Could you introduce yourself to anyone who doesn’t already know you?

Hey Matt, thanks for having me. My name is Robert, I play bass in a band called Slime from Portland Oregon. I’m a northwest native, originally from the Seattle area, moved a lot when I was younger, but landed in Portland in 2010 and been here ever since. 

What was your introduction to punk and hardcore?

My mom was a punk rocker in the early 80’s in LA. Peak years of some of the best American hardcore punk bands. I got into skateboarding around 11 and fell on the punk side of it undoubtedly. Chris Cole, Jason Dill, Dustin Dollin, etc… My first real profound memory is my mom buying me Damaged - Black Flag, having to pick between that and Minor Threat’s self titled release on CD at a Wherehouse Music store in Silverdale, Washington. I chose Damaged, and it had me hooked instantly. Henry Rollins was the first person I remember idolizing. Pretty much dove head first into punk rock music in my early teens, I was discovering a lot of 1980-1985 hardcore bands, some of my favorites: SSD, Jerry’s Kids, 7 Seconds, Negative Approach, The Adolescents, Koro, TSOL, Gang Green, Cro Mags, Uniform Choice… I tought myself how to play guitar around 10 years old, and later on would sit in my room and learn how to play my favorite songs over and over again. I couldn’t read music or understood notes, but I could hear a song and I could learn it playing by ear. My first real show was seeing 7 Seconds when I was 13/14, I was instantly floored with the environment seeing it all unfold in person. It was definitely a memory I’ll never forget. 

You've been playing in bands from Portland for as long as i can remember. The first band i believe i saw you in was Cast Out. Can you give a run down of some of the bands you’ve been in?

Life’s Ill, Cast Out, Born To Die, Grayscale, and Surface were all full time bands over the last decade that I wrote and recorded with. Played as a fill in a lot for various hc bands, I can learn music by ear and being a bass player meant there was always a demand for people like myself. The PNW scene from 2010-2016 was wild, and everything happening as of late has been reminding me of the energy from those days. 

Slime is blowing up. Your set at JAG and the EOD release show were wild. Hows the reaction to the band been down in Portland and outside of there? I imagine it’s been even better than some of the shows up in Tacoma.

Thank you! I couldn’t be more stoked right now on where we are at. The reaction we have gotten locally has been crazy, since day one people have been riding for us tough. Every show we have played has been badass. We just played Northwest Hardcore Fest and that was an incredible vibe. I can’t thank everyone enough that oragnized it and came out. We have done two small west coast runs, first with Misery Whip (PDX) and then with Forced To Suffer (Bay Area) and have gotten nothing but love from each city straight up. Tacoma has been home for some of my favorite shows I have ever played, I think JAGv5 really tops that for me currently. We are about to do a 7 day west coast run with Peeling Flesh and Snuffed On Sight starting September 3rd. I’m really looking forward to that!

Portland has always been a fun place to go to shows and play for me. I havent been to a show down there in years, but i always see shows going on at Mano Oculta. What are some other venues currently going that you like?

We used to have so many cool small venues for shows here. Satyricon, Backspace, Slabtown, Laughing Horse, Branx, Alhambra.. They’re constantly demolishing city blocks to build apartments and most of those were completely torn down. When things started picking back up, Mano Occulta was definitely a turning point for all ages local shows, big shout out to Emma from Dying Wish. I definitely point to her for the restart of the HC scene here really taking flight again. Just recently Mano Occulta has gone up for lease, and I’m unsure about the future of shows at that spot, but am super grateful I got to see a lot of big bands in a tiny intimate space. Funny enough directly next door is a venue called Bridge City Sessions that has been holding 75% of DIY shows in the area for the last year or so, with 777Booking backing most of the hardcore shows here in Portland (shout out Chip). It’s my favorite spot for a show here, It really reminds me of what Red Room in Tacoma was like, small dark room, with 1 door in and out. Hawthorne Theater has always been cool and was a bucket list for me to play until recently which was sick to cross off. Some other venues around town; Twlight, Mission Theater, Polaris Hall, Revolution Hall, Roseland Theater. 

What’s on the horizon for Slime?

We just finished recording a 7 song album, big shout out to Joe Anderson @ Helvete Sound. He’s recorded/mix/mastered our last 2 releases and has been such a pleasure to work with. He just recorded Tears Of Joy and Skelm, two bands you should check out from the PNW. Right now we’re aiming to drop the release around the beginning of October, it’s 6 new songs and 1 re-record of an old one. We are really excited to put this out, it’s something we all have poured a lot into. I mentioned earlier we have a west coast run starting September 3rd with Peeling Flesh, October 5th at the Hawthorne with Sunami, Ingrown, Torena, and Apex Predator. 

What are some of your favorite show memories?

When Cast Out was around we played a show in an open and operating Burgerville with Expire and Unrestrained. Our guitarist worked there at the time, and they would have small events there, think like acoustic type shows. Somehow he managed to get them to agree to doing a show there, ended up being packed out with 100 kids, vans and trailers in the parking lot, and the staff didn’t know what to do, it was absolutely crazy. I remember specifically somebody trying to order thru the drive thru and the person inside yelling at them to come to the window because they couldn’t hear them lol. People getting KO’d, moshing hard as hell in front of random Burgerville patrons. There’s a video of Expire and Cast Out’s set from that day on YouTube. 

Who are some of your all time favorite nwhc bands?

Brotherhood, Trial, Undertow, Wreck, Power, Ill Intent, End Of Dayz, Apex Predator.

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

Portland area: These Fucking Hand, Misery Whip, Tolls, Boltcutter, Openhead 

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

Do what you wanna do. Have fun. Be yourself. Look out for your friends and peers. Trust your gut and use your best judgement. If something doesn’t feel right it prolly ain’t. As I get older I wish I gave less fucks. Just be true to yourself.