Lisa Mungo on Seattle, how to be new band, and inclusivity in metal (GRRL032)

Welcome to Grrl on Grrl episode 32, featuring Lisa Mungo of metal band He Whose Ox is Gored and hardcore band Fucked and Bound.

Since the interview, Lisa's other band--who we talk about but not name in this episode--Fucked and Bound, announced the release of their first album Suffrage. We also talk about Lisa's expectations moving to Seattle and what she ultimately found there, how the city can foster the adventures of a newer band who's still learning the ropes, and then a bit on her responsibility as a fellow woman to speak against misogyny while also balancing the need to ignore it at times. 

Welcome to Grrl on Grrl episode 32, featuring Lisa Mungo of metal band He Whose Ox is Gored and hardcore band Fucked and Bound.

I met with Lisa in 2016 when He Whose Ox is Gored played in San Diego, and we recorded this interview in February after the first women’s march… yes, it’s taken me a whole year to put this out. Yiiiikes.

Since the interview, Lisa’s other band–who we talk about but not name in this episode–Fucked and Bound, announced the release of their first album Suffrage.  You can pre-order (or buy, depending on when you see this) the album via Atomic Action Records. They start shipping February 16, 2018.

We also talk about Lisa’s expectations moving to Seattle and what she ultimately found there, how the city can foster the adventures of a newer band who’s still learning the ropes, and then a bit on her responsibility as a fellow woman to speak against misogyny while also balancing the need to ignore it at times.

Thanks so much to Lisa for chatting with me over Skype and for being my inspiration to stop smoking!

Thanks to The Fresh Brunettes for providing their song “Best of the Worst” as the new Grrl on Grrl theme song! You can find their album Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition on CDBaby.

Listen
http://traffic.libsyn.com/grrlongrrl/GRRL032-LisaMungo.mp3

Download GRRL032 at Libsyn [35 minutes; 34MB] or stream from these websites [iTunes | Stitcher | TuneIn | Google Play]

Show Notes

Quitting smoking and changes in Lisa’s screaming voice because of it
The start of He Whose Ox is Gored, 7 (8?) years ago

Meeting at Guitar Center, finding other folks who are just as serious about music as she is
Buying a synth and inviting herself into the band

Moving to Seattle – what were her expectations, and were those expectations met?

Feeling lucky finding the DIY scene there

The need for smaller venues for new and emerging bands

A safe space to learn how to be a band
Seattle has a cooperative, supportive underground music scene
“I fucking love Seattle!”

Will Seattle be able to “contain” He Whose Ox is Gored?

Every band has a different goal and/or path, dependent on lifestyle.
The possibility of over-playing a city or market; does that apply to younger bands too?
What He Whose Ox is Gored did when they were a younger band–“it’s because they were taking a leak somewhere and they saw our name!”

Advice and mistakes of being a younger band

“Do whatever it takes.” Not being afraid to try new things
Using mistakes and failure to grow as a band

Song clip: Fucked and Bound’s “00FUXX”
Talking about her new hardcore band, Fucked and Bound

New record unreleased at time of the interview, but can be ordered via Atomic Action Records

How does Lisa have the time for everything?

Music as her main focus
Making the switch to not drinking/not partying a few years back so she can focus on her projects
Game of Thrones

She reiterates, “I do watch a lot of Game of Thrones.”
DIY merch creation

The Vera Project – take a class and then can use their screenprinting lab
We both grouse about screenprinting and other DIY travails
The pride of making and selling their own merchandise

Can the metal (or more generally the music) scene be more inclusive? If you want to hear Sarah from Spotlights’ answer to that, head to her episode here.

Seattle can feel like an inclusive bubble.
Deciding to “hit the ignore button” vs speaking out against microaggressions (mansplaining, inappropriate questions, etc.) on tour
Responsibility to other women to speak up
Taking it night by night and/or situation by situation

Feeling hopeless in this current political climate

Solidarity, speaking out, not giving up
Using our anger to “hit the pavement”

Song clip: He Whose Ox is Gored’s “Machina“

Links

Fucked and Bound on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
He Whose Ox is Gored’s Bandcamp
He Whose Ox is Gored on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Stream