With the band’s new album out we caught up with band leaded Jon H. Genier to find out a little bit about the band and how the music comes together.
Give us a potted history of the band
My name is Jon H, I am the singer in the band TWENTY2. The band started in 1999, we are from Montreal, Canada. We took an extensive “break” from 2007 to 2017. So you might say this is a rebirth. The main thing now is we just released a new album – DISMISSED – on Thousand Islands Records, which features Good Riddance members Luke Pabich on guitar & Sean Sellers on drums. Luke also co-wrote the album with me. It’s a 12-song rollercoaster that you should definitely check out if you like aggressive, melodic punk rock. Also, we’re doing a small QC tour w/ Our Darkest Days this fall so come hang out!
Who inspired you to start making music
My uncle did. He played the electric guitar & I was fascinated by it. I can remember him playing Judas Priest & Iron Maiden riffs when I was as young as 5 years old & me “singing” along. I grew up around music period. My parents listened to it all the time: Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Neil Young, Rolling Stones, on & on.
And the one or maybe two records that inspired you artistically
Very hard to say just one or two but I believe the ones that I obsessed over the most as a young teen, as far as punk goes, are Circle Jerks “VI” & Descendents “ Liveage”. But there are SO MANY MORE!…
If you’re trying to explain whom you sound like to someone that’s never heard you, what do you say Gorilla Biscuits meets ALL/Descendents maybe?
Tell us about your new album
The new album is DISMISSED, which was co-written by Luke Pabich. Sean Sellers plays drums on it as well. So it’s half TWENTY2, half GOOD RIDDANCE, in a sense. Luke recorded @ Noise Eater Studios in Santa Cruz, CA w/ Olav Tabatabai. Sean recorded @ Maple Sounds in Orange County, CA w/ Cameron Webb. Dan & I recorded @ Tone Bender in Montreal w/ Gautier Marinof & Gab Dubuc. It was mixed & mastered at The Blasting Room by Chris Beeble & Jason Livermore. It’s on Thousand Islands Records & distributed by Lockjaw Records in UK / Europe. It’s called DISMISSED because I recognize we are currently living through a culture war but I refuse to take sides. I refuse to pick a team. I say: Fuck Your Rules.
Where can we get hold of it
Here: https://linktr.ee/twenty2band
Tell us how you write
Well back in the day we wrote like most bands do: someone brings an idea or a riff or a song to the practice space & we all work on it together. Since the “rebirth”, I have been writing most of the songs in Garage Band & present them as blue prints to the people who are going to be involved. Everyone still incorporates their ideas & touch to each song of course but the process is a little different & then on this last one, basically Luke & I did the whole thing through video conferences. He in California, myself in Montreal. I would build a blue print & we would send ideas back & forth until the demo was done. We did this for about 6 months, after that we all went into different studios & recorded for real.
Tell us about your live show What would be your dream gig
I actually like smaller gigs where the crowd is right in your face. I like to interact with the people there. My favourite gig is a packed club, maybe 300 to 800 people (I’m OK w/ more as well!) & I like it when there is no barrier or anything like that in front of the stage. I like to be with the people. Actually, that’s just about the only time I like to be w/ people! Ha.
What can we expect from you in the near future
I’m not sure about releases, we’re hoping this one does well enough that it merits another. For now we’re booking shows & having fun. Simon Saz, the original guitar player, is back in the band & we’ve been having a bl’ast.
Tell us your favourite records that’s rocking your headphones/tour bus/stereo
Well the new OFF! just came out & it’s a monster! I’m blown away by it, & I’ve only listened 2-3 times so far. That one will be w/ me for a while. Aside from that, the latest releases from A Vulture Wake are really good. Stuff I never get tired of: Almost everything ALL/Descendents, Only Crime, Bl’ast! “Take The Manic Ride” especially, CIV “Set Your Goals”, White Lion “Pride” (yes you’ve read that correctly), Judas Priest’s first 3 or 4 albums, Dag Nasty “Wigout”, SnapCase’s last 3 albums, Gorilla Biscuits “Start Today”, The Story So Far, NFG’s “Catalyst”, Strung Out “Sonic Defiance”, Good Riddance “Ballads”… I mean, I could go on & on.
Check out the bands single Grudge, below:
Find out more via the band’s Facebook
