Interview with JAIL
!!!METALLIC PUNK FROM DETROIT!!!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about JAIL (Members, Starting Year etc).
Johnny (Guitar/Vocals) and Kyle (Drums) started jamming together a little before the covid lockdowns and Dave (Bass) joined in 2020 where we jammed for about a year before playing a gig.
In 2022 you released your demo ''Stolen Commissary Razor''. What was the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
Stolen Commissary Razor was actually our 2nd release after our S/T cassette. It was our first 7" that we recorded at Mt Doom Studio from our long time bud Vince. We've gotten a great response from it and are down to our last copies. MRR would have hated it I'm sure.
Label or DIY and why?
We did the first tape ourselves and did two runs of it that I believe are sold out now. The 7" was put out by our good friend Alejandra who runs Sangreal records, which has a great track record of metal/punk releases from Detroit and international bands. Our homies from Dystopian Dogs also did a version of the demo tape that came with an embroidered patch. Dystopian Dogs is a heavy metal paradise for anyone who wants to dive into a massive collection of obscure and well curated metal. Detroit is lucky to have two such dedicated labels.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Vinyl and tape are always preferred. I enjoy the sound from these two medians, and having a hard copy usually helps the music sink in a bit more for me. I like CD's a lot too and have found myself picking up more of those recently.
Your music style is MetalPunk. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
We tend to let other people tell us what we sound like rather than create a framework that would give our sound away off the bat. It's a shame when you look at a flier and you can predict every style of each band by logo/artwork. We pull from a lot of heavy influences. We can be too punk for metalheads and too metal for hardcore kids. We thrive on crusty crossover.
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
Time. Gotta get together and jam and work out ideas, whether it be tour plans, gig plans, song ideas..whatever. It sucks taking off time from work not knowing if you'll makeup for missed wages. FUCK A JOB though, I'd rather make a go on the road then stay comfortable forever. It gets harder the older we get and have more daily responsibilities, but we do what we can.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
People letting loose and having fun. Not standing around with your arms crossed talking shit if it isn't your perfect curated band. Hell yea we've experienced it (both cases!) but I feel our gigs tend to be chaotic and fun.
What attributes do you think that a new MetalPunk Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Seems like you're supposed to have an instagram account to be considered a real band these days. Which really isn't even that different from myspace/facebook accounts for bands, but I kinda find it draining. I don't like having to constantly keep promoting ourselves or taking selfies to trick the algorithm blah blah. That being said, you gotta believe in what you do and just go for it. People are always going to flock towards trendy shit and you either buy in or just make up your own mind.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new MetalPunk Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
It's ideal because its easy and cheaper. Hard copies seem to get more expensive day by day.. BUT I don't like relying on my phone for everything, especially music. Bandcamp makes things easier, but they take your cut and there's nothing we can really do about it cause everyone chooses to use it. It takes more work to hit up a band and pay for downloads/order hard copies, but it definitely is the best way to directly support the band.
Do you see any differences between the US Metal Market & the EU Metal Market (Labels, Bands, Fans etc)?
We haven't dealt much with the European metal market so I can't really speak on that. Have us over, and we'll get you a better answer.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Detroit, Michigan (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Detroit definitely goes in waves when it comes to new bands/venues/etc. Sometimes every gig is a banger and other times it can get very repetitive. We've all lived in the area our whole lives, and been involved in venues/bands/booking/everything in between.
Some good current bands:
Sauron, Baazalvat, MRSA, Stunner, City Pleasure, Cemetery Girl, Graboids, Unabomb, Scum Rotten, Wastelander, Tormentous, Midas, Perversion, Manic Outburst.
Distros/Labels/Booking:
Sangreal Records, Dystopian Dogs, Heavy and Beyond Booking.
Venues:
SW Voodoo House, Reagle Beagle (in Ypsilanti), Outer Limits Lounge, The Sanctuary is the main bigger venue for heavier music around here. There seem to be new house venues popping up around town, but I still need to check them out.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
I do not! But I like the title. Does that imply anything else other than Greek metal scene?
The last 3 years, worldwide in the world, we have faced many dark, strange & new situations in our everyday life (covid, lock-down etc.) Did all of this affect you positively or negatively?
Started drinking way too much! We got the band out of it, which for me was probably the most positive aspect of it. Looking back on it now, it seems like just another passed time period but it was definitely a stressful period to live in. I'm glad its not like that anymore, but watching the world unfold afterward has been disappointing to say the least.
What are your future plans?
We are writing for a full length LP that we are hoping to record early next year. We want to tour the west coast of the US next spring, try for the UK (if anyone will have us!), and the ultimate goal is touring Japan!
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you for reaching out and taking interest in the band. I'm sorry it took us so damn long to respond! Be thrash be punk!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
JAIL CONTACT:
https://jaildetroit.bandcamp.com/