Gloris Gonzalez has had a busy year, from graduating from the University of the Fraser Valley to performing throughout the Fraser Valley as guitarist of the hardcore band Smuther. After sitting down with Gonzalez I learned quite a bit regarding the hardcore punk music scene, particularly when he explained the difference in genres between the bands performing at the Rez Rock event (which takes place Skwah First Nation land located on Sto:l? territory). The band Gonzalez is a part of, Smuther, is classified as hardcore punk while the other bands performing at the event (Ghaul, Groza, and Dog With A Man’s Face) range from garage rock to death metal. Between life and a weekend full of shows, The Cascade was able to sit down with him for an interview about the music event he organized and the hardcore scene in general.
How long has Smuther been a band?
We’ve been together for just about over a year, but actively gigging for seven months. I think actually we’re a lot closer to our one year anniversary than I thought we were. It’s been nine or ten months.
What is Smuther’s message as a band?
As a band our main message is anti-colonial and anti-capitalist sentiments. We also try to encourage listeners to challenge long held and outdated beliefs that they might have, engage in community based action, promote inclusivity and harm reduction in and beyond the music scene.
You have played around the Fraser Valley, do you play anywhere else?
We actually mostly gig in Vancouver just ‘cause thats where all the hardcore stuff happens. The scene is big enough to support having shows every week or every other week. We’ve only played a handful of Chilliwack shows, and [shows] in Kamloops. We mostly play in the Valley though.
The event, Rez Rock, does take place in Chilliwack, and you’re putting it on yourself. Why did you choose Chilliwack?
We’ve all been involved with the Chilliwack scene basically since our early teens. So for us to come up in this scene and watch it grow… it’s awesome. We also practiced at my house which is on the [Skwah First Nation] reserve that the band hall is on, that’s where I have grown up. There’s never been any sort of punk or hardcore shows, or even shows in general put on there. I also thought it would be a big draw for surrounding communities and people in my own [community]. The people who go to your shows are as important as the people who play them.
You said no one else had performed at the Skwah First Nation band’s hall before, so what’s it like being the first people to do that?
I’m really excited. It’s really crazy to think honestly. We love all the bands that we’re playing with, they’re people we’ve known for a long time. Just personally for me, it’s really sick, too. It’s like history. It’s the first one. It’s fun.
Has that been stressful?
I think the most stressful part of it is just anticipating and waiting to hear back from people. Shows in August will start getting booked in May or June, and it was in July that I started asking bands. So many things need to be in place to have one gig. There has to be collaboration and communication, between twenty people at least.
Does Smuther have any plans for the immediate future?
[September] 9 we’re going back to Redgate in Vancouver, but we’re currently in the process of booking a tour for mid-October. We definitely wanna do more. I think our plan is probably just like every couple of months do a big show. Just because like, for Chilliwack specifically, that seems the best way to go about it.
Find the band Smuther on instagram @smuther.muther.fucker for updates on music and shows in the upcoming future, as well a link to Bandcamp in their bio where you can support them. You can also find them on all major streaming services.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Eva Davey is a UFV student majoring in English Literature and minoring in Media Communications. She is a fan of poetry, oat milk lattes, and the final girl trope. Currently, her worst enemy is the Good Reads app.
