To many young music fans today, punk rock means Green Day and Blink 182.  To Mike Wax of The Antisocialists, a new Cleveland area trio, bands like that are “just top 40 with a fast drum beat.”  The Antisocialists prefer to take their cue from the more politically charged punk bands of the eighties.  “Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion, Minor Threat, Circle Jerks, the Pagans.  All that good positive music,” says Mike.

For the past three years Mike has been hosting a radio show Wednesdays from 1pm to 3 pm on WRUW 91.1 FM called Domestic Terrorism which intersperses his views on politics and society with his favorite punk and metal bands, the kind who have something to say in their lyrics.  It was through the radio show that the Antisocialists came together.  “I heard him on the radio and he said he had played with the Squirts.  I called him up and said hey, let’s jam.  I’ve got drums and a P.A., let’s rock and roll.  He showed up and next thing you know we’re jamming every week,” explained the group’s guitarist, Red.  The line-up was completed with bassist Chris, although a gentleman by the name of Pat was filling in at the time I conducted this interview.

Although Red came up with the group’s clever name, it’s Mike who supplies the scathing lyrics.  “Mike comes up with the words, and then we’ll arrange the songs just however they flow, making riffs up and applying the words to it,” says Red.  The results clearly show their influences without coming across as derivative.  As for the state of music today, Red doesn’t mince words.  “It sucks,” he says.  “Cleveland’s got a good scene, though, as far as local bands, underground music.  They’ve always had a good scene, I think.”  Mike adds, “I like the Squirts and the Dick Dastardlys.  And Oblongata.  Oblongata rules.”

 So just what are these guys trying to get across?  “We love America and our freedoms, and what the founding fathers gave us as an inheritance,” explains Mike. “We totally despise the United Nations with their one world government.  Since they’ve been around they’ve killed more people than any wars combined.  The peacekeepers kill women and children, and the UN court always lets them go free.”  You may or may not agree, but you have to respect the fact that these guys are willing to stand up for what they believe in.  In crazy times like these, we need all the honest voices we can get.

Check out Mike's website  here

More Antisocialists on Utter Trash:

Concert review and pictures: Punk Fest at The Symposium 08-02-02

CD review: Untitled demo

Concert review and pictures: Squirts farewell show at The Phantasy 01-10-03

Concert review and pictures: The Beachland Ballroom 02-08-03