The main question for this Excellent is: loud and fast, or heavy and
slow? Do you like your metal to be grinding out mercilessly, battering your
ears into submission (think Kyuss, Melvins, Nevada, Karp), or do you prefer
the short, sharp jolt, the welter of chords and furious vocals (think Zeke,
Minor Threat, early Crass). If it’s the former, then why not try FAMILY SEX
JACKPOT, a Seattle three-piece (sometimes four- or five-piece) that includes
Mark (also in Zeke) on guitar, Lainy on vocals, and Julie on drums. Their music
is ponderous, heavy, chaotic, and relentless–or so it seemed to me when I caught
them live at the Breakroom. (I dunno: it could’ve been the effects of the night
before. Whatever. It was satisfyingly crunchy.)
Family Sex Jackpot play music which is just right for sticking your head inside a PA bin to, and losing all concept of what’s happening in the outside world. And what more can music offer? The Stranger caught up with Lainy and Julie at the Comet Ta-vern, as loud music and the sound of pool balls played in the background.
THE STRANGER: What is the nature of your quest?
LAINY: You’re confusing us already. Changing the world with rock and roll.
Does being from Seattle cripple or enhance your re-putation?
LAINY: We have no reputation. Ask Alice Wheeler [Seattle photog]. She’s the
only one who comes to our shows. That’s why we keep adding members, so we get
larger audiences. We have five now.
Do you prefer three or five?
JULIE: I don’t notice anything because I’m in the back. I can’t hear anyways.
LAINY: It’s hard to tell. It’s just like a deafening guitar wall. I hate our two new guys. Can I just say that?
Name a favorite rock experience.
JULIE: We played in Portland with Zeke in November, and some guy went flying
through the air at our show.
LAINY: The first time I saw the Tight Bros. They were really exciting. They piled up and all kept playing. Me and Mark [guitarist] sat there at the end, staring at each other–he goes, ‘They were great! I hate them!’ There aren’t that many bands who make me feel happy to be alive anymore… Nebula.
Who’s your favorite guitarist?
JULIE: Mark from Zeke.
LAINY: We’re under contract to say that. Daniel Ash. All of Mötley Crüe. Glenn Baxton. Who do we like, Julie?
JULIE: I really like Mark’s playing. The sound he gives out. It’s like this heavy crunchy distortion.
How would you describe Family Sex Jackpot to an alien?
LAINY: A bunch of people who don’t know what they’re doing and can’t hear
anyway because they’re all too old and stupid and drunken.
What motivates you?
LAINY: Reading your articles, sir. I like my cat. And my car–a 1967 Malibu.
JULIE: That I’m finally getting to do what I’ve loved for my whole life. I hope it lasts for a while.
Are you going deaf?
LAINY: Yes I am, sir. I’ve been to the doctor’s repeatedly. There’s probably
nothing wrong, but I keep picking at it, so now there is. It’s hard to hear
anything–plus Mark is always turned up so loud.