We checked in with Jennie Cotterill (Bad Cop/Bad Cop) and J Navarro (The Suicide Machines) on how they spent 2020, what they learned, and their thoughts and hopes for what 2021 will hold, as part of our New Year’s Evolutions Series!
Jennie Cotterill – Bad Cop/Bad Cop
Jennie Cotterill of Bad Cop/Bad Cop took the time to learn and grow this past year and took her baking to an even more serious level than before.
After lockdown there were a lot of low- quality livestreams and zoom interviews to support our album. I got back to making art, which I’m very grateful for and had been missing. I became a better cook and started to be more intentional and creative with that. This was all more internal than going “out into the world.”
I started baking from home and found out I’d MUCH rather do that than design work and it pays about the same. I’m focusing on that as my primary business and it’s been great.
I learned a whole lot I didn’t know about racism in the US, today and historically. Also, a lot about police and alternative systems. I learned a lot about baking and a lot about myself.
I see the year starting slow and being pretty similar to 2020 through the summer. I do think we can expect the new administration to properly address the health and economic crises— which is great news. I could see any kind of travel involving the additional expense of testing or required vaccine and maybe that becomes part of admission to large public events. I could also see permanent reduction of capacity for the venues that survive.
I had a weird dream about a new generation gap between us and young bands that was so vast it split off permanently into its own species. The “kids” didn’t know the old way of crowded shows with that physicality and never adopted it. Live music and multi-member bands who perform in front of real humans becomes a kitschy throwback novelty like rockabilly hairdos.
I hope not! But this is what my sleeping mind gave me.
J Navarro – The Suicide Machines
For J Navarro of ska punk band The Suicide Machines, the pandemic was the cure to 14 years of complacency.
I lost my job, hung out with my kiddos every Wednesday. It was scary, but I was still involved with Food Not Class. We still fed those in need regardless of the pandemic. Writing a J Navarro and the Traitors record. Tons of skateboarding, drinking lots of wine and enjoying not working after 14 years of it.
I worked under the table, collected unemployment, and my company gave me a pretty big severance package. Made more money in my life than I ever have. Lucky, I guess.
I learned I wasn’t happy in my work. I no longer knew my wife or kids because I was on night shift so long and never saw them, also learned I can make it without my job. I had become too brainwashed to think I had to have that job to survive or was too complacent to quit.
It’s too late for normal. At least in Detroit. So many places went out of business and there won’t be a bounce back. Concerts are the least of my concerns. I really doubt shows will happen this year or not until well after summer.
Unfortunately, I think the toothpaste is out of the tube. Radical right- wing extremists are going to double down and attempt to bolster efforts to polarize the country and rile up their base. In their world nonsense is the new normal. Fear is what is selling. False patriotism is the antidote, and business is very, very good.
Follow Bad Cop/Bad Cop on Twitter here, and The Suicide Machines here.
Read the rest of our New Year’s Evolutions posts here!
