Sam Howe. Scum Records.
Sam Howe or 'Stringo' of Scum Records is helping Brisbane music be heard and driving the scene forward. Signing and distributing bands within Australia and through partnerships around the globe for the last 7 years, we catch up with the man responsible for so much in our favourite place to be.
Howe has a long history of being in the most influential bands, including the awesome 50 Bags and the legendary Deputy Dipshit with co-conspirator Ben Rag, “I’ve been in a band with Ben for 6 years now, and it’s so much fun.” The adventures taking him to Punx Picnic, “Touring with them for the first time was also the first time I’d left Queensland.”
Originally from Cairns, Howe independently moved to Brisbane at the age of 16 on a mission never to grow old, continuing he cites his ally as his inspiration, “Ben Rag’s been playing for the last 10 years in bands like Toe Rag and Deputy - he’s never stopped. That really inspires me, I don’t want to ever grow up and he is the epitome of that.”
Working with The Black Market as soon as he landed and words from Rancid's Tim Armstrong gave him the experience and direction he needed to go out on his own, “Seeing an interview with Tim saying anyone can do what they really want motivated me, I found it easy to set up on my own and start helping people.”
Releases
Scum Records was born out of love in 2007 and started to sign bands that remind us of positive times, “When I see a young band playing awesome music with an energetic vibe, it’s amazing to watch.” Preference of genre is something that is very personal to Howe, “I love finding music that has a real upbeat vibe, if it’s got that punk or ska aspect that I really like, it’s more appealing to me than other genres.”
“When I saw Goon on the Rocks, it reminded me of going to shows when I was 15 or 16, seeing that stuff for the first time, or skating to it and listening to that type of music.” Putting his own money down, he’s invested his own cash to support others, “I want to back music and make sure other people can listen to it and help promote it - that’s my main objective.”
Howe does an amazing job of collating some Australia’s best punk and ska on Scum Suckers compilations which is now at Volume #3. Pre order for your listening pleasure...
Technology Brings Unity
From handing out CDs and flyers to the help of online platforms, Scum Records have leveraged technology to make global connections, including cross promotion with underground Toronto collective Unknown Records, “Now I’m working with people in Canada, England and Japan, that wouldn’t have happened without Facebook or bandcamp.”
The convenience never really completely stamping out the fulfilment that comes with having vinyl, disc or artwork in your grubby little hands, “I’ve tried to keep Scum Records more about the physical goods because I prefer not to use the internet so much but it’s the way society works today thats how you get to people."
The Music
At a meeting at QUT, Kelvin Grove in 2009, UK journalist Everett True told this writer that a better music scene is created in colder states, where people have to stay in doors and create art. Seeing first hand how local music has grown over the years, Brisbane begs to differ as Howe gives his 2 cents, “I love hearing music from all over but I like to try and focus on Brisbane. People try to downplay it a lot and say Melbourne’s where it’s at but if you get a really good underground scene like we have here, everyone comes together and it works well.”
“I think in the last year, Brisbane has really strengthened, a lot bands have been coming up through here which is great.” Adding to the local mix, “People that were coming to shows 5 years ago are all starting bands, the whole scene gets influenced by each other.”
New music we should be looking out for includes a new signing, Baron Samedi. A ska punk band who have just recorded and released their 8 track.
Scum Records Monthly Punk Night is also a staple of the river city’s thriving punk scene. The venue, The Underdog is as important as the music, band and labels holding it together and progressing forward, “Bob the Manager at The Underdog is really supportive, it’s awesome, it’s like a second home.”
Stringo’s Solo Material - Life Repeats
A drummer first, a guitarist soon after thanks to his brother, Howe’s solo recordings are gritty, honest, optimistic and full of satire in it’s rawest form. The inspiration coming from his youth, “Punk in Drublic and Outcome The Wolves were were the first albums I bought. The Flatliners are also one of my favourite bands, Chris Cresswell inspires me to do the solo stuff.”
So where does it come from? “There was a lot of stuff running through my head and I wanted to get it out, I find it easier to communicate through music, it seems a bit easier for me to get my message across." Laughing he notes, “And it’s also easier to organise just one person to play.”
Kenada Quinlan