Let's Talk Punk with Jason Stash of CAN’T
Interview By Lisa-PunkrPrincess
Punk Globe: Hi, thanks for chatting with us. Describe your musical journey. How did you get started playing music, and what inspires you to create?
Jason: Listening to my grandma’s console stereo in the late 70s with my mom and having her love of rock music rub off on me. What inspires me to create is my love for being in a band. My current band, Can’t, is the first band I’ve put together myself and contributed to the songwriting for. The other two members are easy to collaborate with, and we all bring our ideas together with open minds.
Punk Globe: What’s your creative process like?, and “What are your musical strengths?.
Jason: A typical song starts from an interesting chord progression and goes from there as we each contribute to form it into a complete song. I thenI write sort of nonsensical scratch lyrics that I sing and my bass player, Scott, takes those and writes intelligent lyrics out of them. He’s the professor of the band, and in real life.
Punk Globe: What are your interests outside of music?
Jason: Travelling, hiking and paddling are the things I do for fun.
Punk Globe: If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be and why?
Jason: I have my dream pets with my two cats, Gypsy and Zeno, but a marmot would be interesting!
Punk Globe: Describe a time when you had to overcome a challenge booking a show.
Jason: The challenge is finding an open date where one of us isn’t travelling!
Punk Globe: What’s your favorite book, movie, or podcast?
Jason: Book: I really love history and mysteries
Movie: I’d have to say both Star Wars and The Warriors.
Podcast: The History of Rome and Revolutions
Punk Globe: What instruments do you play, and how proficient are you on each?
Jason: I’ve been playing drums for about 45 years, and I’ve got that down. I play basic power chords on guitar, and that’s enough for me to be able to come up with basic song parts. Right now I’m currently working on being able to lead-sing and drum at the same time, and well.
Punk Globe: If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
Jason: I’d love to sit down for supper with Jesus and the Buddha and Johnny Ramone.
Punk Globe: What do you enjoy most about playing music?
Jason: I love the pure energy of playing live, and my favorite way to do that is to set my drums up in the middle of the crowd whenever I possibly can, sound man permitting.
I go into a trance as I play and sing and connect with the crowd.
Punk Globe: Tell me about your favorite performance venues
Jason: I have fond memories of growing up playing the Gilman and the Berkeley Square and every West Oakland warehouse that had shows back in the day.
Punk Globe: How would you describe your band’s sound?
Jason: We have been compared to bands like the Minute Men, early Husker Du, and Black Flag. People have told me they can’t figure out what style to call us and I’m fine with that.
Punk Globe: How do you make decisions as a band?
Jason: Our decisions are usually very easy: “Do we wanna play this show?” and it’s usually a “yes!” We three rarely disagree on anything, so decisions are usually unanimous.
Punk Globe: What is your favorite song to perform and why?
Jason: My personal favorite is “Nowhere To Be Found.” It’s got a cool story and some very heavy riffs. Our fans tell me that’s their favorite. It’s also one of our newest songs.
Punk Globe: Where can we find you and your music?
Jason:.
YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5vJMBaQPnRDcHfovzgXqIw?si=PbwA0JSmh7cdaijJ
IG- https://www.instagram.com/the_band_cant/
Punk Globe: What advice would you give to a new band starting?
Jason: I would say, make as many connections with bands and bookers as possible and be reliable… and don’t rely on others to do the work for you, do it yourself!
Punk Globe: Thanks For Chatting with us, and thanks to all the readers.
Jason: Thanks for having me, and if you are in the Bay Area, come out and experience the raw energy and participation of our live set. It is heavy on audience/ band shared energy!