August 13 Feature: Potato Pirates

by Clint Boston

photo credit Erica Stackhouse

As an ex-Social Studies teacher, having a beer with a few former students might sound awkward, but what if—as a failed musician, music junkie and old punk rocker—I could feel “cool” again, and share a moment with Denver locals Potato Pirates as part of the Denver punk scene? That’s exactly what I had the opportunity to do, as this tight group of friends got ready for a show at the Gothic Theater, sharing the stage with the A-OKs, Be Like Max, the Last Slice, and the Repercussions.

Over the years, I have kept in touch with my former student, Scott Risch, who plays the bagpipes and shares lead vocals in the Potato Pirates. I have watched and listened as he and his friends have become the band to see if you want pure, one hundred percent, hard-edged, stripped-down punk—the stuff I grew up with, like the Stooges, MC5 and the Dickies.

I was lucky enough to sit down with the Potato Pirates, Vinny Capaldo-Smith (guitar/lead vocals), Scott Risch (bagpipes/lead vocals), Matt Emrick (lead guitar/vocals), Steve Stackhouse (drums/vocals), and Andrew Williams (bass/vocals) —and ask them a few questions. We had a beer, relived youthful rebellion, and I learned a lot about the band and their place in the current Denver punk scene. I also saw how blessed the Mile High City is to have the Potato Pirates carrying on that DIY attitude.

This “do it yourself” attitude initially brought Capaldo-Smith and Emrick together back in high school. They met in class, and Capaldo-Smith noticed Emrick was a fan of the same bands as he was. Says Capaldo-Smith, “We just hit it off.”

Capaldo-Smith is an original member; he is the Potato Pirates. He has played guitar since the band’s inception. The band seems happy to have him as the soft-spoken leader, with “front man looks,” and songwriting abilities. He shared how he always wanted to play guitar, and when he found Emrick, things started to click. “Hell, Matt and I even took guitar lessons at the same place without knowing it,” say Capaldo-Smith.

Emrick fits right into the Potato Pirate image. His musical background began with piano. As he recalls how his mom forced piano lessons on him, I hear his zealous, soft-spoken voice admit, “I’m glad she did.” Emrick played bass until he took a hiatus from the band to go to college. Shortly after his return, he took on the role of lead guitarist.

Williams is the old man of the band, and more than happy to share a story or two. Williams had a cousin who was a regular at the Potato Pirates shows and friends who were fans of the band. He was making shirts for the band, and was in the right place at the right time. “Steve called me up asking if I would want to play bass for them. The rest is history.” However, when Emrick returned from school, they found themselves with two bass players. What could have been a struggle for any band instead became an opportunity to get the right people in the right place. Collectively, they navigated a lineup change. Pushing the band to get better came before any individual egos or infighting.

Emrick declares, “I knew Andrew would be a better bass player.” At that time during the interview, some complimentary back-and-forth dialogue ensued. Acknowledging their mutual admiration for one another, Capaldo-Smith quipped, “You should kiss now.”

The passion to hone their craft is how Risch became part of the band. “Doesn’t every good punk band need a bagpipe player?” the band jokes. And what if this bagpipe player could sing? “I guess you could call me a regular Frank Sinatra,” jests Risch. The band laughs and jokes that Risch brings the tough guy image to the band. He started playing percussion in high school marching band and claims he is the “band nerd deluxe.” He wanted to play something other than the drums, and says it was an easy transition to the bagpipes because, “it’s all rhythm.” Capaldo-Smith explains that Risch ended up singing more than playing the bagpipes. “He sounds a lot tougher than he is.”

Behind the kit is Stackhouse. It takes a little to get him to jump into the conversation, but his drumming speaks volumes. Attending a cross-town high school, Stackhouse became a member of the Potato Pirates soon after he and Capaldo-Smith started meeting up at some of the same local punk shows. As one of the original members, he is an essential part of the band; he was instrumental in their marathon recording sessions to get the band’s first full-length recording done. If you come to a show, you will undoubtedly see a high-energy performance from Stackhouse.

All this inquiry into who they are brought up the question about who writes the songs for the Potato Pirates. This Denver punk band writes their songs in a pretty organic fashion, according to the guys. Capaldo-Smith shares how some of the bands he has worked with can just sit down and write songs. “I can’t do that,” he says. “Hell, we would have more songs, but I [have to] wait until something happens.” Both Capaldo-Smith and Risch share the song- writing duties, and rather than set out to write a song, they wait for it to come to them. [They] will take an idea and work on it, then bring it to the band. “We see it as a tool to vent; it is emotional.” Emrick declares. “Our songs are about life, work, everyday things. I write something down, then I take it to the band, and everybody builds on it. Andrew writes the bass line, Steve plays the drum piece; we all understand our capabilities, and we work together so it doesn’t sound like shit,” insists Risch.

Maybe it was the few beers we shared, but there was a certain irony as I was hanging out with punk rockers half my age when they started reminiscing about the good old days.

Stackhouse chimes in about the Lion’s Lair, then Williams discusses how crazy the crowd got that night. The rest of the band comes to life as Risch talks about how he had to get workers permits to play some of the earlier shows because he was under age; he had to sing outside the Lion’s Lair with a wireless microphone. The band booms with laughter about that night, recalling how there was a party outside on the sidewalk and inside the bar. It’s clear these guys have fun doing what they do.

The band spends several minutes debating how long they have played together—is it five years? I never got a definitive answer, and it doesn’t matter; it’s as if this group has played together forever. They know each other well and that intimacy solidifies their DIY group attitude. This sense of community extends beyond the band as we start to talk about what they do when they are not playing a show.

When they are not playing a show, Stackhouse and Risch both work in their family’s business. “It’s a job,” claims Risch, who manages Taco House, the family restaurant. Stackhouse is happy to help his family’s engraving service; it pays the bills. Williams owns his own business, screening shirts and signs for other local bands, “hustling for a dollar.” Emrick (an art major who had a knack for computers back in high school), works in the computer world doing coding. Capaldo-Smith is a tattoo artist; it allows him moments of Zen. “[Being in the band] lets us roll around the country doing what we want to do,” interjects Stackhouse. They are regular guys, working so they can do what they love: playing music, being a part of Denver’s Punk community.

The Potato Pirates are fanatical about the local punk community. Risch feels that people [in Denver] are almost spoiled in that there is always something happing, there are always shows. A person can find a show any night of the week, from a small underground concert to a bigger venue show. Capaldo-Smith is quick to add that it is a true community, stating, “You can go anywhere and see people you know.” In a big guttural laugh, Risch associates the punk scene to the TV show, “Cheers,” stating, “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” This brings roars of laughter from the van. Emrick takes a serious note and talks about how the punk community supports each other. “It’s not a competition for shows. We go see each other play and support each other.” Stackhouse responds, “Sometimes, it is not about the music but the community.”

So, I found out that this group of friends is a collection a varied personalities, expressing youthful rebellion. At their shows, I could hear their punk influences like Minor Threat, Suicide Machine and Choking Victim. However, they’re not afraid to mix in a little ska, a little Irish jig, and a little hardcore. These varied influences, and their collective musical abilities, helped them create their own unique sound, a sound that makes them proud. It’s their collective passion for punk that makes it possible for them to write, perform, tour, and still be friends.

In the hopes of not sounding too much like a poseur, I spent some time doing some research before I showed up at the van Friday night. I found a quote about the Potato Pirates that stuck with me. Tom Murphy from Westword stated back in 2009 that this band is able to, “take various styles of music considered dead — or at least exhausted of ideas — and inject them with an infectious, youthful exuberance. Part ska, part punk, part whatever it is that this quintet has absorbed over the years, the resulting sound crackles with a wiry energy.” I have seen this energy first hand; I have watched them turn an entire venue into one giant mosh pit. This is an energy that is important to the band. Matt tells me that if he has a bad show, he feels like shit until he can play again to “make things right.” It’s clear this band feels a duty to the crowd to give the best show possible. When you see them, you will not be disappointed.

The Potato Pirates are playing the Marquis Theater on August 20, and sharing the stage with the Duane Peters Gunfight, (Peters is “The Master of Disaster” from the U.S. Bombs), Dime Runner and Piss and Vinegar.

In addition, the Potato Pirates have recorded a song for a Rancid tribute album coming out on Hellcat Records and Smelvis Records. The band is thrilled to share vinyl with the Street Dogs, Left Alone, Death March, and the Phenomenauts. You can find the Potato Pirates’ two full-length albums on iTunes.

Online: potatopirates.com

Category: What's Up?