Fun Fun Fun Fest Interview: Kevin Seconds

Kevin Seconds @ Fun Fun Fun Fest
Sunday, November 9
Waterloo Park (403 E. 15th)
Stage 2, 2:20 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
[info] | [tickets]

Fun Fun Fun Fest is fortunate this year, as with the last, to have some pretty important names in punk rock on the bill. Bad Brains, The Bouncing Souls and All are just a small part of a long list of groups who have put their stamp on punk over the last 20 or so years. Kevin Seconds, singer of the legendary punk band 7 Seconds, is another one of those important punk figures, and albums like 1985’s Walk Together Rock Together earned 7 Seconds a spot in the hearts of many rebellious, disenchanted youths. Seconds is still really prolific, and he’s playing a lot of solo shows these days, which is going to be the set up for Fun Fun Fun. He also finds time to help keep punk alive on the airwaves with his show on KSSU in Sacramento, "Absolute Rant & Ruckus". Austinist recently corresponded digitally with Kevin Seconds to find a little more about what he’s been up to and what we can expect in the near future.

What are some of the bands you're playing these days on "Absolute Rant & Ruckus"?

The radio show is changing around quite a bit. Initially, it was about 95% punk rock, but now I'm including more and more singer/songwriter type stuff. I try and focus on songwriters from the punk rock scene ((Chuck) Ragan, (Tim) Barry, John Doe, Matt Skiba, Billy Bragg, Joe Strummer), but I also include older stuff (Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Johnny Cash) for historical and lineage purposes.

How prolific are you these days?

Pretty prolific. I'm always writing and recording stuff. It's about my favorite thing to do over everything. I've been blessed to not experience much in the way of writer's block.

What has changed the most about your music and ideals over the years?

I'm certainly less idealistic than I was, but I'm mindful of how poisonous utter cynicism can be. I still have faith in humans, but I don't like most of them very much.

What's your opinion of punk rock these days?

I still love the punk rock I grew up on and in. The current state? I really have no defined idea or opinion on it. I'm much more excited about the folks out there standing alone onstage with an acoustic guitar than I am the pretty pin-up boys you see on the cover of AP Magazine or whatever. Apparently, that stuff's "punk", and if that's the case, I'm not too into it.

What's the best environment for you to write a song?

I usually try and have a secret, quiet space somewhere away from home and work and stress where I can go in the middle of the night and just do it. My last two spaces were right next to train tracks, and I thought that was about the coolest thing ever.

What's one of your favorite anecdotes from the early days in 7 Seconds?

Man, I have no idea. There are way too many. I suppose just being in a van with my best friends out doing what we do and having kids really love and support it. Getting to play with greats like Black Flag, D.O.A., Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks and Minor Threat and living to tell about it.

Any new projects upcoming in the near future?

I'm currently writing and recording for two full-length album projects and a handful of split 7 inches with some of my favorite punk rock singer/songwriters. All of this will see the light of day in 2009.

Kevin Seconds MySpace
Fun Fun Fun Fest Official

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