We get Straight to the Point with infamous Dublin band Crows ahead of their show at POGO this Saturday

Crows are a five piece D.I.Y hardcore-punk band from Dublin, Ireland, who play fast, down-tuned, hardcore-punk. This show will be the first Irish show since returning from a UK tour playing dates with hardcore giants Tragedy and Xibalba.

Having just released a 7" split-record with Dublin sludge-hardcore band Drainland on Suburban Mayhem Records, Crows are half way through writing their debut album "Better off Dead" and EP "ACABOD" due to be released later this year. Better Off Dead/ACABOD, are concept records based on the types of people who have played a role (big and small) in the degradation and collapse of Irish societal values and cultural identity, and as a result are better off dead. Bankers, socialites, overpaid broadcasters, corrupt politicians, property developers and so on.

Never far from controversy, Crows were at the centre of a national media-frenzy as a result of offensive merchandise (inc. the Gerry Ryan themed one at this link) correlating with the concept for their upcoming releases.

We caught up with bassist Joe Breaker ahead of this Saturdays show at POGO

Your Name
Joe Breaker

First record bought...
I think it was Rory Gallagher - Tattoo. Other than that it was probably a local hardcore bands, have a decent amount now.

Last record I listened to was ...
Jawbreaker - Dear You

The record I pretend I don't love is ...
No Warning - Suffer, Survive

The record I always go back to… Fleetwood Mac - Rumours. Anything by Jawbreaker or Brice Springsteen

My biggest musical inspiration is...
Kidd Blunt for making me punx

My first gigging experience was…
"Well I pussied out of singing in a band who did Offspring covers, I told them my mam wouldn't let me do it because I was too nervous, still went to the gig and got my first real deal kiss. V. Good craic

My first real gigging experience was with Real Talk! Playing with Too Kill. Was around 100 people there inexplicably early, pretty daunting."

My worst gigging experience was…
Played a gig with Crows in what used to be Radio City (now The Good Bits). The DART had stopped running so it was an ordeal getting in. One person paid in (girlfriend of one of the other lads playing) and the place smelled disgusting due to the floods happening a few days prior to the gig. Our guitarist Sos played with wah the whole time and it sounded too funny.

My best gigging experience was…
Playing with Ceremony with my old band was pretty incredible. With Crows, playing with Tragedy in Edinburgh was incredible, once a d-beat comes in the crusties go ballistic.

The person I would least like to share a stage with would be…
I dunno, anyone from Skrewdriver I suppose.

If I wasn’t a musician I would be a…
Haha, I'm not really a musician.

Favorite YouTube video...