We met Zach, the singer for the American band PEARS at Punk Rock Holiday and did an interview with him for this zine. We really talked about everyting, so check it out!

Me:Okay we are here with Zach…

Zach:Is this audio recording? Okay, how are you doing, this is Zach from Pears.

Me:How is the tour being going so far?

Zach:Its been awesome. This is our most fun European tour yet. I think mostly because we managed not to kill each other. So weve been getting along really well, the shows have been really good, the people are super friendly, so its beed a blast.

Me:How would you compare the European punk hardcore scene and the scene in the United States?

Zach:In the US the dont like to let you sleep in the bed and feed you and they love doing that shit over here which we really appreciate. I guess there is a lot of like, I feel there is an element of gratitude here, that just isnt in the US. In the States, the kids are kinda spoiled you know, especially like the major cities that like every tour goes through, so theyve seen every band ever and when you go there, they are like:great(sarcasm). Theyre excited but when we come here everybody is like really excited.

Me:The same shit happened in our country, 20+years there was a war in ex Yugoslavia, I dont know if you are familiar with…

Zach:No, I am not into history.

Me:Well, there was one state Yugoslavia, made of six smaller states, governed by communist socialist regime, the guy called Tito, if you heard. After Tito died, the nationalistic tensions emerged and at the beginning of the 90-ies there was a pretty big civil war between Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia….So, 20+years ago when I was brought up on a punk hardcore scene we had very few shows and were looking forward to every show. Foreign bands didnt come often or not at all, we only had our diy bands so I wanted to say, kids in my country also became spoiled since like 2000 onward because nowadays multitude of bands come and play, we are an EU member so the borders are easier to cross…

Zach:So you get basically lot more tours and kids are less and less grateful.

Me:So what do you think about PRH? In my opinion it is the most awesome festival in Europe.

Zach:It is so beautiful out here. Like, I mean, getting to hang out and listen to these bands is great. I am also one of those spoiled kids because I play shows with them all the time you know. So I think like can I watch this band again you know? Its like cool, but I have seen it. Watching all these bands in this setting is so beautiful and amazing. And the weather is like New Orleans too. So, it might get muggy, but it feels like home(laughter).

Me:The part of Croatia where we are from in the north is also muggy, we have two rivers and it used to be swampy area there.

Zach:Swamp? Cool, I am comfy with swamp.

Me:You are from New Orleans right?

Zach:Yeah, we are New Orleans based band. I am comfy when I am sweating behind the knees(laughs).

Me:You have cajun food down there.

Zach:Oh yes, cajun kitchen, very fine. I am not cajun but cajun food is amazing.

Me:There is Crowbar in New Orleans and Phil Anselmo is also from New Orleans.

Zach:There is lot of metal from New Orleans and right outside New Orleans there is a town nicknamed Metallry because of how many bands come from there.

Me:I really love New Orleans metal sound, sludgy sound because it is like greasy. When I listen to for example EyeHateGod I can almost feel that sweat and grease and mud.

Zach:Its got that Southern vibe.

Me:How do you guys manage not to kill each other on tour? Is it hard to be in the same van, in the same ride for months?

Zach:Yeah, its really hard, I dont know how we manage but were getting better at it all the time. Its all about really kinda learning to make sacrifices and, you know, put each other first over yourself. I think thats when it comes down to were getting better and better at being more considerate towards one another and it just makes a happier environment to be in.

Me:One big happy family, so to say.

Zach:Yeah, I mean two years ago we were like cats and dogs, you know like fuck you all the time but you get used to it, youre better at it.

Me:You still work with Fat Wreck Chords?

Zach;Oh yeah!

Me:How did the cooperation happen? Did they contact you or?

Zach:That actually happened because of Ryan Young, Everything good that ever happened to us is because of Ryan Young. He released our vinyl originally but it was never his intention to have us forever, he wanted to find someone to pick it up so yeah, he put us in touch with Fat. He got Mike to listen to it, he got Erin to listen to it.

Me:I talked to one of my friends from one of, how should i put it, bigger Croatian melodic punk hardcore bands and he believes that like, when you sign for Fat, its like you made it. It is one of the best still independent punk labels and as a band you do not compromise your music and ideals by signing for them.

Zach:Right, its nice, I mean like they are just so artist friendly, theyre into you being creative and being you and theyre not like mega contract binding, they just wanna make you happy and comfortable. I man its the greatest label in the world.

Me:How did you get in contact with the whole underground thing? Do you still remember your first show when you were just a little punk?

Zach:Oh wow! I am not sure I remember who was playing but I remember there was a slamm venue in Matheny called Cypress Hall and they would have diy shows. This was basically like an empty room, the band would just set there like in this warehouse and I remember going there when I was like 12-13 and all the kids were wearing funny clothes, this was kinda cool.

Me:Like, this was where you wanted to be.

Zach:Yeah, absolutely.

Me:Did you see any violence at the shows while touring? Ignite played here two days ago and Zoli said that he was so thankful that this is violence free festival, everybody is so kind, taking care of each other and that they have seen a lot of violence. I sometimes get the feeling that in America from like the other half of 90-ies up to now, there is still much violence going on at the shows, like cliques city against city and stuff, is it real?

Zach:Its definitely something that was around when I first started going to the shows but I dont really see it much anymore. I think a lot of it has to do with the Internet. I think the Internet has a lot of good and bad things, and one of the good things about it is kinda everybody has been introduced to everybody. You know what I mean? So like I dont see anymore cliques to the point when it becomes violent, like I remember when I was a kid, you see like the punks fighting the skinheads or the hardcore guys would fight the punks.

Me:In our country we had many troubles with the skinheads in the 90-ies.

Zach:Skinheads always find the way to be the pain in the ass. Now I feel its less divided, everybody kinda knows everybody and thank God for that. I cant even imagine, you read stories like LA and New York in like 1981 at the shows, those kids like literally killing each other.

Me:I think the guys from Agnostic Front and Cro Mags really lived what they sing about. Roger, Vinnie Stigma and Harley Flanagan.

Zach:Yeah, I mean they lived through the era of punkrock gangs, I am so happy I missed that.

Me:How was the feedback for your latest album?

Zach:Great! The reception was awesome. It was hard following the first record because we have never written a record that we knew people were going to listen to. The first Pears record we wrote still thinking like it was going to do nothing. Now that so many people are paying attention and it was time to write another record it was like fuck, everybody is looking at me! Stop looking at me!(laughs)

Me:Its like you felt some kind of pressure to top the previous record is it?

Zach:Yeah, it was intimidating but I have never been more proud of anything than the second Pears record and I am happy we pulled it off and it was really good.

Me:Did you play with some Croatian bands while touring? Do you know any Croatian bands?

Zach:I dont know any Croatian bands like right now at the top of my head. I probably know Croatian or Slovenian bands but I dont know who is from where, it has been so many.

Me:Thank you Zach, that would be it. Do you have anything to add?

Zach:Well, new music comes in October, check it out! I am coming back to Europe solo in September with Joey Cape and Pears will be back in November. Follow our Facebook page for more information.