THE CODE
interview by pr!
PR: What does ‘The Code’ mean?
Marc: Actually, it’s kind of a funny story. I came with the name about 2-3 years ago, when John, our guitar player used to work at McDonalds, which I thought was hilarious. He was so faithful about his job, and working there, so I was all “Dude, your living by the code.” It was a little witty phrase at the time, but then I started thinking about it, it’s meaning in like how people think they have to live. Everyone thinks you should act responsibly, grow up, and act your age. So, the code is basically the idea that we, as people, put ourselves in this weird position on how to live.
So, being at a 9-5 job, having 2.5 kids, etc?
Basically. I just thought it was funny.
Does he still work at McDonalds?
No, he moved on from there.
So it’s a happy ending. The majority of the reviews I’ve read include heavy comparisons to Operation Ivy and Rancid, which seems a bit vague. What would you say is the sound?
When we originally started sending out the CD’s to places that would review it, I thought about the Operation Ivy comparison…
-which is only for two songs…
-so it shouldn’t really matter, right? We as a band take all of our inspiration, and put in what they feel. The Op Ivy feel is from me, because it’s my favorite band, so I can understand that. I see us more of a ‘straight ahead punk’ type of band, with a lot of influences.
Who is “It Kills to Know” about?
I wrote that song about myself, in a sarcastic way. I found myself getting down on my life; my father died when I was 13, so I remember growing up feeling like “woe is me,” you know? Then, I started thinking that shit will happen and to just keep on doing what I’m doing.
So it’s kind of a poke at yourself.
Yeah.
Like that Pink video.
(laughs) Yeah, it’s funny to compare it to that.
(stoned laugh)I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, uh, compare it to that.
It’s cool
I’d have to assume the inspiration behind ‘Brian’s Song’ was the punk who got killed in Texas, which the Dropkick Murphy’s dedicated, their song, “Fortunes of War”, too. How much do you think of that ‘punk hate’ still exists today?
From personal experience, I could feel that coming up thru high school, which I almost got kicked out of. I have a friend that’s in school now, and dealing with it, but its more of punks vs. jocks, or skaters/punks vs. jocks. I do think it exists, but it’s selective.
Aren’t there really two different levels of punk; the guy that’s sort of funny looking, and the kid with 80 pounds of studs in his jacket, and 10 ass patches?
I wasn’t that guy.
But you know the type of punks I’m talking about?
Oh yeah, the iron city punks. (laughs) The punk scene on the east coast doesn’t seem as friendly as it would be out here, on the west coast. We defiantly felt that in Florida and Canada. Definate 90lb stud type of punks.
Your music is influenced by west coast music.
Totally. The crowds dig us in places like Boston, where I thought we would get shit. I thought Florida would be down with our sound, but they weren’t.
Just stood there?
Yeah. They just acted like they wanted to kill us, or fall asleep.
Florida sucks anyways. Fuck them.
(laughs) yeah, that’s how we felt.
Have any new material for a future release? I know you finished recording your current album last December.
Actually, we’re doing a three song split with Spent Records, with a Boston band called Drexel. I don’t really know the band.
Then why are you doing split with them?
Before A-F Records, we were working with them (Spent), so we knew the label
What’s your upcoming tour schedule like? And with who?
We’re pretty much playing everyday until September, when we all start school again. I hope to get on a bigger tour.
Who are you touring with?
Mostly us, but sometimes with bands like Plan a Project on Go Kart Records, and Dill on Fifteen on Jump Start Records.
What’s the best band nobody knows about?
There’s a local band from Pittsburg called Better Off Dead that really rocks.
The worst band nobody realizes?
That’s harsh. I’m not a big fan of Korn, Limp Bizkit, or any of that.
Do you listen to the radio that much?
No, I haven’t listened for years. Sometimes college radio. I watched some Dateline show where they talked about how much it costs to get your band in rotation. It was crazy. You basically have to have a pocketbook, or you’re not going to get on the radio.
