Municipal Waste - getting awesome crowd response

When most people think of the eighties, they remember MTV, bad hair, synth-rock, Miami Vice and swatch watches. These things were present, but a select few of us remember it as skateboarding, listening to DRI and Overkill and watching Troma films like Toxic Avenger and Surf Nazis Must Die.

For those in the second category, your nostalgic savior has come. Thrash guitar riffs laid over a canvas of speed metal drums set the backdrop for eighties hardcore vocals conveying images of tongue-in-cheek gore flicks, beer swilling and general mayhem. The band’s name is Municipal Waste and, though they may not be comfortable spearheading a crossover (a mix of hardcore punk and metal) revival, they sure do fit the part.

“I’m not a big flag waver for the whole crossover thing,” shares Tony Foresta (vocals). “I don’t want to say it’s trendy, but it doesn’t seem all that genuine. There are definitely genuine bands out there that are doing it, like Toxic Holocaust. I listen to more punk stuff. I really like Double Negative a lot. I like fast hardcore kind of stuff.”

Currently, the Waste (as they are affectionately known by fans) are touring with popular metalcore band Darkest Hour and Swedish legends At the Gates — who are credited with creating the Gothenberg sound and inspiring American metalcore. It seems odd to have Municipal Waste nestled among these more mainstream groups.

“It’s really weird because we have Toxic Holocaust on the tour too, and that kind of balances it out,” Foresta relates. “In a way, it makes Darkest Hour kind of the odd man on the tour. Not the odd man out, but we don’t really stick out as bad as we thought we would. The crowd response has been awesome. We bring our own crowd and Darkest Hour brings their own crowd, but everybody gets into it. Everyone’s there to have fun.”

With the addition of Dave Witte (drums — Melt Banana, Discordance Axis, Agoraphobic Nosebleed) to the band in 2004, expectations were mixed. That was due to his background in more blastbeat-oriented power-violence and grindcore acts. “He’s a big contribution. If it weren’t for him being in the band, a lot of people wouldn’t have noticed us. It set us apart from other bands in the throw back thrash vein. His name carries some weight, but it was a hard thing to deal with, too. Everyone thought we were going to be playing blastbeats from now on, but you don’t want to just do that as your career. You want to play different styles. We’ll throw them tastefully in there, though.”

Having written eight songs of new material, Municipal Waste looks to complete their new album later this year. For this band, writing songs is a group effort, with no superstar hogging all of the glory. “Everyone contributes,” confides Foresta. “It isn’t just like one dude writes the whole album. Ryan (guitar) and Phil (bass) knock around riffs, Dave writes his drum parts and then I’ll come in and write the lyrics. It isn’t just one guy going ‘this is how it should sound.’”

Foresta had some parting words for fans of live music, ones that are especially poignant in today’s Dallas, after the recent loss of so many smaller live music venues. “Get out there and support touring bands and local acts, “ he says, “because gas ain’t cheap and that’s why shows are $30 now.”

Anyone who went to shows at the Red Blood Club (which the Waste played on two occasions) knows all too well how important supporting your scene truly is.