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The sadly now defunct Muckhole has opened for Pennywise in Tauranga and Gisborne; for Offspring at the Auckland’s Powerstation and played the talk of the North Shore gig, the Xmas Eve Party at skate shop Off The Lip. Muckhole played their new album 3 times.
The album 'Kooza' was recorded at Lab Studios, Auckland and co-produced and engineered by Chris Van De Geer (Stellar*) who has previously produced or engineered for Strawpeople, Greg Johnson and Garageland.
Muckhole’s favourite opening spot was with Pennywise. "They were just like normal guys", says singer Sean O'Brien. "We liked the wavelength they were on, just turning up in New Zealand, do a couple of shows, go surfing, drink beer and get stoned. They were genuinely interested in us. Out of all the bands we’ve supported they’re the only ones that were an influence on us. They were semi-idols, I suppose. We respected them musically." In 1996 the band also opened for Green Day and the Sex Pistols.
But the band's favourite gig of the summer was the All Ages show at Napier’s State Of It venue at the old State movie theatre. "We expected no-one to turn up on a Tuesday night", says Sean. "There were 250 people, a good vibe and we did two encores."
Do Muckhole mind the 'North Shore' tag?
"Yes and no", says Sean. "We're kinda exploiting it now. People used to say, 'You're from the Shore' like it was Timbuktu. But Takapuna is closer to Auckland city than Newmarket. And Jason wasn’t living on the Shore when the band started."
For Muckhole their music has been associated with the surfing scene for years. "You get into music when you’re about 15", says the singer. "A friend's older brother was in a board club band who were into Dead Kennedys and Stiff Little Fingers. Most of the stuff that influenced Muckhole was mostly West Coast USA hardcore like Good Riddance, Bad Religion, NOFX, 10 Foot Pole. But I get pissed off when we’re called 'So-Cal punk' because we’re also into bands like Prong, Tool, Quicksand and Fugazi."
Muckhole have derived little or no inspiration from the NZ music scene.
"There's a healthy NZ hardcore scene but we’re not really affiliated with it," says Sean. "They're more East Coast USA inspired in terms of politics and musical style. We've never been part of that scene because we've come from the suburbs, the Shore, the beach."
Muckhole are realistic in terms of their musical ambitions.
"It's about using Muckhole to have fun. We'll pursue any avenue we can take it," says Sean. "But we're not gonna slug it out forever if we're not going anywhere. While it's fun we'll keep doing it, but as soon as it becomes work to keep the public face of Muckhole alive, we'll go back to how it was before and do our own things. We're not banking on it. We're not hoping to quit our day jobs. It’s just a good hobby."
Do Muckhole mind the 'punk' label?
"Americans call it 'punk'. We call American punk 'hardcore', says the singer. "It's whatever you want to call it. It's all just fast rock 'n' roll, really."
As for the end of the band, singer Sean O'Brien spoke of the possibility in an interview prior to the band's demise. "It's about using Muckhole to have fun. We'll pursue any avenue we can take it," says Sean. "But we're not gonna slug it out forever if we're not going anywhere. While it's fun we¹ll keep doing it, but as soon as it becomes work to keep the public face of Muckhole alive, we'll go back to how it was before and do our own things. We're not banking on it. We're not hoping to quit our day jobs. It¹s just a good hobby."
"These Kiwis deal out a chunky brand of fast, melodic punk with more hooks than Rex Hunt¹s tackle box. Sure to an extent you¹ve heard it all before, but this album rises far above the usual generic fare...Highly recommended" Loudmouth
"Muckhole merge together large doses of energy, emotion, noise and melody with the result being 15 refreshingly excellent guitar songs" Extra
"Their punk pop carry-on is infectious, fast and sharp" The Fix
"Yet they are presented with enough originality and realism to rate them high above a gazillion carbon-copy 'happy hard-core' New American Punk acts" Capital Times
Band Members:
Jason Ennor (drums)
Sean O'Brien (vocals)
Scott Patterson (guitar)
Aaron Peck (bass)
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