DEFEND YOURSELF!: OFF!

“There’s no time to think. Put your f-cking head down, and go!”

OFF!, the punk rock supergroup founded in 2009 by Keith Morris (Black Flag/Circle Jerks) and Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides) is carrying the torch of ‘80s hardcore while blazing new territory in the scene. We dissected its caustic elements with Dimitri.

You were a punk rookie when you and Keith began. Now you’re restoring an LA hardcore sound with integrity.
I’m like a sponge. It reminded me of where I started: getting in a van and touring. There’s no bullshit. I’m like the secret weapon, creating a stripped down, intense style. And now it’s pouring out of me.

I don’t have 30 years of punk rock guilt attached. It’s all fresh to me.

With such minimalistic songs, do your shows exceed 30 minutes?
Our first show was 18 minutes long. Now we’ve entered a world of decadence, around 45 minutes. We have towels onstage to wipe our brows. I have extra picks in case I drop one. I don’t want to be caught with my pants down.

What do you do with all that post-show momentum?
I can’t sleep until the sun comes up! The shows are like battle: “Here’s your helmet and suicide pill. We can’t give you back up; use your training and you’ll be alright.”

That’s intense!
There’s no time to think. Put your fucking head down, and go! The songs have all the elements of one that’s three or four minutes, they’re just played fast.

People say, “Oh, that’s not a real song, it’s only a minute long! That’s cheating.” It’s like, “Fuck you, dude!”

There’s a great riff, a verse, a chorus; there’s even a bridge with a guitar solo! How ‘bout that! Hail sa-tan, sa-tan, sa-tan. That’s shit’s catchy. You can shake your head to that.

OFF
WITH REFUSED

FRI 7.20.12
15 LANSDOWNE STREET
KENMORE SQ.
BOSTON
888.693.2583
7PM/ALL AGES/$30
@HOBBOSTON
OFFOFFICIAL.COM