Hey Bob, thanks for taking a few minutes to do this. Could you introduce yourself to anyone who doesn’t already know you?

Thanks for asking me for the interview Matt! My name is Bob Reed and I'm originally from Olympia Washington. I record and mix albums for folks, although not as much as I would like to any more. I lived in Los Angeles for a number of years and went to school for Music and Audio Production there. 

What was your introduction to punk and hardcore?

I think the first "punk" album I heard was "And Out Come the Wolves" by Rancid. Or at least made the connection that it was punk. My dad played all sorts of music in the house, and I really connected with Iggy Pop, The Stooges, The Damned, and The New York Dolls. Generation X and the Damned were the bands that I think really threw me into liking punk music though. I think I was around 10 years old. I started going to local shows downtown in Olympia when I was about 12. That was just what my friends and I did all through High School. Booking or going to shows at local venues.

My uncle was also a part of a band in the 90's from Seattle that was fairly big, and I have a feeling I was exposed to alot of similar music happening in Seattle at the time through that I may not even remember. Seaweed more than likely, since they were friends. My mom told me that they used to hide me behind the mixer at the venue whenever my uncle had a show in the earlier days of the band. Also my first big show was watching them open for Metallica backstage in 94?! 

My uncle also sent me a big box of records when I was little and he found out how much I liked punk Music. That's how I found more about Hardcore. "The Shape of Punk to Come" was in that box, and my copy still has a promotional "not for resale" label printed on it haha. He also took me to see the Transplants and The Distillers when I was in Middle School at the Roxy in Los Angeles. Pretty cool. I feel really lucky that I have so many people in my family that are exceptionally talented, and have amazing taste. My brother included. 

You've lived in a handful of different cities in the Northwest. Olympia, Seattle, Tacoma. What differences, if any, did you see between how each one does shows/flavor of styles of hardcore?

When I was younger, the differences seemed so much more obvious. I don't think it's ever really been true. There's always been diversity when it comes to the music. Maybe not in terms of the people, but I think that's changed for the better and more folks are representing themselves and accepted. That can always be better. 

What are some of your favorite memories and shows?

Too many to list I think, haha. It's more the time spent with friends and having a place to play music and be ourselves. The Viaduct played a big role in that. It's pretty essential to someone's mental health to have a place like that when you're a young adult and you don't drink or party. I do miss bigger Olympia shows when the moshers would be disrupted by every kid circle pitting, and jumping off the walls with boogie boards and crowd surfing over people. But equally, Disembodied at Rainfest was nuts for the opposite reason haha. Free for all, murder room. It was much more impressive in person than the video in person shows. 

You played in Sixes, Owen Hart/Earth Control, Devotion, Circle Ov Defeat, and now Serpent Speech. I very well could be forgetting a few, what bands influenced you as far as writing goes for each band?

Well for Earth Control and Owen Hart I didn't write anything. That was all the other folks, and I was just along for the ride. 

When I came into Sixes I brought more of a Buried Alive, Catharsis, and 108 thing to the band. I also was really into Lahar and Left with Nothing from Tacoma. Circle Ov Defeat was me trying to reach more into metal and was a bit all over the place. John Baran from Oblivion also helped write a bunch of stuff for that too. 

Devotion was Mark Palm's thing, like when I played in Supercrush. I was just lucky enough to join, and I didn't really contribute much to that until we recorded that last album. It wasn't anything pivotal. Mark had the whole concept already in his head for what he wanted, and I would just surprise him occasionally with a little something. Haha. It seemed like a really big part of my life at the time. 

Serpent Speech is just the Death Metal I like, or that we like. I think it's pretty obvious when you listen to it. Without it sounding ripped off, or a copy. I'm just trying to do my own thing with it for what I bring. Wes from Heiress plays guitar, and came up with Severed Hand which is crushing. I send song starts to all of the band, and we figure them out in practice or I finish up the arrangements. So I think we all have input on the songs which is more enjoyable for me. 

You moved down to California for a few years. Were you able to make it out to any shows down there? If so, how were they and what ultimately made you move back and get involved in bands again up here?

I honestly was working so much that I didn't really have time to go to local shows. Usually when shows were happening was when we were deep into a project. I think the only few I can remember going to was going to see Gag after Paden (my brother) joined, Strangewilds to see Allen Trainer, and I filled in on guitar for Odd Man Out on a couple shows down there right before moving back. We started Odd Man Out and wrote some of those early songs in my parents basement, but it didn't become a band until I was long gone. So it was fun to finally get to play that stuff that I remembered coming up with. 

I didn't really want to move back to the Northwest. I was really happy down there, and I'm always looking for a way back ahah. But it wasn't the right place for us at the time. I joined Supercrush as a part of the line up thinking I could maybe be in a full time band like that again, but after a few tours that just wasn't going to work with being married and where our lives were at that point. I've had a few projects here and there, but Serpent Speech feels like a proper band which is really good for my brain. I love being in bands with good people and friends. I didn't realize how lucky I was for so long moving through good bands with such great people. 

Who are some of your all time favorite nwhc bands?

IN STRIDE!, Wreck, Oblivion, Marrow, Matriarch, Greyskull, Sojourner, Power, Poseidon, Sunset Riders, Black Breath, Left with Nothing, Heiress, The Helm, Elitist, Keep it Clear, Strain, Blue Monday, Circles, Undertow, Himsa. There are so many I'm probably forgetting to be honest. We've always had the best scene.

Who are your favorite current locals or bands you think people are sleeping on?

Ancestors of God, and anything Satanic Royalty Records is putting out. All the younger Tacoma bands are awesome as well. 

What would you like to see from the scene currently?

I just think it's cool that people are keeping it going, and folks involved just seem to be enthusiastic and connected more than they have in a long time. I'd like to see myself more involved, if anything. Haha. 

Is there anything you’d like to leave people with?

Don't let other people's negative outlook keep you from connecting with other folks in the community. Keep it inclusive, and keep it positive.

Last question, will you bring back the Winnie the Pooh costume for a Serpent Speech show?

If I can get Earth Control to do a ten year anniversary show for the full length, I will dawn the robes of the divine once more. Or if Serpent Speech also gets a cease and desist from the Hart Foundation.