Right Idea interview part 1 of 2

Ever since hearing the 'Our World' record on React! I'm sold on Right Idea. They're one of the few existing bands playing the kind of youth crew hardcore which initially hooked me into the scene. Besides playing the right style they also have the, in my eyes, right idea how humankind should go about with the world and fellow humans.

Right Idea isn't a band that gets much exposure on the internet and in zines. They're also not a real tourmonster playing everywhere and Europe every three weeks. That's why I'm so excited to see them play in my hometown on July 30th. Drummer Nathe Hough-Snee and frontman Jeff Hess took the time to answer some of my questions. Here is part 1: The right ideas of Nate Hough-Snee.

Soon you will embark on your first European tour. What are your expectations? What do you look forward to? Have you or other guys in the band already toured Europe before? What tips did other guys gave you who already toured Europe?

We're absolutely elated! Geoff and I have been doing bands since we were teenagers and as we practiced last week, we were saying, "this is the stuff you dream of when you're a kid!" Cleveland is a great city, but it isn't known for it's well-travelled residents, so growing up, I was never expected to be going around in bands or for adventures. To travel the US at 18 was exciting and too go to Europe a few years later is just awesome. I'm looking forward to the people, including our friend Robert Refuse, and all the kids and bands who have supported us from across the pond. I am also stoked to take European trains, since I love the US's Amtrak, which is hardly modern train travel.

John has been to Europe with Good Clean Fun a few times, but he won't be with us this trip as he is expecting a new addition to his wonderful family. We're all totally new at this. I'm going largely on the advice of my friends Ole and Beej from Get the Most and On. Those dudes jet set about like nobody's business, so I trust their judgement in all things core related. Be sure to pick up their bands' new records on React! Records and see them when they come back to Europe.




You're releasing a new 7" and a discography both on Refuse. Why did you choose to work with that label again?
Most bands who release a discography are on the verge of breaking up, is that also the case with Right Idea?

Ever since my first band, Names for Graves, Robert has been a supportive friend and label guy. It was a no-brainer to go with Refuse because Robert does a label with bands that he likes and bands with smart, articulate members. Look at Anchor, New Winds or Blank Stare, just quality releases, from quality people and bands.

As for the discography, that was largely to put our material onto a digital release for kids in countries where vinyl may be prohibitively expensive. We did our releases all on vinyl, except for the limited demo tape, so we just wanted to make sure that people new to our band could catch up in one release. It also provides a means to drop all of our extra studio tracks from the last few years, including bonus tracks and covers.

As for breaking up soon, I think Right Idea has a few more songs and shows left in us, but none of us have the intention of overstaying our welcome or playing longer than we should. We have always been a part-time band, so it isn't like we're going to burn out or anything like that. We're simply going to go out before people are saying, "Man, they're still a band!?" that's for sure.

Lots of bands nowadays are very around online with myspace, facebook, twitter etc. So far the only thing I can find from you guys is the blogspotpage. Are you just lazy, don't you care about the use of internet to promote the band?

It's a two part system: one, we don't use myspace or facebook very much as individuals. They're huge corporate entities, and we're not trying to sell people advertising so they can hear our songs. Two, we wanted to be a band that was about our songs and substance, not hype. The people who want to find our records have to look for us, because we're not marketing for a big label or for sales. Up until the forthcoming discography cd, we were vinyl only on purpose. We love hanging out and playing music together, not trying to market ourselves. Maybe that makes us lazy, but I think it's a part of what Right Idea is, no hype, no bullshit, just fast, fun, straight edge hardcore.

I know Jeff Hess had Mainstrike over when they toured Europe. So what is your experience with eurobands. Which bands from here do you like, have you seen?


I really like I Adapt from Iceland (RIP), Victims and Wolfbrigade. Recently, I've been into Balance, Pair of Dunks, Anchor, True Colors and Common Cause, although I've only seen the last three and Victims and Wolfbrigade. As a kid, I loved Millencollin, Refused, the Business and the Buzzcocks and anything I could get on tape at the local skatepark. Fortunately, I have seen all of those big bands as they've toured the states more extensively.

Right Idea plays straightforward oldstyled hardcore, does that also mean you'll only listen to old bands in the tourvan? What will be your toursoundtrack?

Like most bands, we listen to lots of different stuff. I may bum the guys out with Ming and Ping, Lucero and the Jealous Sound, but I'll redeem myself with my favorites, like YOT, Judge and Chain. I have been jamming the newest Strike Anywhere for a long time now, plus personal favorites like Good Riddance, Iron Age, Gordon Solie Motherfuckers, Black Breath and Criminal Damage, so I'm sure it will be a diverse Ipod playlist as long as I get to have a say. Chuck will no doubt play us some Akon and Lady Gaga among his radio rap lists, while Hess will get us through the Youngblood catalog and then throw it back to new York.

Straight Edge is it a foundation, a way of life, something that comes natural?

Straight edge is what I've known my entire adult life. Not drinking comes as easily as breathing at this point, and I don't see it going away anytime soon. I know a lot of people can't socialize unless they have a drink, but I've never had that problem, so I go on edge. Some folks lean on different things to get through hard times, and I'm fortunate to have other things to lean on, like my friends, family and my passion, ecological restoration. From an ecological standpoint, I think that producing commodities like tobacco, alcohol and cash crops like opium and cocaine is wasteful. Why use resources to produce and distribute things that are unnecessary and that have vast detrimental potential? It doesn't improve anything, it just increases the disparity between social and economic winners and losers in global capitalism.