An interview with Wes Eisold.

I conducted this interview with Wes Eisold (vocalist for American Nightmare/GUTG/Some Girls/XO Skeletons) in November of 2004 via email. Unfortunately, the zine I planned it to be in never saw the light of day, so I figured I'd post it here for interested parties. As you can see it's a bit hardcore-centric, which is something I'd change if I were to do it again. Enjoy!

Steve: Give up the Ghost had a pretty long streak of bad luck towards the end... What were the primary factors behind the bands demise?

Wes: I don't think we had too bad of luck towards the end of the band. It was pretty typical of the band and us, and by that point there wasn't anything that could happen to surprise us. The primary factor in the demise was mental health.

S: You made a statement on the GUTG website stating that you guys won't be playing a last show. What are the reasons for this?

W: I did not make that statement, Tim did actually. We never really talked about it while we were together, it was pretty unsaid, but obvious that when we broke up we wouldn't do a last show. Its cool when bands do that but it just wasn't our thing. I wouldn't want a production to an ending ever, just bring on the end.


S: I hear since the break up you have been working on a solo project called 'XO Skeletons.' How long have you been working on this and what can people expect when it drops?

W: I haven't really been doing anything. I just recorded a few demos, nothing great, nothing worth releasing. I'm getting around to working on it more, but time is a fuckface and I don't have any. I guess its punk or something shitty like that.

S: After four years of constantly touring in a hardcore band, how has your relationship with hardcore has changed?

W: Drastically. I think anyone who does a band, full-time or not, is going to have their opinion on hardcore pretty strained and/or stained. We were pretty bright-eyed and obsessed with hardcore when we started. We were just friends who wanted to do a band. When I got into hardcore it was to avoid assholes and motherfuckers and jocks and bullies. Then you kind of realize that you're surrounded by the same people you hate anyway, and it’s not too different from normal shitty life. Not everyone, of course there are some gems here. But for every one or two gems there are 50 pieces of shit who probably used to whip people with towels in locker rooms. Or they are under the impression that they are 'hard' now because they moshed once or twice, beat up one kid with their other teenage loser fantasy fucks. It just gets super old when you have to see shit like that everyday for a few years. Really old. It kind of loses the sentiment and I'm sure everyone in a band that’s not blindfolded kind of re-defines their definition of hardcore and sticks with that. I still like hardcore, I just think it’s been totally misinterpreted. To each their own.

S: Rumor has it that you have a book coming out in the near future called "Death Beds." Tell me a little about it. How do you think those who are into your lyric writing will relate to the content of the book?

W: Well they should like it as it is primarily made up of lyrical content. It’s going to be a limited press of 1000 I think, released via Deathwish Inc. It’s basically the lyrics in book form with some accompanied writing for the people who may have cared. Yep.

S: What makes you feel alive?

W: That’s a pretty broad question. I suppose there’s many different ways to answer that. The elections made me feel alive. Music makes me feel alive (dead sometimes too). I don’t have a special answer, except for my special friends. Lex, Big E, J. Morgan, F Sean, those dudes make me feel alive.

S: What do you think hardcore could benefit from more of?

W: Brains.

S: What are five records that have influenced you both musically and personally that you think others should know about?

W: Five records? Fuck I’m so miserable at answering questions like this. I really suck at it. Going blank and etc. Sorry I don't know.

S: How has moving from the constantly changing climate of Boston to the sunny weather of San Diego affected you?

W: I don’t get into as much trouble as a result of depressive winters. I don’t really frolic in the sun either. It’s been a good change, I guess necessary. I miss seeing faces and friends the most. Its just life, it doesn’t matter too much.

S: Although Some Girls is a project band now; do you ever see it taking more priority for everyone involved? Also, has there been any conflict or confusion with Juliana Hatfield's band of same name.

W: Well I don’t really think it is a project band. We take it pretty serious, especially as of recently. Okay, it WAS a project band, but now it’s a real band, just not full-time. We recently recorded an ep for three one g records called "The DNA Will Have It's Say." It is by far the best thing we have ever done because we put time into it as a band and wrote real songs.

I guess someone, Rob maybe, talked to Juliana or someone in her band and they knew about us but were not concerned. We're both pretty small bands, even though we are more brutal.

S: When you die, what will be your last words?

W: I've changed my plea to guilty.

S: What is next for Wes Eisold? Anything you'd like to add?

W: I can't look into the future. So I don't know. Shit is too redundant and boring. Fuck that up. Thanks Moz!