New Jersey street punk/oi band South Class Veterans are premiering their new music video, “Lies”, today on Dying Scene. The song will be featured on the band’s upcoming onslaught of a debut full-length album, Hell to Pay. That is due out October 25 on Demons Run Amok Entertainment. Pre-orders on black or brown vinyl are available here.
“Lies” is all about the nationalistic Leave it to Beaver mindscape, and myth of the american dream. It features a classically-styled street punk intro before chants of “LIES! LIES! LIES!” launch the viewer into an alternate account of the working class. The video is set primarily in a basement where “We’re scratching from the bottom for the rest of our lives.” I caught up with Bosco Baracus, the band’s lead singer to answer a few questions about the music video, the upcoming release, and skinhead culture in America. Stream the premiere for “Lies” and read those responses below.
DS: How do you relate to being a skin. What’s your story with that and how does it relate to you?
Bosco: Being a skin has always been about a brotherhood with people who were like yourself. There are so many subcultures out there with no solid basis. For me it started out with the music, fashion and love for soccer. What it became is a link to other people and bands around the world who’s lives and messages are relatable to my life.
DS: How did South Class Veterans come together? How did you first meet, and you said before that you knew right away you wanted to sing for the band. What drew you to that?
Bosco: SCV was an idea by Dan (bassist) that was thrown around to a couple of people to start a street punk band like no other. He and Scott layed some early tracks down and the sound just said “New Jersey street punk”. Fast, mad, and driven. I threw some lyrics over the tracks and our sound clicked. We added in Greg on guitar for that rock n roll flair. We’ve had two separate drummers since the beginning each with their own styles. Which are definitely recognizable from the EP and the LP.
DS: How do you think Oi/Skinhead culture relates to the modern world? Perceptions and misconceptions?
Bosco: Skinhead culture is always going to be a subculture and I’m glad for that. If it hit the mainstream, our lives and lifestyles would be completely exploited. Honestly I don’t think it would ever have a chance to hit mainstream with all the Nazi stigma attached. Yes, that is still around but the masses only see skinhead for that. As for the actual roots those have all changed as well. What started out as reggae and factory work has turned into hardcore music and union jobs. The times have changed but the working class mentality is still alive.
DS: Your new album Hell to Pay comes out soon. What are some of the details of that recording and publication? Are you excited?
Bosco: Definitely excited about this record and itching to see what it will do. We did have Hell to Pay when recording this record. From getting everyone a block of time scheduled to giving a cat an IV haha don’t ask! Haha Just happy the time is finally here. Ready to play some shows.
DS: The first song we premiered here on Dying Scene is titled “Squared Away”, and is about the eruption of violence at an infamous Dropkick Murphy’s/Oxymoron show in 1999 Teaneck, NJ. Did you have a role in that? What’s your take-away from that?
Bosco: That show in Teaneck was nuts. Personally I was involved. As the brawl started, I saw my buddies pinned in between two flatbed trailers with their backs against the building. I jumped up on the trailer, kicked one dude in the face and my friends fought their way out of that spot. It was crazy. Fighting everywhere. It was actually the only time the cops weren’t there that day. Haha A couple weeks later, they tried to settle it one dude from north jersey and one from south. That was wack. Strange part is, we’re all older now and are glad to see one another. Guess the true have stuck to the lifestyle.
DS: Tell me about this new video “Lies”.
Bosco: The song Lies is about how since we were kids we were taught if we worked hard it would be easy in the end. That’s a bunch of shit. We bust our asses every day and still are barely floating above water. Missed pay will definitely affect out lives seriously and that’s not what the American dream taught us.
Toodles!