Welcome to Death & Night & Blood, a column where Ex-Cult frontman and Memphis mainstay Chris Shaw digs deep into the world of punk, exploring its far-reaches from the melodic and garage-y to the caustic and nasty. In this first edition, Shaw delves in deep with Golden Pelicans, the Florida-based band who are also debuting their new track "Black Mold" below.In an age when nearly every underground band that gets media attention is post-something, it’s nice to find a group of individuals still blasting out straightforward, skull-bashing rock and roll. There are no synth players in the Golden Pelicans. No one—and I mean no one—in the band looks like they could be a model. Self-described as “hard punk,” the Colonialtown, Florida band are the embodiment of no-frills punk rock, meaning their guitar player doesn’t have to scale the walls of a venue or kick your drink in your face to get his point across. The music does the talking in the world of the Golden Pelicans, and it’s saying “fuck you.” We caught up with the band over email mid-way through their first European tour to learn more about the band and their latest album Oldest Ride, Longest Line, a limited LP that sold out less than 12 hours after it was released last month. Don’t worry though, Total Punk Records should have the second press out some time in September.Read our interview and check out the song “Black Mold” below.NOISEY: So for those that are unfamiliar, how long have you guys been a band and how did you all meet? Who came up with the name?
Rich Evans (drums): Around 2011, Golden Pelicans was a local gang that sold weed out of their clubhouse in Colonialtown. We would hang around, play some of their parties, mostly doing Derry Weaver covers. We didn’t have a name, we didn’t plan on writing originals. Then later on that year, stuff started to change around town. Some of the guys moved to Taft, and the rival gang The Earls ran the rest of the Pelicans out of town. We took their name, and tried to tell their story.How does living near some of the biggest amusement parks in the country influence your music? You have the song “Oldest Ride, Longest Line” and the cover art for your second LP features some kind of demon looking creature on a roller coaster. Coincidence?
If you are talking about Uncle Lou’s and Wally’s (local bars in Colonialtown) they are a huge influence on our music. Most of our songs were written on the way home from these establishments. If you are talking about Disney World and Universal they have absolutely no influence on our music. We don’t live near them, they live near us. Plus we are adults, and broke because no one wants to pay us any money to play shows in America so if we want to ride roller coasters, we have to go to Europe. “Oldest Ride, Longest Line” is a Ric Flair quote. It’s a reference to Space Mountain. However the Space Orc on the cover of our record isn’t riding Space Mountain because he is an adult and no one pays him to play shows in America.You guys are on your first European tour right now, how’s it going so far?
Tour has been crazy so far. We played a women’s prison in Luzern a couple of nights ago, a small bar full of speed freaks in Northern Switzerland the next. Last night we played a brothel in Oberhausen. They fed us parfait and all there was to drink was pink champagne.You went back to Ryan Bell in Atlanta, Georgia to record Oldest Ride Longest Line. What made you want to work with the same engineer? What else has Bell recorded?
Ryan Bell plays in and records both GG King and Predator, plus him and Greg King run the awesome Atlanta label Scavenger Of Death. Many of the punk records to come out of Atlanta the last four or five years have his name attached to them. The worst part of recording is trying to explain to someone what your stuff should sound like, and with Ryan, that’s not an issue. He gets it, so all we have to do is plug in and play. Hopefully we get to record the next LP with him as well. Ryan’s the man.You come from a state known for its unusual residents. Have you seen or met anyone in Europe so far that look like they could be on that Florida Man Twitter account?
Oh yeah. Last night we met the Moondog of Oberhausen, Germany—this awesome pirate man named Kohnie (pronounced Connie). He was like a homeless Dracula that rolled giant joints. He’d be a great addition to Orlando.What is the most “Florida” thing about your band?
Our matching jet skis.You run Total Punk records, heralded by many as one of the best, if not the best punk record label in America. Who keeps that operation running when you’re on tour?
My buddy Robby is running things while I’m gone. This is the second time he’s done so. He did a great job last time and hasn’t called to tell me my house has burned down or that my website has crashed yet, so I think things are in good hands.Speaking of Total Punk, how many releases do you have under your belt at this point? What are you working on right now? What do you look for in a band in terms of putting their single out?
At this point there are six 12-inches and 32 singles, and I have brand new Predator and Suburban Homes singles coming out September 13 when I get home. I’ve got Rik & The Pigs, Black Panties, and Patsy singles in the works right now as well as a 12-inch by Foster Care. I don’t have any kind of system when it comes to what I choose. I just put out shit I like and hope other people like it too. With bands that are easy to work with, I have an open door policy. If they want to do another record with me, all they have to do is send it my way and if my plate is not too full at the moment, or they are willing to wait, it gets put in line.Orlando has been the destination for your “Total Fuck Off” music festival for the past two years, but what’s the scene in Orlando like when it’s not being invaded by cretins in denim vests? What local bands should we know about? Who do you guys like to play with in town?
[There are] tons of young kids hopped up on fake cocaine that they buy from a homeless ape-man. They never sleep so they are always forming new bands, breaking up their old ones. Shows get pretty wild. We’ve got some really good newer bands in town. Ataurx are a really awesome dark punk band, and there is a brand new band in town called Manic and the Depressives that are really awesome. They’ve only played a few shows and don’t have any proper recordings yet, but they are a new favorite for sure. Other bands we like to play with are Nuka Waves, Wooly Bushmen, Thee Wild Tones, and Thee Wilt Chamberlain.
Erik Grincewicz (vocals, duh): Thanks man, I think it’s good to have a routine. First I like to watch the sunrise, then I drink two raw eggs, jog 16 miles, pilates, yoga, then I listen to Henry Rollins stand up. Also, it always helps to warm up before shows with vocal calisthenics. Finally, I smoke three packs of menthols and chug whatever I can get my hands on.Erik, how did you come up with the thought-provoking prose of your song “Pissing in a Puddle of Puke?” Have you ever pissed in your own puke? Do your lyrics cover real life situations or are you just a twisted soul?
Chris, I have pissed in puke. I only wanna talk about Colonialtown in my songs.What’s next for Golden Pelicans? How often are you guys able to tour? Can we expect any US Dates in support of the new LP?
RE: We’re recording in Hamburg next week for a new seven-inch. Once we get home we’ll start working on the next album. Due to work, other commitments, money, we can only afford to go out every three or four months. We are doing a small tour with OBN IIIs in December, and hopefully a larger tour this upcoming spring.GOLDEN PELICANS ON TOUR:THU 13.08 KARLSRUHE, (GER) @ Alte HackereiFR 14.08 LUZERN, (CHE) @ SedelSAT 15.08 KREUZLINGEN, (CHE) @ HorstSUN 16.08 OBERHAUSEN, (GER) @ Gemeinschaftshaus RipseMON 17.08 BR?SSELS, (BEL) @ Le ChaffTUE 18.08 KORTRIJK, (BEL) @ PitsWED 19.08 GRONINGEN, (NL) @ The GymTHU 20.08 AARHUS, (DNK) @ Skate Bowl GodsbanenFR 21.08 COPENHAGEN, (DNK) @ LoppenSAT 22.08 STOCKHOLM, (SWE) @ Push My ButtonsSUN 23.08 UPPSALA, (SWE) @ Red RoomMO 24.08 GOTHENBURG, (SWE) @ BengansTUE 25.08 MALMO, (SWE)WED 26.08 BERLIN, (GER) @ Bei Ruth w/ACHTUNGSTHU 27.08 RECORDING HHFR 28.08 HAMBURG, (GER) @ Get Lost FestSAT 29.08 HAMBURG, (GER) @ Get Lost Fest
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Rich Evans (drums): Around 2011, Golden Pelicans was a local gang that sold weed out of their clubhouse in Colonialtown. We would hang around, play some of their parties, mostly doing Derry Weaver covers. We didn’t have a name, we didn’t plan on writing originals. Then later on that year, stuff started to change around town. Some of the guys moved to Taft, and the rival gang The Earls ran the rest of the Pelicans out of town. We took their name, and tried to tell their story.How does living near some of the biggest amusement parks in the country influence your music? You have the song “Oldest Ride, Longest Line” and the cover art for your second LP features some kind of demon looking creature on a roller coaster. Coincidence?
If you are talking about Uncle Lou’s and Wally’s (local bars in Colonialtown) they are a huge influence on our music. Most of our songs were written on the way home from these establishments. If you are talking about Disney World and Universal they have absolutely no influence on our music. We don’t live near them, they live near us. Plus we are adults, and broke because no one wants to pay us any money to play shows in America so if we want to ride roller coasters, we have to go to Europe. “Oldest Ride, Longest Line” is a Ric Flair quote. It’s a reference to Space Mountain. However the Space Orc on the cover of our record isn’t riding Space Mountain because he is an adult and no one pays him to play shows in America.
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Tour has been crazy so far. We played a women’s prison in Luzern a couple of nights ago, a small bar full of speed freaks in Northern Switzerland the next. Last night we played a brothel in Oberhausen. They fed us parfait and all there was to drink was pink champagne.You went back to Ryan Bell in Atlanta, Georgia to record Oldest Ride Longest Line. What made you want to work with the same engineer? What else has Bell recorded?
Ryan Bell plays in and records both GG King and Predator, plus him and Greg King run the awesome Atlanta label Scavenger Of Death. Many of the punk records to come out of Atlanta the last four or five years have his name attached to them. The worst part of recording is trying to explain to someone what your stuff should sound like, and with Ryan, that’s not an issue. He gets it, so all we have to do is plug in and play. Hopefully we get to record the next LP with him as well. Ryan’s the man.You come from a state known for its unusual residents. Have you seen or met anyone in Europe so far that look like they could be on that Florida Man Twitter account?
Oh yeah. Last night we met the Moondog of Oberhausen, Germany—this awesome pirate man named Kohnie (pronounced Connie). He was like a homeless Dracula that rolled giant joints. He’d be a great addition to Orlando.What is the most “Florida” thing about your band?
Our matching jet skis.
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My buddy Robby is running things while I’m gone. This is the second time he’s done so. He did a great job last time and hasn’t called to tell me my house has burned down or that my website has crashed yet, so I think things are in good hands.Speaking of Total Punk, how many releases do you have under your belt at this point? What are you working on right now? What do you look for in a band in terms of putting their single out?
At this point there are six 12-inches and 32 singles, and I have brand new Predator and Suburban Homes singles coming out September 13 when I get home. I’ve got Rik & The Pigs, Black Panties, and Patsy singles in the works right now as well as a 12-inch by Foster Care. I don’t have any kind of system when it comes to what I choose. I just put out shit I like and hope other people like it too. With bands that are easy to work with, I have an open door policy. If they want to do another record with me, all they have to do is send it my way and if my plate is not too full at the moment, or they are willing to wait, it gets put in line.Orlando has been the destination for your “Total Fuck Off” music festival for the past two years, but what’s the scene in Orlando like when it’s not being invaded by cretins in denim vests? What local bands should we know about? Who do you guys like to play with in town?
[There are] tons of young kids hopped up on fake cocaine that they buy from a homeless ape-man. They never sleep so they are always forming new bands, breaking up their old ones. Shows get pretty wild. We’ve got some really good newer bands in town. Ataurx are a really awesome dark punk band, and there is a brand new band in town called Manic and the Depressives that are really awesome. They’ve only played a few shows and don’t have any proper recordings yet, but they are a new favorite for sure. Other bands we like to play with are Nuka Waves, Wooly Bushmen, Thee Wild Tones, and Thee Wilt Chamberlain.
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Erik, you have one of the best rock-n-roll voices I’ve heard in years. How did you manage to make your voice sound so fucked up? Who are some singers that influence what you do in Golden Pelicans?
Erik Grincewicz (vocals, duh): Thanks man, I think it’s good to have a routine. First I like to watch the sunrise, then I drink two raw eggs, jog 16 miles, pilates, yoga, then I listen to Henry Rollins stand up. Also, it always helps to warm up before shows with vocal calisthenics. Finally, I smoke three packs of menthols and chug whatever I can get my hands on.Erik, how did you come up with the thought-provoking prose of your song “Pissing in a Puddle of Puke?” Have you ever pissed in your own puke? Do your lyrics cover real life situations or are you just a twisted soul?
Chris, I have pissed in puke. I only wanna talk about Colonialtown in my songs.What’s next for Golden Pelicans? How often are you guys able to tour? Can we expect any US Dates in support of the new LP?
RE: We’re recording in Hamburg next week for a new seven-inch. Once we get home we’ll start working on the next album. Due to work, other commitments, money, we can only afford to go out every three or four months. We are doing a small tour with OBN IIIs in December, and hopefully a larger tour this upcoming spring.GOLDEN PELICANS ON TOUR:THU 13.08 KARLSRUHE, (GER) @ Alte HackereiFR 14.08 LUZERN, (CHE) @ SedelSAT 15.08 KREUZLINGEN, (CHE) @ Horst
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