Utter Trash--The Uppertanks

The Drunker Punker Rock

An interview with The Uppertanks

By Bob Ignizio

The Uppertanks l to r: Aron American, Steve Laveve, and Tommy Teabagger

In the words of drummer/vocalist Steve Laveve, The Uppertanks play a style of punk rock, “fueled with beer and sleaze. Making punk rock that is real and true rock is what we are about.” Inspired by bands like Sloppy Seconds, The Nobodys, The Dwarves, and Screeching Weasel, The Uppertanks began their assault on the northeast Ohio music scene in May of 2002. In addition to Laveve, the band consists of guitarist Aron American on guitar and recently recruited bass player Tommy Teabagger. According to Aron, their goal is to, “get our name out to all the teenyboppers and corrupt them with sleaze. My definition of success with The Uppertanks is to brainwash all the kids worldwide that listen to their wannabe punk rock into listening to our wannabe punk rock. The day will come, I can smell it.”

Not surprisingly, The Uppertanks are unimpressed by modern pop punk and emo bands. Steve says, “Staying true to the old style of punk, more raw and sleazy, is what we are all about. Most of the bullshit emo “hey look I’m on MTV and I have liberty spikes” punk is so much crap. Punk rock was created to be different and unique, to be true and raw, and that’s what we want to bring back. We wouldn’t have it any other way.” New bass player Tommy Teabagger agrees. He says, “Old school punk is all I've ever known, and I don't jump on the trends. If it rocks, is fast, and has some humor to it, I'm all about it. How come mainstream movies are getting more extreme and pushing the limits, but mainstream music is becoming more safe and neutered? I don't get it!”

Prior to joining The Uppertanks, Tommy put in time in several area punk bands including The Dick Dastardlys and Johnnie 3, and still plays with Femsickliver. With The Uppertanks, however, it looks like he’s found a band that’s a perfect fit. Tommy says, “The Uppertanks are the mellowest guys I've played with in a long time. No egos and they don't get too drunk to play or get violent when they drink. What a concept!” Steve and Aron are glad to have Tommy on board as well. He’s certainly easier to get along with than their last bass player, El Mexicano, who apparently tried to kill his bandmates. Aron says, “When El Mexicano basically tried to slit our throats, Tommy came swinging into the scene with a black cape and Zorro mask to save the day.”

Homicidal former band members are just one problem The Uppertanks have had to face. They’ve also experienced some controversy over the lyrics to their theme song, “We’re the Uppertanks”. Some people, myself included, had interpreted the song as being homophobic. According to Steve, it just ain’t so. He says, “In the "We're The Uppertanks" song, one of the lines is “If we see some faggots then we'll beat up on the Queers/Got a pint of bass, kick some lilly ass/We are the skinheads who are u.” We’re not saying we want to beat up queers; we are making fun of the typical skinhead and what they would do. Really we have no problems with gays or skinheads. It’s just a joke. We wrote some of our lyrics before we matured as a band. Keeping it sleazy but more ear appealing is the way now!” Don’t worry folks, they haven’t matured that much.

In addition to rocking out live in various dives around Ohio, The Uppertanks have also issued a couple of CDs in the short time they’ve been in existence. Their first effort was the ‘Six-Pack’ EP the band released on their own. For their first full length, however, the band hooked up with local record label SFL. Steve says, “Being on SFL records has definitely helped us out. When we released our first EP ourselves, it was annoying making all the CDs and spending money on ink from printing out so many covers and labels. SFL is all about trying to get the good music of Cleveland and all of Ohio a chance to be available for everyone who wants it.” Aron adds, “SFL is just a groovy label. All the bands on that label are rockers, so it’s all good.”

While The Uppertanks are happy with their label, they’re not entirely thrilled with the current state of the Cleveland punk scene. Steve says, “The Cleveland punk scene is a good scene, but at the same time needs much improvement. There are tons of bands in Cleveland, but not many people at most of the shows. You can go to a show like ours or another good band’s and people stay for their friend’s band, but as soon as another band goes on the stage area is cleared. I’ve seen this happen many times, not only to us. Cleveland needs to get more people to check out the local shows that are only 5 bucks and not spend 50 some-odd bucks to see a shit show where the bands are doing it for the bucks and not the rock.”

Doing it for the rock is what The Uppertanks are all about. Steve says, “I want to bring back the real rock, true punk the way it was started. We want to play packed venues, make it on a big label, and just absolutely spread the sleaze virus all over the world!” Tommy shares similar sentiments. He says, “Since The Nobodys broke up (I still don't believe it when I say it!), and Sloppy Seconds aren't doing a whole lot, I'd like for us to be the next generation of sleazy drunken punks to reach the perverted masses!” It may not be world peace or a cure for cancer, but it’s a worthy goal nonetheless. And with a healthy sense of humor and some good tunes, The Uppertanks just might make it happen.