Ginger Coyote Gets Real With Steve E Nix From The Briefs

Punk Globe: Joe Black tells me that you were recently touring England and you topped it off playing the final Punk Rock Bowling. 

Steve: We played across the pond a few months ago. We played 5 shows in the UK and they were all great. That was nice since we’ve been sort of ignoring the UK over recent years, aside from jumping in to play London and the Rebellion Festival now and then. There were a lot of new faces at the shows, very cool.  We also love the old crew of punks who come out to see us, who have been going to shows since the late 70s. Hearing stories about seeing the Heartbreakers or The Adverts or whoever back in the day is still exciting for me. 

 We were in Berlin, spending the week at Smail Shock Productions studio getting new songs recorded, which was great! The best part about being in a band! Then we played a handful of shows in Germany and then headed back to the States.

Punk Globe: Who was on the bill with you for Punk Rock Bowling?

Steve: Street Dogs, Benton Arme, Mystery Actions. It was great fun. We’ve been participating in Punk Rock Bowling since back when BYO was an active label putting out new records. We dig it. Sad it is not happening this year.

Punk Globe: You have a new release, a 7 “ on TKO Records. That is a lot of fun. Tell us about it. I heard ‘Mary Ann’, it is bad ass!

Steve: Hospital Elevator b/w Mary Ann. We are only all together in one place when we do a run of shows, so we make ourselves get in the studio and record. We were starting a West Coast tour, and we grabbed a day in the studio with Kurt Bloch, who recorded our first 7” 25 years ago. Seemed appropriate for the Briefs’ historic 25th anniversary! Quick and raw. We love Kurt, and we love recording, so it was a good time. TKO is a really cool label to work with, also.

Punk Globe: My band, The WhiteTrash Debutantes, may have played a show with you, and you were a lot of fun.

Steve: Jeez… where? When? I think we may have played a show together, too. I wish I could remember! I’ll say that it was a killer bill, and we both played our best sets ever.

Punk Globe: Love that! Who is currently playing with The Briefs? I know a few years back, you had some lineup changes 

Steve: Ian Furocious is now on drums instead of Chris. Shaun Cassidy Jr is on bass instead of Lance or Kicks… Dan and I are still going strong! Guitars are, of course, the most important instruments in a band, right? We make sure we’re really happy with who’s in the band. High standards here. The past members were brilliant, but they just wound up in life not being able to do the band. We love em still.

Punk Globe: I loved your version of The Kinks ‘Come Dancing’ I remember playing it for  Dave Davies; He loved it. Did you ever get any feedback from The Kinks themselves?

Steve: Wow! No, we had no idea they ever heard it. Pretty cool!

Punk Globe: I remember seeing you at Alex’s Bar a few years back with The Stitches, I believe, a killer show. Did you enjoy Alex’s?

Steve: Alex’s just rules. That’s our spot in Long Beach. In other towns, we’ll try to mix up which venues we play at, but not in Long Beach. We have a lot of history there, and it’s pretty meaningful for us. 

Punk Globe: We have a mutual friend in common, Shanne Bradley, from Shane McGowan’s band Nipple Erector; she sat in with you at a show I  remember. Are you still in contact with her?

Steve: We hung out with Shanne in London. She’s so sweet and cool! I think I had something to do with her getting the Nipple Erectors to reunite at the 100 Club some years back. I pestered her.

Punk Globe: I know you are very busy with the tour, so do you have any Internet addresses you would like to share with our readers?

Steve: We really just do the Instagram these days. @thebriefs

Punk Globe: Any last word for Punk Globe readers

Steve: Thanks for reading. And hey! Let’s keep on keeping punk rock exciting! And, if you have one cat, why not get another? More cats, folks. Let’s get more cats and give em a good time. That’s it. Thanks, Ginger, Happy Holidays!!!