BeatRoute Magazine B.C. print e-edition - July 2016

SCUM HUMAN
just another generic power violence band
by Alex Molten
Loud, fast, and easy, Vancouver’s Scum
Human are the very definition of a
power violence band. The quartet are
embarking on a three and half week tour
with Japan’s Sete Star Sept (a band that is
definitely worth checking out) that will take
them down to New Orleans, LA, Tijuana, and
the up the West Coast. They have booked 25
shows and will be playing OneFest in LA.
Speaking of touring, have you got a van
you’re looking to sell? Because Scum Human
is looking to buy one for their upcoming tour
and would love to hear from you. Comprised
of Jordan on vocals, Tommy on guitar,
Shawn on bass, and Jake on drums, the music
they play is harsh with jarring switches
between slower breakdowns and breakneck
assaults.
This isn’t Tommy’s first tour with Sete
Star Sept, as he toured with them with
his other band Throat Slitter. The boozy
misadventure solidified friendship and a
second round on the road with the band.
“Amazing. They are great. Some of my
favourite people ever,” says Tommy, describing
touring with Sete Star Sept. “They
drink a lot. It was mostly me being dumb
and them thinking I was hilarious.”
This isn’t any of the guys’ first band
either. The bands they were/are involved
with are as follows: Jordan in Subsist,
Jake in Husk, Tommy in Throat Slitter and
Obacha, and Shawn in Osk. “Throat Slitter
wasn’t really going so I wanted to start a
very easy, generic, crappy power violence
band so [I] could write songs really fast.
And it worked!” laughs Tommy about the
formation of Scum Human.
“I’ve always wanted to play in a really,
really generic power violence band and
then they asked me. It’s totally sweet. I’m
totally down with worshiping one style of
music or one band and amplifying that to
cartoonish proportions,” says Jordan.
“Yup. It’s fucking straight forward power
violence, no complaints,” adds Jake.
“I just like to play fast,” concludes
Shawn.
They have two seven-inches in the
works, one a split with Concussive, and
another a fourteen song self-titled record
that will be released on RSR. They will
have tape versions of their self-titled release
for the tour and their split with Concussive
is already pressed and ready to go.
So if you’re a generic power violence fan
keep your eyes peeled for that.
Don’t know what power violence - even
the most generic style - sounds like? The
guys have no problem describing their
sound.
“Kentucky Swing,” says Jordan.
“Ambient post-punk but sped up a little
bit with some free jazz in there,” describes
Tommy.
“With the occasional crossed out nod,”
adds Jordan.
“Some hints to crossed out maybe put
subliminally into our songs. Unintentionally,”
clarifies Tommy.
All jokes aside though, the band needs a
van. Help them out if you can. 25 dates are
going to be hard to make in three and half
weeks if they have to walk.
photo: Alex Molten
Scum Human will perform at
the Astoria on July 20
TACO FEST
another year of hanging loose
by Ben Carney
Tacos will forever stand as a West Coast
favourite. Adored by beach bums and
businessmen alike, it’s hardly surprising
that the Mexican dish has entered its own
mini-renaissance in recent years.
Vancouver’s very own Taco Fest, which
will celebrate its second birthday on July
15th, captures the bodacious, fun-loving
spirit of the dish perfectly. One priority
that festival organizer Johnny Matter had,
was to make it an inclusive event, and avoid
the usual trappings of food-fest snobbery.
“I wanted to create a festival environment
where everyone is welcome, for a reasonable
price in comparison to other festivals,”
says Matter. While the ten-hour festival
features a host of unique vendors and a variety
of alcoholic and non-alcohol beverages,
there will also be 20 local bands performing
back-to-back on two stages. Matter stresses
that he also wanted to use the festival as a
way to showcase Vancouver’s underappreciated
musicians, by “broadcasting talented,
unsigned local bands to a massive audience
who normally would not be exposed to their
music.” Throw in the (aptly named) Ring of
Fire taco eating contest and - yes, that’s
correct - a Gigantic Taco Piñata filled with
prizes, Taco Fest might just be the good-time
shindig which officially puts your summer in
motion.
Not only is this an undeniably radical way
to experience some great food for a reasonable
price, donations from the event are
supporting a good cause too, as volunteers
will be collecting non-perishables for the
Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Tickets are
$20 at the door, children under ten and seniors
over 65 get in for free. So make sure
to get out in the sunshine and experience
the Taconaissance!
Taco Fest happens at Swangard
Stadium on July 16
July 2016 THE SKINNY
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