Local Oafs:
Too Dumb To Reason Too Fucked Up To Dream

By Pär Jonsson

They are one of the most interesting punk bands in Sweden right now. Local Oafs deliver furious and retarded old school punk that will blow you away. A way to describe them is as a mix of an Angry Samoans on speed and a brutal wrestling punch between your eyes. Last time I saw them was at a wild gig in their hometown Nyköping and it was a blast. The beat was furious and the singer/guitarist Nero the Eros gave us some blood when he smashed his forehead with the microphone. Local Oafs don't mess around. They got a huge portion of irony in what they do but they also lets you know that they are for real. You should really check out Local Oafs live if you get the opportunity. They will soon release their debut album "Too Dumb To Reason Too Fucked Up To Dream". Other members with nice alias in the band are Knullhålet - Guitar / Vox, André Van Dem Bourg - Bass and Chewbacca - Drums. It was Nero who took his time to answers my questions.

LC: Please give us the story about Local Oafs so far.

Nero: Well we started back in 99' when on our bass player Max Solo's eighteenth birthday. We broke into a train station and celebrated with Golden American cigarettes and Egger beer. We played some gigs at the (in)famous Athletic Club in Nyköping with such acts as Music/Ninja, DS-13, Trapdoor Fucking Exit, Pricks, Victims and others. I think our debut 23 track 7" EP "TBA" came out late 99' or early 00. Since then we've played some gigs and released a couple of split 7" (see Local Oafs website for discography) and now in 2004 we have a finished album that's gonna be released early 2005 which leads us to the next question…

LC: Your debut album "Too Dumb To Reason Too Fucked Up To Dream" is on its way. When will it be out? Tell us all about it.

Nero: Well it's recorded in our rehearsal space and has 28 songs. Hopefully you'll find it in a punk distro near you in early 2005. In Europe it will be released by Wasted Sounds/Cage match federation (www.wastedsounds.com). Some song titles for all you kiddies out there: "I Want Myself An Office", "Nature Boy Strut", "Mongoloid By Nature", "88Svensson88", "Tonight I Dance Tomorrow I'm Dead", "Jag orkar inte mer", "Undercover Nothing" etc.

LC: You got some genius lyrics and titles in Local Oafs like "Smack my head open and piss on my brain". How do you come up with those lyrics?

Nero: I don't remember how I came up with that title or lyrics. Most of my inspiration comes from reading, alcohol, movies and TV. I think Knullhålet has about the same sources of inspiration.

LC: What kinda influences do you guys have?

Nero: Dwarves, Angry Samoans, Testors, Dead Boys, Reagan Youth, Sika Äpärä, Pricks, KBD-shit, Lewd, Queers, KSMB, Ramones, PIL, Totalitär, Heartbreakers, Hank Williams 1-3, Pansy Division, Kenta, Unabombers, Sodom, Sex Pistols, Boys, Exploding Hearts, Truckstop Alaska, Svart Snö, Pierre Isacsson, Rose Tattoo, Pile Driver, Jackson 5, Ulcers, Judas Priest, David Allan Coe, Raw Power, Dee Dee King, Necro, Teengenerate, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Mojo Nixon, Johnny Cash, Elvis,
Missbrukarna, Headcleaners, Asta Kask, Talking Heads, Little Jimmy Scott, Senor Coconut, Devo, Sparks, Donnas, Mr T Experience, Beach Boys, Ugly Duckling, Elton John, Misfits, King Diamons, Lee Perry, Henry Fiats Open Sore, Screeching Weasel, Faith no more, Boys, Bee Gees, Anti Cimex, Peter Tosh, Slick Rick, Geto Boys, GG Allin, Kids, Rat Hole Sheikh, Billy Childish, Tab Hunter, Idyls, Mudhoney, Onkel Kånkel, Replacements, Sweet, Who, 145s, Bay City Rollers, Blue Öyster Cult, Buzzcocks, Kinks, Germs, Stiff Little Fingers,
Damned, Descendents and a million more.

LC: What do you think about the Swedish music scene?

Nero: It's full of shit. A lot of technical skills but most bands bore me to death. Stoner rock seems to be very popular at the moment, which is the worst fucking trend ever.

LC: Weirdest gig you've ever played?

Nero: Umeå in a barb wired wrestling ring with Smackdown. Blood everywhere.

LC: I've seen that you did wear diapers on a show long time ago. Have you ever thought about being all in the nude wearing white cowboy boots like GG Allin?

Nero: We like to keep it tasteful. No nudity. We have done a lot of weird shit but we try to do different things. Most of the times we just go up on stage in our regular clothes and take it from there. We don't want people to have circus-like expectations of our live show.

LC: Your live shows do often have an aura of violence to it and a feeling that something bad is going to happen. Why is that?

Nero: When we go on stage we're really psyched. If someone from the audience try to give us a hard time things will happen. Unfortunately not all who attends our shows have good manners. The ones who behave like snotty brats will get spanked and/or verbally disciplined.

LC: I heard that you cut your arm pretty bad at your release party in Stockholm in October 2004. Tell us what happened?

Nero: Nah, it was in Uppsala the day after the Stockholm gig your super-nice sister Anna Dieanna set up. I rolled around on the floor at the Bombshelter and cut my arm on a broken wine bottle that was brought up on stage. Extra thanks to Isa who helped me get to the hospital and got me outta there too. She's the best. I tried to escape from the hospital and hurt my finger on the way so a nurse had to come with an extra band-aid.

LC: It seems that you guys have a fascination for wrestling, how come?

Nero: It's the greatest form of entertainment ever. I'm surprised you even have to ask.

LC: What kinda future plans do you have for the Local Oafs?

Nero: Sit around. Write new songs. Play Truckstop Alaska only and nowhere else ever. We miss you friends! I raise my head and bear my black eye and sore cheek as badges of honour.

LC: Anything you wanna add and tell the world?

Nero: Fuck the world!

Local Oafs on the net: http://localoafs.cjb.net