UMMM - Decaying Youth #1 (August 2007)

Please say your names and what you play in UMMM

I'm Matt, I play guitar. I used to play drums in the beginning. Grant plays guitar too, right now John plays drums, and we have a sketchy singer type... We've had many line-up changes, Joshs, Keiths, Petes.

How did UMMM come together?

I don't think it ever really did. UMMM has been the band that exists between other bands. I've always wanted to be in an ultracore/powerviolence type band but it's hard to find kids listening to that stuff. So members start and quit often.

What has UMMM released thus far?

UMMM releases:
-Demo
-Self-titled cassette
-Split 7" with Hasrat
-7" EP, Not For Distribution To the Public
-Two tracks on The A.P.O.S.C. pt. 2 Comp

What does UMMM have planned for the future?

We are just finishing up writing the new 7" hopefully to come out before the end of this year. We're playing a show here in Calgary with Eye Gouger on May 5th. It will be fucking killer!!! We've been asked to play some out of town shows around Alberta but UMMM doesn't like touring or cars so I can't see that happening any time soon. In the distant future I see UMMM breaking up so we can all live in the woods free and at peace with our environment.

Do you care to tell me about your pro-gun vegan stance? Is this a stance for everyone in the band?

I take it upon myself to formulate and distribute all the official propaganda concerning the band. I've never had anyone in the band take an opposing side to positions stated, so I guess they're kinda neutral and let me go about my business.

About the ve-gun thing,...
I read Ward Churchill's Pacifism as Pathology and the views presented in this book guided all thought and action afterward. You'll have to read it because I wouldn't do it justice trying to sum it up here.

I'm NOT paraphrasing the book here, ... cops have weapons, the military have weapons, the politicians have the military, and most of the general population have weapons. If someone stands against the government, and/or police, how could they also ask them for protection and safety? It seems hypocritical.
-Humans (as well as many lifeforms) have demonstrated their ability to be violent and self-serving. Humans (as well as many lifeforms) can also display caring, empathy, and self-sacrifice. I guess the trick is to be empathetic and self-sacrificing in an environment full of self-serving violence.

I might be wrong, but, if one wants to combat or end oppression (if that is even possible) or at least end as much as possible, without inflicting some form of oppression to another, would be to make oneself un-oppressible? (If that is even possible). That whole self-empowerment thing.

A gun is a tool, like a hammer or a book. Neutral, to be manipulated by its user. It is an extension of the user. Life was extinguishing itself and the life around it long before guns, which means guns aren't the problem, the state of mind is the problem.

Veganism, for me, is an action and a state of mind. It displays understanding, empathy, and an independence of the common way of thinking. For me, being pro-gun ties into veganism well by seeing and understanding a tunnel vision used by individuals to justify their actions, and the independence to protect oneself from harm. Killing, imprisoning, raping, and torturing others is not acceptable behaviour, unfortunately most people do not share this mode of thought.

My life is mind to end.

What's the scene like in Calgary?

I've lived in Calgary for 5 years, and there has always been good things going on in the all-ages scene. In the last two years there has been a big influx of fast hardcore/grindcore type stuff. Like, I Die Screaming (Daughters' first LP meets metalcore), If I Look Strong You Look Strong (spastic indyrocky-grind), Act Fast (thrashcore), Think Don't Pray (pv/grindy, like Head Hits Concrete), Black Wednesdays (fast and rad, total posi), Cold Dead Hands (like His hero Is Gone only doomier).

The crowds are all pretty young, high-school kids or just out of high school. Most of the older kids come out to see touring bands and catch the locals as openers. One thing that happens a lot in Calgary is a band will play tons and tons of shows in Calgary, house shows, community centers, bars, like three or four a month, just in Calgary, and then burnout before they could record and release something, or release a CD and breakup.

It's boom time in Calgary, so for the next little while there will be mad shit I'm sure...

Last words?

Last words? I believe Karl Marx's last words were, "Last words are for fools who haven't said enough."

ummmviolence@hotmail.com
or
myspace.com/ummmviolence