Having rigorously toured the 'toilet circuit' of USA and Canada since their inception some eight years ago,  Detroit's old school punk exponents CHOKING SUSAN had been grateful, if also surprised recipients of an invitation to play at Europe's largest, exclusively-punk festival, namely REBELLION in Blackpool.

A warm-up gig in Camden London preceded heir appearance in Blackpool on the Thursday. Three days of partying, networking and watching other like-minded bands followed before driving north to Glasgow's 13th Note Cafe - as if in appeasement of a guilty conscience at having travelled so far for so little 'work'! 

Regrettably, class Punk bands no longer frequently grace Glasgow's music venues. However with the Rebellion Festival finishing in Blackpool that evening, such bands from all over the globe were, over the next few days, fanning out across the UK and playing gigs whilst awaiting flights back home. And so it was, that Leftover Crack were also playing Glasgow that very night.... and only two blocks away at that! This, combined with many Glasgow punks still to return home from Rebellion themselves, resulted in a lower-than-expected crowd for the show, which turned out to be the best I have seen in 2007.

In true punk / rock'n' roll style, CHOKING SUSAN arrived at the venue several hours later than planned (due to unavoidable roadworks on the motorway.) In fact, the first of the three support bands were already on stage as the Detroit quartet arrived!

 

Yet even without the benefit of a sound-check, CHOKING SUSAN ripped through a storming fifteen-song set. The backing provided by Keith (guitar), Joe (bass) and Bob (drums) was as tight as a Yorkshire man before payday but undoubtedly the focul point of the band, with her purple hair and leopard-spot tattoos was vocalist Colleen Caffeine whose energy was quickly transmitted to the audience. Her on-stage persona swung between sexy and sesuous to viscious and snarling within a heartbeat as she prowled, danced and paced across every inch of available floor space.

Colleen writes the lyrics to all the songs - lyrics that reflect an upbeat sense of fun as well as her vitriolic opinions on everything 'false' from 'new punk' to breast enhancements(!) and whilst the musical style may be regarded as 'old school' the delivery is as individualistic as it is exciting and entertaining.

With the prospect of a recording deal in the near future, and having received so much positive feedback from their three dates in the UK, CHOKING SUSAN are hoping for a quick return to these shores. (They have already been invited back to Rebellion next year) If high tempo, fist clenching melodic punk music with heavy-hooked choruses is your bag, then you would do well to check them out.

Whether a fan of 'punk' or not, I defy anyone not to feel the urge to party when in the company of this hugely under-rated band!

www.myspace.com/chokingsusan

So what criteria must a band fulfill to legitimately claim 'cult' status? Must the band / key member(s) now be singing with The Choir Invisible? Must they be better known for off-stage anti-social antics than for their music? Must they have been a high impact / short lifespan band? I pose the question because the words 'cult band' just sit so naturally when prefixing the words 'CHOKING SUSAN'.........

....and yet Detroit's finest tick none of the boxes against any of the afore-mentioned standards. Qualification for use of the term however, comes courtesy of the fact that CHOKING SUSAN have had (and continue to grow) a hard core - as opposed to hardcore - following since their formation in 1999. They have also remained true to their musical roots and routes, by refusing to divert the tour bus down the overcrowded minor road to Commercial Highway, and consistently refuel with Regular Punk, and not the newer,  (supposedly) environmentally and radio- friendly Super Emo and New Punk.

They recently (August 2007) undertook their first overseas gigs, courtesy of an unexpected but most welcome invitation to play at the UK's REBELLION Punk Festival in Blackpool. A warm-up show in London and a subsequent date in Glasgow were also pencilled into the itinerary, and it was at the latter where LOUD HORIZON MUSIC finally caught up with the band.  (Read a brief review of the gig itself within the GIG REVIEW section)

"I'm not going to ask again! Finish your drinks and move outside NOW or I'll take them off you...!!!"

The growled message from the barmaid was succinct enough, and to be fair, it was gone midnight and she had  made the request a couple of times previously. We moved outside. WELCOME TO GLASGOW!

Fortunately, the rain had abated and the temperature was mild, so whilst Keith (guitar), Joe (bass), Bob (drums) and the remainder of CHOKING SUSAN's entourage loaded up the 'tourbus' (!) - see below - vocalist Colleen Caffeine  had the ready- made excuse for not heaving  equipment as she chatted freely and at length about the band.

Yup! - The 'tourbus'! How rock and roll is that....?

"The invitation to play REBELLION came completely out of the blue" affirmed Colleen. "We made no approach at all" she explained, seeking confirmation from her industrious band-mates. "We played on The Arena stage in Blackpool, which is a long and narrow auditorium and I think the sound quality was the best of all the stages. Sure.... we had an early slot on the first day, but the crowd reaction was awesome, and were immediately asked back next year by the organisers." (Colleen tried so hard to curb a warm smile of pride, but failed miserably! ) "But the good thing about playing so early over the weekend is that we then had time to relax and watch some inspiring bands ourselves. Like Eddie & The Hot Rods. Like Holy Racket. Like Texas Terri" - who Colleen was frequently mistaken for!  "Los Fastidios from Italy were fantastic" interjected Keith, an opinion endorsed by Bob. "And who can fail to enjoy the Subhumans?" (The phrase 'kids in a sweetie shop sprung to mind.) 

"And" Colleen continued excitedly, "you know the UK is awesome! Everyone we've met has been super-nice, I can't tell you! So welcoming ." Pressed on any perceived differences between UK and US audiences, Colleen called on the opinion of Joe, who was fighting a losing battle with the 'tourbus' roof-rack. "American audiences in general are more inclined to merely accept what music is put before them by Radio and other media. UK crowds seem to be more open to, you know, sort of 'experiment' and embrace whatever is maybe not recognised as the 'norm".

As a rule CHOKING SUSAN aim to play at least two gigs a month, one being in the immediate Detroit area and one further afield. Should there be much travelling involved, they will of course incorporate some additional shows along the route.Two of the band have jobs - we won't say which ones in case the IRS are reading this (!?) - so careful scheduling is required. They have covered most of The States with the exception of California and Canada has been visited several times, and although they haven't toured as such with any particular band, they cite playing with BLITZ and also THE VIBRATORS as being the best shows...............so far! (Both bands took time out with CHOKING SUSAN, imparting advice and generally just being good mates. Perhaps the warmth and appreciation they received is what makes they themselves such an affable bunch.)

There have been several changes to the band's composition over the years, with Colleen and Keith being the only two remaining original members. There have been name changes too. Colleen explains:     

'The name CHOKING SUSAN comes from the name of a porno movie. You've seen it...?! After a while we decided to change the name to CRAP. That was really short-lived though, and we then decided to call ourselves DOUG'S DEAD EYE, which was a kind of perverse hommage to an ex boyfriend of mine. Although we recorded under the latter name, it again was a short-lived incarnation, and we soon reverted to the original and best, CHOKING SUSAN. Why? Because it RAWKS, baby!!!"

Having such a tight-knit band of local followers during that period meant that the name changes had no real detrimental effect on the band's ability to pull a crowd. Indeed, through the medium of My Space and other social networking sites, the momentum continues to build. " I know sites like this have their detractors and there is an awful lot of crap flying around the ether, but to be honest it's really worked in our favour. Blackpool - in fact even most of the gigs we play back home - would just not happen if it weren't for My Space. TONIGHT wouldn't have happened! And also, all those 'friends' we've made on our My Space page suddenly take a real 3D form when we get out on our travels and meet them properly. Hell - even when we're so many thousand miles from home here in Glasgow, so many people that we 'know' have turned up to introduce themselves in person. That's just SO good!" It was quite obvious that Colleen was genuinely grateful, and was appreciative of the influence that My Space etc can have on a band's development.

There's no arguing that with her vibrant (presently) purple hair, her leopard-spot tattoos and her constant dancing / pacing / prowling and bouncing throughout the set, Colleen is the main focul point for the audience throughout a show. However, she is at pains to ensure CHOKING SUSAN are not viewed as merely an extension of her ego (I'd be most surprised if she is at all egotistical), and is determined that her band-mates get the credit they deserve.

"Musically, we all contribute. We all write the music, either individually or collectively. As a band we come together as a whole. " Interestingly, though it is Colleen who exclusively writes the lyrics to all the songs. Which really begs the question: 'WILL THE REAL COLLEEN CAFFEINE PLEASE STAND UP?'

CHOKING SUSAN's catalogue of songs evidence a delicate balance between: 'nerdy fun-punk' (refer - 'YOU'RE SO PRETTY, which includes the lines: 'Girls go to college to gain more knowledge. Boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider'); venomous disgust and vitriolic opinion (refer - SILICONE CHEST and PUNK ROCKER) and personal torment and even self-loathing (refer - LIVING DEAD DOLL; ANOREXIA and SALVATION ARMY) 

"Yep! That's me! Its all come from me! I am exactly who you see.... who you read. That's me in the 'real world' too. I gotta get my aggression out!"

But the self - doubt? The insecurity? This was not an insecure young woman talking, surely?

"Yeah! I'm completely insecure. Sure I am. But you know what? I also just don't care! That's where the complex part comes in. My God! You're the  first interviewer I've given a straight answer to... normally I ask like: '... you looking at my butt?"

(Well..............???!!!)

Although the band concede to 'doing alright' with their DIY attitude towards their calling, there IS muted talk of a record deal in the offing. From the perspective of  both an informed / progressive label AND the band, this must surely be considered the next step. CHOKING SUSAN will undoubtedly sell shit-loads of records, but this will in no way affect their 'CULT' status..................................just look at The Ramones!!

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(My thanx to Colleen for taking the time out to talk to LOUD HORIZON MUSIC. Also to Joe, Keith and Bob (and Amy) with whom I chatted throughout the evening, but were busy balancing and counter-balancing guitars and drum kits onto the roof of their magnificent 'tour-bus' during the interview. THAT'S ROCKAND ROLL, GUYS! THAT'S WHAT 'CULT' BANDS ARE ALL ABOUT!!)

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                                             COLLEEN                                                                         JOE

BOB                                                                                                        KEITH