Introducing Caution Boy.
Careful, child! Excuse the brilliant pun. We know you're all teeming with questions for Caution Boy as they’ve just dropped a brand new album filled with exactly what we’ve come to know and love - rock-and-fucking-roll. Better get your earplugs for this one! Its loud, abrasive and exactly what June needed! We’ve got questions and they’ve got answers… you’re gonna wanna stick around for this.
Where and when did Caution Boy start?
“Caution Boy started in 2016. My friend lent me a PC (the same PC we used to record some of our 1st demos under Giant Pain in 2003) and also helped me with a recording setup. Always liked experimenting with home recorders, from recording ideas on tape players and such. Releasing my 1st solo "album" in 2005 as AK47 (I think). Was awful, haha. Followed up by Hazard Man -2008. Equally awful. Haha
I was going through a tough time and seeing as I had a recording set-up, for the 1st time in ages, I set a ridiculous goal of releasing a song a week for a year- to keep me occupied & to get a lot of pent up ideas and frustrations out.”
Member history?
“Working at a pub, I use to see a lot of "1 man acts", singing to backtracks, it was terrible. But gave me an idea to do a punk rock piss-take on that concept haha. Until I could get members.
After the release of CB's 8th album, Spastic Plastic, fellow Apocalypse Later bandmates, Trev and Dave joined on bass and guitar (Dave departing shortly after). Finn gave me a call a few days later, asking to join in the noise on drums. I knew Finn through other projects such as Oki Doki, Cosmic Vagrants and event organisers, Bobbejaan.”
Back when it started, what was the go-to venue?
“The go-to venue was Nile Crocodile. Used to play open mics there when I was 15, almost 20 years ago. In my mid 20s, probably Schivas Rock Shack!”
Where do you think the local scene is lacking and where does it impress?
“Well I'm pretty impressed with the quality of bands going around, especially within the Gauteng area. I've been playing live for more than 20 years, and I think this is the best bunch of bands I've ever seen in such a small radius. It also feels like there's more of a community vibe than there's ever been.
Where the scene is lacking, in my opinion, is there's not enough venues to meet demand of all the bands & some of the venues put all the pressure/risk on the bands instead of working together. Regarding bands, there's still some bands with the "every man for themselves" mentality, looking to just grow themselves instead of a collective scene. But that's a small minority.”
What was Caution Boy before it was Caution Boy?
“Well, as I've said, I've been doing solo recordings from 2005-ish under the names AK47 and Hazard Man (all those names taken by rappers strangely enough. Haha), but I started as mainly a bass player for bands such as Giant Pain, Cosmic Fuzz, Bad Adam, Angry Violent Vultures, Brown Spiders, Trashcan, to name a few. But always dabbled in guitar and drums too.”
What made you realise that music was what you guys wanted to do?
“Rock n roll/Punk rock was my way of getting out of my shell- my way of fitting in to the world. My voice. My religion.”
Tell us a bit about your recording process.
“I record in my tiny living room space in my apartment, so it's pretty simple, I come up with a riff, lay it down and then start playing around with drums and bass until it sounds cool, catchy and interesting. Vocals usually done last. I suck at that. Haha”
Where would we find you guys on a Saturday night?
“Playing gigs! Trev and I play for another band, Apocalypse Later, so between that and Caution Boy, we play a lot of weekends. Finn also plays in another band called Scramblers. Otherwise we try to support our friends/fellow bands as much as we can. So if there's a cool show happening, chances are you'll spot us there.”
Your new album, what main messages, if/any are you trying to convey?
“No real message to convey… Mainly speaking from my personal experiences and the battle of obtaining balance in life- it’s art. Art doesn’t always have to have a straight forward meaning. It’s open to each individuals interpretation. Only message, if any, Caution Boy is trying to get out there is to be sincere and passionate about whatever you do. Freedom. Oh and also not to sit around and wait for things to happen/change.”
With your latest release specifically, how do you feel that your sound has evolved?
“I don't know. I've become more familiar with my recording setup, so quality is getting better! I try to always remember the naive passion I had when I started, so I always work with that mentality. Guess I've just gotten a tad better as a musician and matured a bit.”
Do you have an idea for the future of your sound?
“Well I like to experiment. Back when I use to borrow gear, for example… I didn't have guitar, so I made an album using just bass guitars and drums (Self Sabotage). I also like to limit myself sometimes by example not using a bass (like the album Elephant In The Room). So there may or may not be another acoustic album coming in the future. Maybe another all bass album. You never know. I try not to think too far ahead.”
Name a couple bands that made you, you.
“Well Nirvana and Pixies changed my life, along with earlier influences such as Jimi Hendrix and CCR. Later on, bands like Soundgarden, Melvins, Mudhoney, Tad, Queens of The Stone Age, Helmet, etc. More recently The Kills, Death From Above 1979, Truck fighters, Kyuss, etc. Locally, Make-Overs, Black Math, Pollinator, Springbok Nude Girls, Goat Throne, etc. Too many to mention.”
Any venues that you've got your eyes on?
“There's only a small handful of venues that I feel offer something to hard working bands. Like Railways Cafe and Rumours. But I think DIY gigs are the way of the future!”
You got it from the horses mouth folks. Make shit happen and support your friends! Cheers and love from the Dystopia team and Caution Boy.
Written by Luke Beckwith
Check them out on Instagram
Find the new album here on Spotify.
Where and when did Caution Boy start?
“Caution Boy started in 2016. My friend lent me a PC (the same PC we used to record some of our 1st demos under Giant Pain in 2003) and also helped me with a recording setup. Always liked experimenting with home recorders, from recording ideas on tape players and such. Releasing my 1st solo "album" in 2005 as AK47 (I think). Was awful, haha. Followed up by Hazard Man -2008. Equally awful. Haha
I was going through a tough time and seeing as I had a recording set-up, for the 1st time in ages, I set a ridiculous goal of releasing a song a week for a year- to keep me occupied & to get a lot of pent up ideas and frustrations out.”
Member history?
“Working at a pub, I use to see a lot of "1 man acts", singing to backtracks, it was terrible. But gave me an idea to do a punk rock piss-take on that concept haha. Until I could get members.
After the release of CB's 8th album, Spastic Plastic, fellow Apocalypse Later bandmates, Trev and Dave joined on bass and guitar (Dave departing shortly after). Finn gave me a call a few days later, asking to join in the noise on drums. I knew Finn through other projects such as Oki Doki, Cosmic Vagrants and event organisers, Bobbejaan.”
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| Trev on Bass Duties. |
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| Finn on Sticks. |
Back when it started, what was the go-to venue?
“The go-to venue was Nile Crocodile. Used to play open mics there when I was 15, almost 20 years ago. In my mid 20s, probably Schivas Rock Shack!”
Where do you think the local scene is lacking and where does it impress?
“Well I'm pretty impressed with the quality of bands going around, especially within the Gauteng area. I've been playing live for more than 20 years, and I think this is the best bunch of bands I've ever seen in such a small radius. It also feels like there's more of a community vibe than there's ever been.
Where the scene is lacking, in my opinion, is there's not enough venues to meet demand of all the bands & some of the venues put all the pressure/risk on the bands instead of working together. Regarding bands, there's still some bands with the "every man for themselves" mentality, looking to just grow themselves instead of a collective scene. But that's a small minority.”
What was Caution Boy before it was Caution Boy?
“Well, as I've said, I've been doing solo recordings from 2005-ish under the names AK47 and Hazard Man (all those names taken by rappers strangely enough. Haha), but I started as mainly a bass player for bands such as Giant Pain, Cosmic Fuzz, Bad Adam, Angry Violent Vultures, Brown Spiders, Trashcan, to name a few. But always dabbled in guitar and drums too.”
What made you realise that music was what you guys wanted to do?
“Rock n roll/Punk rock was my way of getting out of my shell- my way of fitting in to the world. My voice. My religion.”
Tell us a bit about your recording process.
“I record in my tiny living room space in my apartment, so it's pretty simple, I come up with a riff, lay it down and then start playing around with drums and bass until it sounds cool, catchy and interesting. Vocals usually done last. I suck at that. Haha”
Where would we find you guys on a Saturday night?
“Playing gigs! Trev and I play for another band, Apocalypse Later, so between that and Caution Boy, we play a lot of weekends. Finn also plays in another band called Scramblers. Otherwise we try to support our friends/fellow bands as much as we can. So if there's a cool show happening, chances are you'll spot us there.”
Your new album, what main messages, if/any are you trying to convey?
“No real message to convey… Mainly speaking from my personal experiences and the battle of obtaining balance in life- it’s art. Art doesn’t always have to have a straight forward meaning. It’s open to each individuals interpretation. Only message, if any, Caution Boy is trying to get out there is to be sincere and passionate about whatever you do. Freedom. Oh and also not to sit around and wait for things to happen/change.”
With your latest release specifically, how do you feel that your sound has evolved?
“I don't know. I've become more familiar with my recording setup, so quality is getting better! I try to always remember the naive passion I had when I started, so I always work with that mentality. Guess I've just gotten a tad better as a musician and matured a bit.”
Do you have an idea for the future of your sound?
“Well I like to experiment. Back when I use to borrow gear, for example… I didn't have guitar, so I made an album using just bass guitars and drums (Self Sabotage). I also like to limit myself sometimes by example not using a bass (like the album Elephant In The Room). So there may or may not be another acoustic album coming in the future. Maybe another all bass album. You never know. I try not to think too far ahead.”
Name a couple bands that made you, you.
“Well Nirvana and Pixies changed my life, along with earlier influences such as Jimi Hendrix and CCR. Later on, bands like Soundgarden, Melvins, Mudhoney, Tad, Queens of The Stone Age, Helmet, etc. More recently The Kills, Death From Above 1979, Truck fighters, Kyuss, etc. Locally, Make-Overs, Black Math, Pollinator, Springbok Nude Girls, Goat Throne, etc. Too many to mention.”
Any venues that you've got your eyes on?
“There's only a small handful of venues that I feel offer something to hard working bands. Like Railways Cafe and Rumours. But I think DIY gigs are the way of the future!”
You got it from the horses mouth folks. Make shit happen and support your friends! Cheers and love from the Dystopia team and Caution Boy.
Written by Luke Beckwith
Check them out on Instagram
Find the new album here on Spotify.
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