Interview with Greg Antista | By John B. Moore
After years of letting his guitars collect dust, Greg Antista thought he might go the solo acoustic route taken by many punk rockers over the years. Then, a Santa Ana, California, music fest led the former Joyride and Foxy frontman to ditch those plans entirely, pull together a full band, and plug in.
The result is Greg Antista & The Lonely Streets—a stellar four-piece comprised of former members of Manic Hispanic, Cadillac Tramps, and Busstop Hurricanes, among others—who churn through perfectly crafted three-minute pop songs that owe just as much to Johnny Cash as they do to Adolescents.
The group released their debut, Shake, Stomp and Stumble, via Primal Beat Records on May 17.
How did the idea for the band first come together?
When this album was conceived, I hadn’t played live in years. I didn’t have a band, and I initially wrote the songs to go out and play acoustically by myself. After seeing the likes of John Doe, Steve Soto, Elvis Cortez, and Kevin Seconds play some damn inspiring acoustic shows, this seemed like a great way to get out and play again. Right around this time, early 2017, I learned that Rocket From The Crypt was going to be headlining a big festival called the So-Cal Hoedown in Santa Ana. I really wanted to get on the bill, but it would mean putting together a band to play electric versions of my new songs. So, that was the impetus for the formation of The Lonely Streets, even though we didn’t end up playing the festival.
I was lucky enough to be able to recruit three of my longtime friends who also happened to be some of my favorite musicians in Orange County. Our bass player, Warren Renfrow, and I go back to our days on Doctor Dream Records when my band Joyride and the Cadillac Tramps were labelmates. I’d seen Warren destroy on everything from soul to hardcore and knew he was the guy I wanted on this record. I’ve known our lead guitarist Jessica Kaczmarek since my days tending bar at Linda’s Doll Hut in Anaheim, California. Jessica was a real standout in some of the best roots and rockabilly bands that came though the Hut. The first time she hopped up on my bar in heels while tearing up a solo, I knew I needed to be in a band with her. Our drummer, Jorge E. Disguster, has been killing it in tons of bands around Orange County for years. He is always in demand, and nobody hits harder.
It’s not often we get everything we want in this life, but this is the band I wanted, and they all said yes.
Given all your backgrounds and previous bands, the band’s sound is unexpected. Did you talk about what you wanted the sound to be, or did it just sort of evolve as you all started to play together?
I think the fact these songs were originally written to be performed acoustically has a lot to do with the punk-meets-country sound of the record. When it came time to form the band, the main idea in my head was that it would be cool to overlay some roots [and] rockabilly guitar over a straight-up Ramones-style punk band. Jessica and I talked a lot about The Clash and Johnny Cash. Warren and I talked a lot about The Gun Club, The Blasters, and Los Lobos. Jorge just said he was gonna beat the shit out of the drums, and I said, “OK.” Once it came time to go into the studio, all three of them laid down their signature style on each track.
I think anyone who knows their playing would recognize it the minute they put on this record. I don’t think it would be the same record if any of the three of them were taken out of the equation. I’ve learned in life that certain things like romance, friendship, and making music are often tied to a certain time and place. For some reason, they work in that time and place, and it’s up to us to recognize that something special is happening and to make the most of it.
Those are all great bands. When it came time to write Shake, Stomp and Stumble, were you listening to anything that had a strong influence on the music?
I think, by far, the greatest influence on my songwriting for this record is the many years I spent behind the bar at Linda’s Doll Hut. The American roots and punk rock scenes have coexisted side by side and intermingled in SoCal for as long as I can remember. At the Doll Hut, Linda [Jemison] created a place that both scenes could call home. I had grown up in the Orange County punk scene. The music of the Adolescents, Social Distortion, and Agent Orange had been the soundtrack to every milestone, good and bad, in my life. The Doll Hut was my first exposure to the roots music of Big Sandy, Russell Scott, and James Intveld.
I was immediately drawn to their strong melodies, song structures, and rapport with the crowd. On the jukebox, Linda blasted The Derailers and The Mavericks just as loud as The Damned and the Misfits. Linda’s Doll Hut was unique in the fact that it had no stage. I ran the soundboard, took care of the bands, and tended bar all at the same time. You were eye to eye with the band, dodging the sweat and spit coming off the performance. Being that close to regular appearances by groups like the U.S. Bombs, The Stitches and Throw Rag, as well as the aforementioned roots rock greats, has shaped my songwriting ever since.
How has being a lifelong member of the punk rock community impacted your life?
In 1980, I met Steve Soto [of Adolescents] at Troy High School in Fullerton, California, and became part of this community. Before that, I was a 16-year-old misfit from Catholic school with no direction whatsoever. I had already been consumed by the music of the Sex Pistols, Clash, and Ramones, but that wasn’t community. It was this friendship with Steve that indoctrinated me into the tight-knit punk rock community of Fullerton and then on to the larger punk explosion happening in Southern California. I learned to value friendship and loyalty in this community. I learned to always question authority and that those who strive attain. I’ve met plenty of wonderful people in my travels on this earth, but I have always returned to and feel the most at home with the punk rockers I came up with in Fullerton. There was no planning or orchestrating involved. I was just in the right place at the right time. It made me who I am, and I am truly grateful to still be part of it.
Do you see Greg Antista & The Lonely Streets as a one-off project or a full-fledged band with more albums to come?
I sure hope this is a full-fledged band. I have already written two-thirds of the second album. Playing music has been a way of life for every one of us since our teens, and that’s not gonna change. We are going to make a second record. We are only going to get tighter as a band. As long as I can keep the songs coming, those three will bring them to life. The hardest part is getting everybody locked in to the studio to lay down some basic tracks. I have my ways, though. I expect to be back in the studio toward the end of the year. Perhaps I can lure the rest of them in with fake Christmas presents.
The album cover for Shake, Stomp and Stumble is pretty incredible as well. Was that commissioned for this record, or did you find it and decide to use it for the cover?
Louie Pérez III of Tip Top Tattoo in Fullerton, California, was commissioned to do original works for both The Lonely Streets logo and album cover. Louie has SoCal roots as deep as they go. His father is Louie Pérez Jr. of Los Lobos. Louie is also a really busy dude, hustling two tattoo gigs and three bands. With nothing more than a few texts back and forth to discuss concepts, he brought these two pieces to life. I, too, think they are incredible and that they sum up the vibe of the band perfectly. He is another one I may have to lure back to work with fake Christmas presents. My nephew CJ Apel is responsible for creating the graphics and doing the layout for the rest of the album sleeve. CJ is family. He has to work with me again.
Any plans to tour outside of California?
For sure. Touring has always been a big part of the masterplan. We are currently talking to a few booking agents about the possibility of getting us on the road in an organized fashion. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll do it old-school: we’ll book it ourselves through bands, friends, and fanzines around the country. Europe has always been a favorite tour destination for me and Warren. I know the rest of the band is ready to check that out too. Shit, just last week, I got the word that we are getting played on the radio in Knoxville, [Tennessee]. I’m ready to get in the car and drive out there tonight. Gotta bring the music to the people.
What’s next for the band?
May is a big month for us. Our album drops May 17. To support that, we [did] The Mint in L.A. on May 1 with Katey Sagal [And The Reluctant Apostles], the Maui Sugar Mill in Tarzana on May 4 with Punk Rock Karaoke, and May 24, we [made] our Punk Rock Bowling debut at the Bunkhouse in Las Vegas with Killing Joke. Our Orange County record release party is in the works and will be announced shortly. We are also stoked to be playing live in studio for KXLU’s Livation showcase on June 5.
After that, we’re heading out to play for our new fans in Knoxville.
Purchase Shake, Stomp And Stumble here
Photo by Harmony Gerber / Photo-Grafitti
