This is Ass-End Offend.

Ass-End Offend (AEO) is the name of the band, and they are likely from nowhere you have heard of. The compass point that will find you in AEO's America is north, north, as in the state of Montana, USA. Montana was once famous for its copper mines, timber exports and agriculture. Now Montana is an often forgotten, rural and scenic corner of America, 49th (out of 50) in average income. Montana is almost 1000 KM wide, and is home to fewer than one million people. Here, AEO lives the everyday horror of residing in an idyllic solitude that is more a place to retire with a view of the mountains, than a place to form a hardcore band. Despite the seeming limitations of being insulated by geography from the rest of punk rock America, AEO has toured the breadth of the United States, playing basements and any venue that would take them since 1999. Adding another member to their small but loyal fan-base with each broken down tour van and busted guitar string. AEO's take on hardcore is genuine in the rawest sense. People identify with AEO's desire to make a personal connection. It is not that AEO is yelling at you but yelling with you. Rural isolation ain't all that bad it seems... perhaps it also gives AEO a better eye for what's worthwhile, having not been mucked up in the politics of an entrenched urban scene. They have learned to trust themselves and their music which translates into AEO delivering a more compelling and urgent take on the American experience. Ultimately, it reminds you what got you into this hardcore business in the first place. I give you... Ass-End Offend!

Ok. Let's start with the basics. Names and Instruments.
Brent (Shultz): I play guitar and do some singing
Tom (Elston): I do bass and vocals
Matt (Svendsen) I play guitar and sing and I play the machete
Dan (Lawlor): I play drums in between when these guys are trying to talk and annoy them.
Tom: That's all we let him do.

What is the deal with the name Ass-End Offend? What does that mean?
Dan: That's a tough question, we don't know ourselves. We blame Tom for that one.
Tom: We were all playing in bands in Kalispell, before and I thought it would be funny to be in a band called Ass-End Offend, sort of as a joke. And next thing you know we have records out and couldn't change it.
Dan: It's a six-year long running joke.
Tom: It's about hating your job though.
Dan: Have you ever heard the term "butt hurt"… a way to say that maybe.

Before there was music or hardcore, what sort of stuff inspired you? What planted the hardcore seed?
Tom: For myself, I remember being 14 and just picking up a skateboard, just doing that. And I had and uncle, who was just getting out of prison, and he played a Black Flag tape for me. And, I was like holy shit and it all spawned from there.

Dan: I would probably say your basic lack of true interest in anything else I was into at the time. And being frustrated with your standard things like school and growing up in a small town, stuff like that. And then I found punk and hardcore and I got excited about that.

Matt: Skateboarding had a lot to do with it, and really bad glam metal...then I suppose getting constantly fucked with by jocks, rednecks and cops probably reinforced all of it.

Brent: Please let the record state that Tom just spilled beer all over himself during that question… I am not really sure how I got into all this…, kinda started in high school with playing the whole rebellion thing and then kinda ended up here. Started off with the Dead Kennedy's and Black Flag and Circle Jerks and there you go.

Dan: ...And the Cure...

Brent: That has nothing to do with it!

You come from a small city, why would someone from a bigger city like New York, Los Angeles or Atlanta give a shit?
Brent: I think we are a lot less jaded on some things. Sing about stuff they wouldn't even think about.

Tom: Shows are always mixed (in Montana). Bands always play together. There is not a competition here at all... We try to show our ambition by putting out lots of records and touring a lot.

Dan: I would say that is a good question, because in a lot of ways, you are exactly right. A lot of times people don't give a shit...

Brent: I think to some degree, sometimes people think that it is a draw that we come from Montana. Really? There is music in Montana? People don't believe that!

Tom: Hardcore from Montana? You always see questions marks around that.

What kind of legacy do you want you music to leave? What is going to be left once you stop playing?
Dan: One of the things… a kid showing up to a show and being inspired and seeing something that is not on MTV, or mainstream crap, and realizing that it is pretty easy to form your own band and express what you want to express.

Tom: If your ideas are genuine and you really like what you are doing you can go out there and start a band and make it happen. It doesn't have to be ambitious. It is like we are in a small town but it doesn't have to suck because we are from a small town. You can do whatever the hell you want.

Matt: The D.I.Y. ethics that are learned! Putting out your own record is a lot of fun. Or any other work you do, being your own boss, there are times when you will get support from no one, but that's life, so try to prepare yourself for it.

On a more personal level, I know a couple of you have kids. What do you think your legacy is going for your kids?
Matt: My daughter is eight years old... She lives in Seattle right now. The only thing she has to remember me by is the picture from the CD. She plays the CD for her friends when they come over to play. They don't like it but she's proud of it anyways. I think that shows her that she can be successful doing whatever she wants to do, whether people around her like it or not.

Brent: My daughter Sarah is 12. Since I have been a little kid I have always really liked music. It has been something that captivates me. My mom always listened to music constantly. My daughter is the same. She is learning how to play the violin and how to play the electric bass guitar. She is really musical. I think that is really a great thing personally. I think definitely me playing music, that's given that to her to some degree.

Tom: She likes Good Charlotte.

Brent: Unfortunately, she likes Good Charlotte. She seems to like our CD. I am not sure I want her to like it at this point (laughter). No, but I don't know. I think it is kind of fascinating. She wants to start a band with her friends. I don't know if it is cute, or exciting, or what.

What is your ideal venue that you like to play?
Brent: Basement with a lot of kids packed into there. I think those are the most fun to play. I personally like the small spaces where we are right there at the same level of the crowd. I think the most fun show was in Boise a couple of New Years ago. We had to play with our backs to the crowd so we did not get our guitars smashed into our faces. As dumb as that sounds that was a lot of fun.

Matt: I love all-ages basement shows. Reno shows have always been a blast! My least favorite place to play is bars where it is 21 and up… It's interesting where some people's priorities are- they'd rather be able to drink at a show than allow kids to participate.
What do you find hypocritical in the music scene today?
Matt: Bands that get pissed off when they don't get paid $300 for a small show. When someone does their best to set up & promote a show in their small town and charge at the door (& pull money out of their own pockets) to help your cause, they deserve a "thanks", not "we want more money".

Tom: You hit the nail on the head with that one.

Are you looking forward to seeing Germany and the rest of Europe on your upcoming tour?
Brent: Yeah were excited. I know very, very little about where we are going. I hope to be wowed. We'll see what happens.

Tom: I started to do the research, but you know what to hell with that. I want to experience it firsthand. I want to be totally fresh when I go over there. I am totally excited.

Brent: All of is it equally exciting… And, hey my last name is Shultz, so I have to be excited about Germany.

Tom: We are very excited to be going to Germany! We want to drink room temperature beer.

Dan: I want to drink yards of beer.

Last chance to let forth with any agenda?
Dan: I hope the US falls apart and we all have to stay in Europe.

Anything else?
Tom: We definitely want to thank Josh Vanek (at Wantage USA)... and anyone else that has taken the time to provide press or take photos… our good friend Niki... and all these people that attended the Punk Rock Prom (fundraiser). They helped us raise $2400 to get us to Europe. Total props to all these people. We would not be here without them.

Ass-End Offend have a new release on Wantage USA titled, "Character Assassins" and an upcoming EP "Unchecked Aggression".
For more info check out:
www.wantageusa.com
www.assendoffend.com
www.poisonedcandy.com
www.mtpunk.com

Interview by Rick Stoddart