Ascolta is Italian for listen, and that's exactly what local punk crew Askultura wants you to do. "Listen to the culture," says the band's founder, Andrew, a Lakota Nation warrior poet.
He and his nine cohorts — two chicks, six dudes, and a beast named Captain on the washboard — are releasing a new album of tribal hooligan sounds called Ten Strong Superpunk Skarantella Reggae Rumba Fury.
They love Jägermeister, wild parties, and Miami. And they plan to prove it with their album release at Churchill's Pub this Saturday.
New Times: How'd you come up with the name of the band?
Andrew: I drank just the right amount.
Where and how did you record the new album?
Live, with a couple of overdubs, at the Transportation Workers Union Hall. All ten of us and the guys from APL Studio.
You're a nomad, right?
My first time in Miami was for the FTAA [Free Trade Area of the Americas] protest in 2004. We came down with masks and grappling hooks, ready for action.
When did the band start?
December 2009. I had a broken ankle and no mic stand. So I wrapped the cord around my chest.
You play all over the state. Do you take the whole band on the road every time?
People have jobs. So sometimes, we can't. But when it's just four of us, it gets real punk rock. Real kulturata.
You have a job in real life?
I'm studying to be an acupuncturist, but music is first and foremost. My girlfriend has put up with a lot of shit.
You gonna hit the road and tour soon?
We wanna bring out some Latino flavor to France, Oklahoma, New York, London, Italy. We're taking this show on the road, first stop, New Orleans.
What's another goal?
We really want a Jägermeister sponsorship. Love that stuff.
Name a crazy show experience.
I was in the Green Room at Culture Room one night after we played and Dennis Rodman was in there with this tweaked-out little blond girl. We started doing shots of Jäger, getting hammered. I started dancing too heavily and got kicked out for excessive rowdiness. That was fun.
Anything special planned for the show at Churchill's?
I unhooked the toilet bowl from my house, and we're gonna set it up out front of the pub and let people sit on it, get their picture taken, and sign their name before they go inside. It'll be a good souvenir.
The album talks about more than just getting fucked up, right?
When there's no more food, no more power, and we live in a hunter-gatherer society, Asku will still be playing shows. This band is about more than just the fun. All politicians' actions say "fuck the public." I say "anarchy." And legalize weed.
What's another serious topic?
Nazism, boneheads, and white pride are on the rise. And we are definitely anti-fascist hooligans. We're pro-equal rights on all fronts.
Any labels approached the band to sign?
Two labels have approached us, and we said no to both. Because there's nothing they could do for us that we can't do ourselves. And with our fans, we're unstoppable.
