how long has the band been together?
On and off since 1998 but we've been full time since 2004.
how did the band come to be known as full contact?
Our old bass player came up with the name like in 1997. Years later when I finally got the internet and I found out about all the other bands with the same name. We wanted to change it when we got back together in 2004, but our good friends didn't want us to. So till' then we're keeping the name and waiting to see what happens.
what was it like to be able to play grownfest in Houston back in august of 2007?
Grown Fest was more of a huge party than a show. It's always a good time sharing the stage and hanging out with our G.A.M.C. brothers from all over the U.S. It's 2 days of pure mayhem and BBQ! Next year I hear it's going to be 3 days. I sure hope our livers can withstand the debauchery.
how did the band come to be featured on the stillborn records street cd volume 2?
A couple of years ago I had given Jamey Jasta our 2004 demo at a San Antonio show. One day he sends us a message if we wanted to be on it (stillborn records street cd volume 2). We didn't think twice about it. To be in the same line up with all those great bands and gain some exposure was such an honor to be part of it.
how long has the band been signed to ground and pound records and how did you come to be signed with them also how have they treated you so far especially when it comes to touring and merchandise?
We've been involved with Ground N Pound for a couple of years now. Randy has treated us very well. Always looking out for us with shows, merch, and touring. Originally we were supposed to release an EP with him but got the opportunity to be on a split with Heartbreak Kid from Munich. Worked out great for us.
are any of the members in side projects other than Full contact?
Not at the moment. We are all full time with FC. We all did have projects at one time. I was playing drums with Five Families and doing vocals for my other band Underboss, Reno was playing melodic death metal with Martus and power metal with Eternal Darkness, Tony was playing with local thrashers Bastard Sons and might be helping them again in the future and last year Danny played with a local metal band called Dead Albatross.
how does full contact differ from five families?
Like apples and oranges. Five Families was strictly a beat down band with hardcore and hip hop influences. We even did a Bone Thugs and Harmony cover. As for Full Contact everyone was brought up with pure metal influences; from thrash, death, black, doom, and progressive metal.
is this the original lineup and if not what is the current lineup?
The lineup has change a lot since 98'. We really didn't get serious till Reno (guitar) joined in 99'. We've had different bass players and drummers for while but this has been the current and full time lineup since 2006.
is there a large and thriving scene in the laredo area as well as throughout Texas?
Through out the years Laredo has had it's ups and downs. It's mainly because of the venue situation. They either close down or they just don't allow metal/hardcore shows. Now we have some venues around here but kids go to shows depending on the location which really sucks. But for 2008 it's really looking good with a lot of local bands coming out of the woodworks and recording demos. As for Texas it's been blowing up everywhere we go. From the Panhandle to South Texas and from San Angelo to Houston, everywhere we go the crowds keep getting better and better.
what are your views on fighting at shows?
Fighting is never a good thing at shows. Especially for the promoter and the venue. Something bad happens and they are the ones responsible for it. This is how venues get shutdown and promoters stop doing shows. Don't get us wrong we love the chaos while we play. But this is the type of music where you can get hit, end up with a black eye, and have a laugh about it later. You wanna flex your nuts take it outside.
in only one sentence describe your bands sound to someone who has never heard you before?
It's a fusion of all forms of metal into one.
when the band is on tour in the van what is usually playing in the cd player?
Anything from Opeth, Testament, Katatonia, Exodus, My Dying Bride, Carcass, and lot of hair metal and best of the 80's.
what do you base your lyrics on when writing new material?
Mostly personal experiences. One or two songs about what's going on around the world.
how were you first exposed to the scene and what made you say i want to be in an band?
First concert I ever went to was Motley Crue in 1984. After that night I said to myself "I wanna be in a band!" Going to a punk festival the late 80's introduced me to a whole new scene. After that I started hanging around with a bunch of punk rockers and they introduced me to Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Agnostic Front, and Gorilla Biscuits. Both nights changed my life forever.
when on tour and driving from city to city and country to country what is some of the weirdest shit you have seen happen or pass by?
Being from Laredo everything we see out there is whole new experience for us. Number one thing has to be the snow. Driving through it was whole new adventure on it's own. It's only snowed twice here in the past 100 years and we've only seen it once.
who are some of the bands main musical influences?
We all come from different backgrounds so we all tend to put in our two cents. Everything from Slayer, Carcass, Testament, Sepultura, Suffocation, Anthrax, Cryptopsy and Blood For Blood.
how many cds eps 7 inches split cds and demos has the band currently released?
We've released 2 demos, one in 2000 and the other in 2004. Last year we released a split with Heartbreak Kid on Ground N Pound.
who are some of the up and coming bands from the laredo area as well as throughout Texas that we should be on the lookout for?
Flawless Victory is really the only band from here that is putting their name up there. They've put out a 3 way split and appeared on the Born From Hate video and love the road. Bands to look out for from Texas are The Grave Robbers from Houston, Indisgust from New Braunfels , DTD from the Valley, Seeker from Austin, and False Reason from Corpus Christi.
the term hardcore has become so overused that any band putting a breakdown into a song is considered hardcore but explain to the readers what hardcore means to you?
Hardcore to me has always been about the music, message and the live shows. The riffs, the lyrics, and the attitude would always get my blood pumping. That's is what hardcore has always been to me. Today we have a lot of great bands out there that are carrying the torch and keeping the spirit alive all over the world. Too many bands out there create breakdowns, put out a seven inch or EP, play a hand full of shows, disappear and start the process all over again.
where do you see this band in 3 years from now?
Still recording, touring and playing over seas.
How can the readers from around the world contact you about ordering merchandise?
myspace.com/fullcontact
What is your most memorable show and why?
The Way it is Fest at the Red Seven in Austin was a good one. By the time we went on I had busted my ankle and I was very intoxicated from Jager to kill the pain. Still we went on and the show went off. Everyone went nuts. Chairs were flying, fists were being thrown, and that someone was wheeling a knife in the pit. Don't know how true that was. Wish someone had it on video.
what is your favorite city and country to play shows in and also your least favorite and why?
Our favorite has to be McAllen. We always have fun there and we never want to leave. The kids go off and support the bands through and through. Mexico is the best country to play shows. From our neighbors in Nuevo Laredo to Monterrey and especially in Tijuana. TJ is amazing!
What advice can you give to some of the newer bands starting out that maybe having a tough time and thinking about giving up?
Being in a band can be the best thing and the hardest thing to ever experience. But have fun in the process while doing it. Once you stop having fun and start complaining about it then quit. It's not for you.
Who are some of the bands that you enjoy touring with?
The Grave Robbers and Indisgust. You put us all three together and it's nothing but good times.
Where else other than myspace can the readers go to find out about upcoming shows and other band related information?
You can check out www.txhc.com and www.laredohardcore.net
where do you think you would be right now had you not been exposed to the hxc metal scene?
Married, kids, working 9-5, being miserable and fat.
what is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to the band when playing a set?
Not exactly to the band but more like to me. Right before we went on the Way it is Fest. We were all on stage and the guys were sound checking when all of sudden. Luke from Pride Kills gets on stage, pulls down my shorts and my underwear at the same time. Me being really intoxicated at the time it took me a while to realize what happened. Before I knew it the entire crowd was already waiting for us to start and my shorts and underwear were still down. So I just shrugged my shoulders, pulled up my shorts and the show took off. Wasn't till the next couple of days that the guys kept reminded me what happened and people from the show kept laughing about it. I felt really embarrassed after it happened.
if the band could have anyone do guest vocals on the next cd with you who would it be and why?
Dwid from Integrity, Martin Van Drunen from Pestilence and Asphyx, Mike Muir from Suicidal Tendencies, and Dan Swano from Edge of Sanity.
what is the worst injury that any of the band has had happen when playing show?
Had to be my ankle at the Way it is Fest. I sprained it one hour before we went on. My ankle was the size of a grapefruit. It took a lot of Jager to numb the pain. Still did the show and it turned out great. Didn't feel the pain till the next day.
why do you think that people always associate violence with hardcore shows and it always gives hxc scenes and shows a bad reputation?
The reputation will always be there because of the music we all play. It's fast, aggressive, and violent. You gotta expect some sort of reaction when mixing all three. You don't want to get hurt then go see Phish.
Do you have any upcoming shows that you would like to tell the readers about?
Right now we are playing my 11th annual Boogie Bash on Feb 1st and 2nd here in Laredo. It's a two day fest/party for me and Reno's birthday. We get tons of bands to play, plenty of beers and have a great time.
Is there anything else that you would like to add that i may have forgotten to ask that the readers should know about?
We are heading into the studio in late January and till mid February to record our full length. Also we will be touring the east coast with The Grave Robbers in late March till early April.
Thank You Boogie and full contact for taking the time out to do this interview with worldwidetakeoverzine
Sean Walsh Worldwidetakeoverzine
