FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH DARKBUSTER
2. CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This Week at The Stone Pony: ECHO MOVEMENT (Friday), DARKBUSTER (Saturday), THE CRUSADE CONTEST FINALS (Sunday)

New On The Stone Pony Calendar: GARY U.S. BONDS (Oct. 26),
THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS (Nov. 7), ASBURY MUSIC AWARDS (Nov. 17),
THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS (Nov. 20), HUDSON FALCONS (Nov. 30),
ALL TIME LOW (Dec. 23), JUGGLING SUNS (Dec. 31)

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BOSTON PUNKS DARKBUSTER PERFORM FIRST NJ ACOUSTIC SHOW

Boston punk/ska/hardcore band DARKBUSTER hits Ocean Avenue for their first New Jersey acoustic show. Starting out in the mid-1990s, Darkbuster released their debut CD, "22 Songs You'll Never Want To Hear Again!," in 2000, cementing their reputation on the Boston punk scene as funny, energetic, unapologetic and probably plastered. The band spent much of the early part of this decade on hiatus, doing side-projects and reunion spots here and there. During that time, they did record and release a second album "A Weakness For Spirits," in 2004. In May 2006, now with original members Lenny Lashley (vocals/guitar) and Mike Gurley (bass) joined by Danny O'Halloran on drums and second guitarist Amy Griffin, Darkbuster signed with I Scream Records and re-released "A Weakness For Spirits". The band is now back touring while working on their next CD along with other projects.

The Pony Newsletter spoke with front man Lenny Lashley about their first New Jersey acoustic gig at the club, on Saturday, October 20, along with with his definition of punk, their upcoming projects and what he'll be ordering at the bar.

The Stone Pony: Your upcoming gig at The Stone Pony is your first acoustic show in New Jersey. Is there a different mindset getting ready for an acoustic show as opposed to a plugged-in one? Do you get more nervous doing an unplugged show or is it exciting to do something different?

Lenny Lashley: Ya know, we've been doin' more and more acoustic stuff and it's definitely a little more nerve wracking 'cause you kinda peel back a little more of the onion, you know? It's a little more personal. But once ya get rollin', it's a gig like any other.

The Stone Pony: How would you define punk rock? Is there some specific aspect of your music that you feel makes your band punk? Is it the lyrics, the music, the way you perform, the attitude, or something else?

LL: Well, I certainly see "punk" being a lot to do with attitude, specifically a friggin' sense of humour which is sadly lacking in a great many bands out there now, punk and otherwise. Laugh a little at yourselves and have some fun. That's punk to me.

The Stone Pony: What’s your attitude about pop-punk and bands who write punk-like music but clearly gear it more towards a wider mainstream audience instead of a more narrow underground following?  Do you feel that there is virtue in trying to bring your message to a wider audience, or is “mainstream punk” just oxymoronic?

LL: Ya know, all the power to bands that can get out and reach more people. That's kinda the ultimate goal for most bands, reach as many folks as ya can. But just don't compromise the product. I like to think you can be true to your vision artistically and still forge ahead industry-wise.

The Stone Pony: You played with Dropkick Murphys at the last show at the Avalon in Boston. What was that experience like for you and what’s it like to open for such a great band and play to their audience? Does it take the pressure off not being the headliner or does it give you something to prove?

LL: Well, we've played many times with the Dropkicks and they're great supporters of us. But, lemmie tell ya, ya always got to try and prove something when you go on before such a great band. They bring it every g*ddamn night. It really makes me want to step it up after seeing how smoothly they operate and that show at Avalon was awesome.

The Stone Pony: Speaking of the closing of that great venue, how do you see the state of live music venues in Boston? Asbury Park is in a period where lots of venues are closing and opening and the New York City scene seems to be going through a similar period. Is it getting more difficult to find good venues that showcase punk music?

LL: It does seem harder and harder to find clubs that are willing to put punk / rock shows all over, particularly all ages stuff. But it has to be tough for the clubs to make ends meet, too, so all ya can do is hope that places keep loving bands and that people stay cool and not ruin the few venues we can play.

The Stone Pony: Your songs have been called “perplexing” and “funny as hell”. Can you describe your songwriting process? Who normally comes up with the initial ideas and how does the band normally work through it until it’s a finished song ready to be added to the set?

LL: Lots of times writing stuff I'll take something that's goin' on with my life or someone I know and their lives and a melody will spring outta nowhere. I try and ingrain it in my head so I don't forget it. The words [and] subject matter finds a way in there and then I'll show the rest of the gang. They add their input and, presto, a funny-as-hell and perplexing song is born.

The Stone Pony: Are you ever concerned about whether or not people will “get” your lyrics? Do you ever worry that something you may intend to be ironic, tongue-in-cheek or just plan funny might be misinterpreted, or is that just a good way to weed out people who shouldn’t be listening in the first place?

LL: Well, people are gonna read what they want out of stuff and that's cool, but if ya really want to know what a song's about go to the source. I think if ya know any of us ya know we're pretty honest and that [we] kinda let people know where we're coming from subject matter wise.

The Stone Pony: How do you typically get ready for a show? Do you have any rituals that you go through to get ready to go onstage? Is there a favorite drink that gets you relaxed and ready to perform, or an after-show drink that you use to toast a great set?

LL: Well, usually, about four Buds and a Jameson will get me right where I wanna be before, and after a show I'll "celebrate" with just about anything. (Laughs.)

The Stone Pony: Are there any plans in the works for a follow-up to “A Weakness for Spirits”?Is there any information about the new album that you can share with our readers and do you know when fans might be able to get their hands on it?

LL: We are in the process of recording a new release. The place we're doing it is called Woolley Mammoth and the engineer/producer is a dude named David Minehan. He played in a Boston iconic band called the Neighborhoods. We are all very excited 'cause Dave's definitely an awesome musician and he's forcing us to up the ante and make a good record. As far as a release time, dunno yet, but as soon as we can get it done we'll get it out there. If we release it ourselves or not remains to be seen.

The Stone Pony: What else does the band have coming up that you’d like fans to keep on the lookout for? Are there any good shows on the calendar or projects in the works that you’d like to mention?

LL: Well, we got a bunch of shows coming up and a week of shows in February up in Beantown. We've done it two years in a row. This'll be the third. We've been calling it the Darkbuster Hometown Throwup, kinda biting off the Bosstone's Throwdown who, by the way, are doin' their 10th. We got our fingers crossed to get on one of them show, too. We've been tryin' to gather some old unreleased stuff and live tracks with some filmed footage for a DVD CD split type of thing and I also been thinkin' about a whole show that we did in Asbury that the recording came out great. I want to call it "Drinkings from Asbury Park" and steal the artwork from Bruce Springsteen's "Greetings from Asbury" album. Oh yeah, and we're hoping to get out and hit the road, too. Maybe as support, or just hitting up anyplace that'll have us.

The official Darkbuster website can be found at www.darkbuster.net. Their latest LP, "A Weakness for Spirits," can be purchased online or at fine music retailers like Jack's Music in Red Bank, NJ.

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