Jaya The Cat will release on 17th November 2017 their brand new, long-awaited full-length A Good Day For The Damned via Bomber Music.

Reason for us to talk to Jaya The Cat guiatrist and keyboarder Karl Smith about his hardcore-punk roots.

Do you remember the first hardcore / punk show you went to? Is the club still open today?

I believe it was AFI at Manchester Academy. The venue is still going strong and I go there often to watch bands still.

What is your all-time favorite club or location?

For me its probably a place called The Parish in my hometown Huddersfield. We get some amazing bands spanning all genres and everything from small up and coming bands to larger touring bands. I spend a lot of time in there checking out new bands.

Do you remember the first hardcore / punk record you got?

I believe it was a Stiff Little Fingers CD I stole off my step-dad.

In your opinion what is the perfect hardcore show?

Good music and good people. I am not a fan of crowd killing and tend to stay to the sides if I know its going to go off. I like old fashioned circle pits and stage diving but I’m definitely not a fan of being spin kicked in the face.

What is your all-time favorite show you’ve played?

Thats a hard question. We played Mighty Sounds in Czech Republic in 2015 and that was a pretty amazing show. Everything came together and it was just a super fun. I also love playing Punk Rock Holiday in Slovenia.

Is there a show you missed in the past that still makes you angry that you could not be there?

Oh man, so so many. I remember when I was a kid I really wanted to see the Melvins. I took a train over to one of their shows but sadly it had sold out. I hung out outside and met the band and tried to get them to sneak me in but sadly it did not work.

What band would you like to see again?

I’m going to say Dillinger Escape Plan. They have just played their farewell tour and they’re just such an incredible live band and i’m not ready to say goodbye to them yet. I don’t think I would ever get bored of see those guys play live.

Is there a person who has influenced you especially in hardcore / punk?

I can’t think of one specific person that really influenced me. When I was a kid I was really into the grunge scene and pretty much learnt how to play while listening to bands like Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Nirvana, L7, Pixies and the Melvins so I owe a lot to all of those bands and that style of music.

What are you top 3 hardcore-punk drummers / front men (women)?

Drummers

  • Brooks Wackerman – Bad Religion/Vandals/Infectious Grooves
  • Dave Grohl – Scream / Nirvana
  • Bill Stevenson – Descendants

Front Men / Women – 

  • Matt Caughthran – The Bronx
  • Mike Patton – Faith No More / Dillinger Escape Plan / Mr Bungle / Fantomas / Dead Cross / Tomahawk
  • Keith Buckley – Every Time I Die / The Damned Things

What is in your opinion the most underrated hardcore-punk band?

Every Time I Die. One of my all-time favorite bands and one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. I totally lose my shit at their concerts.

Are there some newer bands you could mention?

There is a lot of great music coming out at the minute. Here is a list of bands that are not necessarily new but have new releases that i’m excited about.

Marmozets, Arcane Roots, Mr Shiraz, Feed the Rhino, Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, The Skints, Fierce Ideas, Traits, Sounds of Swarmi, The Human Project, HCBP, The Bronx.

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