Witch Hunt Aren’t Straight Edge, but They Still Oppose Self-Destruction

"This is our first day of playing with Jello Biafra and the Gauntanamo School of Medicine. Whooo!" Witch Hunt's justifiably excited bassist Janine Enriquez said.

For three days following their set at New York City's Europa on March 25, Witch Hunt played just before the former Dead Kennedys frontman. Even for being a legend in the hardcore world, Biafra and his band had big shoes to fill in following the Philly punks. With their top of the line hybrid pop and crust punk, they were that good.

"This song is about a friend who lived in a squat in New York City. He died from a heroin overdose," Enriquez said just before the band covered Hüsker Dü's 'In a Free Land.' The song was meant to be less of a memorial and more of a message to people with dependancy issues.

"This song isn't about being straight edge, because I'm not. This song is about valuing your life," Enriquez said. After revealing that she is a drug and alcohol therapist, Enriquez added, "It's not a weakness. It's a strength to reach out to people and get help."

Along with substance abuse, Witch Hunt care about the war in Iraq, health care and poverty. Jello Biafra's label Alternative Tentacles released Witch Hunt's 'Burning Bridges to Nowhere' in late 2009. Be sure to check it out.