Bite Me! Unwritten Law Interview

Pat Kim of Unwritten Law - By Nikki Neil

Okay, so maybe underrated is not the right word. But, truth be told, Unwritten Law is a little band with lots of talent just waiting to explode. True, there’s a lot going on underneath the surface, but the San Diego based unit’s ability to role with the punches has contributed to its longevity. Scott Russo (vocals), Steve Morris (guitar), Rob Brewer (guitar), Pat Kim (bass), and Tony Palermo (Drums) are true musicians who keep it real, rebel against conformity, and stay true to their roots. Their slamming, melodic, big-beat style has already won them legions of extremely loyal fans.

Going at it since the early ‘90s, Unwritten Law finally established its own name in 2002 with the hit "Seein' Red." However, it’s their latest release Here’s To The Mourning that will bring the band fully into the spotlight. This very fulfilling effort is the group’s most cohesive to date. Burning with blazing beats and attitudinal narratives Here’s To The Mourning proves that Unwritten Law is not only a force to be reckoned with, but is also one of the tightest, most passionate, and lyrically eloquent bands around.

It’s been awhile since I’ve spoken to you guys. How is everything with you?

It’s wet, cold, and rainy.

Are you trying to stay dry too?

Yeah, where are you based?

I’m in Los Angeles.

Me too.

You’re in L.A.?

Yeah

So you have to get the canoe out as well.

What da hell is up with this rain? I went by Amoeba Records today and everything is just so wet.

I can’t believe this weather. What happened to sunny California? I feel like I’m back East.

I just moved back from San Francisco…

You are trying to get away from it and it follows you.

I’m sick of being cold.

Absolutely. So anyway, it’s the start of the new year did you make any resolutions?

I stopped doing that because every resolution that I make I always break, so I just gave that up. I just figure if I’m going to do it, I’ll do it. There is no need for me to say I’m going to do it and then I end up breaking my word. (laughs)

I agree. Instead of resolutions I usually set a goal that I want to accomplish.

For me it’s the silent goal. I don’t like announcing “Oh I’m going to quit drinking” or whatever because it just never happens.

So does the band have any goals for 2005?

To get our new record out and start this whole process of hitting the road and playing tons of shows. We want to go have fun, make some music, and make some noise.

Unwritten Law always puts on a fun show. Every time I’ve seen you guys it has always been a fun show.

That is our intentions.

So how long did it take for Here’s To The Mourning to come together?

We were in the studio for about a total of eight months. The whole process was a little shy of a year. We seem to take the tortoise route.

It always seems to be a long time between albums with you guys.

Yeah. (laughs). When the album came out it was weird because we thought back and realized that the last album came out three years ago. It’s like, “What? What the hell have we been doing during all that time?” We’re just always on the road and all that stuff.

The one thing that Unwritten Law has going for them is that even though it has been a long time between albums the band still never loses its fan base. They’re still always there waiting for that next album.

Absolutely. I think that is one thing that we have going for us is that our fans have always been diehard and have always backed us all the way. They wait around for the new album, and they don’t just blow us off.

Which is good.

Yeah, it is a good thing for sure.

Was there any central point of inspiration for the album?

We pull from so much. There is so much that has happened to the band in this past year alone. We lost Wade and everyone has had new things happen to them and that obviously brings something to the table. Rob just had a kid. Everyone has something going on in their lives, so whether we intentionally try to bring it to the table or not it just happens.

Has there ever been a period where it’s been difficult to keep the band going because so many factors were thrown at the band all at once?

Sometimes it does get difficult but at the same time this is what everyone does, so everyone is focused. This is what we do, so no matter what is going on in our lives…for me, no matter what is going on in my life I know that this is my job. This is what I do and this is what I enjoy doing, so when it comes back to the band it is very focused. I never feel like it’s a burden.

Did the band have a different outlook musically when it came time to make this album?

We didn’t set out to change our sound. It just happened that way. Our last album came out three years ago, and three years is a long time. Everyone changes. I feel that everyone changes every day and can be influenced by something tomorrow. And, all the things that have been going on within the band have definitely brought something to the table. It just turned out that way. After we finished recording this album we were like, “Whoa, this is a whole other direction for us again.” I hate being pigeonholed into one category. I hate it when people say we are a ‘So Cal Skate Punk Band’. I don’t even skate.

I have seen that term used a lot in reference to Unwritten Law. Maybe in the early years when the band first started that term fit, but the band has evolved so much over the years that your sound is nowhere near that. However, with every album there is still that core sound that tells you “this is an Unwritten Law song”.

Absolutely. You can hear the changes in every album, but at the same time you know it is Unwritten Law. I like to compare us to a tree, and with every album it’s a different branch that comes out but yet the roots are still Unwritten Law. We still have that angst and our convictions, but our sound is always going to change. We’re not going to sit here and regurgitate the same song over and over again.

You guys never seem to do that. Maybe that is the reason why there is so much time between albums because each album that the band has put out has been good all the way through.

Thank you

And maybe the reason for that is because the band takes the time to make sure everything is right.

Absolutely.

Message wise, which songs would you say are the most significant on this album?

I don’t think there is really one significant song because I think we kind of covered a lot of ground on this album. There are really heavy lyrics that are very personal to fun lyrics that do have a meaning behind them, but there isn’t anything that is so heavy emotionally. We don’t want to put out a slit your wrist type of album. But, we do cover all elements on this album and I think we do that lyrically and musically. We cover every ground. It could be fun, it could be sad, it could be angry. We cover all that on this album.

The hidden track suggested a little anger.

Exactly. Then we have “Hide Away,”which is kind of fun, and we have “Save Me,” which is heavy lyrically.

And then there is the drum & bass sound of “Intro”. That was pretty cool. I liked that.

We’re just five different people with five different tastes. We like to tap into everything because every one in this band listens to everything from Slayer to Wu Tang Clan to whatever it is.

How did you get Adrian Young (No Doubt) to play on the album?

He has been a friend of ours for a long time. In the past, No Doubt has taken us on the road. When Wade left he came up to the plate and said, “I’ll do some drum tracks,” and we were like “Alright then”. How sweet is that? He is such a rad guy.

That is really cool.

He just came in and threw down some killer drum tracks. It was really fun. It was interesting and very cool. I think he did a great job.

How did Tony Palermo find his way into the band?

For some of the live shows that we did we had Brooks Wackerman (Bad Religion) filling in for a few shows and when his obligations for Bad Religion came up he recommended Tony Palermo, who played in Pulley and Ten Foot Pole.

I remember those guys.

So, Tony filled in for Brooks and we were like “Fuck man Tony rips!” We all got along really well and he brought a very good vibe to the band and we just hijacked him.

That is awesome. I remember when we first started doing Bite Me! Ten Foot Pole contacted us directly for an interview even though they were signed to Epitaph because they really wanted to promote their album. And, it was very impressive that they went the extra mile to do that.

Absolutely.

What was the biggest challenge in completing this album?

The biggest challenge was completing it. (laughs). Really, the bottom line – straight up, it was just trying to finish it. It was yet another interesting chapter in our fiascos in that studio. It was fun, it was shitty, it was angry, it covered all emotions, which is why I think the album came out the way it did. It just covered all grounds. Anything good that could happen in the studio happened. Anything really bad that could happen in the studio happened. It was just a crazy process.

Has the band ever felt the need to change the way it does things in order to keep up with newer bands or some of the bigger bands?

No, not really. We don’t really follow anyone’s lead. We follow our own lead. There are a few bands out there that I really enjoy that are throwing it down and keeping it real. But, there is a lot of crap out there too. We just have always been a band…we’re kind of a weird outlaw outcast band. We don’t really fit into any genre of bands.

That is true and, in my opinion, I’ve always felt that Unwritten Law is underrated. I don’t think the band fully gets the credit it deserves.

In a way. I don’t like to think of ourselves as underrated because our fans are so diehard. They believe in us. It’s all about the new kids coming up if they are going to accept it or not. As far as being underrated it…it’s a weird word because I feel that what we have with our fans is just so amazing and insane. I’ve never thought of us as underrated because we haven’t sold a million records or anything like that, but I feel weird about this album…I feel something special is going to happen because this is one album where the whole band cohesively really backs this record. Also, this album is an album that sounds more cohesive as a whole. We always change our sound a bit, but I think that also, at the same time, we have found our sound. So, we’ll have to see after this year where it goes.

Unwritten Law has a lot of great songs. Is there one song that you enjoy more than the others?

That is another weird thing with me because we cover so many grounds—like what I said earlier about how some songs are more serious and some have a more fun vibe—that it changes for me. Honestly, I have a different song that I like almost weekly or even daily. When we first got the mix back I was head-over-heels for “Get Up” and then later on it turned to the hidden track and I was like “Yeah, I love that.” Sometimes on a Sunday morning having coffee I love “Walrus”. It changes with me. I have something new that I like every few days.

I can relate to that. Depending on what mood I’m in some days I just want to hear “Seein’ Red” or another day it could be “Mean Girl” or the cover you guys did of “Goody Two Shoes”.

Yeah.

What is the best part of what you do?

Honestly, it’s playing live. Playing live for me…nothing touches it. That hour on stage is just the one time when the flood gates in my head and heart are free. No matter what is going on in my life on that day, how shitty it may be or whatever, that hour on stage is where I feel free. And just seeing all the kids go off and we go off and everybody go off.

That’s got to be such a huge rush. Just to see the crowd go crazy for your songs.

Yeah. There is no drug like it or anything. It’s absolutely the best.

Are there any good road stories?

There are so many stories. We can sit here for days. There is always something crazy going on. I like to compare us to the Bad News Bears. If shit can go wrong it goes wrong, but when shit goes right it goes right too. There are so many fun stories with other bands or just amongst ourselves. Even sitting in that bus for hours…it drives you crazy, but at the end of the day you get a good laugh out of it.

I really don’t want to keep you out in the rain any longer, so is there anything else that you would like to add?

No, not really.

Will we be seeing you guys out on the road soon?

Yes, hopefully.

Out of genuine concern I would like to know if your dad is okay?

Yes, he’s a little tired right now but he still has his sense of humor, which is good.

That is good to hear. I’m sure he knows that all of your fans are pulling for him and wish him all the best.

I absolutely appreciate it. That is the great thing about our fans. They don’t even know my dad but they have such good words and prayers for him. I really appreciate that, which is why I say our fans are the shit.

For more on Unwritten Law visit www.unwrittenlaw.com