The Goo 1
Interview Words: Adhamh O’Caoimh HUBERT SELBY JR.
INFANTS “I have a copy of ‘Rumours’ that cost me 50 cents”. “You were fucked”. That is how the voice memo documenting this interview opens, and I could not rob you, dear reader, of my favourite quote in all my time transcribing these conversations I have with musicians. I only wish I could express the perfect cadence and timing with which these words were delivered, but alas, the medium of text fails us once again. Hubert Selby Junior Infants, the enigmatically named four piece that count none other than MIKE FUCKING WATT as an avid fan, just dropped the magnificent ‘Bingo’. To celebrate, they welcomed me into their rehearsal space for an uproarious two hour conversation, only fragments of which can be committed to print. The joy in the room was palpable, and I believe that translated to the joyful post hardcore you hear on the record. ‘Bingo’ is one of my favourite albums this year, and I got to talk to these lifers about putting it together. Tell me, how did ye get together? Jamie: Well basically, we’ve all been friends for… hundreds of years. Pete and I grew up in Waterford together, and we played bands when we were teenagers. Bushe and I played in a band twenty something years ago. I know Kunal for… Kunal: We were pen pals from … it’s been a while, I guess. I was trying to find out about Irish bands. I’m from England and had been running labels for years, Jamie: It’s since [grindcore band] Debt. So it’s like twenty nearly twenty five years, mate. So basically, grindcore is the answer. Our love of grindcore brought us together. 28 The more immediate answer is Pete and I were playing in a band called the Electricals, Bushe was in Weird Feelings, and those bands fell apart. Bushe: The other members had other interests. And I think, being a musician, especially an underground musician, you need to be almost obsessive, and it wasn’t like that. Jamie: “I was sitting in his house having a cup of coffee, and I asked him “what are we doing?” And then he said “well if you wanna start a band.” We asked Kunal, who the others didn’t know. Pete and I had been writing stuff at home, so we got together just to just try a song, to kind get it going, and to see if Kunal wanted to do it. At the end of the first practice we just thought “Yeah. This is it.” Also, we’re pretty sure we’re the only people who will play with each other that we have left. The direction of the band has taken a more melodic tack than some of your previous work, like Drainland or Serpents. Jamie: I’ve always liked other music. Pete and I had played in a band in Waterford that was like Weezer or Jawbreaker or something. It wasn’t a conscious decision, and neither was making incredibly ugly music for a really long time. I think it’s probably an age thing at some point, and being able