Get To Know The B-Sides
Get to Know
The B-Sides formed in February of 1997. (First off, let me say that we came up with the name The B-Sides after recording our first tape. We recorded it on the B side of the tape, hence the name not that any of this is important, it's just that I'm sick of people coming up to me and asking, "What does the B stand for?") The line up consisted of Rory on guitar, and myself on guitar. We didn't have a bass player or drummer (and we didn't particularly want one at the time [though we're glad we do have a rhythm section]). We did our first show in my living room for my 14th birthday. Not long after that we tried out some of our friends for the open bass and drums positions. Our friend Jerry attempted to play drums and our other friend Randy tried bass (he didn't have a bass so he just brought his guitar and only played the top two strings). They both sucked ass so we told them that they were out of the band (you see, we made them actual members before they tried out). A few weeks later, we met our drummer, Toshio, in our school's library. That day we tried him out for the position and he was good. Now we had a drummer. We did our next two shows without a bass player. Then Rory asked his friend Matt to play bass and so he did (not that Matt was any good) The only thing Matt could play on the bass was "Paper Lanterns" by Green Day, but he was a satisfactory bass player for the time being. Matt lasted three shows (including the infamous "I have to leave early to go play baseball" show at our friend Monica's house [see the shows section for more]), then we gave him the boot. We were once again bass-less. We played six more shows without a bass player. During this time (that would be about August '97) we went into the studio. We chose DMS Recording in Gilroy, Ca to record at (the main reason for recording there was of the $12.50 an hour rates). The engineer was a stupid hippie guy who had an 8-track (which, by the way, he hadn't yet quite grasped the concept of how to use) in one of his spare bedrooms in his house. We went to his house (which he advertised in an ad as being in a "beautiful ranch setting" [in the middle of a field is more like it]), set up all of our shit and began recording one instrument at a time (an idea I now regret). Fast forward seven hours...we called it a day. In that seven hour period we managed to record three songs ("Coffee Break" "Party At My Place" and "I Hate High School"). I played bass on the recordings and did a fair job. We sent the tape off to Zen Juniper Records for a compilation and we havent heard from those bastards yet as to when it's coming out. After the "DMS Tragedy" we did one more show without a bassist. Then we were blessed with our current, sexy, blond bass player, Jon (aka Pat Riot). Jon spotted our "HELP WE NEED A BASS PLAYER" flyer at Gilman while attending an FYP show. He called me up the next day and the rest is history. With a full rhythm section, we were ready to kick some ass. Jon's first show with us was September 6, 1997 at the Vacaville Live Music Center. This was the show in which the owner of the place got pissed at the moshing punks and Toshio said stupid stuff (see shows for more). Jon has been with us for our last 18 shows, including two shows at Gilman. On March 14, 1998 we went back into the studio to record our first record (a 7" of couse, no band can call themselves punk unless they put out a 7" before they put out a full length record). This time we chose to record at Burnt Ramen recording in Oakland. There was, however, one slight problem. The day we went in to record, I lost my voice. This is very evident on the recording. I sound like a 65 year old woman who has smoked two packs a day since she was 12. But...that makes the record more punk so it's alright. In April we played a rather exciting show. It was the East Bay vs. South Bay show. It was chaotic show filled with drunks and punk rock!!! In May, we heard our music on the radio for the first time (it was not the first time our music has been on the radio, but it was the first time I heard it). Mashall Stax played four songs off our 4-track demo on his show, "The Next Big Thing". We also played Gilman for the third time in May. In late May, 1998, I sent off the tape for our records to get pressed. I finally got the records in July, 98 and we got our covers in fucking September! Also in September, we kicked out our bass player Jon. He was continuously flaky. The straw that broke the camel's back was when he missed a show at Club Cocodrie. Fortunately this guy Nick was there who we were considering as Jon's replacement anyway was there and he played bass for the set. So now he's our bass player...That's all I feel like typing now. I'll See ya in Hell, FUCKERS!!!
yer pal, Ryan :)