The Ghost Inside Vocalist on the ‘Weird’ Way Japanese Fans Show Respect, the State of the Hardcore Scene
Since 2004, Los Angeles-based The Ghost Inside has been climbing the hard music ranks and with last year's You Get What You Give, they finally broke big. Produced by A Day to Remember vocalist Jeremy McKinnon, the album debuted at #88 on the Billboard top 200. Not a shabby feat for a band dishing out mean, in-your-face metallic hardcore.
The Ghost Inside are currently preparing for a trip to China and beyond, and Noisecreep had the pleasure of speaking with vocalist Jonathan Vigil about the upcoming exotic trip, among other things.
You're heading off to China for the first time. You guys must be excited!
Very! We've been around many parts of the world but never there. We're really curious about what that experience will be like.
Do you find that any of your lyrical message is lost in translation in other countries where English isn't the native language?
Doesn't seem to be. But there are weird things sometimes. The shows are pretty much the same we put on around the world, but there are subtle difference. Like in Japan when we played there. We'd start the set, the place would go crazy - then after a song - dead silence - nobody talking or anything. And over and over like that as each song ended. It's like a respect thing. They want to give you a moment of silence before you continue. set went crazy as soon dead silent nobody talking - respect thing in America or Europe you berthing
How do think the hardcore scene has changed since you first started out?
It's evolved in a very cool way. Growing up, hardcore music's sense of community drew me in. And it was a really underground thing. Today, though, it's grown. There is still some underground stuff, underground club shows and things, but it is also more accepted which makes it better for a lot of bands. Just looked at Warped and other big tours. Think of how much easier it is today for kids to see bands they've heard or read about. When I first got into hardcore, it was a tough thing to find or hear anyplace. Now, for all of us, it's easier to get to. I like how the community is growing.
Watch 'Engine 45' Video
Who were the punk/hardcore bands that first got you involved?
I was into Green Day and Offspring - that kind of stuff. But that got me into Rancid which got me to NOFX which got me Bad Religion and from there, to harder bands like Minor Threat and Black Flag. The really heavy, amazing stuff. I'm still a fan of all that stuff. But it makes me feel really good that we have intense fans, too, that relate to us because our songs let them know we understand them. Our relationship with our fans is for, the coolest thing about what we do.
When do you start to get the sense that your band is really succeeding?
Well last night we played a place in New York, the Grammercy, and it was sold out. One of our first tours ever we played to like 150 kids there. And now it's sold out. That said something to us. When you return to places you played early on, and see how things have built up, that's really a good sign.
The Ghost Inside's latest album, Get What You Give, is out now via Epitaph Records and available on iTunes.
Tour dates:
Apr 06
Chain Reaction
Anaheim, CA (w/ Stick to Your Guns, Stray From the Path and Rotting Out)
Apr 07
Chain Reaction
Anaheim, CA (w/ Stick to Your Guns, Stray From the Path and Rotting Out)
May 01
Midi Festival Beijing
Beijing, China
May 04
Midi Festival Shanghai
Shanghai, China
May 05
Mao livehouse
Shanghai Shi, China
May 07
Hidden Agenda
Hong Kong, China
May 09
THE ROCK PUB
Bangkok, Thailand
May 10
Bangsaen 2
Chiang Mai, Thailand
May 11
Black Box
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
May 12
The Substation
Singapore, Singapore
May 14
Darts
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
May 17
Shibuya Cyclone
Tokyo, Japan
May 18
3STAR Imaike
Nagoya, Japan
May 19
Kichijoji CLUB SEATA
Tokyo, Japan
May 23
The Amplifier Bar
Perth, Australia
May 24
Fowlers Live
Adelaide, Australia
May 25
The Hi-fi
Melbourne, Australia
May 26
The Hi-fi
Melbourne, Australia
May 29
The Basement
Canberra, Australia
May 30
The Metro
Sydney, Australia
May 31
Newcastle Panthers
Newcastle Nsw, Australia
Jun 01
The Hi-Fi
Brisbane, Australia
Jun 02
The Hi-Fi
Brisbane, Australia
Jun 07
Nurburgring
Nuremberg, Germany
Jun 08
Agro Track 15
Ysselsteyn, Netherlands
Jun 09
Zeppenlinfeld
Nuremberg, Germany
Jun 18
Grosse Freiheit
Hamburg, Germany
Jun 19
Postbanhof
Berlin, Germany
Jun 20
Werk 2
Leipzig, Germany
Jun 23
Rue du Champ Louet
Clisson, France
Jun 28
Flugplatz Roitzschjora
Lobnitz, Germany
Jun 30
Festival Park 'Stenehel'
Dessel, Belgium
Jul 06
Vainstream Rockfest
Munster, Germany