Adam Anzio

“Adam Anzio is a newcomer on the Atlanta scene and a musician extraordinaire. Talented in vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and pretty much any other instrument he can get his hands on, Anzio recorded his debut EP, Gavels, in a bathroom, bedroom and practice space with ten dollar headphones and a small digital recorder. His full-length debut album of the same title features him performing all vocals and instruments once again.

Labeled as punk and new-wave, Anzio’s lead single, “Killed You,” is fueled by remnants of old-school punk, lo-fi sounds and kickass lyrics. The song awakens the angsty “parents just don’t understand” teenager than still lives within all of us and is sure to make its way onto the summer playlists of many local music fans this year. Crank this one up loud.”

— TAYLOR MAGILL, Latest Disgrace - TAYLOR MAGILL

A two-song digital single released May 7 by singer and guitarist Adam Anzio is both a preview for his forthcoming album, Gavels (out May 21), and a true reflection of punk's D.I.Y. ethos. The A-side, "Killed You," is a future album cut that owes a lot to 1970's American proto-punks Death, and to the faster, riff-driven post-punks, the Wipers. The virtual flipside, "Find It," borrows from the more accessible, dance-worthy dark pop of the '80s.

Anzio's ability to marry the sounds of these decades is impulsive, as these songs were created as part of the modern D.I.Y. process: A guitar, laptop, and whatever other instruments he can play coupled with a can-do attitude and a few bottles of Mexican Coke. There's even artwork that looks like it was made with M.S. Paint. Anzio did it all, and a lot of full bands would be hard pressed to top these songs in a proper studio. - BOBBY MOORE

With his self-titled solo album and EP almost finished, lead singer and guitarist for new reggae rocksteady group, Razorcombs, and bassist for Black Linen, Adam Anzio somehow finds time to leave his mark on the summer playlist series. For someone who shows true dedication to his musicianship, it seems fitting that his faves include proper '80s pop legends, Jamaican reggae jammers from Peter Tosh to Barrington Levy, and new wave, mod resurrectors, the Jam.

What are your summer plans and some things you’re looking forward to?
I’ve been really busy trying to record my solo stuff. I put out a record, "Gavels," on bandcamp last year, and I’m doing a 2.0 version of that and putting out a self-titled EP around the same time. Hopefully, it'll be done by September. I’ve been working on that and recording with a new traditional style, rock steady reggae band, Razorcombs. Our first show is coming up at the end of August. Playing bass in Black Linen and recording some with them whenever I can squeeze that in.

What’s on your summer playlist?
Bauhaus: "She’s in Parties"
Terminal Licks: "Not Today"
AFI: "17 Crimes"
Peter Tosh: "Stepping Razor"
Ceremony: "Hysteria"
Duran Duran: "Girl Panic!"
The Damned: "Anything"
Barrington Levy: "Murderer"
Steve Winwood: "Higher Love"
The Jam: "Happy Together"
Wyldlife: "Suspicion"
The 1975: "Settle Down"
Haim: "Days Are Gone"
Angel Dust: "Set Me Up"
Gallows: "Chains/Wristslitter"
Das Efx: "They Want Efx"
Judas Priest: "Heading Out to the Highway"
Giuda: "Wild Tiger Woman"

Do you think your musical taste varies from the other people with whom you play music?
In some ways it does differ, however I think my taste in music is so broad that maybe our respective tastes gel in small parts. I play with different people, but a lot of them usually listen (openly anyway) to only certain kinds of music, and not others. I don’t just listen to my favorite styles of music; I’ll listen to anything regardless if it’s good or bad or if people think it’s lame or if it’s popular. Versatility as a performer, and a listener will do wonders for you in many ways. With Black Linen, Randy and I connect on many levels, mostly ‘60s and ‘80s music. And now, with Razorcombs, I think we all share a common goal of creating reggae, rocksteady, ska, and dub in a more traditional style.

Tell us about Razorcombs.
I joined what is now Razorcombs back in May of this year. We wanted to show people that reggae isn’t all about weed and dreadlocks. Our stuff is rock-steady and reggae before the influence of Rastafari and Trojan Records style. We are all familiar with the way reggae and ska were, in my opinion, demonized in the ‘90s with the 3rd wave of ska. Whenever most people think of ska, they think of Reel Big Fish, or some bands like that. We are all about the roots of it all, not so much the ska-punk explosion from the late '90s, which is how it’s come to be in the states. We don’t want it to be Bob Marley’s Legend compilation. Bob Marley is a fucking legend, and there is more to him, his music, and reggae in general that is so wonderful; and that, among other things, is what we’re trying to do, and get people to see that about music, and this band. That’s from my perspective though.

Do you have a certain quote that you try to live by?
No. I don’t like using other people’s words to dictate anything in my life. I used to be all about that, especially when I was a kid into modern incarnations of punk and hardcore, and I was quoting Earth Crisis, and using song lyrics as religious scripture. I like to take everything in, and through experience, make your own ways to live. Whatever is right for you, not what someone else said, whether it was directly aimed at you or not. As a musician, and artist, it’s very important to take what is in your head, and in your heart, and bring that out. So, here is an Anzio quote. "Appreciate and learn from the past, live for the present, and look forward to the future.” BAM!

Pick one album to listen to for the rest of your life.
It’s really tough for me to pick favorites of anything, but I’d probably say Duran Duran’s Wedding Album. When I was little I got that tape, and it was the first tape I ever bought back in ‘93 or ‘94 with a jar full of quarters. I’d be fine with listening to that on repeat because it reminds me of happier times.

How do you think people describe you?
Probably weird, demanding, and chill. I think the weird comes from people not really knowing what to expect when they first meet me. And when I've worked with Atlanta musicians in the past for my solo project, I was told that I was very demanding. I suppose people have different outlooks on musicianship and performance, especially when it comes to music that is influenced by punk rock. I don't jam out too much. I like to work, and I suppose not everyone takes it seriously, which is fine, but not on my time. I just love what I do that much. I give a shit. Sorry, or whatever.

How would you describe yourself?
I don’t know. Probably disciplined, happy, and free. I can go to a show and be in a room full of people, and still have a great time watching who I came to see. I may not speak to a single person in the room, and they may not speak to me; but it’s okay, because I didn’t come for them. I came for the music. I think people put way too much emphasis on the social aspects of being into music. That doesn’t work out for me so well, so I don’t even worry about it anymore. When you let it all go, then you’re truly free, and you can feel it. An overwhelming sense of happiness and weightlessness when you find that certain things really don’t matter.

What are some influences or music icons that have helped shape your musical identity?
Anyone who promotes freedom or challenges the status quo, especially when it concerns the repetitiveness of a given genre of music. I like when people have certain limitations, but don’t let it stop them from doing what they’re doing. Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder are obvious examples of that.
I'm really into rebel music like the roots of rock 'n’ roll, punk, reggae, and old school rap. Elton John is one of my favorite performers. I like people who can take one instrument and fill a whole room with music, and it won’t sound empty, isolated, or boring. Classic punk, early to mid '70s like the New York Dolls and '80s post-punk. The Jam was a huge influence for my solo work, same with Elvis Costello and Squeeze. Early '80s hardcore bands like Cro-Mags and Minor Threat.

Where do you think your roots truly lie?
I have loads of books, movies and all sorts of stuff relating to punk because I’m sort of a fanatic when it comes to the history of rock ‘n’ roll. I think I look more to the roots of punk because back then everybody was doing whatever the hell they wanted to do. It wasn’t so much of what you see now, just a bunch of bands trying to be like the Ramones or the Exploited, which is fine and all, but I like listening and seeing things that are different.

Is that what your trying to do with your solo album?
In a way, but I write with an organic approach. It comes out naturally, and I either keep it as is, or mold it into something I really like. The influences are from proto-punk, new wave, and early hardcore, but not in a throwback manner. I appreciate and learn from the past, live for the present, and look forward to the future. I take it all in. It’s not like I’m forcing myself to be original, and if I want to mold into something else then I’ll do that, but I don’t want to have to try and be the next so-and-so or anything like that.

When did you start playing music?
I started getting serious with it in either 4th or 5th grade when we were learning how to play the recorder in music class. I was really good at playing and it was really awesome to me. I think I started playing guitar around the same time. A lot of my instruments I had actually belonged to my older brother, and whenever he’d get something new I would get the hand-me-down. I just picked it up and never took any formal lessons. I come from a performing arts background full of musicians and poets, even civil rights leaders. I was encouraged to be a performer, but as far as what I was actually into, that’s a different story. I think my parents would rather me play jazz or something like that, which I can do and do occasionally. I guess they like that I don’t drink or do drugs. My father is in the military, so I’ve been traveling my whole life and never really had a set hometown. I’ve lived in Atlanta longer than I’ve lived anywhere else at one time.

What are some of your favorite bands from Atlanta?
Mastodon, OutKast, and I saw Landline, Philip Frobos’ new band, at 529 a couple of weeks ago. I was all about it. It had a New York, 1975 punk vibe to it, like the Talking Heads, or Television.

What’s the best thing about playing music in Atlanta?
There seems to be an audience for whatever you’ve got going on, big or small. Atlanta is a good place to play, but it can be hard to grow. You have to put in the work and be your own team. You have to do things for yourself, which teaches you a lot about hard work, but sometimes it can really suck. I know of a handful of musicians here that are really rad to play with like Randy Michael, Joshua Longino, and Dillon Knight just off the top of my head. It differs, based on who you are and what you aim to do. I know some bands that tour through here and don’t want to come back again, but then others that think Atlanta is the best place to play in the country. It can be real cliquey and fickle at times. You have to give a crap, be fearless, be a realist, and be supportive. - NATALIE FRESSELL

Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Anzio (Black Linen, Razorcombs) recently unveiled a self-released EP, his first solo effort since his 2013 debut album, Gavels. Each song finds Anzio soaking up well-aged punk and new wave influences like a sponge, before wringing out something fresh yet familiar sounding. The title track and “No Good Reason” are chock full of goth-pop guitar work and Buzzcocks-style harmonies. There’s more of a ’77 punk feel to “Vacation from the Apocalypse” and a new recording of “Gavels,” a track that’s been in Anzio’s home recording repertoire since at least 2010. Anzio has also soaked up the more sensitive side of new wave, as heard on the introspective, bass-driven “Anything Anymore.” - Bobby Moore