http://www.myspace.com/thefitzpatrickincident
First off i would like to thank all The Fitzpatrick Incident for taking the time out to do this interview with WorldwideTakeoverzine
How did the band come to be named The Fitzpatrick Incident and is there any special meaning behind the band being named this?
Finding an original and unique name is hard. We wanted something that sounded original while still retaining a message that could be noticed
if one looked deep enough behind the actual name. Our name stems from a story of Australian foiklore centering around a bush ranger named Ned Kelly.
To quote wikipedia
"
On the 15 April 1878, Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick arrived at Benalla suffering from 'wounds' to his left wrist. He claimed that he was attacked by Ned, Dan, Ellen, their associate Bricky Williamson and Ned's brother-in-law Bill Skillion. Fitzpatrick claimed that all except Ellen were armed with revolvers. Williamson and Skillion were arrested. Ned and Dan were nowhere to be found, but Ellen was taken into custody along with her baby, Alice. She was still in prison at the time of Ned's execution. (Ellen would outlive her most famous sons by decades and die on 27 March 1923).
The Kellys claimed that Fitzpatrick came into their house to question Dan over a cattle duffing incident. While there, he made a pass at Dan's young sister Kate. Her mother hit his hand with a coal shovel and the men knocked Fitzpatrick to the ground. They then bandaged his injured wrist, and he had left saying that no real harm had been done. No guns, they claimed, were used during the incident, and Ned was not involved since he was away in New South Wales. However, the belief that Ned was in New South Wales is still disputed.
"
The name stands for the contradiction of authority and how it rarely actually protects those it should be. Rather than doing some detective work for Ned Kelly, the main constable Fitzpatrick decided to abuse his power and break the law. Not only this, he attempted to blame Ned Kelly for his own mistake.
Though our lyrics are mostly positive, community based and upbeat, we also like to point
out the paradox that is authoritative powers (in this case, corrupt police)
who are some of the bands main musical influences?
Our influences are all over the map. To quickly list some of the main ones: Pantera, Madball, Thrice, Hatebreed,Refused, Beloved, Shai Hulud, Comeback Kid, With Honor, Earth Crisis, Sworn Enemy, Sick of it All
for someone who has never seen The Fitzpatrick Incident live and is planning on attending a show in Ontario or Canada what can they expect to see?
They should expect a lively performance full of energy, smiling, punk jumps and fun times. Not only this, but I also yap my face off in between songs (I don't feel bands do this enough)
are any members in side projects other than The Fitzpatrick Incident?
Our guitarist Jeremy has an acoustic side project that he works on occasionally.
how long has the band been together?
We have been together since December '06, so around 1 1/2 years.
what are your views on Fighting at shows?
Luckily I haven't really witnessed a fight during one of our sets (this can either be attributed to me starting most of the fights, or people wanting to hurt me rather than each other in the pit). I think
fighting inside a venue is stupid and pointless, and I always think any fisticuffs disputes should be handled outside where the grips of security can't get involved.
how many cds eps 7 inches split cds and demos has the band currently released?
We have released one 3 song demo and are currently recording a 6 track EP in a week.
what do you base your lyrics on when writing new material?
I tend to write my lyrics depending on the direction of the music (we write to the music, not the other way around). For our melodic and more upbeat songs, I try to cover things that may piss me off but can resolve in a more positive way. For the more angrier or downbeat stuff, I try to cover things that involve community, government (ugh), rampant capitalism (double ugh)
or the lack of awareness in our society. I like to spin it different ways as well, for example ; One song is about the environment, while another is about attempting to forgive that one person you really hate.
The main connection between all my lyrics is realism and staying grounded. I don't really flow with bands that talk about stupid shit that has nothing pertaining to me or the world, and I try to follow that trend with what I write now.
is there a large and thriving scene in the Toronto Ontario area as well as throughout Canada?
I would say that for medium to large shows, the Toronto hardcore scene does well for itself. I have been to numerous sold out shows with a variety of bands, and I'm always surprised at how many new or different faces I see at these shows. I am not too sure about the rest of Canada, but I have faith in the rest of the kids in the country that there are sold out hardcore shows with lots of energy going on
every night.
is this the original lineup and if not what is the current lineup?
It is currently the same lineup, though come the Fall our drummer will be moving on.
what is the most common fast food stop on tour for example Wendys Mcdonalds Burger King?
Without a doubt, Wendy's. Even with all my hatred for capitalism and the consumer giant that North America is, my band cannot say no to a Big Bacon Classic.
if you could have anyone do guest vocals on your next recording who would it be and why?
If Lou from Sick of it All agreed to do guest vocals on a recording of mine, I would be completely honored.
in only one sentence describe your sound to someone who has never heard you before ?
I have heard different things from different people, but the one thing I always hear is that we have an 'old school sound'. I'd like to think we have an old school flavour
with a new school touch.
when the band is on tour in the van what is usually playing in the cd player?
My band listens to a wide variety of music and this doesn't change in the van. One our last trip we listened to Go It Alone, Furious Styles, One Handed Gun, Across Five Aprils and I Mother Earth
how were you first exposed to the scene and what made you say i want to be in an band?
I was exposed to punk/hardcore a few years ago when I attended a show in a local community center. I only paid 2 bucks and had the time of my life. Though I got mostly into metal after that and went to metal shows (where I was paying 30+ for tickets, fuck that) more frequently, the moment I noticed there was a hardcore scene in Toronto I jumped at the chance to contribute to it.
when on tour and driving from city to city what is some of the weirdest shit you have seen happen or pass by?
Smoking cars, dogs in the middle of the freeways, guys getting road head etc. Fun times.
where do you see the band in 3 years from now?
I'm not too sure. The one more ironic thing about this band is that stuff is very chaotic. One week we might have a drummer leave us, and the next week we might get a sold out show in Toronto. It keeps life interesting.
who are some of the up and coming bands from the Toronto Ontario area as well as throughout Canada that we should be on the lookout for?
The Diverse Attraction are good friends of ours and they play the most catchy music ever. To be completely honest here, they are a major reason why I brought
this band together in the first place.
There are alot of bands in Ontario that have a shitload of potential: McCarthy, Rah, A Distance From, Eating Glass, The Veil and the list keeps going on.
How can the readers from around the world contact you about ordering merchandise?
We are actually setting up an online store this week and it will be available on our myspace soon, so please keep checking back! http://www.myspace.com/thefitzpatrickincident
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?
Answering this question could take forever. To put it bluntly, hardcore to me is the awareness of an underground musical force in a city. Hardcore is about the lyrics of awareness, positive
OR negative. Hardcore is about 20 dudes and chicks in a room jumping off walls and monitors to their friends bands. Hardcore is about knowing where this music came from and learning about it. Hardcore to me is about being a part of something that has no place anywhere else - where the intelligentisa crowd mix with the angrier crowd, where new kids stomp the floor beside veterans with everyone singing the same lyrics to their favourite band. It's about community, awareness, respect, loyalty and an unbridled love for the music that not many can understand or relate to.
What is your most memorable show and why?
I would have to say the most recent show in Zanesville Ohio. We played in the back of a coffee house with a capacity of about 15 people. The attendance was around 40 and by the end of it, most of us almost passed out and EVERYONE was just drenched in sweat. It was great.
what is your favorite city and also your least favorite city to play shows in and why?
I don't really have a favourite city.
I do however have a least favourite city, and that is London Ontario. Every single time we came out there, the promoter either paid us nothing or gave us peanuts to our guarantee. Not only that, but it just seems
that only the most dedicated of kids attend shows in that city!
Who are some of the bands that you enjoy touring with?
The Diverse Attraction are our brothers in battle and we always enjoy harassing them and reminding them why we are cooler than they are. A Distance From also parties harder than anyone we've ever met
and that always leads to some fun times.
What advice can you give to some of the newer bands starting out that maybe having a tough time and thinking about giving up?
Anyone that wants to quit in this business that early in its span, really should. This music and this industry is not cut out for people who give up on the first signs of failure and people who lack ambition. If you are a member of a band and are the only one with any talent or motivation, leave that band and either create another one or join an existing one. Too many people think being in a band is easy and join one without even thinking about the consequences of really putting your ass on the line out on the road.
where else besides myspace can the readers go to to findout about upcoming shows and other band related information?
I find www.returntothepit.com and www.lambgoat.com good for signed bands and information on tours, but considering my band I would just stick to myspace.
http://www.myspace.com/thefitzpatrickincident
where do you think you would be right now had you not been exposed to the hxc metal scene?
In jail or dead.
what is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to the band when playing a set?
Mike from Deterrence coming on stage and attempting to stop us from playing to say a few words to the crowd. What happened after that was Jeremy stopped playing, I looked confused and we kept playing without
Mike actually doing his part. It looked really amateurish but luckily, not many people were at that show to know that happened
why do you think that people always associate violence with hardcore shows and it always gives hxc scenes and shows a bad reputation?
I think people will associate what they don't know (hardcore) with what they know (violence) for as long as humans live. Hardcore shows may look like a violent and raw event to an outsider,
but to someone who has seen their share of shows and been on the floor numerous times, they know it's all love and all a good time. Fuck what other people say.
Do you have any upcoming shows that you would like to tell the readers about?
We have a small 5 day tour coming up in June with To The Lions, Carry The Torch and Heavy Hearted that we are really stoked about. I hope the kids that have been attending
the more mainstream metalcore shows come out to these dates and support these hard working, legit hardcore bands.
June 18th - Toronto, The Kathedral
June 19th - Oshawa, The Dungeon
June 20th - Barrie, Masee Pool Hall
June 21st - Brampton, Good Times Cafe
Is there anything else that you would like to add that i may have forgotten to ask that the readers should know about?
Check out our Myspace at the end of May/Early June for our EP drop. Our new stuff has melodic hardcore vibe in the vein of With Honor and old Comeback Kid, with a nice
heaviness touch ala Hatebreed and Earth Crisis. I'm really excited about this record and I hope people get into it and sing my lyrics back to me! Thanks to WWtakeover
for asking me these questions and listening to the stupid shit I say. Keep up the work guys.
I want to thank the members of The Fitzpatrick Incident for taking the time out to do this interview with Worldwidetakeoverzine
