So I have become very comfortable in my life with the distinction between being stuck in a rut and movin' through a grove in somewhat of a blur. This comfort has led to something of a routine: I enjoy my work, so I don't mind being there 12 hours a day, five days a week, and, in my free time, I see movies at the local Mega-Plex Cine-A-Rama Dome Theatre, and consume alcohol at the only straight bar in between my work and home.
My live music experience is limited to this venue, which is fine since I have usually imbibed enough to suffer through the worst of what the world has to offer. I also enjoy popular music that is clean in its production quality and readily available at many local music stores.
With that said: I saw an amazing band the other night, and went out of my way to see them the next night at their only other L.A. show before they were off for six more dates on their tour -- the next in San Diego. I thought it a neat twist of coincidence that I enjoyed my daily routine as well as the nights of Process.
The front man, Troy, has been 24 for the past eight years. He is bookended by Ethan, 24, on guitar and Body, 24, on bass. Their screaming rhythms and frothing rants are madly chased by the insane pounding of Joe M., 23, on drums.
The music is a lively mix of Hell fire and gasoline, which is probably why the current CD ("End Times") opens with "50' Jesus." The band was started back in '94 by Troy, a discharged USMC, and ex-volunteer gimp fireman. He figured, "Why drive out of my way to be in a band I don't like when I can scream 'fuck you' in front of kids half my age with a bunch of guys I like." Troy is an interesting mixture of a live-action cartoon character, comedian, and snake oil salesman/evangelist gone bad.
They all hail from Ukiah, CA, approximately two hours north of San Francisco. According to Jerome from Burning Tree Records, it is rare to find them out of their normal surroundings, so I was ecstatic I got the chance to see them. It's rare that a live performance can live up to a recording or vice versa, and they do both (I just HAD to buy the CD!). At home, as well as the club, my knee wouldn't stop bouncing and the lyrics kept me smiling. 
The only thing lacking on the CD is Troy's highly humorous monologue in between the songs at their live shows. From dedicating "Ugly Americans" to the girls in some po-dunk town of Oregon, "Guns R Better Than Grrrls" to all the riot grrrls, and chiding the lead singer of the Rats (also on Industrial Strength Records) about not getting to see him since he was paying child support to his mom..."Sorry dad."
The songs are fast and furious, and, due to the fact that it's something of a small band, EXTREMELY tight! Two favorites are "Yer Sister" ("I swore one day, you know, I'd get you back. Now me and your sister were bumpin' in the sack, cuz I fucked yer sister. I fucked yer sister. I fucked yer sister, and I didn't even kiss her.") and "Atom Bomb" ("There's a cancer, and it's roots have taken place. There's a sickness, and it's called the human race."). Those are just my two favorites; the whole CD is a fun, happy romp from beginning to end. There is also a great single on the "Industrial Strength Records Compilation 2001."
The compilation is just a little bit rougher than their CD, which was explained by Troy. "We're sort of uncomfortable with the recording process. We like playing live shows, getting in there screaming, spitting. With that one recording, it was, like, one take. I'm talking in the background and there's a couple of cool fuck ups." Also, "We never practice, we've practiced maybe 12 times in the last year. We just get out and play live shows." The CD does a great job of capturing their live energy. Quite simply, they rock.
Troy is a very compelling character. He reminds me of the serial killer played by Harry Conick, Jr., in the movie "Copycat." He is a good-looking bad boy with a wicked sense of humor. I think I have performed the greatest injustice by not having a tape recorder with me. Troy split my sides a few times and pretty much had an anecdote for everything. Aside from the well-mannered Joe, I didn't get an opportunity to meet the rest of the band. Don't know that it matters...they rocked my socks off!!!
Process, "End Times," on Industrial Strength
The Process
1190 North State Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
Troy can be contacted at: [email protected] Or, like the "End Times" leaf says: Gamble with fate. See if our Website's up n' runnin' at: www.pacific.net/~idarius/process.htm