Concrete Walls/ Bro Jogan. #33

What's up everyone? how is everyone this week. I'm interviewing one of the guitarist from a killer band from the bay area. He talks a little about this bands and his current band. Enjoy here is the interview of Concrete Walls /Bro Jogan 

state your name and what band do you play for:

My name is Monte. I play guitar in Concrete Walls & a newer band called Bro Jogan. 

how did you get into punk???

I got into punk music through Slayer & other Bay Area Trash bands in the mid to late 80’s. I remember riding my BMX bike over to Stoneridge mall in Pleasanton where I bought my first cassette tape - Sex Pistols “We’ve Cum For Your Children.” Around the same time I started going to shows at Gilman St. in Berkeley.

how did you get in Fassbender and Getting worse?

FASSBENDER: I put an ad on Craigslist in 2013 wanting to start a punk/hardcore/PV style group. The ad was for a drummer. But my friend Alex, who plays guitar, responded. He and I were already close & doing other music stuff together, so we went with what felt right and found the other members, including a drummer, fairly quickly. 

Alex came up with the name for the band. Apparently, the actor is known for the “size” of his member - about eight inches long. There was brief talk about doing an 8” release, but it never materialized. So, the name is a bit tongue in cheek.

GETTING WORSE: I met Damian on Craigslist as well. We were both looking to do a PV/grind project. This band was a lot of fun. I really enjoy writing songs with Damian. It’s a low stress process & he has a great mind for this kind of music. Anyway, Getting Worse’s sound was really defined by the dual vocals. Jesse and Tyler are amazing vocalists and great guys. 

One night we were all texting each other band names. As time went on, the names got progressively worse. I said something to that effect, and said, “There it is! Getting Worse!”

how did you get Concrete walls? how did u get the name?

This band is very special to me. Scott, Glen, Billy, & myself made some really special music. Some of the music falls into punk/hardcore/PV genre, and some of it doesn’t. I really believe we have a unique sound for a Bay Area band. After I moved out of San Francisco, the band went into hibernation for about a year.

Recently, we’ve been talking about new material and working on demos remotely. We are all super stoked on the new material. There are some straight up powerviolence songs, and some short & heavy thrash tunes. Shit is gonna be brutal and unrelenting!

I came up with the name because, at the time, I was obsessed with the Super Max prison in Colorado. I was watching YouTube docs and reading articles I found on line, etc. so, I made a connection with all I was taking in and “Concrete Walls” popped into my head. I also remember I had drank a lot of red wine that night...

what was the best show you have played?

Concrete Walls played in L.A. at the Lexington, I think it was, in 2016 that was so much fun. Great crowd, super energetic set. Plus, I love So Cal, so to able to play down there means a lot to me.

FASSBENDER about two years. Getting Worse just under two years. CW has been around for 5+ years.

how did you start Bro Jogan??? how did you get the name??? whats the line up??

After I moved to the North Bay Damian and I talked about putting together another project different than Getting Worse. The pandemic has kept us from getting additional members, so we are a two piece at the moment. We are in the process of recording our first demo as we speak! 

It was Damian’s idea. He has this whole concept that starts w the name. Kind of mocking “bro culture.” 

He also wants to try and get us on the Joe Rogan pod cast! 

If this stays around, he also has a whole stage show he’s like to do.

What releases do you have coming out???

We are hopping to have the Bro Jogan demo out before the  end of the year. For those adventurous listeners, I have a cd coming out with Bill Laswell (Painkiller, Praxis, Last Exit, etc) in November. 

Check out the bands I’ve mentioned in the interview at darkmatterhalo.bandcamp.com

Do you want to give any shout out???

Yes! Tone, thank you for supporting the scene & keeping in touch over social media all these years.

Shout out to my family and friends! Happy listening!