Over the past few years I wasn’t even interested in Albuquerque local scene since Time For Change disbanded and all that really came out of this terrible town were the Shins and the Eyeliners as well as cookie-cutter screamo acts coming up out of the woodwork. After reconnecting with a close friend who also happens to be a local promoter I have finally found hope in a music scene that I thought was dying. The Harlow Defense having influences from Blink 182 to Slipknot I believe are going to go far in this industry. I had the opportunity to catch up with Vince, Mike, Tony, and James at their show at the Launchpad and they let me know about their plans for recording as well as their opinions on a particular local crunk core act.
How did the band start out?
Mike: Well, me and him [James] started jamming when we were like freshmen. I moved here from New Jersey and I met him and he started playing drums and I was playing guitar. Then about our senior year I’d say I met Vince through another guy in another band that he played with called Better Late Than Never and we all started jamming together. We had to go through a few bass players. My best friend Adam played bass for us but he joined the Navy then my friend Ben was playing temporarily and he joined the Marines, but we knew about that.
Tony: We’re like the Harlow Defense Pre Boot Camp.
Mike: Tony was playing with a band called the Loud Side when I first met him.
James: Our first show was New Years Eve 2008.
Mike: Our first show was a party at my house for New Years for like 200 people. We almost got evicted but it was awesome. We played from like 11:30 to Midnight.
What bands would you say have influenced you the most musically?
Mike: It’s totally different for most of us. I guess between me, Vince and Tony though would be KidCrash, Blink[182] has always been a big influence. Strung Out is a huge influence.
James: And a bunch of local bands. Like Left Unsaid.
Mike: Yeah, Left Unsaid, Your Name In Lights, Zagadka, The Capulet who played first tonight. Basically a lot of people.
Any future plans for recording or touring?
Mike: In May we’re going to Tempe to record 12 tracks with Jeremy Ramirez. Then in June or July we’re going to record at a studio here and lay down about 8 tracks and choose 12 tracks and put something out and we’re in talks to do a small tour with the Capulet. We’re also trying to rent a green van that runs on vegetable oil.
What do you think of bands such as Brokencyde or the Millionaires being put on the bill for these huge summer tours?
James: Nooo!
Mike: Can we talk shit? We all hate Brokencyde. First off they’re making music worse as a whole. They’re exposing all these other genres of music to girls who probably have self respect issues already and that’s a huge thing in society in general.
Yeah, like I know Buddy Nielson from Senses Fail ripped into them.
Tony: And he was on tour with them. That was so awesome!
Mike: Yeah their new album is going to be called "I’m Not A Fan, But The Kids Like It". I actually watched like a making of their new video and I really had confirmation that these guys are douche bags. We actually have a sponsor, I’m not going to say who, that said we have permission to piss on them.
Written by: Sara P.
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