The Swingin Utters – or more properly the $wingin’ Utter$ – are stalwarts of that East Bay / 429 Gilman Street / San Francisco punk scene, coming out of the same spiky egg as Operation Ivy, Green Day and the rest. Forming back in 1992 and signed to Fat Wreck since 1996, they’ve played with more or less everyone worth knowing and pretty much seen it all. And yet they still manage to crank out some of the freshest Americana punk rock out there, year after year.
With a new album released just before Christmas and a return to these shores on the cards for February, we caught up with front man Johnny “Peebucks” Bonnel to talk about how they are still here, the current crop of Bay Area punk nonsense – and the difference between “Utters” and “Udders”. And here’s how it went.
Swingin Utters. Hello. How’s it going my good fellows?
It’s going well, thank you!
You’ve been recording again by the looks of it. Tell us more about your new one – “Fistful of Hollow”. You’ve been cracking them out again at a rate of knots over the past few years I see…
Fistful is more of the same type music with a few new and different sounding songs. Mostly because I collaborated with Miles Peck for the first time. We try to make each session a little different from the last like every band should.
Anything in particular motivated you to get back on the punk horse (or cow. Yeah. Cow would be a better metaphor. Obviously) with such vim and vigour in recent years?
I think the reason we’re busy again is we’re not getting any younger and I really love writing music. Cow is a better metaphor but we spell our name “Utters” not “Udders.”
You had a gap of eight years between 2003’s “Dead Flowers” and 2011’s “Here, Under Protest…” – what was the story there?
The reason for the hiatus was my kids were young and I wanted to be around for these important years of growth. We figured since we weren’t touring we shouldn’t release any new material. We never stopped as a band and we were still playing shows during that time but nothing extensive.
You’ve been kicking around for a while – Fat Mike and co hand-picked you from thousands to sign up to Fat Wreck nearly twenty years ago I believe. What have been the high points of all this business so far?
The highs have been travelling the world, meeting new and different people and of course being able to express ourselves. FAT has been our family and supported our efforts with love and friendship. Not too shabby!
How have things changed in the world of punk rock since you started (early nineties?) in your opinion?
Well, it’s much easier now to make music and tour so the music scene is overcrowded with the “entitled.” Back in the nineties it was more hands on and lonely, which made everything kind of underground and tight-knit.
Did that late nineties / early two thousands pop punk popularity thing do much for you?
When it got popular, we got a little more popular. It helped us but I don’t think it made it better.
And tell me… what’s happening today in the scene out there in the old SF Bay Area right now, as we approach the second half of the second decade of the twenty first century? Shows? New talent? Party time?
SF and the bay area is still alive and kicking with bands like toyGuitar, Get Dead, La Plebe, Western Addiction, Uke-Hunt, Shelby Cobra, Ryan Davidson.
You’ve mixed it with the likes of Dropkick Murphys and that Rancid. Who’s been the best fun to play with?
Dropkicks are always a blast! We haven’t toured with Rancid since our first European tour, which was great! Lagwagon was a really fun one and Goddamn Gallows was stupendous.
You’ve all had a proliferation of side-projects over the years. Which have been the most successful for you? And any new ones in the offing?
For some reason Filthy Thieving Bastards can’t get going again but I really like playing in that. Druglords of the Avenues are constantly trying to put stuff out and play shows. It’s tough now that the Utters are busy but I like the effort.
And given you’ve all done your own things from time to time– how come you’re still here, writing, recording and touring as a mammary-themed punk unit (;))?
We’re not a mammary-themed band but whatever makes you happy. The reason for our longevity is we all like each other and appreciate each other’s song writing and artistic input. It’s a lot easier at this age.
Speaking of touring, any plans to come back to the UK any time soon?
We’re touring with toyGuitar in Feb-March in Europe. It should be the best.
Now. I heard Mike Davies on the now defunct BBC Punk Rock show relate the story behind the name of Johnny Pee Bucks one time. Can you tell us more? (It can happen to any of us. So I know many of our readers would be reassured that they share their inebriation induced urethral dysfunctional proclivities with the rich and famous)
I don’t know if there is much more to the story of my name. Got drunk, peed my pants, paid for Taco Bell with pee-soaked bills, my friend Greg Williams called me Peebucks the rest of the day. Rich and famous? NOT!
Any bands that you think should get more attention that you want to give a shout to? This can be not just on Fat Wreck, but any you’ve come across on your travels – old or new!
La Plebe, Ty Seagal, Billy Childish, Western Addiction, The Widows, The Monks, toyGuitar, King Tubby.
And is there anything else we need to know about you before we go?
There isn’t anything you need to know about me that you already know.
Thanks so much for answering these questions guys. Your scene appreciates you 🙂
Thank you for your time and let’s make this world a better place. Meditate!
Jan 2015 – Photos: Alan Snodgrass
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