F---ed Up Interview: SXSW 2010

If anyone can break away from the pack and find a way to make headlines amongst the 2,000 bands performing at this year's SXSW festival, it's Toronto's most infamous punks, F---ed Up.

Nearly ever show the rowdy Canadians play turns into a sweaty debauched affair and their appearance in Austin should be no different. After all, these are the same guys, and girl, who started the legendary Lamar Pedestrian Bridge "riot" of SXSW 2008 during their unofficial secret show on the downtown foot bridge.

Before the festival starts, F---ed Up's Ben Cook gives us a little refresher course on their explosive band.

Describe your sound in your own words?

Obnoxious, too loud, over-hyped punk.

How did your band form?

We all went to shows at this anarchist collective in Kensington Market in Toronto. A lot of our own bands back then played the all-ages space, it had a real community vibe that I think Toronto is missing now. We all look back on it pretty fondly, I guess that space kind of brought us together.

What are your musical influences?

As you know, I'm into stuff like the Jonas Brothers and Shaggy. Jonah [Falco, drummer] is into Italian opera and whatever music he can put aftershave on to, and Mike [Haliechuk, guitarist] really only listens to gay disco. Damian [Abraham, singer] and Mike try to be the exact opposite in everything -- like, if Damian is taking a piss, Mike will take a s--t -- so Damian likes the opposite [of gay techno]. I have no idea what Sandy [Miranda, bassist] listens to on her iPod, wherever we ask her she says, 'a variety things.' And Josh [Zucker, guitarist] has an iPod that consists of podcasts about math and Screeching Weasel.

How did you come up with your band name?

Mike came up with the name because I think he wanted the most obnoxious anti-everything name, a name that couldn't be announced anywhere in mainstream anything. At first, I think the band members were against it. I always heard that Mike was really into it and thought it was a genius name and in retrospect, he's right. It really benefited the band because people get excited and feel naughty about putting a swear word in print in their newspaper.

What's your biggest vice?

Going out to eat and spending a s--t load of money on food is probably the worst thing I do. I don't really do anything that awful anymore, but if you asked me five years ago, I probably would have lied or said the same thing to cover my secrets. We don't really have a lot of exciting vices to be honest.

What's in your festival survival kit?

The survival kit so you don't get stressed-ival-ed at the festival is nothing that you can hold or touch or buy, it's just a whole s--t load of patience. People who organize festivals are one thing, but the people they hire [to work them] are just regular people who have no f---ing idea where to tell you to go. It usually takes you like two hours driving around in mud, trying to dodge hippies pissing all over the festival grounds, to finally find your place. Once you get there, and you're all set up in your little tent and you're eating grapes, it's all fine though.

Who was your first celeb crush?

I know I always talk about it, but Nick Jonas. On Valentine's Day in Chicago, right at midnight, someone from the audience tossed a cutout of him right at my guitar -- it made my Valentine's.

Beatles or Stones?

F--- 'em both.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

The amount of times I've heard that question and the amount of times I'll continue to hear that question, that's the craziest thing.