A Dirty Dozen with IAN MARCHIONDA from SUCK BRICK KID – May 2024

According to a recent press release: “SUCK BRICK KID will drop their new album The End Is What I Want via Smartpunk Records on May 17. Think back to the last time you visited your local dive bar or venue’s doodle-filled bathroom and peered at the walls. Did you stop to take note of the musings or the scrawling so delicately placed on the wall? Did it make you laugh? Did it make you cry? Did it make you angry or upset? Did you contribute? Did you rewrite history? Don’t worry — your secret is safe with us. Ultimately, though, Suck Brick Kid’s upcoming album is a fun, yet introspective punk record about how they think you felt when you inscribed your life’s work to that snot rocket-inhabited bathroom stall. It’s a little dirty, a little irreverent, and totally fun. It’s also a major source of inspiration for the new album.” We get guitarist Ian to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest release “What I Do When I Blackout Is None Of My Business” is about going full-blast into the night with no signs of stopping… Really whatever happens after that “light-switch moment” is truly none of our business. All of the tracks on this record are inspired by bathroom graffiti that we compiled throughout our countless boozy misadventures. The songs were then written from the perspective of the person who made their mark in the respective dive-bar/venue bathroom they were found in. Diehards will love this record because we really put in a TON of imagination and wit into the lyrics and artwork so there is a bunch of clever stuff to dig through and find the nuggets. Some topics carry over from song to song despite it being written from the eyes of “different people.” We really pushed ourselves to make these as entertaining as possible. So I hope that hard work and hundreds of beers paid off here.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I am sure each of us would have a different answer for this but since I am the one filling out this interview here is what I got… I started out as a musician (guitarist) and found the love of playing music through playing live music with others. In my early years, I used to spend pretty much every waking hour practicing and perfecting my craft but it wasn’t until I started my first cover band with my buddies in 6th grade that I truly fell in love with the act of playing music live and writing original music. It is always exciting to get together with a group of musicians and jam out some music. There is a certain kind of “magic” that seems to keep everything in check and that feeling is why I (we) keep doing this even though we aren’t getting any younger.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I have fallen in (and out of) love with plenty of artists, songs, and styles over the years but I like to think that my own personal experiences and dedication to my instrument is what guides me. Of course I can pay tribute to acts like Black Sabbath, Rancid, and even Justin Bieber but all that has ever been was a reference point or touchstone in the never-ending soundtrack of life. I hope to be that for someone else one day.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Once again the other guys probably have a laundry-list of artists they could rattle off.. But where are they? Why am I in this tiny room alone? Is that double-sided glass…? I think it would be incredible for 1 million different reasons but I think an Eagles x S.B.K. collab would be insane. We love exploring our abilities with vocal harmonies and the fact that the Eagles continue to be the reigning champs of this delicacy we could learn a thing or two from them during this collaboration. Also, Joe Walsh is my spirit animal.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I am the worst person to ask this question… this is largely because I run a recording studio in my free-time outside of being in the studio for the band as well as touring. So your question is basically my answer here.. Sorry!!

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

SBK is just an all-around good time whether that is on-stage, on record, or in person at your local dive-bar! I like to think of the band’s music as a time capsule. This is because we are all older (or getting there) and grew up in the “hay day” of skate-punk, hardcore, and ska. Making this music now is such an experience internally as we “go back in time” and recall the things we loved about the music and the culture as we attempt to not desecrate the history of punk as we haphazardly inject it into our modern productions. We were once compared to Bon Jovi but I think that’s because I wouldn’t stop playing the verse guitar riff from “Livin’ On A Prayer” in between songs when our vocalist was trying to tell the crowd what our next song was called.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

EASY. Who cooks? HAYDEN. Who gets the drinks? GRANT. Cracked out on guitar? DAN. Fills out email interview forms? IAN.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I am not really one to get “starstruck” per se but 2 yrs ago at SXSW at our label’s showcase event, I ran into Macklemore at a tiny thrift shop (I KNOW) across the street. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that he was just chilling in the environment that we all know him from. Pretty crazy. I know that instance is on someones bucketlist out there. That would be like bumping into Johnny Cash at a literal ring of fire, no???

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

My fingers might just be getting tired here but (to me) the best part about being a musician is just that, being a musician! Like a painter uses their brush to express themselves with every stroke I am able to conduct the masses by turning my amp up way too loud and ripping a couple choice pick slides to get the ol’ tubes warmed up. Can’t be beat.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

These questions have all been stellar! They are familiar yet you position them in a way that feels new and also has a little extra crunch to sink my teeth into. I do not long for interviewers to ask me questions but I am happily available to answer questions on behalf of my band. I think interviewers that do no research and just ask blanketed questions should just stop. Like “did you really want to know that or do you just ask 6,700 other bands this?”

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Not really! This project is one of passion for sure. Its super unique and such a fun time any time we get together and make things happen. However, although its not a misstep, we had a bit of trouble trying to navigate this project during “covid” which come to find out literally everyone found that difficult… But either way, I wouldn’t change a thing – it’s all going as expected!

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I think I would like to witness what truly went into pretty much any record before the introduction of computers / software. Not because “its sooo much easier now, there aren’t REAL musicians anymore” or even “musicians back then just HAD to be that good.” While I am sure there is truth in each of those I refuse to believe it fully. For instance, the harmonies on Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” I strongly believe that they WERE manipulated in some form or another. People just assume “Oh – they didn’t have computers back then so this is all tracked live and that’s it.” Recording engineers are / were very crafty and would physically cut tape or speed/slow the tape to achieve an “in-tune or on-time performance.” Even though I am curious about the exact process I totally understand and respect that this process (however it looked) is still extremely tedious and requires a clever ear and eye to make it come across as “flawless.” Lost my point but hopefully this is enough context.

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Category: Interviews