The Welch Boys
Born out of the ashes of two of Boston’s most underrated punk bands, The Blue Bloods and Slapshot, The Welch Boys have a sound that is decidedly working class Boston and still fiercely independent. Their debut on Sailor’s Grave did a decent job of introducing them to the world, but it’s Drinkin’ Angry, their two years in the making follow up record, that is going to force punk fans to really pay attention.
Eighteen songs of anger, tension and bar room poetry unfolding in just over 45 minutes, the record is much more focused than their debut and showcases a stellar punk band that has finally found its voice.
TJ Welch, former member of The Blue Bloods, and guitarist/founder of The Welch Boys, spoke recently about their new record, the death of their original drummer and finding time to tour.
What have you guys been doing since the last record came out?
We have been writing and recording new material, and playing occasional live shows. We would like to make a third disc within a couple of years. Since we do not tour that much, we like to do videos. We worked with director Stefan Glidden on a video for "Head in the Sand". It’s up on our MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/thewelchboys.
We are in the process of working on an animated video for Police Dog with another director. Other than that, we may get a chance to tour in Europe this summer. We are working with our label I Scream to make this happen.
We have been writing and recording new material, and playing occasional live shows. We would like to make a third disc within a couple of years. Since we do not tour that much, we like to do videos. We worked with director Stefan Glidden on a video for "Head in the Sand". It’s up on our MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/thewelchboys.
We are in the process of working on an animated video for Police Dog with another director. Other than that, we may get a chance to tour in Europe this summer. We are working with our label I Scream to make this happen.
I Scream put out Drinkin' Angry overseas and unfortunately your old label Sailor's Grave is having problems - have you started looking for someone in the U.S. to release the album?
Sailor's Grave is still in operation, however, not at the pace that they were at before. They are putting out a few releases a year now. They just put out a great CD by Mark Lind. We miss working with that label.... however; we decided to go exclusive with I Scream worldwide on this disc. I Scream is now operating in the U.S. as well. The label president, Laurens, lives in New York. They have done a good job by getting the CD in stores in the US.
How does Drinkin' Angry compare to the last record?
The debut CD was a band finding its sound. We were still feeling things out when we recorded that. I like the disc, however, our song writing was not evolved yet. I think that we are more complicated on this disc. We are also musically more mature. We lost our drummer and good friend to drugs, and that shook us all up. We have endured divorces, births, deaths, addictions, and a world gone to hell. The music is angry and dark, with a healthy dose of disregard and black humor. In between the lines, you may also hear a little hope and faith. Something's got to keep us going.
Do you even need a record label nowadays to get your music out there?
I think that the Internet is a great way to get your music out there on your own... DIY is king in the world of punk, but I have found that sooner or later, as a band grows, they need an established label. I think record labels are necessary. Even in the age of MySpace and mp3’s, bands still need the influence, connections, and distribution of a label. Generally, we are artists and not music business people, and we do best when concentrating on producing music. A good label can handle much of the other business aspects of making sure that our music is out there in both CD and MP3. They make sure that the music is promoted, and sold at the proper places. Record labels have the machine in place to do more than a band could do on their own.
How tough is it for you guys to find time nowadays to write, record, practice and tour?
It is very difficult to tour, or even play out locally with any regularity. Most of us are married, with young kids. We have tough jobs with long hours. I work two jobs. On the other hand, writing and recording music is easier. We can do that without having all of the band members present. We have the use of technology to record and refine our demo material. When we have a CD's worth of demo songs, then we go into a good studio like the Outpost, and record with a great producer like Jim Siegel.
It is very difficult to tour, or even play out locally with any regularity. Most of us are married, with young kids. We have tough jobs with long hours. I work two jobs. On the other hand, writing and recording music is easier. We can do that without having all of the band members present. We have the use of technology to record and refine our demo material. When we have a CD's worth of demo songs, then we go into a good studio like the Outpost, and record with a great producer like Jim Siegel.
I love the song "Pervert" off the new record, but what did Pete Townsend do to piss you guys off?
Do you guys have plans to play shows outside of New England in 2009?
Yes, we hope to play in Europe for a week or two this summer. We have been invited to play some of the music festivals there, and we are working with I Scream Records to try to make that a reality. Our music seems to be bigger over in Europe than it is here. We may also do some shows opening for bigger bands like the Dropkicks. They always seem to make sure that we get a chance to play a few shows with them. They are great guys. I think we are opening for Fear in May when they come to town. I have always liked them. I can see us playing a few east Coat shows at some point, but I do not see us playing a proper U.S. tour this year. We just do not have the vacation time. Even the Europe deal will be hard to pull off.
Can you tell me about the benefit you are playing for Ron Holbrook?
Ron was our drummer on the first CD. He was a good friend that PJ (Dionne, guitar) and I had known for many years. We talked him into playing in our band, even though he didn't know shit about punk music. He was a great guy. He crushed his finger by accident while operating a forklift at work, and had surgery. This delayed the recording of our first disc for a few months, but he bounced back, and played great drums on the CD. Unfortunately, when he was recovering, he developed an affinity for pain killers that grew into a full blown addiction to opiates. Shortly after recording the disc, we had to ask him to leave the band. We tried to help him and stayed in contact with him. He tried to get better, but never was able to kick. He passed away in August of 2007.
Ron left two young daughters behind. Ron's brother, Craig and I worked to put on a concert in October of 2007 to memorialize Ron, as well as raise money for his daughters. We had a bunch of great local punk bands that played for free. The Blue Bloods, Death and Taxes, The Beantown Boozehounds, etc. It was a big success, and raised a lot of money.
We are going to try it again this year. We have a bunch of bands playing with The Welch Boys over two nights on Feb 21st and 22nd at a club called Great Scott's in Boston. We have about 10 bands playing, including the Ashers, Mark Lind, The Scars, Refuse Resist. It will be a great way to remember Ron, and raise some money. We would like to keep doing this every year. We are grateful to have so many great Boston bands that help to make these shows a reality.
Ron was our drummer on the first CD. He was a good friend that PJ (Dionne, guitar) and I had known for many years. We talked him into playing in our band, even though he didn't know shit about punk music. He was a great guy. He crushed his finger by accident while operating a forklift at work, and had surgery. This delayed the recording of our first disc for a few months, but he bounced back, and played great drums on the CD. Unfortunately, when he was recovering, he developed an affinity for pain killers that grew into a full blown addiction to opiates. Shortly after recording the disc, we had to ask him to leave the band. We tried to help him and stayed in contact with him. He tried to get better, but never was able to kick. He passed away in August of 2007.
Ron left two young daughters behind. Ron's brother, Craig and I worked to put on a concert in October of 2007 to memorialize Ron, as well as raise money for his daughters. We had a bunch of great local punk bands that played for free. The Blue Bloods, Death and Taxes, The Beantown Boozehounds, etc. It was a big success, and raised a lot of money.
We are going to try it again this year. We have a bunch of bands playing with The Welch Boys over two nights on Feb 21st and 22nd at a club called Great Scott's in Boston. We have about 10 bands playing, including the Ashers, Mark Lind, The Scars, Refuse Resist. It will be a great way to remember Ron, and raise some money. We would like to keep doing this every year. We are grateful to have so many great Boston bands that help to make these shows a reality.
The Boston scene has always had a distinctive sound. Is it still a pretty tight community?
Yes, for 30 years this town has produced some of the best punk music ever made. The community is tight. All the bands know each other. We all have a reverence for bands that have come before us. Gang Green, SSD, Bosstones, Dropkicks, DYS, The FU's, Mission of Burma, Slapshot, Jerry's Kids, Darkbuster, The Unseen, The Ducky Boys, The Freeze... this list goes on forever. We know that we have something special here, and we are glad to have our scene. This is a rock and roll town. Most bands are made up of working class kids. There is not a lot of flash and image. The fashion consists of jeans and a t-shirt. Our nectar is a two dollar and fifty cent 16 oz. can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. We like our old Marshall amps and we don't like to use effect pedals. Subject wise, our music is similar to rap music. It comes from the city streets. We all show up at each other's shows. We buy each other beers, we buy each other's shirts and CD's. The club scene is pretty good. There are still a lot of all-ages matinee shows going on. There is a unique set of circumstances that goes into producing the Boston sound. I love it.
Yes, for 30 years this town has produced some of the best punk music ever made. The community is tight. All the bands know each other. We all have a reverence for bands that have come before us. Gang Green, SSD, Bosstones, Dropkicks, DYS, The FU's, Mission of Burma, Slapshot, Jerry's Kids, Darkbuster, The Unseen, The Ducky Boys, The Freeze... this list goes on forever. We know that we have something special here, and we are glad to have our scene. This is a rock and roll town. Most bands are made up of working class kids. There is not a lot of flash and image. The fashion consists of jeans and a t-shirt. Our nectar is a two dollar and fifty cent 16 oz. can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. We like our old Marshall amps and we don't like to use effect pedals. Subject wise, our music is similar to rap music. It comes from the city streets. We all show up at each other's shows. We buy each other beers, we buy each other's shirts and CD's. The club scene is pretty good. There are still a lot of all-ages matinee shows going on. There is a unique set of circumstances that goes into producing the Boston sound. I love it.
What have you been listening to lately?
We are all over the place. Ed (Lalli, vocals) likes punk and hardcore. PJ is more of a blues and metal guy. Steve (Maffeo, drums) likes a lot of alternative. Mark (Powers, bass) likes Irish and punk. I listen to a lot of vinyl. All genres with guitar are ok by me. I like bebop jazz too. Lately, I have been listening to the new disc by MGMT. I've also renewed my appreciation of older stuff by Prince, Thin Lizzy, Love, Lenny Kravitz, Bob Marley, Spearhead and Shuggie Otis. The new CD by The Sword rocks. AC/DC's new one is great as well. Local discs by Mark Lind, Refuse Resist and Death and Taxes are great.
We are all over the place. Ed (Lalli, vocals) likes punk and hardcore. PJ is more of a blues and metal guy. Steve (Maffeo, drums) likes a lot of alternative. Mark (Powers, bass) likes Irish and punk. I listen to a lot of vinyl. All genres with guitar are ok by me. I like bebop jazz too. Lately, I have been listening to the new disc by MGMT. I've also renewed my appreciation of older stuff by Prince, Thin Lizzy, Love, Lenny Kravitz, Bob Marley, Spearhead and Shuggie Otis. The new CD by The Sword rocks. AC/DC's new one is great as well. Local discs by Mark Lind, Refuse Resist and Death and Taxes are great.
What's next for the band?
I think the most important thing now is writing new material. We would like to do a third disc within two years, and we need to get going now to do that. Right now, we are trying to write a song for a UFC fighter from Maine, Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis. He likes our stuff, and he asked us to try to write something. Gotta try to help out a fellow Irishman.
I think the most important thing now is writing new material. We would like to do a third disc within two years, and we need to get going now to do that. Right now, we are trying to write a song for a UFC fighter from Maine, Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis. He likes our stuff, and he asked us to try to write something. Gotta try to help out a fellow Irishman.
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