INTERVIEW
DIRTY MONEY
by Tim McGowan, March 2008
Posted on March 13th, 2008

Some times, a band comes around that may not be the best musically or have the most poetic lyrics, but sure know how to have a good time.  Dirty Money came across, to me, as just that band.  After only being an “official” band for 8 months before their 55 day self booked tour, they have made quite a name for themselves.  Surrounding themselves with other Gainesville natives, they are set to cement themselves in the large sea of do-it-yourself “Fest” bands that have been on the rise as of late.

Like any good drug dealer or show promoter, Ryan Weber has been able to push his band to amazing heights in the punk rock social order.  He proved this as he successfully convinced me to see his band last year at the Fest.  Impressed, I thought it would be fitting to sit down with him (or rather instant message) and discuss his little band from Gainesville.

So, Ryan what do you do in Dirty Money?

Ryan: I play bass and sing, backups mostly, and I'm kind of the "work horse" of the band as far as booking shows and all that jazz.

You've told me before you guys are originally from New Mexico, why the move to Gainesville?

Ryan: Well, for the obvious reasons, but I actually decided I was going to move here when I was 17 after I came to the Fest by myself and that's what really made me promise myself I would, I just didn't know I was going to have a band together by the time I did.  I met Colin and a couple years later we started fucking around and we decided to move somewhere that was kind of centrally located where we could play other cities and not have to drive 6 hours just to get to them, so Gainesville was the prime choice!  That’s really like 5% of the story of why and how we moved here, but I didn’t want to make it a biography. *laughs*

Speaking of the Fest, you guys have a song called "1-2-3 Fest", what is it about the Fest that draws you and so many people to it?

Ryan: Well, the Fest is just an amazing event that brings together a real special part of the punk rock community and nothing like it happens anywhere else in the world.  People come from EVERYWHERE and when you get there it really does seem like everyone is friends, you can approach anyone and most of the time you'll be greeted with a cold beer. It literally is the one weekend I look forward to all year, and now living in Gainesville, we get to be a part of it even more so, for example at the Fest 6 we had Paint It Black and Shook Ones play in our 2nd story apartment living room.  There was actually a show planned for each night, including American Steel on Sunday, but the cops came and threatened a $500 fine and to tell the apartment complex office to get us evicted.  It wouldn't have been a good scene, but overall it still ruled and will rule harder this year, because we should have a house. Wow, that was kinda long...feel free to edit it, this is only my second interview *laughs*.

Yeah, you invited me to that PIB show, but I declined unfortunately.  By the way, you made the Gainesville paper and the list of shows PIB has played on their website.

I did? That's awesome, I invited everybody I saw on the streets I guess, and I was fucking blasted.  Funny story, when the Flatliners came down and played here, I had missed their show by 10 minutes and I was in the bar and Paul (the drummer) came up to me and was like "RYAN! It's me Paul!" and I had no clue who he was and he told me I also had invited him to that show and he thanked me for it again.  *laughs* And yeah, I saw that article, I'm so surprised the office didn't come to me about it because they said it was in Bivens Cove in the paper, lucky for us they didn't put the apartment number *laughs*.  As far as making the show list on PIB's website...I didn't even know that...that's rad!

Yep, it says Ryan's house.

Oh shit, it does! That's awesome.

Indeed, so tell me what are some of the bands influences? 

*After this question, Ryan proceeds to go to work and I proceed to play Super Smash Brothers, as I waited for his return.*

Ryan: Alright...ready! What was the last thing you said?

Something about your influences, as a band.

Ryan: Oh yeah, what kind of influences?  Like other bands or in life in general?

Anything that inspires you I guess.

Ryan: Well I guess a big inspiration is having the odds against us really, we just want to tour and have fun and really we don't have any help as far as a label or booking agents and stuff like that.  We are completely DIY at the moment and do everything ourselves, aside from print our shirts I guess.  Our inspiration for what we are doing for the most part is just going out there and doing things most people think are impossible. People didn't think we could do a self booked 55 day tour after only being around officially for about 8 months and the odds were definitely against us. And I guess in a sense we are kind of crazy like that, but it worked out.  As far as bands, guys out there like the Riot Before and Static Radio are big influences in a way, because it's been done, and we're going to continue to go out on limbs whether or not we fall off them, in the end...it's all about having a good time for us and that's it.

Spoken like a true punk.

Ryan: *Laughs* Well I don't expect to get ANYTHING out of this, not even for someone to put out our record really.  All I expect is to have a good time.  I could have died the last day of tour and been happy.

Definitely something some bands should try once and a while.

Ryan: *Laughs* Yeah, so the bottom line is good times and good people and good music.

What bands have you been listening to recently?

Ryan: Oh man, *laughs* to tell you the truth...my favorite band I found out about this year were the Ringers from Boston, super cool dudes too, Ross and Barker actually came out to our show when we played there, but other than that I've been jamming a lot of GDP, This Ship Will Burn (Canada), Virgins, Riot Before, Static Radio, and the usual like None More Black/Kid Dynamite, Smoke or Fire, Hot Water Music, and of course The Replacements.  Oh and don’t forget American Steel and Descendents!  I guess I could go on and on.  That question is always hard.

Gotta love the Descendents.

Ryan: Yeah man, I made a mix with GDP’s new tracks, and the rest of the CD is Descendents and Strike Anywhere, I’ve been jamming it all week.

Speaking of GDP, how is the tour coming along with them and who exactly are they, for the ill informed.

Ryan: Oh you know nothing about GDP?  Research bro...Research!  *laughs*  GDP is actually a hip hop artist!  He's from NJ and used to play drums in a band called Post Office Gals which were like a thrash shoegaze type band.

I actually have heard of the Post Office Gals, I think.

Ryan: Yeah!  We played with them....shit, 4 years ago?  Miller aka GDP and I partied all night and we just kept in touch and in summer ‘07 he came down as GDP and played some shows with us.  We were fucking around and said we should do a spilt, cause no one does that type of stuff.  So here we are, going into the studio on Wednesday to record our songs for that split which will be out by the time we go on tour.

What can we expect from the new songs?

Actually, in my opinion they are really different. We are recording 4 songs, but only 2 will be on the split...they are different, I mean we have progressed, we wrote the songs on Far From Home over 2 years ago, so in my opinion what you will hear on the split is the best yet.  I guess you'll just have to hear it for yourself!

Are there any plans for a full length any time soon?

Oh yes...ooooh yes.  We recently just lost Curtis who played rhythm guitar so we are still trying to figure out what we are going to do as far as whether or not we are going to continue on as a three piece or find another.

Three pieces are always good.

Ryan: But we are definitely already writing songs for that, we plan on having at least 20 songs when we go into the studio and choosing 10-12 of them.  We are hoping to have all the songs recorded by the Fest, but anything could happen.  I do already have a title in mind, and we already have the artist who’s going to do the cover too as well.

Is Horsebites doing the art again?

Ryan: *laughs* No, he isn't.  We got a lot of stuff done by him already.  We wanted to stray away from that.  I think our new album is going to be somewhat "darker" I guess you could say, so we are talking to Stenvik Monstrom about doing art for us for that.  He did some stuff for Gunmoll and Rehasher.  He's also a native Gainesvillian which is very cool.

Rehasher is amazing.

Ryan: Gunmoll is amazing, touché. *laughs*

Can't wait to see and hear this.

Ryan: Yeah oh, and one forgotten point....Cristy Roads will be doing the split artwork.  I think we are REALLY lucky to have people like Richard, Cristy and Stenvik doing stuff for us.  They are all very talented artists.

It's important to support local artists.

Ryan: That's right!  Horsebites is blowing up!

Indeed they are.

Ryan: Cristy is a real cool chick too, so that’s another reason why we went to her...I gave her the idea (which is AMAZING) and she loved it.  The cover is going to be awesome.

That sounds great man, so any last words?  I gotta leave for Strike Anywhere soon.

Ryan: *laughs* Thanks for the interview, it was awesome!