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The Daggers Are Back!

Interview by Michael Cornelius

The cool band with the cool name is back in action after an unplanned leave from the scene. I interviewed Matt from the band to see what's up with the reunion.

I've heard your name came from the movie, "Thrashin'", is that right?
Yup. But, I like to think there's a million other Daggers out there. Just dudes who skate for fun, who'll never give it up, who're down for life. We just happen to be Daggers who play music. Poorly.

Wasn't that around when Alva was into the whole Dagger thing; had the Daggers board graphic?
Totally. Alva Dagger Tails. I had the Dave Duncan, myself. But John Thomas was always my favorite Alva boy. He had the best style and was one of their few street skaters. I just saw a TV commercial with Steve Steadham, by the way.

What was the history of Phase 1 of the band? When did you form and what material did you release?
We started around '97, we all grew up skating and stuff together. We've played a whole mess of shows, some great, some honest-to-god trainwrecks. We put out a few comp tunes here and there, one on Beer City, one on Haunted Town, one on some label from Detroit, I think, I can't remember. A few others. I'm not real good at this sort of thing. Remembering and stuff.

Why the breakup?
Why the reunion? We felt it was time for us to stop robbing the world of our precious, precious gift. It was time for us, the Daggers, to teach you, the world, how to love again.

I can dig it. Was skating the glue that brought you all back together?
Skating, yeah, and that time we all glued ourselves together.

Who are the members of the band?
We got Rob on guitar and Dan on bass, me on guitar and Christian slapping 'em. These are the people in my neighborhood.

How would you describe your sound now as compared to originally?
Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

Have you written a lot of new material?
Yeah, we're putting it all together now. Dan just got a house-before we were practicing in either our metal store shed, and once we got kicked outa there, we practiced in an abandoned house. So, it's nice not to have to watch your back while you're practicing.

What does the crew skate in Chicago?
I live in the burbs and prefer regular street. You know, ledges, banks, walls, stairs (nothing crazy), and curbs. Lots of curbs. I fucking love skating curbs-unquestionably the funnest thing ever, if you ask me. Ditches are fun. The occasional park. Free ones only. Can't hang with paying to skate. Under special circumstances only.

What kind of setup do you use for parking garage raids?
Currently, I'm jocking an 8 inch Label with Indys (duh) and Spitfires (duh). And a butt of a candle in the truck to create new terrain.

Has skatepark mania made it your way?
Oh, shit yeah. Like 10 new parks in two years. But it's got it's bad points. Most of them are so half-assed, and wood that's already warping. So, now at next years Board Meeting the politicians can say, hey we made a park and look what happened to it, it's all fucked up. Fuck skateboarding. It also gives them a semi-solid excuse to bust you now: "Well, you have a park to go to; go to it!". And the indoor, wooden ones are just huge day care centers half the time. Its fucked up, parents will drop off like 6 year old kids who are rolling blankly through throngs of kids two and three times their size at two and three times their speed. But, there are good ones, too. Some free outdoor cement places, that are mellow and free. Those are rad.

Any plans for road trips?
We'll be everywhere in 2000, like George W.

What are the bands you would most like to play with?
The Spice Girls. Or Suicidal Tendencies.

Do you have a website up?
Web what? Oh yeah, soon come. Keep at least one eye out.

Any shout outs or final thoughts?
STAY OUTTA MY YARD!!!

Whatever dude, Thanks!
Ditto.

Contact the Daggers at TheDaggers@skateboard.com