SLAM DUNKS: AN INTERVIEW WITH BITTER END’S JACOB HENDERSON
Though some of you may be tired of me writing about it, This Is Hardcore was awesome this year. One of the festival’s highlights was Deathwish recording artists Bitter End, a San Antonio, TX act with a penchant for New York style hardcore. I already knew that their latest record Guilty As Charged was one of my favorites from last year, but when during their set I found myself shouting along with the majority of the lyrics, I realized just how much it had stuck with me. I was originally scheduled to interview the band in person after their set, but in all the chaos and fun that didn’t happen. Fortunately, guitarist Jacob Henderson answered a few of my questions via email while on the way to their next gig.
How do you feel your set went? First time at This Is Hardcore?
Our set at TIHC was awesome! We’ve played the first year and few since then. We spent the night prior in a posh hotel suite with some friends from England where I wore a robe and ate a nice continental breakfast. I always feel like i can riff harder when i get a few bagels and pastries in me. Real quick, let me mention i’m writing this on the van on the way to Indianapolis. Ethan [Raese] from Steel Nation is driving and Andrew from The Killer and Harm’s Way is sitting shotgun. Let me ask Ethan how he thought our set went in ten words or less…he says it was a “slam dunk.” I’ll let the readers decide what he meant by that.
Though you’re from Texas, your sound is undeniably linked with NYHC. Do you guys consciously write material in that vein or is it just something you’re naturally drawn to?
We consciously do it in a natural way. The New York bands were always our favorite so that is the style we are influenced by. Thats really all i have to say about that. Andrew would like to say something off topic…nevermind Andrew has nothing good to say he is now banned from participating in this interview.
Given that, What was it like for you touring with Madball?
We have toured with Madball twice and it has been incredible both times. This past winter we broke our vow to never tour in the snow again just so we could play shows with Madball. Let me ask Ethan who his favorite band to tour with was… He says No Turning Back, they were a real “slam dunk.”
Now clearly you guys have metal influences in your music. Do you listen to a lot of contemporary metal or do you stick with the classics?
We have influences that range all over. For Guilty As Charged our metal influences ranged from Sepultura to Machine Head. I don’t listen to contemporary metal or keep up with many new bands. I just start to write a riff and whatever happens happens.
Guilty As Charged was one of my favorite hardcore records of 2010. Now that you’ve had the chance to play cuts from the record live, how do you feel about the album?
We worked very hard on this album and after it being out a little less than a year I still feel very good about it. We have had the opportunity to tour the U.S more than usual this year and have played a lot of songs off that record. It is a great feeling seeing people respond positively when we play these songs live especially when I spent a year of my life obsessively working on that record. We have played all but two songs off the new record live… even the instrumental “Sueños Muertos”.
What were you trying to accomplish lyrically with Guilty As Charged?
We were going for catchy hooks and choruses for this record while still having meaningful lyrics that cover many topics while still organized around a general theme. I think we accomplished that. We are all guilty.
What bands are just blowing your mind in hardcore right now?
I haven’t been blown in a while. I have been in this van too long and we are all a little crazy. We drive 20 hours to Lubbock after Indianapolis. Steel Nation is recording new record.
-GS
Bitter End’s latest album Guilty As Charged is now available via Deathwish Inc.
