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12cent
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How many punk bands have a punk-rock beginning? 12cent began when Tom (guitar, vocals) and Scott (original drummer) from a town called Whitman in Massachusetts started a band. While waiting for a ride, they were jamming on acoustics, and a car drove by. Someone in the car yelled something, threw some change (a nickel and seven pennies, to be exact) at them, and it turned out to be twelve cents… The band’s name was born. |
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The first demo tape was called “Yellow #5,” and didn’t feature the entire current members. In 1997 Dan (bass, vocals) joined the band. They sped up their songs, and begun hanging out at Boston punk and hardcore shows. Their four-song demo was called “Working Without Class,” and they played all over Boston, even doing some east-coast touring. In 1999, another six-song demo followed, and 12cent began their first US tour, with the Suburban Rejects. The price of gas went up that year, and so they renamed their tour the “Gas Sux Ass Tour.” Brian, drummer for 12cent and the Suburban Rejects, moved to San Diego without notice after the tour, and Pete (also in the Suburban Rejects) no longer had a band… so 12cent added Pete on 2nd guitar. In 2001, the band recorded “Bastard Music,” their first full-length album. They played something like 100 shows all over the east coast and New England. A short break for 12cent came in 2004, when band members were having trouble juggling the band and their personal lives… but during the break, Pete (guitar, vocals,) Tom (guitar, vocals,) and Dan visited Brian in San Diego a few times, and decided to move here for a fresh start. They played two shows before leaving: one was the 12cent 10-year birthday party, and the other was their “Goodbye to Mass” show. But before they could play, they needed an organ player for their Bob Marley cover. Dan and Pete worked at a grocery store with a 19-year-old named Tony who claimed to be able to play piano. With 300-400 kids at each show, both were the biggest headlining shows the band has played. The band had so much fun and chemistry at those shows, that Tony turned down his scholarship to Berklee School of Music to move to San Diego with the band. They had only known Tony for five months, and he had never been to California before. The current 12cent members are: Dan (bass, vocals), Tom (guitar, vocals), Pete (guitar, vocals), Brian (drums), and Tony Bispo (piano, vocals.)
If you ask 12cent to (reluctantly) place themselves into a musical genre, they call it “melodic hardcore-punk.” But make no mistake- at a live show, you would likely hear them play anything from hardcore to reggae. Since there are no bands like them, they often play with punk or hardcore bands, and fit in quite well. But what is punk, anyway? Bass player/Vocalist Dan says “It died in the 80’s.” Says Dan, “Everything is punk nowadays. When someone says, ‘Oh I’m in a punk band,’ you have no idea what you're getting anymore. It could be some kids in leather spikes and mohawks, or it could be a dude in girls’ pants crying onstage. It’s to the point where I’m not even sure anymore. You always hear some idiot that says, ‘You know Johnny Cash was the original punk,’ and I’m just like, c’mon dude.”
All of 12cent’s members write for the band, which is unusual; their sound is distinctive and unique, yet versatile and venturesome. Their lyrics are catchy, with some memorable ones being “Hop in the van, let’s go, let’s go,” “Everyone’s got an Irish song, and now so do we,” and “We’ve only been here a short time, but it feels like home to me.” The latter is in reference to San Diego, the place 12cent now calls “home.” 12cent’s music features gifted guitar players Tom and Pete, exceptional drummer Brian, and skillful, talented bass player Dan, with Tony Bispo adding his pianist brilliance to complete the band’s sound, giving the songs a sort of “anthem” feel. I know what you must be thinking… a pianist in a punk band? But trust me, you have to see and hear it to believe it. And 12cent delivers such an energetic, almost spasmodic live show that both fans and random bar patrons cannot help but become fixated with them. “Bastard Music” has eleven tracks; the band’s favorites are "Whatdoyoumeanwhatdoimean?,” "Superheroes,” "Metal,” and "Irish Song." Inspired by their diverse tastes, 12cent cites punk, hardcore, reggae, folk, country and everything in between as influences; Murphy's Law, Guttermouth, Minor Threat, Warzone, Blood for Blood, NOFX, Bouncing Souls, Against Me!, and Johnny Cash, to name a few. Says Dan, “We listen to a retarded amount of music.”
12cent is all about having fun and good times. Their first time in Mexico six years ago, the band almost got arrested, but were lighting off fireworks and hanging with the cops within half and hour. When asked who gets the drunkest of the band’s members, their response is “Your guess is as good as mine.” Tom (guitar) drinks most often, but rarely to the point where he is inebriated. He also once knocked himself out cold, completely unassisted! Dan (bass) and Tony (piano) don’t drink frequently but are more likely to black out and “destroy the house” when they do, and Brian (drums) likes to drink and smash things in the street. Pete (guitar,) I’m told, is busy enjoying his herbal refreshments. Whatever the case, none of the band’s members have any trouble with the ladies.
12cent has t-shirts for sale for $10 each, and they always have stickers and CDs at their shows. You can catch them this month at the 7-10 Beach Club (formerly Blind Melon’s) on October 11th, October 25th in Alpine, and October 30th at the Static Lounge. October 28th, 12cent will also be throwing a kegger at their house in Pacific Beach for Halloween. Seriously, if you haven’t seen them, check them out at one of their shows. You can find them on myspace @ http://www.myspace.com/12cent. Support 12cent, and support local punk rock! Much thanks to Dan, 12cent bass player, for taking the time out for an interview!
- Molly
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