NEWS: The Draft: No Time for Brazilian Trannies

MUSIC: The Draft: No Time for Brazilian Trannies

Many dudes with beards and star tattoos were crushed when beloved Epitaph recording artists Hot Water Music decided to go on hiatus last year. And who could blame them? Hot Water Music delivered the goods, no two ways about it. Gruff, melodic, anthemic, hopeful – they were everything a dude with a chain wallet could want.

Well, perk up, beardy dudes. SuicideGirls brings word that three quarters of Hot Water Music have soldiered on with new guitarist Todd Rockhill in The Draft, and the band just spent four weeks in Baltimore recording a new full-length for Epitaph with longtime HWM producer Brian McTiernan. Immediate plans for the band include mixing that shit down for a September release in between spring and summer tours with Avail and Alkaline Trio.

Earlier tonight drummer George Rebelo was kind enough to spare a few minutes to elaborate on the latest band developments. In the interests of full disclosure, I should probably point out that George is the only man I’ve ever kissed. Well, tongue-kissed.

SG: Is the album going to be awesome?

George: I think so, man. From my end, we used different snare drums, different cymbals, different toms. We really tried to experiment. There are keyboards on it, Todd added some different guitar stuff. It’s a lot catchier, but in some places a lot more experimental too. A little more mellow overall, but still with some rockin’, ass kickin’, haulin’ ass, rock ‘n’ roll good times. It’s going to be fucking cool, I think.

SG: Sweet. You guys just went to Brazil?

George: Yeah, we did five shows in Brazil. It was fucking un-believable. There were people with Hot Water tattoos, people definitely wanting to hear some Hot Water songs, but overall kids were respectful of the idea we were a new band, you know?

SG: You’re not playing any Hot Water Music songs, are you?

George: No, no, no, hell no. This is a totally different thing. Hot Water Music was the four of us, with Chuck (Ragan, guitarist and vocalist who decided to take an extended break from touring). We made a pact in the beginning that Hot Water Music would be the four of us, and that’s what it was. I still talk to Chuck, we’re still great friends. He’s doing good, doing a lot of construction work and working on a solo record, being married.

SG: So Brazil has a lot of these transvestites, or transsexuals, and you see pictures of them, and they look just like girls – they have asses and stuff. But then, surprise! They have weiners. Did you get fooled?

George: What?! No, I didn’t get fooled.

SG: Are you sure? In the dark, if they use some grease or something, maybe you couldn't tell.

George: I did not hook up with anyone in Brazil. There was no time.

SG: There’s your headline: “Sadly, there was no time for transsexuals, says George Rebelo of The Draft.” Hey, I saw you guys announced you have a T-shirt that’s an exclusive at Hot Topic?! Dude, I have nothing against Hot Topic, but announcing that is kind of like wearing a pink tutu to the playground when you’re 11 with a sign on your head that says Please Beat My Ass.

George: Yeah… Uhhh… Dude, there’s a Hot Topic everywhere. I didn’t realize we had actually, like, announced that… It’s a Jason Black (The Draft bassist) deal. You don’t have to put that in there.

SG: Ha ha, it is a Jason deal, isn’t it? He likes HIM.

George: He does like HIM, ha ha!

SG: Hey, you like SuicideGirls, right?

George: Uh, yeah. Yeah! I like Mary. Mary’s my... I like Mary.

SG: You want to give a shout out to Mary?

George: Yeah.

SG: I’m going to go look her up, dude. I’m going to look her up and think bad thoughts.

George: I don’t mind sharing.

OK, if your enthusiasm hasn’t completely been destroyed by that little exercise in total nonsense, head on over to MySpace, check out some demos from The Draft and see if them and Avail aren't going to swing by your town to rock shit sometime in the next few weeks.

Please delete this comment.

[Edited on Apr 06, 2006 12:15PM]

The news of a band's new project could have been shared better in my opinion. Hot Water Music is a great band, thanks for making it seem like I'm some sort of tool for liking them.

Cheer up ThisIsWhoWeAre, no one is suggesting you are a tool if you like HWM, only if you have that secret HWM tattoo of that dude standing on a hill with sun rays and emo exploding out of his head.

Thanks.

I'm a tool for totally unrelated reasons.

wonder twins power ACTIVATE!