When I started going to shows I was about 12 years old. I’ve seen talent come and go in this ever-changing punk/hardcore scene. I’ve watched bands grow to become rock stars, and I’ve watched bands struggle to survive. Through the years I’ve watched a person throw everything he has into this music. His name is Jim Domenici and I am proud to be able to interview such a dedicated, hard working musician.
The first time I had officially met Jim was at the Salem Elks Lodge in the early 2000′s. It was a hot night and most of the show had filed outside to catch whatever bit of fresh air their lungs could get. I watched this kid jump up on the back of a pickup truck with an acoustic guitar, yell a few words, and then began playing “Jumper” by Third Eye Blind. Before I knew it the entire crowd joined in like a choir, and we were all screaming the words as loud as we could. That night will live in my memory for many years to come. The funny part is, at this time, I had no clue who he was or what band he was in. Oh how quickly I would learn.
Jim was in a band called Hold This Moment. They would soon become my favorite band on the North Shore. The songs were catchy and had a Misfits type of quality to them. I still have the album “North Shore Herocore” in heavy rotation 9 years later. The shows were intense and I considered myself one of the luckiest kids in the world to be able to see my favorite band in such a small setting, just a few minutes from my house. Then the Salem Elks got shut down.
A little while later in 2003/2004 I found myself at a show in Melrose, Ma because a friend’s band “Taken by Force” was playing. The show was fun and everyone was having a blast. I noticed Jim was setting up to play next and I had asked a friend what was up. “Hammer Bros” was all he said before the place went nuts. Looks like my favorite band ended, only to form another one of my all time favorite acts.
To say that “A New Beginning” was a good song is an understatement. I am a huge fan of all of Jim’s work, but this song would change my whole outlook on the situation. I had never heard a song so powerful. Not to mention the reference to an older Hold This Moment song in the lyrics. They would go on to be one of the biggest bands in Massachusetts in my opinion. The band lasted until 2010, and would put on one of the best last shows I have ever seen. I’m sure anybody who was at Anchors Up will say the same.
Some would think that after a band breaks up, a person would tend to slow down. Not in this case. After Hammer bros. split, Jim went on a full US tour with his current band The Fake Boys. I have to say, Jim is doing it yet again. This band is unreal. They have a new release coming out called “Pig Factory” on Animal Style Records, and will be touring the US throughout April. I strongly urge everyone to check these guys out, and pick up one of their records. You’ll be very happy that you did.”
Adam: So Jim thanks for taking the time to do this. I know you’re pretty busy with the new record and tour coming up. What can you tell us about The Fake Boy’s new release “Pig Factory”? Any special meaning behind the title?
Jim: Plenty, “Pig Factory” is referring to the heavily corporate influenced society in which we all HONESTLY have had the privilege of growing up in. When I look at this world, my life, and my possible future, I can’t help but draw the conclusion that some pretty dirty people are in some pretty powerful places and they influence every aspect of our life for their own job security. The title refers to the corporate police state and all its layers that seem to aim at corrupting the working individual and trying to destroy their ability to think for themselves. The record documents my experience of living brainwashed for 22 years, breaking free through thought, realizing who I am and what I truly want to be, and trying to live outside the machine being my own man while not destroying the machine for those who enjoy being a part of it. Not only is it about realizing that I’ve been lied to my whole life, it’s also about realizing that if I and other free thinkers like myself can just find a way to exist around it, maybe it’s best that it exists because some people just couldn’t stomach the truth… though finding a way to be yourself in a society that makes it virtually impossible to live for anything short of everything in their eyes is not an easy task. So “Pig Factory” is theoretically where we are molded into the ignorant, spending machines most of us are and always will be, it’s where we learn to say things like “That’s business” and “That’s just how it is” or “It’s just what you do,” where we are taught to put people who work certain occupations on pedestals even though the life choices they’ve had weren’t available or didn’t appeal to a lot of us for various ethical, political, and financial reasons, and most importantly it’s where we learn to forget that IT’S JUST A JOB! There is a growing number of people who aren’t okay with being defined by who we’re making money for, especially while they sit at home playing brick breaker on their Blackberry occasionally responding to an email or text. I almost feel like this record is me trying to organize a union within the pig factory, ha. I don’t need to drop a history lesson but if you’re looking for one there is plenty to learn (good and bad) about the history of this great country that was founded on free thinking in which you were never/nor will ever be told in school. Either way, the system we feed and slave in is not the system our forefathers intended… sorry libertarians. Oh, and while I’ve got your attention, most of you libertarians aren’t libertarians at all. Record drops March 27th via animal style and we will be hitting the road hard starting in April so be on the lookout… for fans of: dead serious, warm, fuzzy, 90s influenced stoner pop.
Adam: Well said! This record is great. Do you feel like this release is on a different page than the previous Fake Boys’ albums? It seems like you guys are sort of finding your own sound.
Jim: Yeah totally, I feel like this LP is next level. The last 7″ is where I truly started letting go and giving a better picture of who I am through my song writing and this record is just another step beyond in the growing process. It’s strange because there aren’t a lot of real bands now. Don’t get me wrong, people start bands everyday… they record a demo, THEN go on tour, then finish college and do something else but these bands don’t grow like bands used to. They hear something they like that does well, rip it off, get big, realize they are fronts, and break up. If you go back and tear through the Beatles catalog you can feel the evolution, you feel the band grow together and apart, and whether it’s Help! Or The White Album, it’s still the fucking Beatles. Take Nirvana, Nevermind to In Utero, I shouldn’t even have to explain that… a beautiful pop explosion followed up by noise, depression, and the heaviest riffs of all time. By looking back on all the bands I love, the bands who taught what it is to be in a band, it seems like we are at that point where those bands really locked up who they were. Whether it is The Blue Album to Pinkerton, Rocket to Russia to Road to Ruin, or 24 Hour Revenge Therapy to Dear You, that’s where we are as a band right now and it’s the sound and feel we’ve been working towards since day one. The KOD 7″ and this LP solidify us as MY favorite band, and that’s all I ever wanted.
Adam: I can dig that. You’ve got a passion for honest bands, and hearing a band get tighter with each release. What are some of your favorites? You’ve referenced some great albums already.
Jim: I’m going to honestly attempt naming and ranking my top 30 albums ever…
1. Ramones – Road to Ruin
2. Nirvana – In Utero
3. The Beatles – Rubber Soul
4. The Fastbacks – New Mansions in Sound
5. The Jam – All Mod Cons
6. Weezer – Pinkerton
7. Superdrag – Regretfully Yours
8. The Beatles – Revolver
9. Black Sabbath – s/t
10. Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape
11. Ramones – Rocket to Russia
12. Nirvana – Nevermind
13. Black Sabbath – Master of Reality
14. Wipers – Is This Real?
15. Dinosaur Jr – You’re Living All Over Me
16. Husker Du – Flip Your Wig
17. Negative Approach – Tied Down
18. The Jam – Modern World
19. The Fastbacks – Answer the Phone Dummy
20. Husker Du – New Day Rising
21. Black Flag – My War
22. Superdrag – Headtrip in Every Key
23. Black Flag – Jealous Again
24. Bad Brains – ROIR Cassette
25. The Lemonheads – It’s a Shame About Ray
26. Foo Fighters – s/t
27. Off With Their Heads – In Desolation
28. Jawbreaker – Dear You
29. against me! – White Crosses
30. Descendents – I Don’t Wanna Grow Up
Honorable mention: Metallica – Kill Em’ All and Ride the Lightning
Adam: Right on man, no doubt you’ll be bumping these albums on tour. Speaking of that, what are you guys doing this spring/summer?
Jim: We leave in a week for a month with Light Years which will hit the Eastern half of the country, two weeks after that we will be doing a full U.S. by ourselves, in July/August we will be doing another full U.S. with Wolves at Bay, following that we will be heading to Europe for a month so, and then we head back to the States and we will be playing the fest for the first time this year in the end of October! And that is our year pretty much, as long is it all goes as planned, ha.
Adam: Fuck, that’s quite the schedule. Any spot you’re particularly excited to play?
Jim: Yeah man! We are going to Fargo for the first time, I’ve always wanted to go there for some fucked up reason. I always get excited to visit SLC and Denver too, we’ve got lots of friends in those spots and I really want to move to Colorado someday.
Adam: That’s awesome man. No doubt you’re busy as fuck, so we’ll leave you to get to it. Any last words?
Jim: For those who know that I know who they are, you don’t scare me and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Check out The Fake Boys’ music video for “Realest World”
Way to go Jim. Sounds great! I am your distant cousin from California. Visited with your mom & Dad (Ray & Karen) last summer and enjoyed them very much. Great People. If you ever get to Southern California look us up would be great to meet you in person. You definitely are a natural in the music industry. Keep on truckin, couz. P.S. I played drums with Uncle Phil and Uncle Freddie when we were back there in the east. Played music for 40 years. Nice to know that the family is still carrying on the music tradition.