Interviews

Interviews: Running Like Thieves

On the surface, Running Like Thieves are just another hardcore band making ends meet while playing the music they love. This all rings true except for the fact that these aren't just your average everyday musicians setting out to make a name for themselves. These are musicians that have been involved with bands such as Bold and Supertouch, and though many of today's hardcore followers may not understand the excitement such names cause, those who have been involved since the early 90's have reason to consider these men special. Ask Running Like Thieves, they'll blow you off and understate the impact the aforementioned groups had on the hardcore/punk communities of that time, yet these were bands that easily influenced a generation. Smother's very own LochNessPimPster recently had the pleasure to discuss these issues, as well as Running Like Thieves future plans and the current state of the hardcore scene. They may not be the most well-known indie band right now, but they deserve to be heard, and we strongly urge you to read on:

Smother: Before we dive into the questions, could I please have you introduce yourself to the readers?

Running Like Thieves: My name is Andy Guida, I'm the drummer of Running Like Thieves. Matt Warnke sings, Jon Biviano plays guitar, and Scott Heatherly plays bass.

Smother: How did Running Like Thieves come together?

Andy: Matt had a band called 'One Sided War' who needed a drummer and he invited me to join. We went through a few guitarists and one bass player. Basically, Matt and I kept trying to keep a band together because we liked the songs we had written, and when we could get shows we would have a lot of fun playing. Out of sheer stubbornness we kept going for 2 years until we got Scott and Jon. Matt and I had both played with Jon at different times after Bold and Supertouch, so he was a logical choice. I have been friends with Scott Heatherly since we were both 16. We had both played with Jon at one point a few years ago, so we all knew each other's playing and it made sense to get together.

Smother: How did you come up with the name Running Like Thieves, and is there any specific meaning behind the title?

Andy: There is no meaning to the title. It was an old Bold song that sounded cool as a band name. We wanted to connect ourselves to our past, but we didn't want to re-form an old band. For me it was my favorite Bold song after 'Wise Up', so it felt right.

Smother: Considering RLT are primarily made up of former members of indie legends Bold and Supertouch, when you first began recording did you feel any pressure to "top" those past albums, to sort of out-do what you had made in the past?

Andy: It actually never crossed my mind that we had to outdo ourselves. People will make comparisons but that seems silly. This is one band, Bold and Supertouch are different stories. Should we argue Bad Brains against the Cro-Mags? Who cares? I feel that Supertouch and Bold were just bands we were in and not any big deal. I don't say that to be humble; I'm not that humble. We aren't former members of Bad Brains, or something groundbreaking like that. Some people will compare us and shoot us down for doing a band again. To them I say "Sorry we still like loud and fast".

Smother: What is your goal for RLT, what would you like to see the band accomplish?

Andy: Global takeover! Ok, we'll settle for just getting one East Coast show a month. There is no specific goal. The band has only cost us at this point, so we are doing it because we enjoy it.

Smother: How do you tackle writing songs, does it flow naturally or does the band have to put their collective minds together and figure out a game plan for each track?

Andy: Song writing flows easily for us. We all can play guitar and write, so songs come quickly and easily. Generally, one of us writes a song and brings it to the band. Sometimes we arrange together, but not usually. Once in a while, we jam to come up with parts.

Smother: Same Time Next Year was an album of heartfelt, passionate hardcore. Can fans expect the same with Approval of the Crowd, or have you experimented a bit this time around?

Andy: 'STNY' was four songs Matt had during One Sided War, but never recorded, and two songs of mine. We simply weren't a band with that many songs at that time. We already had some rock stuff then, but until we got Scott and Jon, the songs didn't really gel. The new EP is two of my songs and two of Scott's, and it certainly is more diverse. We have 20 songs besides what's on the two EP's, plus songs from our past bands. We could have done a complete rock record or hardcore record; We decided to give people a cross-section of what we do. It's all the same to us- loud or fast or both- it's us.

Smother: You had the chance to tour Europe late last year..how did the crowds react in comparison to U.S. crowds?

Andy: Europe was great. It seems Europe is better to us than the US, right now. If we were booked more often at home, we would know for sure where is better. We have trouble getting US shows. We seem to be caught in the middle, and we are not really part of any scene, or movement. We aren't strictly hardcore or rock. People don't really know what to make of us.

Smother: Can you offer any wild stories from being on the road?

Andy: All I can say is that policemen who speak a different language, that I don't understand, make me nervous.

Smother: Hardcore today is rising in mainstream popularity, meaning new fans are coming across bands such as RLT, but it also seems to be distancing itself from the original concepts of unity that the scene was built on. What is your opinion of the hardcore scene currently?

Andy: Hardcore had so many factions when I got into it in 85. Looking back, there never was unity. The word unity implies a reason to be 'united'. No one ever gave me a clear definition. Hardcore is not exempt from the same social problems as the rest of the world. Unity meaning what? We all like the same music? The music is not all the same, though. Does it mean we are all anti-racism or anti-sexism? Obviously the scene hasn't been. Does it mean we are all straight-edge? We are not all straight-edge. We all say 'fuck the mainstream drones' for one reason or another, and not even all of us are so anti-mainstream. There is unity within a clique and that's how it's always been. I have my definition of hardcore, and so does the next guy. What most of it sounds like, today, is nothing like it was when I got into it. All the definitions are in constant flux. This is my opinion- I like good bands and I don't care what scene they are a part of. I want fans who think like that. Scenes are fleeting, but good bands withstand the test of time.

Smother: In a sort of follow-up to the previous question, what would you wish to see more of in the modern hardcore scene? Is there anything you'd like to see younger bands work on doing that is missing currently?

Andy: I would like to see more people listening to the Bad Brains and Scream, the more rock influenced hardcore. However, like scenes, musical preferences are in flux. I'm just a 33 year old who won't completely let go of my past. Bad Brains have been my favorite band since I was 14. They largely invented the style, and I feel they shouldn't be forgotten. To me, that's what hardcore sounds like.

Smother: What are your plans for the rest of 2003, aside from the release of your new EP?

Andy: We hope to tour Europe again in the Fall, and to get out more in the US. We also have a full-length record written that we want to record. Hopefully, 'Approval of the Crowd' sells enough so our label will want to do another record.

Smother: Any final thoughts before we wrap this up? Now is your chance to speak your mind, use this as a sort of soapbox if you will...

Andy: Don't live by singular ideas!

NOTE: To find out more about RUNNING LIKE THIEVES, purchase albums, download mp3s and more, visit http://www.livewire-records.com. Support the underground scene.