UN: Slumlords have members from a ton of respected bands within the scene. What surprised me was that a member was in Day of Mourning which was a Toronto based band. How exactly did all of you guys come togther to form Slumlords? Did Dom end up relocating to Baltimore and found his way into that band?

Dom: After Day of Mourning broke up, I had a lot of failed attempts to start something new. I couldn’t see myself accomplishing anything I wanted to do from Toronto. I started going to Baltimore to fill in for Rick Ta Life’s many rotating lineups, and just took some time riding the backseat playing in other people’s bands. I did some time in both his bands CC and 25, got to to Europe and see a lot of the US, but when it came down to writing the new material it just wasn’t working out. I ended up playing for Wake Up Cold for a while after that because I needed something with a less hectic schedule than Rick’s bands. That was fun for a while, but I really wanted to do my own thing. Me and Scotty Stout and our original bassist Spidey started the band because we were tired of hardcore bands not playing hardcore. A bunch of us were hanging out over at Scottie’s house one day, and we were kinda cajoled into playing some hardcore karaoke covers to entertain everybody. We did a couple songs with Jeff and it totally clicked. From there we practiced every week and everything fell into place. Now I’m doing Slumlords full on, and have returned to playing in Wake Up Cold, and am also playing in Bring It On, as well a whole bunch of other projects.

UN: Would you say that it was important to bring back the every day lyrics that you don't see much at all these days? One of the great things about older bands was that they had songs about every day things. The song Walking the Dog rules, and who can't relate to that? Do you think that heartache and misery has become too common place these days?

Dom: Yeah what passes as artistic expression in hardcore these days has really gotten out of control. Everyone is trying to be deep and have gay band names with poetic lyrics. I mean everyone gets their heart broken and is miserable sometimes, and I understand kids feel a common bond with things like that but come on already. I’m not trying to be ignorant but from my own personal standpoint, everyone has these feelings and they deal with them. I don’t need to hear about them 24/7 in hardcore. If I wanted to do that I’d just listen to Joy Division. We decided to have songs about everyday things instead. Instead of reaching over to a broken hearted soul, and letting them know they’re not alone…we reach over and complain about redneck hicks, dogs having to go to the bathroom, or guests that stay over your house and eat all your food.

UN: When did Perfect Victim come into the picture for Slumlords? Were they interested in the band because of the demo you guys had recorded? Are you guys happy with how it's working out with them?

Dom: Mike loved the demo, and he did Blue Monday’s CD who features Jay of Mourning on drums. Jay has been my best friend since 6th grade so I asked him what he thought of Mike and gave him the full on 2 thumbs and 7.5 fingers up. I should have payed more attention to that .5 of a finger because since then Mike hasn’t sent us a dime, won’t return our phonecalls and has been printing shirts without our permission. Fuck him and his label…dude thinks he can win a bidding war and then do 0% work….don’t even get me started on his band StressCacks.

UN: Do you think that the hardcore scene has become everything that it once stood against? You have big sponsorships, bands on tv and on the radio, what was once a small community and something that wasn't easy to get exposed to is now stuffed down peoples throats. The good thing is that once the smoke settles and trends move on, we'll see who's left behind. It'll be all of the people that weren't exposed to hardcore through MTV2.

Dom: I was just kidding in that last answer, dry your tears young Michael. Perfect Victim and I Scream have been awesome to us and have been working really hard and getting results. Yeah you’re totally right about the state of hardcore. It’s pretty much that whole alternative music movement of the 90’s repeated here in 2004 dressed up as hardcore kids. The bandwagon will keep rolling to the next hot style of music, and the people that really love real hardcore will remain. I hope to be at the beach when this happens.

UN:You guys have been involved with bands that slugged it out for years, and now with Slumlords you guys are still slugging it out trying to get the name out there. Do you think that the DIY movement is becoming less aparant in the hardcore scene? Bands record a demo, dress a certain way and expect to be signed to Trustkill overnight. I think the problem is that there are labels that will pick up bands for the wrong reasons. Hardcore was never about the money and having perfect hair.

Dom: There are still tons of bands just doing it themselves. It’s like how it’s always been, a lot of kids hang out within their certain group of friends, and nothing ever grows. We’re trying to bridge some gaps locally. We’ll play with anyone, we don’t care. As far as labels go, everyone has their opinion as to what hardcore is or isn’t. I know where I stand and we do our own thing to reflect that. If that’s what they really believe in and want to do, then it’s ok with me. Wearing girl’s pants will never make sense to me though, maybe I’m just getting old.

UN: Was there a reason behind the record being self-titled? I'd see it as a way for the band to introduce itself to the scene. Basically saying we're the Slumlords, here's what we have to say, if you don't like it too fucking bad. Self-titled records pretty much always kick ass!

Dom: I think all of us forgot to think of a name for the album so we just rolled with it.

UN: Are you guys mainly just playing one off shows here and there right now? Do you think that if the right tour presented itself you guys would go for it? Or do you guys have obligations that make it hard for you guys to tour?

Dom: It’s pretty much impossible for us to tour straight out more than 2 weeks in a year. Most of us are tied down to jobs, kids, mortgages and the things that come with old age. Maybe if the right tour presented itself at the right time…who knows. We’re happy playing weekends here and there, and I still fill in on guitar for friend’s bands on short tours when I can. If Jeff was here he’d definitely be rambling about touring with John Tesh.

UN: I was definitely into the fact that the band name has in part to do with a few of the members occupations. Now you guys aren't slumlords excatly, that makes me think of Joe Peschi in that movie The Super. But you guys evict people right? So does that mean you are the people who let them know they are being evicted or do you physically throw the bums out on to the street?

Dom: We pretty much show up with 10 guys and a cop. Once we get there, we break into the house, change all the locks, cut the utilities and put their stuff outside to the curb. The sheriff is there in case anything gets out of hand. Evictions can be sketchy but what’s way worse is the job of maintaining these properties afterwards, and dealing with junkies or crackheads squatting in them. It gets pretty brutal.

UN: Sort of along the lines of the last question, do you think the working class aspect of the hardcore scene is almost completely gone? Looking back, bands were never afraid of getting their hands dirty and if it took working hard jobs to get by then it wasn't a problem. Everything is so clean cut these days.

Dom: Yeah a lot of people are spoiled, but that’s the way it’s always been. You’re always going to have people that work harder than others. Just like how success will sometimes go to people who just sit around and do nothing. That’s just the nature of the beast, you can’t let it bother you. Asides from being a different day and age, nothing much has changed in that aspect and it probably wont ever change. You just gotta roll with it and the immortal words of Mr T (featuring New Edition): ‘Be somebody! Or be somebody’s fool!’.

UN: What can we expect next for The Slumlords? Do you think that a vinyl version of the disc will ever see the light of day?

Dom: Vinyl actually comes out next week on Rocket Punch! Records. There’s a limited press made for Posi-Numbers Fest this year with special covers and a live set on Side B. I’m pretty psyched, I’m a total vinyl nerd. Other than that we’re playing a bunch of shows this summer, new 7” in the fall. Lots more to come, stay informed: www.SlumlordsEvictionCrew.com