Unwritten Law/Definitely NOT Pop-Punk!

Unwritten Law, the SoCal punk quintet, has been bringing the suburban angst to the stage for more than 10 years.. So, why are you just hearing about them now? Interview by Don Sill

14/04/2002

Unwritten Law (U.L.) were San Diego’s best kept secret who rocked for a legion of loyal fans within the punk underground for years and years. They impacted the local circuit with catchy riffs and beefy hooks and their fans found solace inside the depth of their forceful lyrics and mystical symbolism.

Now, with their first real crossover hit, “Seein’ Red” the band has surfaced into the mainstream with plenty of support from rock radio and even MTV & MTV2. To many mainstream connoisseurs U.L are the new kids on the scene, but to those who know better they are the veterans. “It’s weird, our fans are a lot younger now.” Says drummer Wade Youman, “We’ve always had this dark cult following that have grown with us and now that the video’s getting big and we’re growing at a faster pace right now, it’s broadening the fan base and it gets kinda weird, but what can you do.”

Unlike many MTV punk bands these days, U.L. really know their instruments. True musicians who consider themselves to be more artist than entertainer. Their latest release (Elva) combines intricate melodies, raw edged sincerity and ancient Egyptian mysticism. The lyrics are empowering with their wisdom and introspection and the music is overwhelming with its harmony, ferocity and virtuosity. One thing’s for sure, this is not your typical Southern California 3-chord, skate-punk act. “We’re not a ‘pop-punk’ band.” Rages Youman, “I hate being labeled as one type of band. I think that all of our albums can tell that we’ve evolved outside that category and we’re a band that grows, we’re always trying something new and breaking barriers and stuff.. I hate when we’re labeled into categories. I hate that.. It’s not good for the artist to be pigeon holed. We like to expand and take chances.”

What separates U.L. from your average “pop-punk” phenom is there drive for alienation. The band prides themselves for going against the grain and resisting convention and mediocrity. “I think we’re a lot deeper than people perceive. We don’t just write songs about kicking back and drinking beer, we touch on some really deep stuff,” explains the 28 year old drummer. “I guess we are more of a metaphysical type band in the sake of geometry and the occult type lyrics and ancient mysticism in our lyrics and our stage act. That stuff really doesn’t fit in with the music that we’re reaching out to. We’re just trying to keep the edge of alienation alive right now for any type of freak out there..”

But, were these alienated freaks ready to have a hit single on their hands and be accepted by the mainstream pop society that they rejected all these years? Youman explains, “Well, we didn’t really have a crystal ball or anything, but like a lot of the songs, we were really pleased with it. I mean, we didn’t know it would be a ‘hit’ or anything, but we were really pleased with the record and we just left it at that. We don’t try and stress ourselves out wondering if it’s gonna be a ‘hit’ song or not, we just try and make good music for arts sake.”

Vocalist, Scott Russo, guitarist’s Steve Morris & Rob Brewer, bassist Pat Kim (who replaced original bassist John Bell) and Youman have certainly capitalized on the purest elements of punk music. They keep it real, rebel against conformity and stay true to their roots and to their fans. “I still live at my moms and I have no car… I’m just making music for the youth of America, man.. Honestly it’s just an evolutionary process, the bigger you get the higher expectations you put on yourself. It’s cool just to be creating and doing it our way.”

Taking full advantage of their current success, U.L. put together the GaneshFest, which is a music festival held in San Diego, it was designed to give back and highlight some of the great new music in the San Diego music scene. “We just wanted to do something to help out a lot of the local bands and local artists in our city (San Diego) to gain them recognition.. Kinda like building an army.” Youman explains, “The ‘Ganesh represents the chopping and killing to allow new stuff to grow. We just want to take care of our city, and plant more seeds. Giving back to our city is the best feeling I get out of making music. It’s better than anything else.. Better than money, fame, any of that shit.. Completely better..”

Don Sill for Crud Magazine© 2002

04/02 1 Giant Leap - My Culture 04/02 Elfpower Interview - Andrew Rieger - Creatures 04/02 Frou Frou Interview - Guy Sigsworth/Imogen Heap 04/02 Gomez Interview - Ian Ball 04/02 Idlewild - Live - London Astoria 04/02 K's Choice Interview 04/02 Leaves - Live - Camden Dingwall 04/02 Longwave Interview - Exit 04/02 Lucy Mongrel Interview 04/02 Oasis - The Hindu Times 04/02 Phantom Planet - Interview 04/02 Unwritten Law - Interview 04/02 VUE - Coordinates Interview 05/02 BRMC - LIve - Kentish Town, London 05/02 Breeders - Title K 05/02 FC Kahuna - Machine Says Yes 05/02 Moco - Live - London Monarch 05/02 Need New Body - Interview 05/02 The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Live - Soundhause, Northampton 05/02 The Bellrays - Meet The Bellrays 06/02 Fleadh Festival - Finsbury Park 06/02 Frou Frou Coordinates Interview 06/02 Incubus - Interview - Mark Einziger 06/02 North Mississippi Allstars - Interview 06/02 Papa Roach - She Loves Me Not 06/02 Proud Mary - Live - Northampton, Soundhaus 06/02 Pulp - Live - Sherwood Pines, Edwinstowe 06/02 Reindeer section - You Are My Joy 06/02 Silverchair - Diorama 06/02 Something Corporate - Leaving Through The Window 06/02 Soinc Youth - Interview 06/02 The Burn - The Smiling Face 06/02 The Coral - Live - Roadmender, Northampton 06/02 The LIbertines - Live - The Social, Nottingham 06/02 The Vines, Sheffield Leadmill 06/02 Trik Turner - Interview 06/02 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Live, Soundhaus, Northampton 07/02 12 Stones Interview 07/02 Arolo -Interview 07/02 Buy To Let Doncaster - Anti Social Behaviour 07/02 Cassius - Interview 07/02 Farrah - Interview 07/02 Glassjaw - Interview 07/02 Neil Michael Haggerty - Interview 07/02 Hoobastank - Running Away 07/02 Leaves - Interview 07/02 LL Cool Jay Interview 07/02 Oasis - Live - Finsbury Park, London 07/02 Polyphonic Spree - Live - Camden Monarch 07/02 Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf 07/02 Super Furry Animals - Interview 07/02 The Beatings - Live - Metro Club London 07/02 The Bellrays + The D4 - Virgin Megastore, Oxford Street London January 2001 July - August 2001 September - October 2001 November - December 2001 January - March 2002 April - July 2002 August - December 2002