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Reid Haithcock Photograph
Legendary Virginia hardcore punk outfit Pg. 99 (or Pageninetynine) have flown beneath the radar in recent times, having not launched new materials in almost 20 years, with their final run of performances going down within the pre-pandemic period.
Effectively put together to reacquaint your self with the uncooked and gritty pressure of nature that’s Pg. 99.
The band has collaborated with upstart Virginia based mostly label Persistent Imaginative and prescient Data to re-release their unsung opus Doc #8, in addition to their must-have compilation Singles, a set which brings collectively the band’s unique demo tape, an early EP, a compilation monitor, and splits with Enemy Soil, Metropolis of Caterpillar, Circle Takes The Sq., Reactor No. 7, and Course of Is Useless spanning the band’s unique run from 1997 to 2003.
Doubling down on the excellent news, the ensemble are set to reunite for 3 reside performances in Richmond, Brooklyn and Toronto this August, the place the band will carry out as a 9 piece for the very first time.
“We began including members primarily as a result of we had loads of mates. It simply sort of turned absurd just a little bit and we thought it was humorous. I assume we thought it was humorous.” explains longtime guitarist Mike Taylor in a sit down with Decibel Journal. “It simply provides to the comical absurdity that’s Pg. 99 once we rise up there and do our factor.”
Moving into the way-back machine for a deep dive into all issues Doc #8, and Taylor displays fondly on a interval of progress and maturation for the band, at a time the place hardcore, and the rising fad of screamo through which Pg. 99 so-often discovered themselves tagged, had been thriving.
“At this level, as a result of it’s sort of so way back for me, I’m simply actually appreciative of it being perhaps the factor that basically sprung us ahead so far as simply being energetic in recording music and releasing albums and touring and taking part in on that individual report. However I’m nonetheless very pleased with it. It’s very distinctive of its time,” explains Taylor.
“Sonically there’s loads of cohesion to it, however I imagine on the identical time, the songs don’t significantly stick to 1 style. It’s sort of been lumped into screamo, which I get. Possibly it’s as a result of it’s just a little free type, however the songs are fairly completely different. There’s some grind, there’s some actually fairly elements, there’s straight up punk. I imply, it’s in every single place. And I feel in hindsight I look again at it as one thing that I’m actually pleased with. It’s one of many higher data I feel I had the pleasure of being a part of.”
Initially recorded and combined by Converge ace Kurt Ballou, Doc #8 sees Pg. 99 at maybe their most dexterous, a fierce, frenzied and layered providing that underscores the fact of all palms at that second in time.
“It’s one pumping muscle. It’s not dynamic in a approach, it’s simply within the pink. And I like the way in which Kurt was recording then as a result of he was taking these actually uncooked, very energetic bands like, say, a band like Orchid with Chaos is Me. He recorded that album and also you play that and that’s like a Ramones report from monitor one to the top. And it simply does it’s single function and it makes its level and it’s completed earlier than it. And I type of lump Pg. 99’s report into that.
“I feel that’s when Kurt was actually beginning, so stuff was very drastically harsh and loud and that music was type of effervescent within the scene. So it’s very specific and of its time, I really feel like, and I sort of like that in a approach as a time capsule. And I additionally nonetheless suppose it’s a very distinctive album as a standalone album.”
If Doc #8 is the cornerstone of Pg. 99’s discography, then Singles is one for the diehards, a dwelling monument to a younger group of passionate and daring artists on the rise.
“I do recognize it that it collects primarily the expansion of the band, as a result of it actually has our demo. It begins with the final stuff we recorded, which was the Circle break up. And I keep in mind once we recorded that materials specifically, we simply wished to throw all the pieces and the kitchen sink. That’s very balls to the wall, all the pieces within the pink. And it’s very chaotic and it’s quick and noisy and sloppy. I imply, it sounds indignant to me after I hear that.
“After which that demo, it’s simply mid paced, it’s sluggish. There are loads of riffs that simply don’t work collectively. One tune would simply be a riff manufacturing facility. I hear a band rising up, I completely do. I hear a band beginning to gel and it’s sort of distinctive. The band began sort of with slower, longer songs after which it simply type of, someplace within the center interval, like in 2000, we simply hit a stride of understanding how the band writes collectively and what songs work and what songs don’t.”
Tackling the age-old query as as to if new materials is on the horizon and Taylor is optimistic, if noncommittal to the thought. Although he does share that the long-rumored Doc #15 does exist and might even see the sunshine of day within the not-too-distant-future.
“There’s truly a Doc #15,” Taylor reveals. “It was recorded initially again within the day. It was alleged to be a break up with Creation Is Crucifixion. And on the time each bands actually cherished noise, so we sort of wished to make it extra like a sort of a noise report just a little bit.”
Teasing that the proposed album is “a tune in three elements” that ranges from horror film soundtrack vibes to heavy, droney mania that clocks in at roughly 15-16 minutes, Doc #15 may see the sunshine of day by Pg. 99’s new partnership with Persistent Imaginative and prescient. As for model new materials? Not out of the query, Taylor teases.
“I’ve been messing with stuff that I feel may simply be Pg. 99 stuff. I discovered myself writing it extra sort of simply daydreaming just a little bit like, Hey, the band’s all in Virginia, perhaps that is one thing we may do? Let’s simply monitor two songs and we don’t even say now we have to launch them or do it, however let’s put collectively songs after which go report and see what it seems like,” he shares enthusiastically.
“Yeah, there’s part of me that very a lot needs to see what it will be like to jot down with Pg. 99 once more and perhaps write a brand new tune. I don’t know if we’ll do it, however it’s additionally nonetheless very a lot a factor for us to get collectively and play the hits or go deeper into the catalog and play extra stuff we haven’t performed. We’ve got so many songs. It’s nonetheless one thing, I feel, we may dig deep into and have enjoyable and be like, ‘Hey, we’ve by no means performed these songs. Let’s determine them out. Let’s play ’em!’ We’ll play a few different songs that individuals know, and we’ll simply get pleasure from ourselves.
“I assume a method or one other with a band that’s just about inactive, the thought’s nonetheless let’s do what all of us need to do so long as all people’s having enjoyable and having fun with themselves. And I don’t know, new materials is just not out of the query. However I do suppose releasing that last doc is one thing that inevitably will occur. Hopefully quickly.”
Catch Pg. 99 at their three tour dates this August and pre-order their vinyl reissues right here!
Pageninetynine Tour Dates
● August 4 – Richmond, VA at Richmond Music Corridor w/ Catharsis, NØ MAN, Ghouli
● August 5 – Brooklyn, NY at Saint Vitus w/ Catharsis, NØ MAN, Corrode
● August 6 – Toronto – New Pals Fest w/ The HIRS Collective, Cloud Rat, and extra
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