Punk Globe: Thanks for the interview, Loyd.  I remember your days at First Nationwide Bank. I found an old bank book from there. Polk Street during the heyday. Were you a musician then?

Loyd Love: Yeah I started playing music in junior high school and never stopped.  My dad bought me my first electric guitar when I was 13.  I switched to bass a couple of years later.

Punk Globe: It does seem we spoke about it back then. Where did you enjoy going in that area? Was The Raven open then?  I think I saw you in The Rose and Thistle a couple of times. Do you keep in touch with anyone from the bank?

Loyd Love: Polk Street in San Francisco was a happening place back then around 1990.  Always seemed to be something going on.  I think I went to every bar and restaurant there at some time or another.  I have not kept in touch with anyone from the bank although the manager was a really cool guy.  I started working for Gibson Guitars right after the bank and got to meet a lot of musicians since I was in Artist Relations.  Got to do a lot of traveling too.  

Punk Globe: Tell us about the bands you played with in San Francisco. What were some of your favorite venues to play then?

Loyd Love: I’ve played with so many bands but there are a few that stand out.  I was in The Tools with Mike Fox and Greg Baker.  Mike went on to form Sick Pleasure and Code of Honor.  We put out a few EPs.  I was in Fakir with a singer who does magic while he sings and during our finale, he would get tied up in a straight jacket, chained, and with a glass helmet that gets filled with water.  He had to escape before he drowned.  Our guitarist was Nick Sheppard who went on to join The Clash and played on their last album This Is England.  I was also in Keisha and The Caucazoids with Keisha Wright who had been a member of the Ikettes singing with Tina Turner.  We covered a lot of Tina’s songs but in a punk way.  The guitarist was from The Lewd.  I also formed Six Six Thud.  I played bass, wrote the songs, and sang.  You can check out one of my gigs from 1999 on YouTube if you search for Loyd Love – Six Six Thud. Some fun venues I got to play at were The Mab, Ruthie’s Inn, On Broadway, Berkeley Square, Deaf Club, Slim’s, Barrington Hall, Hotel Utah, The Chameleon, Paradise Lounge, The Nightbreak, and Bottom Of The Hill.  I know I’m forgetting a lot of others.  

Punk Globe: When did you move north to Portland?

 Loyd Love: I moved to Portland in 2016.  It was literally a breath of fresh air coming here.  Greenery everywhere!  Portland’s music scene is great too.  

Punk Globe: Did you hook up with a band right away?

Loyd Love:  Not right away.  I used to go to clubs that have “open jams” where you can sit in with the house bands and meet other musicians.  Eventually, you start meeting the right people who you can consider being together in a band with. 

Punk Globe: There are quite a few former Bay Area musicians living there. Do you see Storm Large?

Loyd Love:  I know she performs with The Pink Martini among other things she does but I have not seen her in person yet.

Punk Globe: What clubs were happening up there when you arrived? Did you ever play shows with Roger Nusic?

Loyd Love:  A few of the clubs I like here in Portland are Dante’s, Mississippi Studios, The Big Legrowlski, The Hawthorne Hideaway, Misdemeanor Meadows, Laurelthirst, The Annex, and The 1905.  I didn’t know Roger Nusic but now that you brought him up, I’ll have to check him out.  

Punk Globe: I have fond memories of Portland. Have you played on a bill with MDC?

Loyd Love: Yeah I’m really digging Portland too.  I have not yet had a chance to play on a bill with MDC here in Portland.  Did back in SF about 40 years ago!  Ha ha!  I would love to play on a bill with them now.  

Punk Globe: A lot of folks are moving out of Portland because of high rents and crime rates.  Are you in Portland proper?

Loyd Love:  Well it’s really all subjective.  Rents are high everywhere and some Portlanders complain of rent increases but compared to the Bay Area, it’s still much lower.  I live in an “unincorporated” part of western Portland so it is not technically in Portland proper.

Punk Globe: Tell us about your band  Demure that you played at the Whiskey with recently.  How long have you been playing with them?

Loyd Love:  I’ve been with Demure since last year.  I describe our music as hard rock with punk influences.  We are a four-piece with Jack Jackman on lead vocals and guitar, Casey Arbogast on guitar and vocals, Cody Felder on drums (yes his dad is the guy from the Eagles) and I’m on bass.  It’s been a blast playing and touring with these guys.