Have Nots

Have Nots
by Barry Thompson
The Weekly Dig 4/2/08-4/9/08
http://www.weeklydig.com/arts-entertainment/music/fidelity/200804/have-nots

"Everyone keeps putting ’The Have Nots’ on fliers. It’s definitely just ’Have Nots,’ a representation of a certain demographic," says guitarist and co-vocalist Jon Cauztik, formerly known as "that guy from Stray Bullets," during a pre-band practice interview. "It’s arrogant to say, ’We are The Have Nots,’" says bassist Jameson Hollis. "We have less than you have. Come watch us."

Friggin’ everybody does political songs nowadays, but not even the bulk of punk-ska-reggae outfits want to be stigmatized as "political." It’s just bad marketing. Can’t have audiences thinking they have to pay attention to lyrics instead of dance. Either out of necessity, or the reliability with which their audiences skank and/or two-step themselves retarded, Have Nots don’t mind being a political band.

"I guess I’m not interesting enough to write about myself," says other guitarist-and-singer dude, Matt Pruitt. "I’ve found it easier to put myself in the shoes of people who have it a lot worse than I do, and try to imagine what it feels like."
"If you’re a punk band and you’re not political," says Cauztik, "you’re a speed pop band. Sorry." That statement is definitely not getting a popular consensus, but it’s a philosophy that’s working for this well-nigh Boston punk super-group, so why argue semantics?

It was twilight of 2006 when a half-asleep Pruitt accidentally phoned Cauztik, who had just concluded an abortive stint in Chicago Typewriter, the other three present-day Have Nots’ old band. In his waking disorientation, Pruitt proposed that the same four people start an entirely new project. This was a magical accident. Ever since, its spry, infectious consequences have galvanized circle pits all over this fucking town. A debut full-length for BANKSHOT! Records (former asylum of Leftöver Crack and World/Inferno Friendship Society) looms in the not-too-distant future. Incidentally, if anybody at BANKSHOT! is reading this, call Cauztik back.

An attempt to definitively recapitulate the "message" of Have Nots would cheat everyone involved, but to offer my interpretation—as long as nobody gets assassinated or beaten by riot cops, civil disobedience can be fun as hell.
 
[Have Nots with Time Again, Mark Lind and the Unloved. Sun. 4.6. Middle East Upstairs. 472 Mass. Ave., Central Sq., Cambridge. 617.864.3278. 1pm/all ages/$10. mideastclub.com] - Boston's Weekly Dig

Alright, well I know I'm just asking to get made fun of for posting a ska record, but fuck it.

This band rules. One of the dudes from a now-defunct Boston ska-punk band called The Stray Bullets is in it, and this sounds basically like the same band - so, if you dug the Bullets, you'll like this just as much.

The songs are super catchy, the recording quality is good, and no chord or drum hit is misplaced. Simply put, it is an extremely well-done record.

I know everyone likes to hate on ska these days, but there is no reason to not get into this record. I don't listen to very man new ska-punk albums these days, and when I do, it's usually Serf City USA. - brandnewbeatniks.blogspot.com

Those who were lucky enough to get a ticket to the Mighty Mighty Bosstones' "Hometown Throwdown" show probably caught at least a few minutes of opening act the Have Nots. Like the Bosstones, the Have Nots are a festive ska-punk-rock act from Boston. They're a little less pop-friendly than the 'tones, but the music is just as easy for skanking to the beat. Tonight, the Have Nots take the stage at T.T. the Bear's to celebrate the release of a new album, "Serf City USA." Also on the bill are the Glow, the New Alibis, and the Allstonians. 9 p.m. $8. T.T. the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 617-492-2327. www.ttthebears.com - The Boston Globe

The Have Nots are one of the best bands that you may have never heard of if you don't live on the east coast... hopefully their newest independently released "Serf City USA" will change that.

Sounding something like the illegitimate bastard child of Operation Ivy and The God Awfuls, Boston's Have Nots found the perfect blend of punk and ska riffs. Don't let the ska influences fool you however... I highly doubt you'll find a bunch of 12 year olds in pork pie hats and suspenders running in place at one of their shows. The Have Nots are no frills pure as fuck punk rock.

While it's a bit early to be calling it, I get the feeling this will be on my top 10 of 2009, and if it somehow isn't, then this will be one hell of a year for music. - Battle of the Midwestern Housewives

Chances are if you aren't from the Boston area you may not have heard of the Have Nots. I know if it wasn't for the power of MySpace, these guys would've gone under my radar but now that they have their first full length, Serf City USA, out, I'd be surprised if they don't start attracting some attention; from both fans and labels.

Merging classic ska-punk acts like Operation Ivy with newcomers like Keepin' 6, The Have Nots are one of the best ska-punk acts in the scene today. Not a third-wave ska band, The Have Nots don't make the listener tap their feet through the use of horns and brass but instead get the blood boiling and bumbling through just the right amount of upstrokes and intensity. Throwing in touches of reggae and ska with their distorted punk rock speed, the band is equal parts of blistering intensity and ferocity with fun and danceable melodies. First there was Operation Ivy, then Against All Authority and bands like Subb and now you can safely add Have Nots to the list of furious ska-punk.

Filled to the rim with distorted upstrokes and thumping bass lines, Serf City USA sounds like The Flatliners before joining Fat Wreck Chords, only the vocals on here aren't as coarse as Chris Cresswell. Instead they are much... not necessarily softer but more so less worn out. The two vocalists trade vocals with ease, both adding a slightly different spin to the delivery but keeping it in the same intensity.

Despite the heavy ska/reggae feel of the album, you can't help but notice some famous punk rock references either. The entire album has a slight Fat Wreck vibe and brings up visions of The Swingin Utters and the bridge (packed with "woahs") on the title track sounds oddly like Bouncing Souls. This isn't a bad thing though, it adds an extra layer to the songs; giving it more depth than just a straight forward punk song or straight forward ska song. With elements from both genres, the record becomes more appealing and still comes packed with a powerful rally call for change.

Songs like SBC, One In Four, Anchor for a Drowning Man, Serf City USA, Muerte De Perros (with some spanish lyrics) and Used To Be are all worthy of multiple repeats, and the songs in between aren't filler either. A solid release for a ska-punk fan by a band that will surely blow up.

http://www.thepunksite.com/reviews.php?page=album/e_n/havenots_serfcityusa - ThePunkSite.com

Riddled throughout this snarled-upper lip rock ‘n’ roll effort is a sound that’s likely to make most would-be ska bands nervously upchuck their breakfasts.

Upon first inspection, the Have Nots seem to adhere to the traditional boozy pub-rock formula, one that’s cemented in “There’s Gonna Be a Riot,” the first track on Serf City USA. Before long and without warning the record gives way to sonically charged ska-punk brilliancy and that’s a sentiment not to be taken lightly by even the most casual of listeners.

Each song on Serf City seems to best the track that comes before it. “Frozen Heart,” “One In Four” and “An Army of One” are all killer tunes and will likely have the skanker crowd bopping around for days. Far from your traditional ska affair, these tracks also go on to offer a much more aggressive styling, so fans of harder music are likely to dig this record, too.

There’s no denying that the Have Nots have produced a quality album here, one that’s as strong as a heroine kick and far from poppy. Serf City showcases bumpy bass lines and clean palm-muted guitar riffs that really seem to even the whole thing out quite nicely.

If you’re looking for a healthy spark in an otherwise over-saturated genre, then the Have Nots are probably a good choice for your listening ears. Forget about the industry clutter and the many cookie-cutter punk bands that rely on a horn section to fit the bill; the Have Nots actually do the genre some justice and come out sounding fresh and new. - Punknews.org

"It hasn't been in vogue to bounce around all retro-style to ska-punk in years, yet here we have HAVE NOTS, Boston's resident trilby-wearing greasers, whose boisterous following makes most bands' fans look like badge-holders at a Sudoku convention. Have Nots have been festering in town since 2006, playing a rock solid mix of gruff alleyway punk that hasn't been done this well since Rancid reinvented it on Let's Go. They recorded their debut album, Serf City USA, last summer at Cambridge stronghold New Alliance, with the release planned for a throwdown at T.T. the Bear's on January 23 with the Allstonians, New Alibis, and the Glow."

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Music/74415-Thaww-yeah/ - The Boston Phoenix

Poverty sucks, but buying stuff is awesome, so I have mixed feelings about capitalism. However, the first proper record from local ska/punk darlings Have Nots has me reassessing. Food and shelter are dandy, but their scarcity helped inspire the bulk of worthwhile punk rock. So . . . hurray for poverty? Maybe not.

Have Nots are not psyched about poverty, other social injustices, and dudes who used to be punk-rock only to become clean-cut, complacent city-hall employees. None of this disgruntlement keeps them from creating exultant, frenetic ska/punk. Upstroke crazy verses, triumphantly downtrodden choruses, and perky lead-geet bits get the kids two-steppin' � as you might imagine, Serf City is a crusty dance party. Yet it's never sing-songy. The lyrics may teeter on verbosity, but the way Matt Pruitt and Jon Cauztik swap lead vocals offsets them with a conversational pathos.
Topics

Serf City's greatest failing, you could argue, is that if you like Operation Ivy, you'll certainly like this. But if you don't like Operation Ivy, well . . . shit, man, what's wrong with you?

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Music/74638-SERF-CITY-USA/ - Boston Phoenix Jan 09

When you hear The Have Nots, you can’t help but think they’re punky like Green Day, Dropkick Murphys, Offspring, and Sublime’s hardcore numbers. And indeed, if this were the 1990s, I’d be betting on big things for them. But with that style of music no longer in vogue, The Have Nots would be at risk of being a novelty act, another ska/hardcore/kinda Clash band. That is, if they weren’t so Goddamn talented.

Their lyrics are deep and complex, eschewing accessibility for true punk philosophy; the hooks are nonstop; the lyrics are spat in spoken shouts; and the drumming is simply phenomenal. I dunno where this Steve Patton dude came from, but he deserves widespread renown. His relentless, driving beats give the record it’s spine, supporting the anarchic philosophy, surprisingly interesting keyboard accents, and steady guitar riffs.

The best song on the record, “Used to Be,� is all about the stuff we leave behind when we grow up and get too old to headbang and mosh. I’m sure I’m not the only one who relates to it. Other standout tracks include “Army of One,� an anthem for veterans that should be blasting out of every radio in Iraq, “There’s Gonna Be a Riot� (it’s meaning is obvious), and the punny title track, “Serf City U.S.A.,� with it’s chorus: “Serf City, U.S.A./How long must we live this way?�

The band is D.I.Y. after some issues with their record label, and just self-released their first album.

Buy it at their myspace

Army of One - Berkeleyplaceblog.com

Now here is something to get excited about, as Have Nots have created one of the best local punk releases of the last several years. Purposeful and passionate, righteous yet nuanced and sometimes poetic, these ska-loving punks are the rightful heirs to Operation Ivy. That’s the easy and obvious comparison, but it’s also the right one. Songs like “Poisoned Antidote” and “SBC” are so catchy that I have actually found myself waking up in the middle of the night singing them, and topical numbers like the veterans’ plight of “One in Four” touch on familiar topics with depth and intelligence instead of empty sloganeering. The highest point is “Used to Be,” a brutally scathing attack on those who have strayed from their roots, which is propelled by a fist-pumping chorus. My only quibbles are minor, such as the album being a little frontloaded and the title track not quite being the anthem it wants to be. This is the type of album that gets a band headliner status really quickly. (Kevin Finn) - The Noise