Houston Calling

10 Questions for The Hates

July 28th, 2003 · No Comments

On Wednesday, July 30th, one of Houston’s punk institutions–The Hates–will take the stage at another one of Houston’s institutions–Number’s Nightclub–as part of Number’s 25th Anniversary celebration.

Often revered as Houston’s “first and last punk band,” The Hates have been playing on the Houston music scene for years. The band started out in the late 70’s as The Guyana Boys Choir, but due to internal stuggles and financial difficulties, the band did not have the chance to release that much in the 80’s and much of the 90’s.

The 1986 cassette, Five, was the first in a series of four cassettes recorded during a seven year-period by frontman Christian Arnheiter and a variety of personnel: Xenophobia (1987) with Buzz Lux (Ted Barwell), bass, and David Jette, drums; New world Oi! (1992) with Eric Andrews, bass and vocals, and John Hawkins, drums; and Texas Insanity (1993) with Dave Deviant (Dittmore), bass and vocals, and Screech, drums and vocals.

In 1995, the band produced their first full-length album as The Hates.

We recently asked The Hates’ frontman Christian Arnheiter (aka Christian Anarchy) a few questions about his band and the local music scene in general. Enjoy.

10 Questions for The Hates

HC: You’ve been a mainstay of the Houston underground scene for a long time. What do you think of punk rock’s “rise in popularity” in recent years?

It’s fantastic. The young fans it has created is what makes me still want to do it.

HC: What do you consider to be your primary influences?

Sex Pistols–their lyrics and fashion speak to me.

HC: Your website says you saw the Sex Pistols play back in he late 70’s in San Antonio? How was that show? Was that before Sid got beaten up outside the bar in Dallas by a bunch of rednecks?

It was a redneck dive–no air conditioning, people packed in there like sardines, and when the Sex Pistols hit the stage the crowd went nuts.

HC: What is the one description that you hate to hear about your band?

“Old school.” We do not live in the past. I do not feel you come and see us to feel nostalgic.

HC: What’s your take on the Houston music scene?

It’s huge now. I see kids at our show now that would put the scene I first started in to shame. Their energy and devotion is amazing.

HC: Are you for or against the MP3 “revolution”? How are you using the internet as a tool to market your band?

I think it’s great. I love having a website because people can e-mail me and it’s great having that ease for me and them to communicate.

HC: Looking through the fan postings on your band’s site, guys want you and girls want you. How do you deal with “rabid” fans? Any stalkers yet?

I am always happy to take time out my busy schedule to reply.

HC: What the best gig you’ve done? The worst?

If I name one then another will come along which kicks that one out of that slot. So as of now I feel our Feb. 14th, 2003, show at Fitz. This group of girls in front of me made the show. I just do not know how they were able to keep screaming through the whole set.

HC: What’s next for The Hates in 2003?

We are rehearsing songs for our next recording. It will be entitled, Greatest Hates Two.

HC: What is in your CD player right now?

X-ray Spex: Germ Free Adolescence re-release

Thanks to The Hates for taking the time to answer these questions.

Be sure to catch the band live at Number’s with Patriotically Paranoid Insomniac,
Six Past Hell, Anubis, and Full Circle. Cover is $6. Doors open at 8 p.m.

This week’s shows also include:

Monday
Sixer @ Rudyard’s
Downpour/R.O.M.E./28 Cent Solution/Corah @ Fat Cat’s

Tuesday
Altaira/The Gobots/Graffiti Jones @ Fat Cat’s

Wednesday
Pale/Sail on Silvergirl/The Facade @ The Proletariat
The Delayed/Card Cheat @ Fitzgerald’s
Bile/Nocturne/M87 @ Rhythm Room

Thursday
The Show is The Rainbow/Mr. 1984 @ Super Happy Fun Land
Kevin Martin and the HiWatts/Hollister Fracus @ The Engine Room
The Virus/Blind Society/The Strap-Onz/The Krum Bums @ Fitzgerald’s
Biblioteca/Majority Rule @ Fat Cat’s
Reel Big Fish/Riddlin Kids/The Matches/Wakefield @ Numbers
Roof Badgers @ The Continental Club
Jimmy James & The Enablers/Wayne’s Donkey @ Rhythm Room

Friday
Clouseaux/Zombilly @ The Axiom
Bone Simple @ Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar
Grupo Fantasma @ Last Concert Cafe
Keith Karnaky @ Super Happy Fun Land
Guy Forsythe/Mandy Smith Group @ Rhythm Room
Slobberbone @ The Continental Club
Alkari/School Trauma Flashback @ Rudyard’s
Bob Schneider @ The Engine Room
Sonny James @ St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin

Saturday
NTX + Electric Sex (CD release)/Chickenhawk/Handdriver 9 1/2/Ioman Anti-Corporation/The Electric Set/The Sugar Beats @ Rockpile Records
Secret Agent 8/3 Fantastic/The Belle Curve @ Rhythm Room
Metallica/Limp Bizkit/Linkin Park/Deftones/Mudvayne @ Reliant Stadium
A Tiger Named Lovesick/One Version Aversion/*mytwilightpilot*/Frox Noxon @ Rudyard’s

Sunday
Liz Phair/Jason Mraz/Sondre Lerche @ Verizon Wireless Theater
David Gray/Turin Brakes @ The Woodlands
Alien Ant Farm/Die Trying/Strata @ The Engine Room
Felix Madison & Friends @ Rhythm Room

Now Playing in My iPOD: Spiritualized — Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space

Tags: Music