Old-school hardcore band BOLD recently did a 3 week European tour and we caught up with their bassist Tim Brooks and guitarist Tom Capone to specifically get more info on that recent trip. The band has not put out new music in over 25 years and do not play out a whole lot so it was refreshing to see that they were able to pull off a run of this length and have the backing of their fans along the way. We also find out that the possibility of new music from Bold is something that could happen one day. Time will tell but for now check out this interesting read about the band’s recent trip. “Speak Out” rip/graphic by Bas Spierings with help from various Euro-based photographers who we thank for their time and effort. Check out their social media pages at the bottom of this interview.
BOLD @GROEZROCK 2019 IN BELGIUM. PHOTO BY: NOUS DAVIDSE
IE: What's up guys? Who or what was the catalyst for this recently completed tour happening? Over the last couple of years Bold has played some shows but it is usually more of a situation where it is a weekend run of shows or a bigger festival type of show. Was the band looking to do a more extended run like you did or did it start as another idea and just snowball?
Tim: What’s up! We had been looking to do a European run the last few years but our schedules were all over the place. Marc from M.A.D. Tourbooking reached out to Matt saying there was an offer to play Groezrock (Belgium) and that we could build up a small tour of club dates and a few smaller fests. It blossomed into 21 shows in 23 days.
Tom: We played a few East Coast shows with Breakdown in the fall of 2017. We had such a good time hanging out and playing that weekend. Why not do more shows if we can. We all know each other for over 30 years so it’s fun getting together and playing the songs we wrote back then. I appreciated that we still have a following and could do these 21 shows in Europe. I had the best time and hope more opportunities come along.
IE: Who played on this tour? What was the lineup and did you have any roadies or friends come along?
Tim: We played as a 4 piece, something we did in the late 80’s. Tom Capone on guitar, Drew Cardellichio on drums, Matt Warnke on vocals and me, Tim Brooks on bass. We stripped it back to basics. The last few years Porcell has played 2nd guitar in the band, but couldn’t make it out on this run. No roadies, or friends, just our jack of all trades driver/tour manager/merch man Aleks Todorovic.
IE: The tour was booked through M.A.D. Tourbooking who have been booking bands for decades and have a solid reputation. Has Bold always used Marc and MAD for previous tours and how far back does the history between Bold and M.A.D. go?
Tim: We did a string of European dates in 2006 and 2009. M.A.D. booked both of those, and we have used them exclusively. Marc and Ute have been our friends since the 80’s.
Tom: We have a great relationship with M.A.D. I remember their first trip to NY they stayed with us at the Schism House which was me, Porcell and Alex Brown’s place in Williamsburg. It’s amazing to see how M.A.D. has grown and still staying true.
BOLD 2019 WITH THEIR TOUR MANAGER/DRIVER "ALEKS THE TOUR DEMON" (ALEKS IN THE FRONT)
IE: Leading up to this Tim told me that the tour actually ran for a week longer than you initially thought it would be. What were the circumstances surrounding this and when did you find out about an extra week?
Tim: It all started with the Groezrock booking, then Ilter Fest in Odense, Denmark to kick things off and Örebro Fest in Örebro, Sweden to end the tour. We had these great shows to bookend the run, Groezrock lodged in between. We hadn’t been overseas in a decade, so we asked Marc to go for it and fill in any and all dates in between— and he did!
IE: What would you say are the biggest differences in touring in Europe today versus back in 2006 and 2009?
Tim: Our first European tour was in 2006. It was only a few months after we had reunited with Tom, Tim, Porcell, Matt and Vinny Panza. The promoters and venues in Europe are amazing and they treat the talent really well. Porcell forwarded me Shelter’s rider from the “Mantra” tour to use as a template years ago, and we have continued to use it. The people running the venues are super gracious and go out their way to make sure we are comfortable and well fed. It is always consistent. The biggest change I have noticed is how the crowd interacts with us live. The first time over, the “Speak Out” material got everyone pumped up, this time the “Looking Back” material seemed to get them moving… “Hateful” especially. Men and women would do this amusing bobble head shoulder dance to that tune.
Tom: Europe’s great and they treat the bands well. We did get to see some people we have known over the years. Billy Sven Gunther, and of course Marc from M.A.D. We had a mix of older fans and younger people new to hardcore. We did a straight edge fest one day and then a stoner rock fest another. We had a great show in Leisnig, Germany at AJZ, put on by Robin Mob. It was a straight edge fest with lots of younger bands and younger attendance. Waste (Sweden), Dedicate (UK), Primitive Life, Belief and others. I also noticed that straight edge has become more of a fashion in Europe. You’ll see someone with an X on their hand drinking a beer. Hardcore is a small but well circulated scene. If there were 100-200 people at a show we’d be psyched.
IE: What was the most essential personal item that you brought along on this trip?
Tim: It was not something that I packed, but something that Tom packed… a spray bottle of some sort of tea tree oil concoction. It was a lifesaver in treating wounds and making the unpleasant odors of the road not so unpleasant.
Tom: I brought the tea tree lavender spray. It helps keep your sweaty clothes fresh and kills bacteria. I worked for Justin Timberlake once and got the idea from his wardrobe
person. Also my blow up neck pillow was a life saver.
IE: Was there anything that you forgot at home that you immediately regretted?
Tim: I over packed so no… I had had all the essentials.
Tom: More band aids because I tend to shred blood over the fretboard.
IE: Did you get to see or hang out with a lot of the bands you played with? Over the course of the 3 weeks that the tour lasted what bands maybe stood out to you where you would listen to their music later on?
Tim: We got to play with our friends in Winds of Promise in Wiesbaden, which was awesome. Belief were great, and it was fun to play with Good Riddance. Government Flu from Poland were cool. I dig Samiam and was happy we got to play with them at Groezrock.
Tom: Winds Of Promise were cool to play with. We’re buddies with Joe Nelson, Joe D Foster and Pat Longrie. They played before us and they played “Filler” by Minor Threat, which we
were also doing every night. So that was funny and we decided not to do it. They killed it. Also they did some Uniform Choice that was awesome to hear.
BOLD IN SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY, MAY 1, 2019. PHOTO BY: MICHELLE OLAYA
IE: What were your favorite city/cities from this tour and what made them stand out?
Tim: Italy has always been great and Milan and Bologna did not disappoint. Maybe it’s the Italians unbridled enthusiasm. Berlin and Leisnig were two awesome shows in Germany. We love playing at Cassiopeia in Berlin. The sound is on and the fans are a good mix of new and old school hardcore aficionados.
Tom: I liked the smaller places that were closer to a village than a city. Places that are a traditionally homogeneous culture. Küsel, Germany was such a place. Not many
bands play there so we didn’t know what to expect. It turned out that the club was really unique and it felt like being in an underground bunker. The promoter Mitch has been the manager of The
Exploited since the beginning and had some great stories. Like in the ‘80s about how The Exploited went to see Motley Crue and wound up partying backstage with Nikki Six and Tommy Lee.
IE: Best food you had on this tour? What was it? Where did you have it?
Tim: The best food and overall dining experience was at our show at the Muziekgieterij in Maastricht, Netherlands. Maurice Gijsbers (Right Direction) booked us at his incredible venue, a converted old carpentry warehouse for the Sphinx toilet and porcelain company. Everybody should check this spot out. We all sat down (bands and venue crew) at a large table and broke bread together. It was a familial atmosphere with a stellar home cooked multi-course vegetarian meal— soup, salads, pastas. It made us feel right at home.
Tom: I was into all the traditional foods from each country. My first time in Europe as non-vegetarian. Schnitzel and bratwurst I really enjoy. Plus me and Tim are obsessed with European chocolates. Everyday turned into a hunt for different ones. I always had at least a few different bars in my bag at all times. I really like white chocolate and dark bitter cacao.
IE: Now that the tour is over how do you feel? When I was setting this up with you Tim you said that all of you were pretty fried and tired from the tour and you still had a week left of touring when we first talked about doing this interview.
Tim: 21 shows is a decent run, and 16 shows in a row during that run can be a little draining just from lack of decent sleep. That being said, you find a daily rhythm (pun kind of intended), and being in a different city every night is exciting.
Tom: Felt exhausted, usually never do that many shows in a row. But was totally fun and made sense to get the most out of it. It’s not like we get to play that often.
IE: The band hasn't put out a new record in over 25 years. What are your feelings on people still wanting to come out and see Bold play live?
Tim: I am amazed, appreciative and grateful that people still want to come see us live and we don’t take it for granted. There was a note backstage at our show in Solothurn, Switzerland that someone had written on the chalkboard that said “Carpe Diem. Enjoy your gig. It could be your last.” With that sentiment in the back of our minds we strive to refine our playing, put on a good show, come up with new and interesting transitions, and not just mail in the same old same old.
Tom: It feels awesome and I’m proud of the music we wrote. It sounds even better now since we can play a lot better than we did as kids. I think it’s a good show and we have
become more consistent. The funny thing people say about Bold is that the shirt is more popular than the music itself… but whatever brings them down to see us we totally appreciate.
IE: Can you see this tour being a catalyst of sorts for more touring or playing out more here in the states or maybe even a return trip back to Europe in the near future? Besides resting up from this trip are there any immediate plans with the band going forward?
Tim: We would love to play more US dates, maybe some California dates soon. Marc from M.A.D. came to our Berlin show and we discussed a plan for another European run.
IE: Will there be or could there ever be new Bold music? Have you guys ever discussed that possibility?
Tim: We recorded 4 new songs back in ‘06-‘07 that have been shelved (Tom, Tim, Matt, Porcell, and Vinny). Prior to tour, Tom and Drew went on a writing rampage and cranked out 7 new songs. Matt has a bunch of new tunes. There is an album worth of music out there. Whether we can all get in a room together and work it all out remains to be seen.
Tom: I’d love to do a new Bold album. We have some new material that I feel confident about. If we put something new out it would definitely make sense to play more shows and get
to more places in America and elsewhere.
BOLD IN SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY, MAY 1, 2019. PHOTO BY: MICHELLE OLAYA
IE: When you think back over the course of the years to the shows you've played, the songs and records you've put out and the friends that you made what stands out as the thing or things that give you a sense of pride with Bold?
Tim: People either love or hate Bold. Our fans are very passionate about us and our haters are very passionate about hating us. There is very little middle ground. For every “Bold is my favorite” there is a “Bold is the shittiest band on earth”. “Speak Out” is great, “Looking Back” is unlistenable” to “Looking Back” blows “Speak Out” out of the water.” I personally like all of our material, but my biggest sense of pride is how we progressed and transitioned from pre-pubescent Crippled Youth, to the Youth Crew anthems on “Speak Out”, to the more progressive and complex songs. Love it or hate it, nobody in NYHC was playing anything like “Today We Live” or “Hateful”. We were venturing out, stepping away from the style at the time. Tom’s guitar style and Drew’s beats were daringly different.
Tom: When I joined the band it already felt to me as I was playing with guys I looked up to and we’re inspired by. When we did the 7” “Looking Back” material it became something other than Youth Of Today’s little brothers band. That material still holds up for me today and is totally fun to play. I especially enjoyed playing a few old Crippled Youth songs because they are so pure in sound and lyrics.
IE: What are you guys up to in your personal lives these days? Longtime fans I am sure would like to hear about what you guys do for work. Do you have families and kids? Where does everyone live? What kinds of things do you like to do in your free time?
Tim: I moved from NY to California, and live in LA with my wife and 20 month old son. After 13 years of running a nightclub in Manhattan I decided to get back into carpentry when we headed west. I own my own company, Beacon Hill (@Beaconillca on IG…check it out), primarily restoring mid-century homes to their original state.
Tom: I live in Bushwick, Brooklyn. I did spend 6 years in LA and had a good experience. I work behind the scenes at some concert venues in New York. I am seeing all kinds of shows up to 6 nights a week but I’d rather be on tour playing. Hopefully we can do more Bold. I do Beyond shows when we get offers and that’s a blast and sounds great… also with guys I have known for over 30 years. As for new music, right now I’m talking to some people and am hopeful to do a new band or join something. Matt moved to Vermont recently and Drew lives in Astoria continuing his professional career in the percussive arts with Dead Heavens, Into Another and Aerial Love Feed.
BOLD IN WARSAW, POLAND ON MAY 8, 2019. PHOTO BY: CALLxMExKILLER
LINKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS INTERVIEW HAPPEN:
https://www.instagram.com/boldhardcore
https://www.instagram.com/callxmexkiller
https://www.instagram.com/michelleolaya
https://www.instagram.com/how_do_you_feel__
https://www.instagram.com/nouszld
https://www.instagram.com/tourdemon69
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