In retrospect, 10 a.m. may have been too early to ask these down and dirty punk rockers, born and bred in Athens, to come in and record some songs. With a 6-pack of Jackie O’s Mystic Mama in one hand and equipment in the other, Weird Science rocked out some quick tunes with heavy subjects, despite some members being stumblingly inebriated at times. In true punk fashion they came in to play two songs for The Post Athens Sessions video series, which looks to highlight local talent in this vibrant music scene. As I walked into the room to begin the question and answer portion of the recording, they were knee deep in a discussion of capitalism and how the poor are exploited in America. It may not have been the most graceful performance, but it was real and honest; that’s all we can ask for from these Athens veterans.
The Post: You’ve been playing in Athens for a long time, how long has it been exactly?
Zach Fuller: Four or five years … We kept getting asked to play shows. We didn’t expect to keep getting asked to play shows together. … The band really came together when we started using this collaboration. We’re missing Nolan Klock, who is an active member of the other band I’m in, We March. But he’s a muscle as far as songwriting goes.
Is songwriting collaborative between you and Nolar?
ZF: It pretty much weighs on my shoulders most of the time.
Laser Dave: He writes the songs and then we f--- ‘em up.
ZF: Nah, they don’t f--- ‘em up they add a whole lot of f---ing awesome s--t to it.
As you’re talking about Capitalism and exploitation of the poor?
ZF: Yeah sometimes, but usually my songs are not about that kind of s--t. The first song we played (H.H.W.I. (When you feel the burn, get out of the hood)) is about heroin culture and how weird it’s gotten in this town. I grew up here and I’ve seen it come and go as far as it being a fad and whatnot, but once they turned Route 33 into the heroin highway I was just like I gotta write about that. And then “Party Trouble” is more about your initial ration to do something with a long term effect to a short term feeling.
LD: A permanent solution to a temporary feeling.
It’s obviously a lot of what you’ve experienced growing up here in Athens.
ZF: Yeah, obviously, it’s just what I’m personally going through. Having my friends beside me.
And you’re all obviously close friends here.
ZF: All these guys have individually saved my life at one point in time.
Dave, you had some pretty awesome solos in the songs you just played for us. Do you have any method to the madness?
LD: You do what feels good. That’s what I do. You do little bendies every once in a while … I stick my fingers in all the musical genres, I love ‘em all, I love music so much. And I can’t really focus on one genre I bounce around from time to time, this is just an exercise in punk rock.
ZF: That’s basically the way this band functions. We all embrace all sorts of music.
LD: The best part of this band is playing live shows and it’s so much fun to do that. That’s why I play music, is to feel that experience and it keeps you coming back time and time again. Because when you do a really great show and it feels good and you get off stage and it’s like “that’s why we did it.”
Athens Sessions: Visit thepost.ohiou.edu for an exclusive performance and interview with Weird Science in the lasted Athens Sessions.
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This article ran in print under the headline "Weird Science & Mystic Mama"
