Oktober-Fest
By: Sara Tajalli

Thanks to the mainstream media, when I hear the words “punk band,” I have been conditioned to picture some poppy outfit of little boys endorsed by the newest skate company. Phoenix based band, Oktober, once again, has taught me not to assume. This four-piece band pays homage to the sort of punk rock Mike Ness would enjoy. Their diverse backgrounds brought about various tastes in music. Singer/Guitarist Jason Marino brought with him a piece of the South with influences like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Creedence Clearwater Revival, as did guitarist Dane Hunter, who was influenced by Denver’s alt-country scene. Drummer Johnny Lincoln came from So. Cal. where he found himself covering songs from local heroes like Blink 182 and Unwritten Law. “It was fun,” he said, “but pathetic”

Their new album, The Stuff That Kills has been two years in the making, and is due out this month. When asked to compare it to their debut album Wasted Summer, Marino replied, “It is completely different from the first. Our songwriting has progressed and become so much better that there really is no comparison to the last record. We have become and acquired better musicians so we are now able to really make the music we wanted all along.” Lincoln added that, “It’s taken us a bit longer than your average band, but because of the delay, I think we’ve had a great opportunity to really plan things out, polish our songs, and be proud of what we’re putting out this time around.” To round out their ideal sound the boys have recently enlisted Josh Giebel, an old roommate of Lincoln’s, as their new bassist.

Included on the upcoming album are songs like, “On Sunset” which takes a stab at the artificialness of Los Angeles, and a cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.” I asked them why they chose to do such a widely covered song, and though they weren’t familiar with too many other versions, Marino seemed confident in the bands decision. “I heard it and it just clicked…someone once said to me, ‘a good song is a good song, it doesn’t matter who wrote it as long as it works for your sound.’” The most popular song among their fellow locals would have to be the ballad “Phoenix” which expresses a yearning for someone that has gone away. “We're very proud of it. When we perform it live and those first few notes come in and people know what song is coming up, they go nuts for it.” Further proof that this band is an Arizona favorite are the many awards that they’ve received, including “Best Punk Band” at the 2003 Arizona Music Awards.

Oktober has already graced the southwest with their live performances, but are uncertain if a U.S. tour is in their near future. “We’ve only toured in this region, I think it has to do with a familiarity of our sound which is somewhat of a California vibe” says Marino.

With their rising popularity in the southwest and the onslaught of their new album, the boys hope to gain some recognition from labels willing to sign them.