It’s about 10:30 in Montclair and I’m standing in the dimly lit parking lot adjacent to the Walnut Street station. I’ve just stepped outside from my beer to meet up with the band to do an interview thats been three years in the making. I had met the bands singer Tohm when they opened up for Reagan Youth just a few blocks down from Flipside Records. Since then we’ve been in and out of contact and trying to find a way to be in the same place at the same time.

Jeff and Chris seem really happy and psyched to do the interview. Tohm is on his phone pacing back and fourth. Perhaps looking for way to end said call. Five minutes later and growing impatient I grab the phone only to realize it’s Paul Cripple from Reagan Youth. “Hey Paul, sorry Tohm can’t talk right now. He’s doing an interview with me.”  After a long goodbye to Paul and his girlfriend Beatrice (a beautiful woman i once had the pleasure of photographing.) the interview  finally begins.

James: Tell me about the changes and the evolution of the band.

Chris: We just started writing songs,

Jeff: We really had nothing else to do so we were just finding and adding riffs. They quickly turned into songs and that seemed to happen every time we got together.

Tohm: Adam, who had been in and out of the band came back and played bass with us. That brought us back to a four piece. Four Fingers was Jeff, Chris, Adam and Me (Tohm). Eventually Adam parted again. He just wasn’t into the music.

Jeff: He wasn’t into like we were.

Chris: I didn’t want him to be in the band if he wasn’t into it as much as I was.

Another thing was we were always having to look after him because he would drink too much.

Tohm: It also came at a very high cost when we were playing out of state shows. When we would go out of state on the weekends we’d be in uncharted territory and having to look out for Adam.

James: You were baby sitting.

Tohm/Chris/Jeff: Exactly!!!

Tohm: He still plays local shows with us but when we go out of State it’s just the three of us.

We all know the style we play. We feed off each other. I can come off with a bass riff. Chris sneaks in with a beat and Jeff comes in with guitar. We have this chemistry.

Jeff: We just hope that someone comes along and fits with us. Has the same passion.

James: Interaction with the crowd has always been part of the aura of the band. Now that your both singing and being straddled with the bass does that take away from that interaction?

Tohm:It does and it doesn’t. When we play in Denville and Rockaway (our area) people know the lyrics and still sing them. It’s a little harder when we play out of state. I’d say it’s still very intense. It’s just harder when people don’t know the material. They don’t know what to expect.

Chris: I don’t care as much what the crowd thinks. When I’m out there I’m playing for Tohm. I’m playing for Jeff. I’m not really playing for anyone else. I love them, I feed off them. If they’re having fun I’m having fun. I’m not a front man but I can see where he gets his energy from seeing and being around people. But I get my enjoyment from my band mates.

Tohm: We were at a show the other night and there were seven people there. We just looked at

Jeff: When we thrash for ourselves we are doing it for the crowd.

James: Some of my favorite memories are the shows that were held at VFW halls, backyard BBQ’s and friends living rooms or basements. Four Fingers has a policy of “We’ll play anywhere, anytime and without a moments notice.

Jeff: Part of it is just wanting to play as many shows as possible and get our name out there. But when it really comes down to it. It’s just fun. We wouldn’t have it any other way

Tohm: The only “ticket only” show we ever did was with Reagan Youth back in 2007. It was the only one we ever did and I hope to God we ever will. I personally don’t ever want to play a 21 and up show. I’m twenty and don’t get to see a lot of the bands I’d like to see because of that policy.

Adrenaline O.D. is one of my favorite bands and I never got to see them because all of their shows were 21 and up. When you offer an all ages show you’re going to see a lot more diversity.

Chris: Another thing about these big shows is the separation. You might be stuck in the back of the club while the band is way up on that stage. I can appreciate the house party’s and smaller shows because everyone is on the same level.

Tohm: One with the band. One with the crowd.

Chris: When you’re face to face with someone at a show there’s this warm vibe. We’re all sharing the same space and anything can happen. They can grab the mic or join in on the song. Whatever.

Jeff: It’s doesn’t have to be separate or private. It’s open, public and it’s raw.

Tohm: I agree. It’s intimate and it’s real.

James: You recently celebrated playing you hundredth show.  Was that a major milestone for you?

Tohm: It was and it wasn’t. It was because we were “Fuck, One hundred shows?” and it wasn’t in the sense that we were “Shit, I thought we passed that a long time ago.

James: Who got the short straw when it came to counting the shows?

Tohm: I’ve been keeping track since day one. Our first show was April 8th 2006. Our hundredth show was April tenth 2010. It took us four years to get there. But again, with so many lineup changes. So many different ideas about what to do with the music. We played about sixteen shows the night (hundredth show) . It was hot and it was sweaty and it was intimate. It was as raw as shit and I hadn’t seen that type of audience reaction in a really long time from that area we came from. I don’t mean to sound stupid or clique but the scene was dead for some time. That night really revived my feeling for things. For a band who thought they would never even play a show. To have that kind of impact on kids our age (younger and older) means a hell of a lot to us.

James:Tell me about your upcoming releases and tour. You aren’t going to fuck us over with another cassette release. Are you?

Tohm: No, no more cassettes. We’ve got sixteen new songs. Seven are on the 7 inch and nine are on the CD. We’re still working on what we want to cover and the information for the booklets.

Chris: Tohm and I just did our vocals the other day and it turned out a lot better than we had imagined.

Tohm: Originally we were going for a more raw 80’s live in the studio sound. Kevin convinced us to do it live but have the guitars later. This way the guitars won’t leek into the drums and vice versa.

Chris: I felt sketchy about it at first but once I heard how the vocals came out I loved them.

Jeff: I was really excited because I’m new to the band and never had the chance to record with them.

I was just so happy to be on a release. To see the results of a song that I wrote.

Tohm: That was another first for us. This is the first recording that we actually all played a part on. I’d bring a riff. Chris would bring a riff. Jeff would bring a riff. We’d all bring it together.

I wrote all the lyrics to the songs with the exception of one that Chris wrote.

Chris: There’s so many layers and dynamics that I don’t think a live recording would have been able to catch. I can see Jeff playing. I can hear Jeff playing.

Jeff: I think the recording is very straightforward.

James: Who else has Kevin worked with?

Tohm: It’s Kevin from Antreassian Backroom Studios. He’s worked with bands like

Dillinger Escape Plan, Trophy Scars, Trees Above Mandalay and many others.

We’re doing vocals at Bedside Manner with Kevin Carafa.

James: Where do you see the band going. Do you look to stay independent or are you interested in going the direction of these bigger bands.

Chris: We want to keep that D.I.Y. ethos. It would be nice for a label to even consider us. We’re very picky people so if a major label ever did approach us we’d be very cautious.

Tohm: We want to do what we want to do. If people receive it and like it. That’s awesome. That makes me happy at the end of the day.

Jeff: When I make a riff I’m not making it thinking someone out there is going to like it. I make it because I feel a certain way. If someone doesn’t like it, fine. I know that someone else will.

Tohm: It would be great if a label wanted to put our stuff out. But in the long ruin we’ve always put out our own stuff and that works for us. If a label worked with us all we’d really want is money to tour with. I had this conversation with Chris the other day. Playing at peoples houses, in their back yards, garages, pool houses. Kitchens for Christ sake. Being able to meet, interact with them, sleep at their place, share a couch and interact with them. Being on a larger scale we might not be able to experience that.

James: Wow, you guys just summed it all up. Okay, speaking of shows. You’ve got a tour lined up. Give me the low down on that. Where are you headed?

Tohm: Yes, in August. August eleventh is our kick off date at the Meatlocker in Montclair and will continue till the twenty second. We’ll hopefully have our 7 inch there too. From Montclair we go to Cape Cod, Boston, Brooklyn, Patchogue, Pennsylvania and Illinois. A bunch of basements, a couple of venues. I booked it myself. It’s 100% D.I.Y. .

James: You did a little tour last year right?

Tohm: We did a few weekends here and there. There was a last minute show in Philly and we went up to Cape Code for our second show there. Cape Cod was awesome. They loved us. We loved them. It was very intimate.

Tohm: We finished that tour up in Brooklyn.

James: What’s the hardest part about being in the van together? Who’s the one guy who pisses everyone off first?

Jeff/Chris: Tohm!!! Not getting there on time. The GPS.

Tohm: I’m very time consumed.

Jeff: Chris and Tohm always have to argue over the front seat. I smoke which annoys them.

Tohm: Yeah, Chris and I don’t smoke cigarettes. (A debate about cigarette smoking breaks out and fingers start to fly.)

James: So the band is moving forward touring and recording. It’s safe to say we won’t be mocked with another cassette release.

Tohm: Unfortunately, we are. (More fighting ensues) We’re doing a four-way split cassette.

It’s going to be Four Fingers, Karate Christ (Cape Cod),

Chris: I want to read the liner notes. I want to read the lyrics. I also want to know why and where it was recorded. It’s all very personal stuff. 7 inches are very tangible. Something special about them that puts them on a higher level. When you put a 7 inch on your turntable and listen as the needle hits and “fuck”. Why would you ruin that with a CD.

Jeff: There’s only an ample amount of time for each record. It makes you think “Why did they choose these song?”

Tohm: You go out,  write a CD. You can just throw shit together. A record/album is more personal. You have to write it. There’s something very personal about it.

James: What are some of the bands that not only influenced your sound but maybe even your outlook?

Tohm/Jeff/Chris: Black Flag, Fugazi, Screeching Weasel, Misfits, Beastie Boys, Stooges, Rollins Band, Crucifucks, Sabbath. G.G. Allin, Jesus Lizard, Nirvana.

James: Your listening to a lot of music that predates you. Is there anything that your currently getting inspiration from?

Tohm/Jeff/Chris: Black Breath. Great band just got signed to a label in Seattle. We also love the Melvins. Albums like

Tohm: The Melvins have been around fro so long. The Atlantic years which bore records like

Houdini, Stoner Witch and anything they put out from there was our time.

James: It's funny how we first met at a Reagan Youth show and just as we're about to start the interview your on the phone with Paul Cripple. I understand there's an offer for you to sing for Reagan Youth. How did this come about (if it's on the down low) without revealing your/their decision how did that offer come about and would you be replacing or reenacting/playing

Dave Insurgent.

Tohm: Well long and wild story short, our friend Tyler lives in Brooklyn and his roommate Molly is friends with Paul Cripple's girlfriend Beatrice. One day Paul comes in and starts jamming with Tyler and they apparently were fucking around, recording and thrashing. Tyler sent me a text about the encounter, I said bullshit, he then calls me two days later and tells me to contact Paul. Week went by and I received a phone call, and then we set up a day and I'm currently waiting on that. Nothing is definite, nor is anything set in stone. Paul’s just going to show me some stuff and if I dig it, we'll go from there I assume. No one could ever replace Dave. Paul explained to me the idea behind everything regarding Reagan Youth and I support it. We will see.

James: How would/will your choice effect the future of Four Fingers?

Tohm: Well as I said, nothing is set in stone. Nothing's finalized yet. Four Fingers is great for the three of us. We all work, go to school, and are in another band or four (Chris). So I couldn’t imagine it taking away from the band, however as we stated earlier, we have a CD coming out on BetaSnake Records next month or so. And we hope to release the 7" by August. Everything is based on time with Four Fingers right now. If something happens with Reagan Youth, only the future can tell. Until then, I have no idea and its one less fucking thing I have to stress about.

Interview JD Images Katie Chirichillo, Genna, Davis Peer and James Damion

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