All of The Admirals Club's stickers and artwork reflect drinking, misery and boiling point moods, but they are more complex than your average metal band. This group is a post-punk powder keg of guys drunk on indie rock and underground music's whiskey-soaked promise. They have taken the rock oath and are the perfect example that musicianship and minimalism don't have to be segregated terms. This is an intelligent but dangerous band. These guys make a racket and a half, but it is well crafted stuff fit for those who demand to be treated like king's of the world, even if they are sitting on the bar stool at 6a.m., bleary-eyed while "Close Up the Honky Tonks" creeps out of the jukebox into a dingy room.

I talked to growling vocalist/rager Damon Witherspoon about women, weirdos, and what it really takes to rock around the clock.

MORGAN Y. EVANS: Your style reminds me of ‘90s pigfuck bands that were so much better than most bands nowadays, but you've got your own flavor in there, too. Some songs remind me of 6 Finger Satellite meets Mule. The title track “Blackout Sunday”, definitely. What are you guys’ influences?

DAMON WITHERSPOON: We basically have all been into eccentric rock and punk through our lives. For me, moving to Nashville in the early ‘90s and getting to be friends with great locals such as Spider Virus and Buzzkill, and them turning me on to odd bands like The Jesus Lizard, Slint, June of 44, The Dwarves, Melvins, etc. That stuff brought me back around to Bad Brains, Fear, DK, good old Iggy and MC5. The great bands that I didn't listen to enough in my youth. I'm sure the guys would agree, at least some where in the middle.

MYE: The Admirals Club really shine in a nice, ugly way. You guys are aggressive but it is thought provoking music, like what I consider real post-hardcore. It's not like this new screamo, whatever people wanna call it. I love how “Get Up,Get Out” starts like a long instrumental and then gets real punk rock all of a sudden. I can imagine seeing you guys in a basement and it just being the hottest, gnarliest thing. You guys should have vats of paint thinner or make shitty crystal meth on stage. It would go with the vibe!

DW: [laughing] Thank you. We set out to give a bit more than a standard rock/punk band from the get go. We do get a bit crazy before a show and on stage but nothing compared to what Ben's "Party Cannon" free-for-all rock side project gets into. Definitely worth looking into.

MYE: How'd the band come together? Was it hard finding like-minded or rather fellow crazy-minded individuals in Nashville?

DW: Ben had been putting songs together on the side for a while and started working with Morrell who had a long time friend that played drums like his life depended on it. So with a few songs down Ben asked me to come out to jam and wam-bam we started making everything come together.

MYE: How was it recording with Steve Austin? I have always wanted to do something at Austin Enterprises but never had the right band. You guys must be stoked. The record sounds fantastic.

DW: We love Steve and he is an intense dude. His love for recording drums shines through on everything he does, and for me that is key to a good band sounding great, and a decent band sounding better. He was so pleased with our drummer Corey and how amazing he executed these sounds in the studio—almost all the songs done in one take. He loved that. I would have to saym knowing what you are doing going in is key with recording, and he tries to reach out sometimes, which can be tough with new bands. So tighten up, people! Babysitting isn't what you’re paying him for nor is it the man's job. I had to learn that myself the hard way.

MYE: Your album cover...what is it that makes Marilyn Monroe-esque dominatrixes and scotch such a fitting combination? Did someone really take a riding crop "all the way" for the photo shoot on your MySpace?

DW: Yes, that's some good friends of ours, Steve all dolled up and ready and Jeremy playing the dirty business man. The photo on MySpace is another victim of erotic torture (Shane) who just did it for the thrill. We knew what we wanted for the message and ideas just came pouring out. This turned out better that we ever thought it would. We must thank Dustin Brown (aka The New Professional). What a talented dude! If you get the chance check out his work. He's on our tops.

MYE: Damon, your vocals remind me of really early White Zombie, when Rob was real crazy. Sometimes also C.O.C. meets early Helmet. Damon, how'd you perfect your maniacal ranting? Is it just a documentation of your behavior?

DW: Thanks. I remember the days when O'Rob was doing "Skull Crusher" and "Make Them Die Slowly" but let's not use him so we don't confuse those not in the know. Ok, now for my out look on my "style". I went into this coming from grindcore and metal bands. I always loved almost all music and I grew up on a lot of early Detroit rock, Motown, and blues, just to name a few. With my dad being a DJ around town I got to hear most everything, so I have always wanted to bring that into my singing at some point and this band allowed for it. I was more influenced recently with bands like Clutch, FEAR, Zen Guerilla and Melvins as well as some C.O.C., Helmet, Judas Priest and Godflesh from my younger days. Just basically a raw dirty mad blues sound is what I'm about now, which will come out more with time.

MYE: This morning I almost got run over by this fat bastard who works the night shift at the local convenience store, like a serious “his name is Robert Paulson” bitch-tits guy. If he wasn't a convenient store dude (the type who's still rockin' Limp Bizkit like it's the most bad ass thing on earth when you go in there at 2 a.m. to get beer)... If he didn't have that job he'd probably be spankin' it in flouride cups outside the kindergarten playground. Maybe I'm being extra mean since he almost killed me today, but does your area have a creepazoid like this? Seems every place on the map there's one. Sometimes this makes life interesting and sometimes cringe-worthy.

DW: I love Nashville for that reason in particular! There are more carnie looking people here than any place I've lived. Shopping on Dickerson Pike is the place to go if you want sad human entertainment.

MYE: I saw the Supersuckers last night kick ass in a small club. The show made me want to stare at dudes' girlfriends until they wanted to fight. I think it would be even worse at one of your shows. Is it hard performing music like this not to hurt yourselves or the audience or do bad things?

DW: Hmmm. We encourage debauchery at all times so we hope that everyone stares at each other's things and gives thumbs up to the wolves that can’t seem to stop. Hey, if you don't want me to look, keep her in the closet or date a toad.

MYE: What's going on with Blackout Sunday and Supernova Records, Steve from Today Is The Day's label?

DW: Well, unfortunately the physical production got bricked with the shitty economy. Supernova is at stand still until further notice. But luckily for modern times "Blackout Sunday" can be found everywhere online, with a downloadable album cover of course. We plan to put it out on vinyl with a drop code for free just as soon as the cash comes together. We do accept donations.

MYE: J. Marshall Morrell is a sick bassist. You guys remind me of how The Jesus Lizard would be so locked in and kicking ass but then have these technical flourishes.

DW: I guess I'll speak for him as he is currently in L.A. on a jujitsu tournament.
I think he is the spine on this band we get props all the time about him. We do our best to keep his shoulders rubbed for sure.

MYE: Tell me about the song “Walk In The Park”, from your perspective. That's probably my fave right now.

DW: It's about this guy that gets left in the park and ends up staying there, living in the woods listening to his favorite band's album Kill 'Em All and sets out to terrorize people. He's still at large.

MYE: Lastly, any good parting drinking stories or wanna tell us your plans for the rest of the summer of '09?

DW: We love to party from end to end bottom line and we try to keep that in a hat. So um, lets party! [laughing] As for this summer we are currently writing the next album and playing a few shows in the mean time. Hope to see you out, good people!