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Squatweiler is Stacey Matarrese on vocals& bass, Trip Costner on vocals & guitar, Fred Mann on vocals & drums
Squatweiler has just completed its brand new CD entitled "Horsepower". It was recorded by Jay Robbins (formerly of Jawbox and now Burning Airlines) at the legendary Inner Ear Studio in Washington, DC (a mecca of sorts where Minor Threat, Fugazi, Lungfish, Nation of Ulysses, Dag Nasty and tons of other great bands have made groundbreaking records). The environment, rich with the history of their heroes, propelled Squatweiler to create their finest release to date, which is all about heroes to begin with.
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Henry Rollins Talks About Squatweiler I was fortunate, years ago, to be sent Squatweiler's first effort, Full Bladder. The record quickly reached hot rotation in my room, so I wrote the band a fan letter asking them to keep me in the loop as to their activities and future releases. We have been friends ever since. To be honest, I wasn't as amazed at their sophomore effort, All Tempo Hot Pants; it seemed that the band needed to grow but was being held back somehow. Then in the summer of 1997 when I was on tour in America, the mighty Squatweiler joined the Rollins Band for the last shows of our American leg. They should have been on the whole damn tour. My mistake, thousands of people denied a kick ass show. Whoops. On tour, the band gave me a copy of their then new third release, New Motherstamper, their first spinART release. It was their best record yet. The strength of the songwriting had increased by leaps and bounds. Trip's guitar sound and playing was blazing; and bass player Stacey had stepped up to the vocal duties (vacated by their previous singer) with such confidence and obvious talent that it made me wonder why she wasn't in that position sooner. The record was a quantum leap ahead for the band. The band was
playing dates steadily and writing now and again. I was afraid that
they would lose writing momentum and not be able to deliver a record
on par with Motherstamper. It's hard to keep the ball in the air
with a band these days. Through phone calls and email, I would talk
to Stacey now and again and tell her that the band was great and
they had to rock. In early 1999 I was sent a CD of the very rockin' Horsepower, Squatweiler's 4th. The good news is that they did it. They knocked the ass off a good previous effort and managed to take themselves to a new level of song writing and playing. By the third listen I was amazed. They can write songs. I am not trying to be funny. A lot of bands don't write songs anymore. They write snapshots of songs, they pull their car right up next to songs but they don't take the time and commitment to go all the way. The band plays
better than ever. There is a dynamic on this record that was not
there before. The lyrics are brave and fantastic; and their humor
element is still intact, one of the things that makes this band
so enjoyable and kick ass. And then there's the commitment to the road and the rock power of their live show. So many bands should stay off the road. They look like they would rather be home with remotes in their hands. Not the Squat. They kick ass live and are INTO IT. So, that's the good news; what then could possibly be the bad news? The bad news is that a great release like Horsepower and a kick ass rock band like Squatweiler will get less notice than some cute major label boys with hair care products, designer sunglasses, laughable music and a live show that's as live as a can of peaches in heavy syrup. Rock on, Squatweiler. -H.R. |
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