Hostage Life Don't Want Fist-Waving Punks To Buy Their Record

07/12/06 6:30pm

by Stephanie Joudrey (CHARTattack)

Stepping into the punk scene as a band can be a fickle thing. It's great to have popularity and credibility in the underground circuit, but fans can turn on you in a second if you start to get played on the radio or, god forbid, MuchMusic.

Toronto's Hostage Life have been regulars on the small club circuit around the city for a while, but now that their Walking Papers full-length is out, the media is starting to take notice. The first single, "This Song Was Written By A Committee," was added to local radio station 102.1 The Edge in medium rotation alongside a single from Nickelback. But the band couldn't care less what underground punk fans think about the whole situation.

"I think it would be self-righteous of us to take a stand against things like having someone play your song on the radio," says drummer Paul Miller. "I think it's a privilege.

"What I don't understand is what would we sell out from? We couldn't sell out from anything. It's not like we think we're some sort of pseudo-political, anarchy-raising, fist-waving type band like that. It's not really applicable to us. If people want to think that's what punk rock is, then I would say that they're mistaken and maybe they shouldn't buy our record because they will be disappointed in the messages."

With song titles like "Hostage Life's Legally Distinct Cola Commercial" and "Fuck, I Hope You're Not Pregnant," the messages they're conveying are more than just political. Their sound (which is filled out by singer Colin Lichti, guitarists Hai Vu and Patrick Mathers, and bassist Shamus Mathers) is varied, too, with songs ranging from super short to six-minute epics. According to Miller, change and variation is important to the band.

"We thought that it would make for a better record for the full-length if there was more ebb and flow to it. It did change up and it did surprise people. I expected it to surprise people from Sing For The Enemy because it is an entirely different record and hopefully some people didn't see it coming. I kind of like the idea that bands can change so early on in their career.

"For example, if Slayer decided to experiment this far along in their career, a lot of their fanbase would probably turn up their nose. But for a band that is making different records one after another from the beginning, I think it makes for a more interesting experience when waiting for the next record."

Here are Hostage Life's upcoming shows:

July 15 Collingwood, ON @ Blue Mountain
July 22 Barrie, ON @ Queen's Park
July 29 Toronto, ON @ Kathedral
Aug. 11 Toronto, ON @ Wakestock
Aug. 14 Dartmouth, NS @ Flip The Switch Festival