by Dave Getzoff
Something Fierce are an exciting new band from Houston, Texas. They have released their debut album, Come For The Bastards, which is definitely a stand out release in the current punk scene. Inspired by the 1970s punk rock movement, Something Fierce will be touring around the country this year, keeping the spirit of rock 'n' roll alive for current and future generations.
Dave: First off, could you introduce yourselves, who is in the band, and who plays what instrument?
SF: Hello, Dave at Now Wave. We are Something Fierce from Houston, Texas. Steven Garcia holds down the guitar/vocals, Niki Sevven is on bass/vocals, and Andrew "Rocket" Keith brings the pain on the kit...As in he's constantly cracking his knuckles and breaking sticks. We don't let him sing, but we do give him control of the egg shaker while recording.
Dave: When and how did Something Fierce get started as a band?
SF: The band started with Niki and Steven as a two piece in 2005. It would be easy to say that it all "came together" right away, but it took a lot of work before things started picking up. While scouring the city for a drummer, Andrew literally emerged from under our noses. We only knew him as the awesome red afro guy that showed up to all of the parties, so when we found out he was a drummer, our fate was sealed.
Dave: How is the current music scene in Texas? From on outsider, like me, looking in, it seems like there is a lot happening in Texas. What are some of the best cities for bands to play in?
SF: Texas is big, so there definitely is a lot going on. Denton, TX seems to be breeding the best bands in the scene (Marked Men, Riverboat Gamblers, Wax Museums, Maaster Gaiden), and the cool kids there are as nice as can be. There's a hint of elitism in the air, but I think that's what causes the bands to rise above the generic. Austin has always been known for its prevalence in the music world, but playing a successful show there without having immediate connections can be tough. There's just too much competition, but it's still a place bands need to hit on tour. Austin can be a blast. We have some friends, The Hangouts, who are putting on rad shows in College Station, and although Houston has been a third wheel in the Texas scene since we are too far south, we'd like to think that Something Fierce is changing the formula. There is finally some unity developing amongst Texas bands, and we couldn't be more happy.
Dave: That's good to hear. About how far is Houston from Denton and Austin?
SF: Denton is a little over 4 hours away, just north of Dallas, and Austin is only about 3 hours north. That doesn't sound far, but you'd be surprised how often bands opt to skip Houston because of its location.
Dave: What are some of the future plans for Something Fierce?
SF: We've got a lot lined up this year. We should have a split 7" with The Hangouts out this month on Manic Attack Records, another 7" on Bitchin' Riffage due in October, and we've got two tours coming up. Basically, as long as we can afford to keep pumping out records and touring, that's what we'll do.
Dave: Are there any plans on playing shows on the East Coast (Philadelphia, New York, Boston etc.)?
SF: Nothing is set in that area, yet, but we want to hit it up before the end of the year. The tour lined up in July bounces as far east as Atlanta, then we head up to Chicago and come back down central. The tour in October hasn't been fleshed out, but I know we're doing a few dates heading east with Teenage Bottlerocket. After those, we'll likely continue up the coast on our own. Shit, dude, we tried last winter, but booking our own tours is fuckin' hard. Sometimes people are cool, and sometimes they just blow us off...Still, we have to keep trying.
Dave: What kind of topics do you like to write your songs about?
SF: My lyrics always either come off with a disdain for the upper echelon of society, or they will be about heartbroken kids that can't get their lives straight. There's an effort to find beauty in the dark corners of modern life, though. I always loved the way bands like The Buzzcocks could be so dark and realistic, yet so romantic in one sitting. Another perfect example would be The Wipers.
Dave: What were some of the best shows you played so far?
SF: The last two shows have really blown us away. We released that debut album last year, but Houston is notorious for catching on to things slowly, mostly because it's so big and divided. It's taken a lot of work to build up good local support. However, these last two shows with The Marked Men and The Ends have really caused an upswelling in our local fan base. We saw kids that we've never met before singing lyrics to our songs, and that is downright heartstopping.
Dave: Were any members of your band in other bands besides Something Fierce?
SF: Niki played in a band, The Neckbreakers, for a few years with her dad (a true first-wave punk rocker), and Steven played in Gun Crazy/Born Liars for about two years, starting as the bassist, then the drummer, then the guitarist...He even recorded both bass and drum parts on Exit Smiling, their latest release on Mortville Records.
Dave: Wow, that's really cool to hear that Niki played in a band with her dad. Texas had a lot of bands back in the day. Are there any first wave bands from the 1977-1982 era that are still together?
SF: Hrmm, that's a really good question. The first band that comes to mind is The Dicks. Gary Floyd has been living in San Francisco for the last two decades, but they still get together for a few Texas dates once a year. Niki and Steven were lucky enough to catch their last show in Houston at Rudyard's, and Floyd gave them both a big, hairy beard kiss! Other than them, Houston's The Hates are still in full gear, San Antonio's Butthole Surfers haven't called it quits, and even Jeff Walton of the legendary no-fi pop group, The Judy's, recently spoke about re-releasing their old albums and a possible NEW album/reunion tour. Stoked.
Dave: How old are the members in Something Fierce?
SF: At the moment, we're all 22.
Dave: Did you guys release the Come For The Bastards CD yourselves?
SF: Yes, completely and entirely on our own, but with the help of our loved ones. Steven designed everything on the album, and all of the money came from our own pockets. That's probably something we'd never want to do again because we're still paying for it!
Dave: What do you think about the current state of punk rock?
SF: Things will always fluctuate. There will be good bands, and there will be bad bands. There are a lot of exciting changes in the music world, though, like the downfall of the major label. The Internet and MP3 revolution have destroyed the importance of CDs, and records are on the rise again. Hopefully, that shift will make vinyl less costly to produce. Fuck, the Internet is even allowing access to excellent online zines like Now Wave that don't need to worry about advertisers but simply get to focus on CONTENT. Actual content and heartfelt reviews. That's what really matters.
Dave: That is a very good point. It was a pleasure to do this interview with you. I wish Something Fierce the best of luck in the future, and I hope I get a chance to see your band play live sometime. Do you have any closing comments?
SF: Thank you, Dave. Hopefully, you'll get your chance in October, and if any of you readers see us coming around YOUR town, show some love.
Interview by Dave Getzoff, July 2007
(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine, July 2007)
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