MIND SET
Wayne: First off I’d like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us. Can you introduce yourself and your band to our readers? Ev: Thanks for having me, Wayne. My name is Evan Wivell, although most people just know me as Ev. I sing for a band called Mindset, which is generally described as a late 80’s “youth crew” style straight edge hardcore band, although we pull significant influence from all corners of the 1980s International hardcore scene. Other members include Mike on lead guitar, Chris on bass, Dan on drums and Austin on rhythm guitar. Wayne: How would you describe your band to someone who may not be familiar your sound? Ev: That’s a tricky question. We’re a mostly fast, straight forward hardcore band with angry shouted vocals. We occasionally break things down for a slow skank but generally we like to keep the pace quick. Not as fast as some, but faster than most. We aren’t fond of solos or noodling, or melody in general, but from time to time we manage to write a hook that you’ll be humming all day. We draw heavy influence from mid to late 80’s NYHC bands, specifically the youth crew and the early Revelation Records catalog, but pull inspiration from harDCore, UK82, Wishingwell Records, and other noteworthy bands and factions past and present. We sing songs that respond to social and political apathy, confront feelings of futility in a complex modern world, attempt to make sense of fluctuations in my mental and emotional state, and reflect upon the general decay of Western civilization. Wayne: For as long as I can remember you guys have been working with the awesome crew over at React! Records. How did you two initially start working with each other? Ev: Our relationship with React! started when we begged Andy Norton to let us play a show he booked for TFS in early 2007. This was with an earlier iteration of the band called AntiWasteoids, but this was the beginning of what would become a series of great little moments that evolved into friendships with those guys. We did everything we could to hop onto every TFS show in our area, and eventually TFS started bringing us along on weekends. Aram (the brains behind React! Records) was in the band during that period and I guess he dug our vibe. Eventually he asked us to join his label. The coolest thing about being on React! was that they (Aram) was really the first label to ever take notice of us, and as a young band and label we were able to grow together. I feel like Mindset and React!