IF THERE’S one thing the members of 5 Fingers of Death know, it’s their audience. “If you don’t like our music, you’ll be entertained by our antics. If you still don’t like it, it’ll be over soon,” bassist and lead singer Jason Styles says.
“And if you’re not down with that, we’ve got two words for you: ‘Suck it,'” guitarist Frankie Carbon says.With a break-neck speedpunk sound and a sense of humor to go along with it, the band had its beginnings two years ago, when Styles met the band’s drummer, Kaka Meng, at a Professional Wrestling School. Soon after that, their second guitarist, who goes by the moniker “ET,” caught their show at the Blue Bonnet in Sunnyvale. “The first thing I noticed was the drummer,” ET says. “He’s like Animal from the Muppets, or Mitch Mitchell on speed.”
ET eventually joined and learned their whole set by just jammin’ with Styles the day of one of their shows. “That either means he’s really good, or our music’s really simple,” Carbon says.
Simple or not, the spirit of camaraderie is easily seen within the group. “We do have a lot of fun when we play,” Styles says. “We love playing anywhere. The Caravan always treats us well. The only place we don’t get a response from is the Blank Club. As a skater, I liked Corey O’Brien’s deck. We’d like to be on Fat Wreck Chords, too. So, if Fat Mike’s reading this …”
This is a band that doesn’t give up, after more than 20 years of playing music. “Everyone tries to help one another out,” Styles says. “Back then, there were no hassles. There were always shows in downtown San Jose. There was no Internet. People always rented out halls to have punk shows. There were more promoters who would get five or six bands to play.”
But they’re not on some “good old days” trip; they think the scene is developing (or redeveloping) for the better. “Bands are getting a lot better,” ET says. “Back then, I was more into metal. There was a guy I knew, a punk, and we’d kinda talk shit to one another. I realized later we were basically the same, just with different haircuts. One day he said, you come to a punk show and I’ll go to a metal show. I took him to the East Side to see Exodus and he took me to see Agent Orange and Whipping Boy. Mosh pits weren’t really big back then. Stage diving was the thing to do. When I saw the mosh pit, I thought, ‘That looks like fun.'”
They still carry that energy and constantly concentrate on writing new material, hoping to have a new album out in a month.
“It will be self-financed until a record company signs us,” Styles says. “Right now we’re signed by Felony Arrest Records.”
“ET is the CEO and I’m on the board of directors,” Carbon says, “But Jason and I are trying to get out of the contract. Our lawyers are talking to his lawyers.”
“It’s a big mess right now,” Styles says with a laugh. “We act like we like one another right now, but we’re like Pink Floyd.”
If anything, the band members definitely know how to keep their feet on the ground with the chance of making millions in the music industry. “I do it for the fame, money, cocaine and hookers,” Carbon says. “We figured we’re going to go out and drink on the weekends anyway, we might as well play and work off a few calories.”
“I do it for the love of it,” Styles says. “Hanging out with the guys, meeting cool people, drinking Miller High Life and Budweiser. Oh, and we’d like to get a sponsorship by Miller or Budweiser.”
“It’s a release,” ET says, “I get rid of all the fucking crap onstage. I mean, I already have fame and chicks. Money? Not so much. When I started playing again, I noticed there was something different with my guitar; it just didn’t sit right. Then I realized, I’m about 80 pounds heavier than what I used to be and my guitar hangs down at an angle, pointing at the floor. I felt like El Duce.”
All in all, 5 Fingers of Death just wants to show their fans a good time. “Put away the ego, come and have some fun,” Styles says. “Support any local band, no matter what they play, because they could be easily replaced by a DJ. A lot of people put their heart and soul into what they’re doing. People sacrifice a lot to play music.”
“Like hearing,” Carbon says. “Or a goat.”
5 Fingers of Death
Saturday, 3pm, Lake Cunningham Skate Park, San Jose
Thursday, Aug. 19, 9pm, South First Billiards, San Jose
