I've had in life and in the scene./JOHN: WE TEASE HER THAT THEY'RE ALL ABOUT DOMESTIC ABUSE, BECAUSE SHE WORKS IN THAT FIELD AND FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT IT, SO IT'S FUN TO MAKE FUN OF IT. BUT SHE WRITES ABOUT A LOT OF OTHER PERSONAL AND WORLD ISSUES.
• What is it that you're trying to say with yr music?...Ali: Wow, that's a big question. I guess it depends on where I am in my life at that moment. I think I'm trying to say a lot of different things. I guess I always keep in mind that I am a female voice in a male-dominated scene. That is always in my mind when I write my lyrics. Hopefully I'm doing other girls justice by trying to speak about some female experiences./JOHN: ALTHOUGH A LOT OF OUR SONGS ARE SERIOUS, WE'RE REALLY ALL ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME, SO WE ALSO HAVE SONGS THAT ARE JUST ABOUT ROCK AND ROLL AND OTHER SILLY THINGS. WE'VE GOT A DUAL MESSAGE, I GUESS-LIVE RESPECTFULLY, BUT HAVE FUN.
• You live in a smaller town in Pennsylvania...is the scene where you live accepting of the things you sing about?...Ali: We don't play in our immediate area a lot. I think a lot of people just decided to not like us because I'm a girl, and they probably never even took the time to figure out what I'm singing about.
• What sort of reaction does yr music usually get?...JOHN: WE GET DIFFERENT REACTIONS ANYWHERE WE PLAY. MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE ARE REALLY COOL, AND PEOPLE WILL COME UP TO US AND TALK ABOUT OUR LYRICS OR THE LITERATURE AT OUR TABLE OR JUST THAT THEY LIKE OUR MUSIC./Ali: Most of the time we get a great reaction, and it makes me feel great./JOHN: SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE LIKE 'HOLY SHIT, I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO SOUND LIKE THAT', BECAUSE WE ALL LOOK LIKE WEENIES AND WE HAVE A FEMALE SINGER: THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES. ONCE WE PLAYED A SHOW WHERE THERE WAS A ROCK FOR LIFE TABLE, AND SOMEONE IN THE CROWD SPIT AT US. SILLY PEOPLE.
• Are there a lot of women in yr scene?...Ali: There are way more than there were a few years ago. There are lots of girls booking shows and writing zines which I think rules. There are def more girls in bands too. Overall, the boys still are the majority though./JOHN: SOMETHING POSITIVE I'VE NOTICED IS THAT I'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF YOUNGER GIRLS AT SHOWS, AND THEY'RE NOT SCARED TO GET IN THE PIT AND HAVE A VOICE IN THE SCENE. IT'S A GREAT TREND THAT I HOPE CONTINUES.
• What do you consider the best show you ever played?...JOHN: HMMM, WELL AS FALL RIVER WE'VE HAD SO MANY AMAZING SHOWS THAT I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO PICK ONE AS THE BEST./Ali: My favorite show was in a basement in CT. It was small, but the energy was there. We had a total dance party and everyone was having a great time. It actually helped inspire the lyrics to one of our newer songs.
• How about the worst?...Ali: Can't think of a particular one. Every band that plays a lot of shows always plays some bad ones./JOHN: AS FAR AS BAD SHOWS GO, IT'D BE HARD TO PICK ONE OF THOSE TOO. LIKE THIS ONE TIME WE PLAYED A HOUSE SHOW IN MD AND NO ONE CAME EXCEPT LIKE THE 5 KIDS THAT LIVED THERE, SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA SUCK, BUT THE KIDS TURNED OUT TO BE REALLY COOL AND IT WAS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE NIGHTS ON THAT TOUR. IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING THE BEST OF ANY SHOW.
• What cool people have you met along yr travels that you don't think you could have met otherwise?...JOHN: WE'VE HAD SOOO MANY SHOWS WHERE WE'VE MET SOOOO MANY COOL PEOPLE-IT'D BE TOUGH TO LIST. IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THIS BAND FROM WISCONSIN CALLED FED BY FICTION-THEY ARE THE BEST PEOPLE WE HAVE EVER MET FOR REAL! BUT WE'VE MADE GREAT FRIENDS EVERYWHERE WE GO THAT WE NEVER WOULD HAVE MET OTHERWISE. IT'S BY FAR THE BEST PART OF BEING IN A BAND./Ali: I have met so many people it's insane. I feel so lucky to have the chance to know people all over the country because of Fall River. Here's my shout-outs: Fed by Fiction, Greg NY, From A Second Story Window, Jim Fall River, xbennyx, Eric Lewisburg, The Long Island Crew, The York, PA Kids...so many I can't list them all, but I love them all.
• Are you working on anything new in the studio lately?...JOHN: WE ACTUALLY JUST RELEASED A NEW EP. WE'RE HOPING THAT OUR NEXT RELEASE WILL BE A FULL LENGTH, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING MANHUNT NEVER GOT TO DO.
• Can Fall River be compared to yr past bands, or does it fall into a category all its own?...JOHN: FALL RIVER AND MANHUNT ARE A LOT DIFFERENT, BUT IN A WAY THAT IS A NATURAL PROGRESSION. THE LAST COUPLE MANHUNT SONGS EVER WRITTEN WERE MOVING AWAY FROM THE METAL-MOSH SOUND OF MANHUNT AND INTO THE MORE GROOVING ROCK SOUND OF FALL RIVER. WE ACTUALLY USED TO PLAY A COUPLE OF THOSE AS FALL RIVER, BUT THE STUFF FALL RIVER IS WRITING NOW SOUNDS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING MANHUNT DID.
• What sort of sounds can we expect from yr newer material?...JOHN: WE'VE REALLY GOTTEN INTO COMBINING CHAOTIC HARDCORE AND LIKE 70S COCK-ROCK RIFFS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GROOVE AND THE BOOTY SHAKING NOW. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE ALL ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME.
• What have you learned about yrself through being in this band?...Ali: Through Manhunt and Fall River, I've learned that I am a way stronger person than I ever gave myself credit for being. There were many times when the easiest thing I could have done would have been to quit, but I'm glad I never did. I've learned that people will run their mouths and try to make you give up, but ultimately you decide where you belong and no one else can take that from you. Being in bands has seriously made me the person who I am./JOHN: I'VE LEARNED HOW MUCH I LOVE MAKING MUSIC. ANYTIME WE HAVE A WEEKEND OFF OR SOMETHING, IT MAKES ME ANTSY. I JUST LOVE TO ROCK!
• Any lessons that performing has taught you?...Ali: To never fear pressure or be nervous. That I can do whatever I put my mind to.
• What do you consider yr motto?...Ali: Let's see-I've noticed that people in hardcore like to talk shit on others. I've been the target of it myself at times. So I say, fuck what everyone else says, do what you believe in. Don't let small-minded people push you away from something you deserve to be a part of. No one person or group owns a scene, you make it what you want it to be./JOHN: MY MOTTO IS TO MAKE EVERYTHING TOTALLY FUCKING AWESOME. EVEN IF IT'S NOT, IT IS TO ME. THAT MIGHT NOT MAKE SENSE NOW, BUT IT WILL.
• Is there anything else you'd like to add about yr band, yr experiences, and yr lives?...Ali: Thank you to everyone who comes to our shows, buys our stuff, books us, lets us sleep on their floor, or is just nice to us. You are the reason we are still going and I love you for that. To the girls-start more bands! We are under-represented in this scene and that needs to change. Book shows, write reviews...help make the scene a level playing field. To the boys-I love you, but please rememember, girls do not join bands just so you can objectify them. No one would put themselves through that kind of judgment and scrutiny just to be deemed cute. We are there for the same reason you are-we love hardcore. So, it's cool if you think a girl is hot, but don't forget to listen to what she's saying and respect her talent as well./JOHN: THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE ALL LOVE TO ROCK, AND WE ALL LOVE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE.