Let’s light a fire, let’s light a pipe (which ever kind you may enjoy best), let’s turn the lights down, let’s put on Shubert’s Death and the Maiden (nothing to do with death metal or Iron maiden) and let’s hear a story. Imagine an old man sitting down with you in front of the fire and willingly telling you about his life. This could be a chapter thereof.
DONT ASK is what happens when three boys meet…. After having gone through some shit in their own completely independent lives…. They started playing together in (they think) early 2007.
Who are they and how did they meet? Well… it’s very 2000s really… no it was not a misplaced cell phone call that hooked them up, it was the internet. Chris had put out an ad on a musician web site a while ago, looking for someone to work on a punk project, but as though living in a punk rock fairly tale gone bad, no one replied…. Until one day Isaak decided to surf the world wide web and look for people who might be interested in getting a sort of punky - sort of not project going. And guess who he ran across… yeah all right it’s bleeding obvious ain’t it….
So Chris and Isaak set up a time to practice. Chris was gonna (and is) play bass, Isaak could play guitar and make noises with his vocal chords…. But the best thing was that Chris’ ad also came with drummer, and that’s where Dave comes into the picture (Chris and Dave grew up together)… lemme see – bass, guitar, vocals (sort of) and drums…. Why… that’s a band boys and girls – and so it was, DONT ASK was formed.
After six months of playing together these fine young gentlemen decided it was time to record and put out a demo. So Dave made a call and got them all into an excellent independent studio… and music was recorded for posterity.
What are these boys about? Well… making music – if you like it … great… if not – hey! It’s presumably a free country and there are plenty other myspace pages…. And so ends this little tale.
Have you finished your pipe yet? Ready for bed…. Let the old man who told you the story tuck you into bed… but beware for it has been said his name is Aqualung.
PLACES WE HAVE PLAYED:
THE NAIL- Ardmore, Pa
BUCKETS- Philadelphia, Pa
J.C. DOBBS- Philadelphia, Pa
THE NORTHSTAR BAR- Philadelphia, Pa
THE PUSSYCAT LOUNGE- Nyc, New York
LICKETY SPLIT- Philadelphia, Pa
JUNO'S BAR & GRILLE- Collegeville, Pa
THE MANHATTAN ROOM- Philadelphia, Pa
STREET ROAD BAR & GRILL- Bensalem, Pa
DREXEL UNIVERSITY- Philadelphia, Pa
O.N.E. at RITTENHOUSE- Philadelphia, Pa
GET HAPPY PUB- Philadelphia, Pa
Weekend Music Picks
Published on July 24, 2008
Written by Joseph McVeigh
http://www.spiritnewspapers.com/2008/07/culture/weekend-musi
c-picks/
check out www.spiritnewspapers.com for a great overall read
Who Rocks The M-Room? Don’t Ask
Philadelphia’s own Don’t Ask epitomize the simple, independent, and uncaring punk rock ideology. On their MySpace page, they liken their sound to, “Ourselves […] why would we consciously wanna sound like anything else?†That’s called not worrying about how others see you.
The band formed in 2007 and immediately started playing shows in and around Philly. Taking influence from “gut music – as long as they sound like [they] mean it,†Don’t Ask brings a strong measure of honesty to the music scene.
Songs like “1861†question popular views of America. Toying with the seemingly inherent fear people have of others, the song parallels today’s xenophobia with that of the Civil War era, saying “America has a jihad of its own.†But such social criticism does not set them apart from any other punk band (or any other Fox News talking head either).
What does set Don’t Ask in the category of punk bands worth listening to – and let’s face it, that’s one of two categories punk bands fall into – is the music. Contrary to the common pretentious belief, punk fans know music. With such a simple style, it boils down to what’s good and what’s not. It comes down to basic music and knowing what works. Don’t Ask’s music works.
Like all of the better punk rock you know, Don’t Ask’s music is fundamental good rhythm disguised by distortion and good old fashioned punk vulgarity. Listening to it makes you realize that music is a medium of releasing energy.
Punk rock justification aside, Don’t Ask is a band you should see. The energy and emotion of their songs translates into a great live act. Check it out at The M-Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) on Sunday, July 20 at 9 pm. Don’t expect to be disappointed.
