Hey Everyone!

Hey Everyone!

So we have been really busy as of late and we are very pleased to announce that we have found a new drummer! His name is Drew and we feel that he will fill travis's spot very well and expand upon what travis has already done! We have been practicing with him and we are very excited to start playing shows with him behind the kit!!! His first show with us will be December 12 at Gilman st with SWINGIN UTTERS!

We have a few dates from our upcoming European tour posted and we will have more soon! If we don't have your city posted, don't worry there are many more dates to come! If you want us to come to your town, give us a contact and we will try and set up a show! Tour is set to kick off January 29th in the UK.

We do have a bunch of new songs that we are going to start playing on the upcoming Europe tour. As I have said before, they are some of the best and I am very proud of them. Look for a new sound and direction for the band in the months to come. We are very excited for the future and we can't wait to get back on the road!

See you soon

Eric/ST

Hey Everyone, So this is a very important blog with a lot of important things in it so please read the whole thing. 

Hey Everybody,

Hey Everyone!

7:09 PM 

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Hey Everybody,
So we are about to hit canada for the 2nd time. Our first go around was with Toronto's Action and this time it is with Vancouver's The Rebel Spell. We are very excited to be coming back to canada after a long absence. We will be doing 19 shows in 22 days followed by a 2 week US tour back to California. We will be hitting a bunch of new cities and a bunch of ones we have been to before. The US tour will conclude with an amazing show in Seattle with Battalion of Saints!! After that we will come home for some local shows and then head back out on the road with a summer US tour which we are currently working on.

In other news, we have started working on some new songs and we are very excited about them. They are truly a new step for us and the best songs we have written as a band. We cant wait to show them off. We will be playing at least 2 on the upcoming Canada/US tour so you wont want to miss out. We don't have a release planned at the moment but we hopefully will be putting something out this year. Maybe another split? who knows at this point but we are looking foward to the future.

Check out the new Society's Parasites track on their myspace as well as all of the tracks on ours

See you on the Road,

Eric

Hey Everyone!
First off HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone. I hope everybody had a great welcome into the new year.

We played our first show of the new year at one of our favorite spots, the submission art space (balazo gallery) this past friday and I want to thank everyone who came out for that. Wolves and Thieves, and Bastards of Young are 2 great bands that everybody should keep an eye on this year. Congrats to them on there first tour (2nd for bastards of young)!

So as most of you know, we are heading to europe on January 20th! We will be hitting the UK starting on the 23rd. On the 22nd we will be recording in West London for the Mike Davies show on Radio 1. We will be debuting a BRAND NEW SONG NOT YET RECORDED so you wont want to miss it. Should be a great time all around! Then we will be hitting the mainland starting January 31st until February 21st. We will be hitting UK, France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Chezh Republic, and Croatia. We are getting the last few dates confirmed and we should be seeing everybody soon!

After the Europe we plan on doing non stop touring and will be hitting the US in March, and the Summer, Canada in May, UK and Ireland in August, and maybe JAPAN in the fall.

We are currently writing some new songs to keep the engines running and will be playing a few in Europe. We might put something out but we don't know what we will be yet but keep an eye out

Thats it for now. See you on the road!

Eric

Hey Everybody,
Here is another interview I did with amp magazine. There is lots of good stuff in here. Check it out. Thanks for reading!
Eric
Eric, thanks for agreeing to do an interview – you are someone I have been looking forward to talking to.
Thank you very much! I am very excited to be doing this interview.

I have to say that “In The Trenches” was one of my favorite releases of 2007, and “Drug Of My Mind” is as close to the perfect punk song I have ever heard. Did you feel a lot of pressure to follow up that record with another classic?
Thanks a lot, I really appreciate that! There is always a little bit of pressure to do better than last time and I think that pressure is great because it pushes you to write better songs. I think we did that with our new record.

Do you think that “Motive For Movement” is at the same high standard? I do!
Thank you very much! I think that this record is big step up from the last one. We are starting to develop are own unique sound on this album unlike any other punk band today and that is a really exciting prospect. We are all very proud of this record and feel that it is our best work to date.

What have people been saying about the new record?
People have been talking very highly of this album! Most of the reviews thus far have said its average to it’s the best punk album of 2008, which is amazing. We haven’t got one bad review from this album yet. I have heard from people from every different scene of punk say they like our album; I’m glad we are uniting people in that way.

When did you write this album? Are you ever able to write on the road, or is it too hectic?
We wrote most of the songs in 2008 in between tours. I don’t like writing on the road because I really like to get in the zone when I write songs and it’s hard to do that on the road; I’d much rather focus on playing good every night.

I am curious as to how you ended up signing with Hellcat Records? Did you send them a demo or something like that?
We sent a cd to Jeff Armstrong who runs Rancid Radio and he really liked it. He introduced me to Tim (Armstrong) in 2005. After that I gave Tim a copy of our new CD we were working on. He loved it and wanted to see us play. He hooked us up with a Hellcat Night in LA saw us and the rest is history.

You put a split 7” single out with Society’s Parasites? How did that idea come about? What is the reason for it?
Society’s Parasites are some of our best friends and the coolest people you can ever meet. Hellcat doesn’t do vinyl anymore so we just decided to do something together on vinyl with new songs just to do it. We also wanted to get both bands fans into the other band. Both bands recorded at my house and are very happy with it. Most of the records are already gone!

What label is it on?
Slambo Rat Records which is my friend Justin from the band DCOI’s Label.

Did you have to get permission from Hellcat to release something on another label?
Originally Tim wanted to put it out but because of some stupid crap, Hellcat didn’t want to do it anymore. We found somebody else who wanted to do it and we had to ask.

Do you have any plans for any other releases like this?
We hope to keep releasing splits with bands we really believe in and are friends with. Hopefully down the road we will. It’s definitely in our plans.

How does this kind of release help you compared to a CD release on Hellcat?
It helps us by bringing the fans of both bands to hear the other band. It’s also something that is unique in the sense we are only making 500. So for the people that get it, it will be something special for them.

Is there any chance the tracks will end up on a CD as some of us no longer have a record player?
Most likely not. We want to keep it special for people so if you don’t have a record player and want to hear the songs, you should get one.

Are you planning to tour to promote “Motive For Movement”?
We are actually on tour right now with Throw Rag, Lower Class Brats, Roger Merit and the Disasters, and Viva Hate. It’s a great tour for us and is helping us promote our record to a larger audience. After this we plan to go up and down the west coast until the end of the year; then we are going back to Europe in January/February. After that we plan on hitting Canada, more US, Europe again and maybe Japan and Hawaii.

With the high gas prices is it getting to be too expensive to tour now?
It’s really hard especially for bands like us who don’t have a US booking agent. We book all of our US tours ourselves and Hellcat doesn’t provide any tour support so we are on our own with money. Most venues won’t give us a guarantee because we don’t have a professional agent booking us. We make no money on most of our tours and usually pay out of our own pockets. Even though we are on Hellcat, we still do almost everything ourselves from making our own merch to booking our own tours. Its fun though and you do learn a lot from doing it yourself and it’s the way to do it anyway. You have to be passionate to do this because sometimes it’s very financially draining.

I know you recently toured Europe – how was it?
Europe was an amazing experience that I will never forget. We had so much fun and met so many awesome people. It’s amazing seeing a person 3000 miles away from your home singing along. I never thought that this band would ever accomplish something like that and I am very proud that everybody’s first time in Europe was with our band.

Tell me about the SNC tattoos you all had done…
We were in Gent, Belgium with our friend Sammy on our Europe tour in April. His roommate tattoos and we really wanted to get a tour tattoo. We were playing in a garage in SNC that night so we thought it would be awesome to get a tattoo to commemorate the show and whole trip. The show turned out to be one of the best of that tour.

I bet you loved playing in Belgium, those punks are fucking crazy!
Yes they are. They are really passionate about punk music and love everything about it. We love them!

What advice do you have for other American bands thinking about going to Europe?
DO IT!! People out there appreciate music way more then they do in the US, which is a sour reality. I suggest getting in touch with a band out there and sending some music to various agents and labels. If somebody likes it, they might book you a tour. It is expensive, but worth it.

Changing topics now, are you excited about the upcoming presidential election?
I am. I think that it’s incredible that people are witnessing the first African American running for president. It’s a big deal and a great moment in our countries history.

Do you vote?
Yes.

What do you say to people who don’t vote? Isn’t it better to vote for the lesser of 2 evils?
I think it’s a personal choice like most things. I vote because regardless of what people say, I think its better to vote then not. Voting is something that can make a difference on an issue especially on state and city policies. With this up coming election in California, there is a ban on gay marriage on the ballot. Voting on something like that is very important and it is a situation where one vote can make a difference.

Are political songs still relevant when people don’t vote or do anything to change their circumstances?
Yes they are. Just because people don’t vote doesn’t mean a political song can’t change or help shape a person’s viewpoint on an important issue. I think making somebody think about it is just as important as somebody getting involved. Without that first step nothing would change. My goal with political songs is to at least bring attention to the issue. Songs on our new record talk about sexism in the punk scene, how image is distorted and the impact it has on women and men, how pop culture is dumbing down society and creating a world of zombies, global warming and religion pretending it doesn’t exist, etc. To me these are very important issues and they affect me. I hope others will take a listen and if I help people start thinking about it then I have done what I hope to do.

Are political songs like “preaching to the choir”?
I don’t think so. People all over have their own ideas and the ideas of a band might be different from theirs. I know a lot of punks in Salt Lake City are very conservative but when we play there kids come and watch us. I love talking to people with conservative ideas because it constantly puts me on my toes and also reinforces my beliefs and ideals.

Can music really effect change?
Yes and I know it can because it has done that for me. Punk music especially can affect people on an individual basis because it is the great unifier of fan and band. Everybody is the same; nobody is above anyone. Before punk that mentality didn’t exist and punk music changed that. Now, the question of bringing about political change is another story. Even in the punk scene ignorance and abuse exists and I truly believe that the music can change and end those things within the community. On a global scale, I don’t know if music can really change things. We definitely can’t if the things that hurt the world are in the punk scene. There is a world that exists outside of music and I don’t know if music can really bring change to that.

Is punk music now a business?
Punk music has been a business since it started. I don’t think that all punk bands are in it for the money but a lot are. We certainly aren’t. Making money playing punk is something that is very rare and people who get into playing punk music for money are in for a bitter realization. People who think labels like Hellcat, Fat, Punk Core, Alternative Tentacles, and others aren’t about making money then they don’t understand the nature of a big label. They may promote that they aren’t about the money but those labels wouldn’t exist if they didn’t turn a profit.

Would you agree that bands like the recent incarnations of Dead Kennedys just seem to be in it for the money?
I think money is a major component in the recent DK reunion and other old bands recent return. However, I think music is something that people love, especially by the people who play it. They have a desire to keep playing for people that like there music and I think that’s the main reason bands like that come back and play. They also know people will pay top dollar for them and they definitely take advantage of that.

Do you respect bands like Crass and Conflict who stayed true to their principals?
Yes. I think both Crass and Conflict are great bands that helped jumpstart a new style of music that people still play today. I also respect them and their political ideas. It’s kind of ironic though when Conflict came through SF last time they were charging $25 for a ticket. I think that is a steep price for a band that is anarchist and claims to be for the people. Most fans of that band will have a hard time spending 25 dollars just to watch them play for 45 minutes. But as I said above, bands like that are about the money to an extent. I still think Conflict especially wants to continue spreading their message and inspiring kids and they do play lots of small venues and benefits. I think they still want the check at the end of the day though.

What bands have influenced you musically and politically? Are there any bands that changed your life?
Definitely the band that has influenced me the most is The Clash. I know almost every band on Hellcat is influenced by that band but, there is no doubt in my mind that The Clash was the most important band in punk history. They started most of the ideals that punk is about. Lyrically I think Joe Strummer is one of the best and his words make me think all the time. I want to make people think with my words and it’s inspiring to me that he made others do that. Other bands that have inspired me are Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Bad Religion, and many others. Every punk band inspires me too; just knowing that people are out there playing punk music around the world tells me that this thing isn’t just about one city, it’s about the world.

Have you ever thought “Fuck it, I have had enough?
Never, I will be playing music until I die. Music has been apart of my life since I was born and I will love it forever. I have been involved in the punk scene for over a third of my life and I know it will be with me forever. If we become a band that can make a living off of playing, then that’s cool if not then that’s cool too. Money is not the reason I play and it never will be and that’s the reason I know I will still be playing until I’m older.

Do you still get a buzz from going out there and meeting new people and playing the same venues over and over again?
I always do. Every time we play somewhere, different kids come out and watch us that I don’t know. Playing for them is just as important as playing for kids who already know who we are.

Do you think anyone not in a band has any idea about how tough it is being on the road?
I don’t think you can truly know until you’re in the situation. Being on the road especially with another band is very hard work. You always got to make sure you have enough money to get from one town to the next, making sure your gigs don’t fall through, staying healthy, hoping people will come out to the shows are all very stressful and real parts about being on tour. Every night is like that and when you are up there playing your heart out you hope people will recognize that and help out buy picking up a T-shirt or a CD. Lots of times that doesn’t happen but its ok because at the very least new people know about your band and they might come back and see you. That is the most important part and I care more about that then people buying merch from us. I love being on tour and I am not tired of it yet.

Any funny pranks you have played on your band mates or other bands on tour?
Oh yeah! On our tour this summer with Down We Go, we had an epic van war. For those who don’t know, a van war is where you mess the other bands van up to kill some time. When we were in Tucson, Arizona, we coated their van in mustard and ketchup at 3 in the morning. We wrote “Down We Blow” on the hood too. Then next day it was already 90 degrees by 8 in the morning. They got up about 10 and the condiments were already cooking into the van. Then we get them again in Boise, Idaho. We wrapped their van in plastic rap and poured honey all the door handles and the van; we also through some 3-week-old bologna on their roof for an extra finish. They got us pretty good that night though. After they saw the honey on the van, I knew they were going to get us that night. I moved the van a few blocks down the street but one of the guys followed me. While we were playing they coated our van in chocolate sauce, corn oil, mustard and birdseed. They even wrote “Static Cock” with mustard on the hood. It was pretty funny. I got them back though that same night but I’ll keep what I did a mystery!

Who is the biggest joker in the band?
Definitely Johaan our bass player; he always has some new story and always keeps everybody laughing. He is one of those guys you want to tour with all the time.

Having been around so many years, where is your favorite place to play and your favorite bands to tour with?
My favorite place to pay is definitely 924 Gilman St in Berkeley. I know its very cliché but there is no place like it anywhere else that I’ve seen. They treat the bands who play there very well and there is always a good crowd. Its one of those rare venues and I am happy to say that it’s our “home venue”. Every band we have ever toured with is amazing and I can’t say one was better than the other; we have had a blast with every band.

Is there anything you would like to add?
I would like to just thank you for doing this Interview, everybody who just read this and all the people who support our band. Also, if you see any acts of abuse in your community, do something about it. Punk isn’t about exiling the people who are there to escape the rest of the world. We can change that mentality very easily and I hope people will. If anybody has any questions for the band feel free to contact us.

Contact information for the band?
You can get a hold of us either by emailing us at staticthought3@yahoo.com or via our Myspace page. Everyone in the band checks both.

Hey Everyone,
Here is an interview I did a little bit ago. Check it out!
Thanks for Reading!
Eric

By:Tyler Davidson
Having been around for just over a decade now, Hellcat Records (an imprint of Epitaph) plays host to some of today's hottest up-and-coming punk and hardcore bands. With artists like The Horrorpops and The Aggrolites amongst their lineup, Bay Area punk outfit Static Thought is certainly in some good company, right where they want to be in anticipation of their new album, THE MOTIVE FOR MOVEMENT. SKRATCH recently caught up with Static Thought vocalist/guitarist Eric Urbach to discuss the status of the band and the punk scene in general, as well as the upcoming election.

Static Thought is Eric Urbach (vocals/guitars), Travis Davant (drums), Johaan Hill (bass/vocals), and Daniel Garcia (guitar/vocals).

[Note: The views and opinions expressed by Eric Urbach in this interview are solely those of Eric Urbach, and do not necessarily reflect those of Static Thought, Hellcat/Epitaph Records, or SKRATCH MAGAZINE.]

SKRATCH MAGAZINE: For somebody unfamiliar with the band, how would you describe the sound of Static Thought?
ERIC URBACH: I'd say mostly that we are a punk band with...I guess our sound nowadays is more influenced [by] modern-day hardcore and mixed maybe with also some like old, classic rock kind of feel as well. I generally don't like to say, "We sound like this band," or "We sound like that band," because people then will automatically associate us with those bands. I like just sticking with styles [to describe us.] We're a punk band; if you like punk music, you might like us, if you like hardcore music, you might like us. If you're into, like, '77 punk, you might like us, too. Everyone in the band is pretty much fans of their [own] genre, like all genres of punk, and we like to incorporate them into our music, just because we're such big fans of the whole thing.

SKRATCH: You guys just did a European tour, right?
ERIC: Yes, we did, we toured Europe in April, and it was incredible. That's all I can really say about that.

SKRATCH: What were some of the higher and lower points of the tour?
ERIC: I'd say the whole entire tour for me and the rest of the band was a high in general. Just being there and experiencing a completely different culture from ours in America, meeting new people who were like "Oh, it's really cool to meet people from America," people who have never ventured outside their city, or even their country maybe...meeting those people was really cool. The shows were phenomenal, just seeing [that] people's attitudes about music out there are a lot different than they are here, in terms of their interest in it. Like, people will go to shows to go to shows and they will go watch all the bands, instead of [just] seeing their friend's bands. From the opener to the last band, people go just as crazy, and I found that remarkable, and I know that that's the kind of fan that I am towards music, so I appreciate seeing [that] most people in Europe are like that, which is really cool and exciting. Another high point was getting to play with Cock Sparrer in Vienna. That was pretty incredible. I'd say the lowest point is, the second day of the tour, our van broke down. That kind of sucked. Not having enough money to pay for everything at the end of the tour wasn't too fun either. But, all in all, I'd say it was a great experience, and we're going to try to get back over there really soon.

SKRATCH: As far as punk goes, or even just music in general, what would you say are some of the biggest problems today, if any?
ERIC: Well, I'll start generally...in terms of music, I think there's been a trend that's continued on since the '80s [where] people's interests in things just became more materialistic. I think that especially today with the whole downloading thing...I mean, there [is] good to it and bad to it, but I think some of the worst things about it are the fact that people don't have to look as hard to find a band. It's all at the end of their fingertips; they can just get on the computer and look for it. So, interest is declining in that way. As a result, I think people won't take going to punk shows as seriously. They won't be as thrilled about it, just because the music is easily obtainable. I've noticed that a little bit and I think that that's kind of a problem. Also, a lot of people who have the idea that music should be free...I mean, I think that's a great idea, music is music, it is what it is, and people can get it for free, and it's cool because it gets your band out there and it gets more people to hear it, but at the same time, people who get their music for free most likely won't pay six bucks to go see this band live. I mean, maybe they will, maybe they won't. I think that it will be harder over time for bands to continue to tour, especially smaller bands. So I think that's one of the bad things that's happening to music today. In the punk scene, in general, I think that...to me, the most important issues to me are that sexism, racism, and homophobia exist today in punk, and to me, that's against what punk was about originally. Bands like The Clash would say, if we're going to change anything, it's not going to be one single idea down the center of the road, it's going to be ideas from all cultures everywhere, and people who are gay, women, and all different races have an opinion [as far as] their outlooks on the world. So the fact that these kinds of problems exist in punk, to me, is very disappointing to say the least, just because people who believe these things are ruining the scene and creating an unfriendly atmosphere, and a place that's not welcoming. You could probably ask...nine out of ten people who are into punk will probably say that the reason they got into it was because they didn't feel like they fit in with everybody else, so when they go to a place where they feel like they do fit in, and yet there are still people who like to alienate people, and I think that's inherently wrong. It's just something that goes against all ideals of punk. Also, another problem, I think, with the punk scene is the violence that occurs, in terms of...most of the incidents I can recall happening were in Los Angeles, where kids were rioting at the Unseen show because they couldn't get in, or kids rioting at the British Invasion show because of the cops and like going crazy. There's a place and time for things like that, I believe, but to just destroy things for no reason, just because of the whole "anarchy, chaos" cliché version of that, it really puts a damper on it because now, in Los Angeles at least, venues are dead, things are dead down there. No venues...I'm not even talking big venues, but venues that used to have punk will not have it anymore. Most places there, it's hard to find a punk show. Unless you're a huge band, you can't really play at a venue there anymore, so people are resorting, which is great, to doing backyard shows, things like that, but at the same time, those things aren't steady. You can't count on having a backyard show every weekend, because the cops are going to shut it down after a period of time. Those things are very short-lived, I believe. I think that's a huge problem, because it pretty much just kills the scene when that happens.

SKRATCH: Static Thought is currently signed to Hellcat Records; how did that relationship come about?
ERIC: We were introduced to Tim [Armstrong, vocalist/guitarist of Rancid and founder of Hellcat Records] through his brother Jeff. Jeff pretty much mediates Rancid Radio and also books shows at Gilman now, Gilman Street in Berkeley. So, through that kind of thing, I met him and we became friends, and I pretty much asked him straight up, "Hey, I want to meet Tim, I want to give him a CD" and he said "Sure," you know. So I met [Tim] at Warped Tour, and...like I went to school in Berkeley, and I saw Tim a lot in Berkeley, you know, he's out and about here sometimes. But we started hanging out and becoming friends and he started gaining some sort of interest in seeing [the band, saying] "Oh, tell me what your band is about, show me some music." So I showed him the music, I kind of explained what we were trying to do, and he was really into it, he wanted to see us play, and we played the second month of the Hellcat Nights in Los Angeles, and he came and saw us and really liked us and wanted to add us onto the label. At the time, I was very flattered. It was an extreme honor to be a part of a label that Joe Strummer used to be on, because he's one of the people that I agree with the most, in terms of his philosophies. So to me, that was really cool. That's pretty much how it came about. We put out a record last year in January, and now this other one's coming out pretty soon.

SKRATCH: When is the next album coming out?
ERIC: Next one's coming out on September 9th, which is in like a couple of weeks, and we're doing a CD release show for it at Gilman with this band The Force, who are a little hardcore band from the Bay; the bass player is Hunter [Burgan, bassist] from AFI.

SKRATCH: What can you tell me about the new album, THE MOTIVE FOR MOVEMENT?
ERIC: I'd say this new album is definitely a different step from the last record. The older [record] that we put out [was] pretty much a compilation of songs compiled [between] 2001 and 2006, so we were pretty young when we wrote those songs, and all of the songs for this album were written this year, mostly...this year and last year. So to me, this is where we are now, this is current, this is us right now. I'd say it's a more mature sound. It's still very aggressive, but it's more...I want this album to kind of create a new sound for ourselves, and a new sound in general for punk. I think that also a lot of the problem with punk is...like to a point, hearing the same band 50 times isn't that exciting for me anymore. I want to create something new, maybe people will try and also have that philosophy, like "Hey, I'm tired of hearing bands that all sound the same." With my band, I want to create something special and unique. I want to do that with my band especially. A lot of the songs on the album are a lot more hardcore-influenced and a lot more rock-influenced. You know, it's still really aggressive. Lyrically, I think it deals with a lot of issues in terms of things I was talking about in the punk scene. Also, just general things I've got to get off my chest about things. Like some of the lyrics are more poetic. One of the songs we have is called "Splinters and Stones," and it talks about the distortion of image that is portrayed by the media and in our government, where they kind of force this whole "perfect image" [onto society,] especially onto women, about how if you have this make-up, boys are going to think you're attractive, and if you don't look a certain way, if you don't act a certain way...this whole thing where they're trying to create a [perfect] person, especially with young girls, but even as they get older. I find that a really big problem. So that's one of the issues that I'm trying to deal with that's very close to me as well, along with sexism in punk rock and violence in punk rock and feeling rejected by people, things like that. But yeah, I think it's definitely a step in a different direction. If people liked the last album, I think they'll like this one even more, and if people didn't like the last album, I think they'll like this album as well. There are songs for everyone on there. Mainly, the most important thing I want to do with my band, other than make myself happy and everyone else in my band and enjoy and see things, is to inspire people and help people with whatever they might be going through. The reason for that is because when I was younger, even now, that's what music did for me, these guys were doing it for me, so I want to give it back to them and continue the legacy.

SKRATCH: What would you say the name, THE MOTIVE FOR MOVEMENT, means to you?
ERIC: Well, basically, I thought...we were trying to come up with names, [and] we kind of had this one idea, originally it was called THE MOTIVE FOR METAPHOR, and our friend who was doing the artwork actually put "The Motive for Movement" on there, and I liked the title, actually. When I read it, I was like, "That's a lot better, I think it's a lot better." To me, it's come to mean that...I mean, every song on the album talks about one issue or another, or just something going on today, whether it be in punk or in society or the community or anything, even the music itself, you could say. So this album is sort of a motive for movement, a motive for change. As I was talking about, I want to inspire people. A lot of punks, or a lot of kids today, they always talk about unity and things like that, and it's time to practice the things they talk about. I also want to inspire people to create more original-sounding music. So, to me, it's just kind of like [a] "This is who we are, this is our statement that we are today, and take it or leave it" kind of deal. I hope it motivates people to start something, you know?

SKRATCH: Without trying to get too personal here, what are your thoughts on the upcoming election?
ERIC: My personal take...also, this is just me, everyone in the band has their own opinion on the election and politics in general, but just coming from me, I think that [John McCain and Barack Obama] are both really smart individuals. I don't agree with pretty much anything McCain is talking about, most conservative ideas I'm not really into. I think a lot of what Obama says is very good. Whether or not things are actually going to happen and change [if] he is elected, that's yet to be determined. I think that everyone has their opinion on whether to vote or not; I vote just because I like the idea of voting. Other people in my band don't vote just because they don't like how it's misrepresentative of actual people, and [how] it's more of a suggestion. But I feel that if Obama does get elected, I think that he's generally going to go for what he's telling people. I generally feel that, regardless of how rich you are or how famous you are or how well people know you...I mean, I'm generally more of a hopeful person, so I hope to see that, if he does get into office, things will progressively start to get a little bit better, and people's outlook towards America will be a little better. Mostly, I think him being elected will change people's outlooks of America in regards to, like, we didn't elect an idiot, or the entire world doesn't hate our president, you know? Ultimately, I think that's going to happen if he gets elected, which is great. However, are things really going to change that much in four years with him being in office? No, I don't think any president really does change too much. Just for a metaphor, America is like driving a car, and you can make a right turn or a left turn, but eventually, you're going to end up back in the middle. So I think ultimately, that's what [the president] does, he steers the car in a certain direction for a while. Sometimes it goes back the other direction, or it's kind of like a pendulum. But I think if people really want to see change happen, they have to start smaller, in a community, or in your city, or in your town, if you don't like the way things are happening there, because most of the things that affect the individual are happening in your own city and with your own city laws. The people who are on the city board, the mayor, I think those people represent yourself more than the president does. But I feel like if you elect people to those positions and you vote for things like funding, or just anything in your town or city or community, you're going to see a lot more change happen that way, than you will ever see electing a president. People should not be so hopeful that a president is going to change anything, but they should be more hopeful in themselves, that they can make a difference. That's kind of my outlook on that.

SKRATCH: Does Static Thought have any plans for 2009 yet?
ERIC: Currently, we're working on another tour in Europe, in early January/February, but other than that, we don't really have too many plans. I guess just touring, trying to promote our record, playing shows around the Bay Area, Los Angeles, anywhere we can. Maybe go to Canada next summer, maybe Japan if we figure out how to do that. But ultimately, what we want to do is just be a band that can tour all the time and can play for people everywhere. That's kind of what we want to do in general. So any steps in that direction will be great.

SKRATCH: Is there anything else you'd like to add for readers?
ERIC: I guess I just want to say, to all the people who've read this interview, thank you to them, I want to thank you and the magazine for putting it out, and ultimately I want to say that, again, change is more of a thing that can be brought about by the individual, and it's time for people to be more hopeful about themselves. I think that having an outlook of positivity will ultimately...saying things like "Yes, I can do this," and "Yes, I can change things," will change things. Having a negative outlook won't always change things. I understand how people can be like, "Yeah, I've tried and it didn't work," but continuing that positive attitude is going to ultimately help more than anything. I think, especially in punk rock, I want to tell kids that, if you see things that happen that are sexist or homophobic or racist in your scene, don't take those things lightly. Deal with those problems, because in the end, you're going to have a better place for everyone. Yeah...I guess that's what I want to say.

If you'd like to learn more about Static Thought and their newest release, THE MOTIVE FOR MOVEMENT, be sure to check them out on the web at www.staticthought.com, or on MySpace at www.myspace.com/staticthought.

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