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Listen To The Black Metal Dudes

Jake Emissions Talks Flamingo Nosebleed and Middle Waves

By EA Poorman

Fort Wayne Reader

2017-09-14

I've seen a few punk bands in my time, locally and otherwise. None of that pop punk stuff that saturated the world in the early to mid-2000s. But the real deal hardcore punk that I grew up with in the late 70s and early 80s. Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Ramones, Minor Threat, Black Flag, and S.O.D. just to name a few were the bands that defined hardcore for me. There were a few local bands that kept that spirit alive, but none as well as Fort Wayne's Flamingo Nosebleed.

Currently Flamingo Nosebleed is Jake Emissions(guitar and vocals), Phil (bass, backups), and Mad Mike (drums, backups), but from the beginning it's always been Jake Emissions. Despite several lineup changes over the years he's kept the spirit of Flamingo Nosebleed going. And what does that spirit consist of? Pure, unadulterated, in-your-face punk rock. Driven by Emissions' punchy guitar sound, belted vocals, and a powerhouse rhythm section, Flamingo Nosebleed leave nobody unscathed.

Flamingo Nosebleed plays at this year's Middle Waves Festival. I caught up with Jake Emissions and we talked about the band, influences, and getting on the Middle Waves line up.

EA Poorman: So tell me about how the band got together. When did you form? What other bands have you three been in around the Fort?

Jake Emissions: I started Flamingo Nosebleed in late 2007/early 2008 with a friend Drew Snyder. We were both in a band called The goddammits and wanted to go a slightly different direction. So we found Josh Peebles (Sour Mash Kats) to play drums and I started writing music. Thru the years I've had a few lineup changes (drums Josh peebs, Pete Dio, Rob Strang, and Turbo). I finally ended up with Phil Nieswender on Bass, and Mike Singelton on drums. We've been together for the last 6-7 years and have done the vast majority of touring together. Mike and phil were in an 80s hardcore style band called the Citizens Plague from Coldwater, Michigan. I met them playing in Michigan with their old band. Since then they both have moved down here.

EA Poorman: Who are some influences on the Flamingo Nosebleed sound?

Jake Emissions: Our influences are all over the board. But id say the biggest punk influences would be The Ramones, Screeching Weasel, The Queers, Lillingtons, Pink Lincolns, The Nobodys, old Green Day, Lookout records...... We also dig a lot of old hardcore bands like Black Flag, Angry Samoans, Agent Orange, JFA, etc.

EA Poorman: Everybody's got that influence growing up that made a huge impression. Big brother, burnout uncle, or the record store guy(or gal), someone that opened your mind. Who or what helped steer you to punk and hardcore? Who opened your head to a bigger musical world?

Jake Emissions: I've wanted to play music since I was in elementary school. I always fought in my teen years whether I wanted to dedicate my life to skateboarding or music. Then I saw some of the old skate videos with dudes skating to the Misfits, Bad Religion, TSOL, Drunk Injuns and it blew my mind. There wasn't anybody in Auburn, where I grew up, that listened to punk. So I asked some black metal dudes about it and they told me the only bands they knew were Minor Threat, Agnostic Front, and Dead Kennedys. So I started there. That's when I changed my ambitions to music. It pretty much bloomed from there.

EA Poorman: So how many albums have you released over the years?

Jake Emissions: Here are our releases: 2008, Flamingo Nosebleed S/T (8 songs recorded by myself and Kevin G), 2009, William Zabka (6 Songs recorded in New Hampshire at Joe Queers Studio); 2011, Headbanger; 2014, Blood on the Basement Floor (Kid Tested/ Go Kart Records); and 2016, Acid Dreams split 7" w/ Killtime (Italy).

EA Poorman: What's the songwriting process like in Flamingo Nosebleed?

Jake Emissions: For the most part I write a song and tell the dudes what I'm thinking it should sound like. Then we kinda jam it out and bounce ideas around. They make everything better, ha. But they have also came to the table with a song, riff, or a couple lines.

EA Poorman: How did the Middle Waves gig come about?

Jake Emissions: We were asked by our friend Corey at the Brass Rail. I was trying to book a show the same time as middle waves, he asked if we just wanted to play middle waves, and I replied "as long as you can get our outta town friends on too". So we got City Mouse (California) and The Murderburgers (Scotland) too. Super stoked about it!

EA Poorman: Flamingo Nosebleed working on any new music?

Jake Emissions: Yes. We're in the process of writing/recording and new album tentatively titled Degenerate Pop that should be out in early 2018.

EA Poorman: You're making a mix tape for a friend, what song is song one, side A?

Jake Emissions: Probably "No Feelings" or "Wake up Today".

EA Poorman: What's the rest of 2017 hold for Flamingo Nosebleed?

Jake Emissions: Playing a handful of local shows, and a few regional shows around the Midwest. Taking it easy to write and record.

If you haven't yet, grab your Middle Waves tickets and get out there tonight. Flamingo Nosebleed is playing September 15th, so don't miss them. And keep an eye out for Degenerate Pop.