Humpers Band Members Take ‘The Negative With The Positive’

It happened to Sub Pop and it happened to Matador.

With their left-of-center rosters, both independent recording labels helped change the face of mainstream music.

Sub Pop did it with Soundgarden, Nirvana and Mudhoney. Matador did it with Pavement and Liz Phair.

But those labels’ successes haven’t come without resentment from indie music fans disappointed when seeing their secret discoveries on MTV every hour.

Now it’s happening to Epitaph.

The Los Angeles label has scored major commercial successes with bands like Offspring, Rancid and Bad Religion. A slew of other bands on Epitaph’s roster, such as Seattle’s Gas Huffer, the Bay Area’s NOFX and L.A.’s Pennywise, also sell strongly.

Though Epitaph, owned by former Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz, has remained independent - both Sub Pop and Matador signed with major labels - punk fans and fanzines like Maximum Rock’n’Roll have been hypercritical of the label’s multi-million-dollar success.

So what does this all mean? Well, for recent signee Humpers, a Long Beach, Calif., band that plays Outback Jack’s on Monday, it means being called a sellout by longtime fans.

But that doesn’t bother Humpers front man Scott Drake, whose band has struggled in virtual obscurity and poverty for nearly six years.

“The positive outweighs the negative,” said Drake in a phone interview last week. “The arguments people have (about the band signing) are ridiculous. They want you to keep putting out records, keep touring and do all this stuff. But at the same time, I don’t know where the money is supposed to come from to do all this stuff.

“Two members of the band have kids; they have to put food on the table,” continued the vocalist. “It’s not like we’re rich guys that play punk rock music for a hobby.”

Last month, the Humpers let loose its Epitaph debut and fourth album overall, “Live Forever or Die Trying.” The album is a 17-song rockin’ wallop with a ‘70s punk flare to it. It combines nearly a dozen new songs and several re-recorded versions of songs from older releases that are all but impossible to find.

“We found we had a problem on the last tour, that people were having trouble getting those records,” said Drake. “So we picked the ones … that we still liked doing in our set.”

Before joining Epitaph, the Humpers floated from one independent label to another. The band’s 13 prior releases were put out by eight labels. Several releases were financed in part by the band.

At first, Drake wouldn’t consider signing to the Los Angeles label because the Humpers didn’t care for the bands on the label and didn’t think the label wanted the band.

But when Epitaph started signing bands like the Red Aunts, Gas Huffer, Wayne Kramer and Claw Hammer, Drake decided to sign.

“I had all these misconceptions with the way Epitaph did things and they proved wrong,” said Drake. “A lot of people I knew either worked at Epitaph or were on the label. And before we signed, I went around and talked with everyone about their feeling about Epitaph. All I got were 100-percent positive responses.”

Now with a financially stable and well-distributed label in the band’s corner, this won’t be the last you’ll hear of the Humpers.

When the Humpers played Spokane last year, it nearly blew out the walls of the Big Dipper. In other words, you would be foolish to miss this show.

Music starts at 9:30 p.m. Opening bands were not available at press time. The cover is $4.

Elsewhere in the night

Oddball Bay Area rocker Guano will play songs from its brand new album, “Eye of the Donkey,” at Ichabod’s North on Sunday. Spokane’s Big Comb and Nodge will also be on stage.

Guano’s set will also feature its 30-minute rock opera spoof, “Star Fighter.” No wonder the band records for the Berkeley-based Bun Length Records, a label owned by the members of Schlong.

Music at 9:30 p.m. Cover’s $2.

It’s not New Orleans, but it’s certainly a worthy enough place to celebrate Mardi Gras.

O’Doherty’s Irish Grille’s first Mardi Gras party happens on Fat Tuesday, from 6 to 10 p.m.

The cost is $10, and it includes keg beer and house wine, plus discounts on imported beers. Corned Beef sandwiches, gumbo and chicken wings will be on the menu.

DJ Sir Charles will be spinning hip-hop at The Shed, 1801 N. Division, tonight. There will be door prizes. The cover is $3 for women, $4 for guys.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TONIGHT All-ages concert, Westminster United Church of Christ, featuring the Adversives and Life After Johnny SUNDAY Guano, Big Comb and Nodge at Ichabod’s North MONDAY The Humpers and guests at Outback Jack’s THURSDAY Sugarboom from Portland and Roadside Prophets at Ichabod’s North Complete club listings, page 15.