Here we are! 3 months after they came to Texas we finally get off our lazy butts to do an interview... And by we I mean I had nothing to do with it.
Darius Koski: Guitar, Vocals, and sometimes Accordion player of Swingin Utters!
Darius Koski: Guitar, Vocals, and sometimes Accordion player of Swingin Utters!
Pictures taken 10/12/2010 at Walter's In Houston
Interview By Hayden Garett
Hayden: To start off, who thought of the name and why?
Darius: A friend of ours had a pregnant cat with "swingin' udders". It was misspelled, and there you go: worst band name ever.
Hayden: Who were your key influences to start making music and why?
Darius: the beatles, the clash, the buzzcocks, toots and the maytals, the kinks, the stones, Wire, the replacements, black flag, chuck berry, roger miller, johnny cash, the pogues, etc. etc. etc.
Hayden: Where was your first gig?
Darius: at some party somewhere in Santa Cruz. My first gig with the band was at the Vets Hall in Santa Cruz. They'd played around town for a couple of years before I joined.
Darius: A friend of ours had a pregnant cat with "swingin' udders". It was misspelled, and there you go: worst band name ever.
Hayden: Who were your key influences to start making music and why?
Darius: the beatles, the clash, the buzzcocks, toots and the maytals, the kinks, the stones, Wire, the replacements, black flag, chuck berry, roger miller, johnny cash, the pogues, etc. etc. etc.
Hayden: Where was your first gig?
Darius: at some party somewhere in Santa Cruz. My first gig with the band was at the Vets Hall in Santa Cruz. They'd played around town for a couple of years before I joined.
Hayden: Where is your favorite place to play?
Darius: Alex's Bar in Long Beach
Hayden: What is the craziest thing that's happened at a show?
Darius: Nothing that crazy. Probably something involving drunkenness, fights, whatever. Can't think of anything all that interesting...
Hayden: Has anyone ever showed up naked to a show?
Darius: Of course. We're from San Francisco, via Santa Cruz. There are naked people.
Hayden: What was the greatest band you have ever played with?
Darius: The Pogues.
Hayden: We all know the punk scene isn't too big but could you see it getting bigger again anytime soon?
Darius: No, I think it peaked in the nineties.
Hayden: What is the worst thing the band has ever done at a restaurant?
Darius: Dumped pitchers of beer on other people and each other.
Darius: Alex's Bar in Long Beach
Hayden: What is the craziest thing that's happened at a show?
Darius: Nothing that crazy. Probably something involving drunkenness, fights, whatever. Can't think of anything all that interesting...
Hayden: Has anyone ever showed up naked to a show?
Darius: Of course. We're from San Francisco, via Santa Cruz. There are naked people.
Hayden: What was the greatest band you have ever played with?
Darius: The Pogues.
Hayden: We all know the punk scene isn't too big but could you see it getting bigger again anytime soon?
Darius: No, I think it peaked in the nineties.
Hayden: What is the worst thing the band has ever done at a restaurant?
Darius: Dumped pitchers of beer on other people and each other.
Hayden: What started you on the punk music?
Darius: Hearing Adam and the Ants and the Clash in the 4th grade
Hayden: What was the funniest thing you've ever done to a member in the crowd?
Darius: cussed them out? said something clever? not sure.
Hayden: Favorite song to play?
Darius: As far as songs that we play regularly go, probably 5 Lessons Learned. Anything new is always good, and more exciting for us.
Hayden: Favorite non punk band?
Darius: Too many to mention, as I mostly listen to "non punk" bands anyway. The Beatles, The Kinks, Elvis Costello?
Hayden: On your first warped tour what did you think about the tour?
Darius: It was really, really fun and we wanted to do them again and again. Great exposure for us at that time as well.
Hayden: Have you ever befriended a crowd member?
Darius: absolutely.
Hayden: Your tours with the Dropkick Murphy's, how were those, and how did you like playing with them?
Darius: they were fun. We've known Ken since they first started, so we're friends with those guys. good people.
Darius: Hearing Adam and the Ants and the Clash in the 4th grade
Hayden: What was the funniest thing you've ever done to a member in the crowd?
Darius: cussed them out? said something clever? not sure.
Hayden: Favorite song to play?
Darius: As far as songs that we play regularly go, probably 5 Lessons Learned. Anything new is always good, and more exciting for us.
Hayden: Favorite non punk band?
Darius: Too many to mention, as I mostly listen to "non punk" bands anyway. The Beatles, The Kinks, Elvis Costello?
Hayden: On your first warped tour what did you think about the tour?
Darius: It was really, really fun and we wanted to do them again and again. Great exposure for us at that time as well.
Hayden: Have you ever befriended a crowd member?
Darius: absolutely.
Hayden: Your tours with the Dropkick Murphy's, how were those, and how did you like playing with them?
Darius: they were fun. We've known Ken since they first started, so we're friends with those guys. good people.
Hayden: If you could play a show with any person, or with a specific band, who would it be and why?
Darius: the clash, the beatles, the kinks. For obvious reasons.
Hayden: What was the best leather jacket you've seen on a kid and where at?
Darius: I really have no idea about this one.
Hayden: So far, where do you think the biggest punk scene is?
Darius: I'll just go ahead and say Seattle
Hayden: Have you ever got in a fight on stage or been pulled into the crowd and fought?
Darius: Not quite, but I've come pretty close
Hayden: One last question, how did you like Texas?
Darius: We love playing in Texas
Darius: the clash, the beatles, the kinks. For obvious reasons.
Hayden: What was the best leather jacket you've seen on a kid and where at?
Darius: I really have no idea about this one.
Hayden: So far, where do you think the biggest punk scene is?
Darius: I'll just go ahead and say Seattle
Hayden: Have you ever got in a fight on stage or been pulled into the crowd and fought?
Darius: Not quite, but I've come pretty close
Hayden: One last question, how did you like Texas?
Darius: We love playing in Texas
Upon realizing the Utters are releasing a new album soon, I decided to ask Darius a few things about the release for the Articles page. So, expect that soon too! - Tx Punk
