I think that was the whole point though. Richie Birkenhead has never occulted the fact that INTO ANOTHER was out for major-label action, though they were unusually overlooked by the suits. Ignaurus, the title of their now classic full-length, is just a play on words -"Ignore Us" was a whine against record company neglect, and that comes right from the source, Richie B himself, in an issue of Anti-Matter Zine from almost 30 years ago. Beyond Ignaurus, they would actually go on to do a "major" label joint on Hollywood Records that didn't really get too much attention. Actually, it didn't get any, despite a slot on one of the very early WARPED Tours (ugh) in support of it. Maybe it may have won them a dozen or so new fans from within the scene based solely on the fact that you could pick up a copy of Seemless (major label debut) at the mall instead of sending away for it. Other than that, Into Another remained a "Revelation band" forever (scene people will know what that means).
There was a local contingent of kids here in Miami that ate INTO ANOTHER up like if they were grandma's biscuits. An odd pairing of personality types and art, considering that the bulk of those mentioned typically indulged in "Big Chelovek" Hardcore, a la New York variety -strictly for the toughies, or so their T-shirts would typically imply (and they... well... they certainly played the part.) INTO ANOTHER never catered to that crowd. They were like THE SMITHS MEETS LED ZEPPELIN of the Hardcore scene in a sense. I do not know how many INTO' fans will appreciate that summation, but I base it on certain passages in their music that remind me of intricacies that I have heard before in jams such as Zep's "Since I've Been Loving You" for example. The Smiths comparison refers to the sensitivity of Richie's vocals and lyrics (though not as sardonic as Morrissey.) Their sound a far cry from the fast breaks, rolling-tom mosh parts and gang-vocals of Hardcore. Rather, it was extremely melodic, bittersweet, intricate... and just beautiful.
To see the looks of enthused anticipation in the mugs of those mooks as they stood in line for those (at minimum) two Miami INTO ANOTHER shows:
-The first to my knowledge was at the old Kitchen Club in the Grove (which is now a post office) with GUTTERMOUTH -whom were whack!
-The second at Cheers (which is now a Quizmo's.)
The gig at Cheers befuddled me. Some of the bigger smiles of excitement were on faces that typically expressed the desire to break your jaw. What the fuck? Up to that point, I had only heard the first two tracks off of their second EP which was self-titled, and to me it sounded like hair-metal... well, sort of. I just didn't get it! I was still a bit uptight musically. That was way before the time when a very kind and uninhibited lady had inserted her tongue into my butthole which loosened me up considerably to all of life's possibilities. Still, uptight as I was as a pre-twenty, at the second show, the one at Cheers, though I was hanging outside of the club, INTO ANOTHER would plant a seed in the fertile soil of my soul. The door opened and remained so for a good thirty seconds or so and I heard a couple of bars from "Ungodly". "Whoa! What the fuck was that?!" It was during the second bridge, about three minutes into the song. I was intrigued. That, juxtaposed with the clear view I had of the Miami kids that actually payed to get in losing their shit to them left an impression.
Huh! "Okay, fine, I'll pick up Ignaurus", I thought to myself. The rest is history...
INTO ANOTHER is an off-the-beaten path gem, among the dozens of the periphery bands that orbited Hardcore during its golden age. That they were more than commercially viable in the 90s is a matter of fact and not opinion. They certainly had the chops. Richie Birkenhead's vocals have so much range. During their more tender moments, Richie accompanies subtly with a saccharine-sweet falsetto, almost like a baby cooing, then when they erupt he goes into an HR-like growl effortlessly without throwing the melodies off. His voice is as dramatic as his lyricism and its a good thing, often writing in a very classical poetic style. Peter Moses guitar work is superb and with perfect tone. Yes, they do solos, okay get over it! Former WHIPLASH bassist Tony Bono's lines (bon' anima) also have really clean but powerful tone and if you notice that the bass on Into Another songs is somewhat louder than as with other bands it is for a reason. Bono was no slouch, and when he took the line for a walk, it was just as intriguing as Moses' fret-board magic. On drums, Drew Thomas, who made his bones in YOUTH OF TODAY and BOLD behind the kit, lays it down like a mensch; the full potential of his technique, not yet fully tapped during his years of setting tempo for pile-ups and stagedives finally getting a chance to shine.
The thing about INTO ANOTHER too is that it doesn't take a devotion nor an understanding of Hardcore to be able to get into them. They had the perfect storm formula, a la QUICKSAND in some regards, for commercial success; but I don't know, they just kind of fizzed... sad!
Richie, by the way, was probably one of the first people known to tattoo the word VEGAN on himself -just a fun fact! I had an epiphany today as I was punching this up, a speculation at the least. A lot of the marginalization that occurred with this band was from individuals like myself (little shit-heads) who at the time viewed INTO' as "pussy-shit". "Fuck that, that shit is for fruits, Richie must be a mezza-fanocchio." Shit... at the Cheers show, drummer Drew walked past me outside the venue in these grey and black striped, flared slacks and a silk-looking shirt and I made some snarky, ass-hole comment to him to which the poor prick just flashed a peace sign at me. Had it been today I would have asked him for his tailors digits. He should have taken me and given me a Tolchok, good and proper "for being a bastard with no manners and having no decency and no idea on how to comport myself publicly o my brother." (reference). That was moments before those doors flung open as some gavone was getting ejected, and I heard the few bars of "Ungodly" live, and subsequently as a result I got my first menstrual period as a 19 year old male... it fucked up my biggest pair of JNCOs. But I've digressed...
While us wanna-be tough little shits were dissing INTO' because they were "pussy-shit", we were listening to bands that were singing about being all unified with other men, as we screamed in unison, shirtless and sweaty, our bodies piling on one another's, placing our hands on a bro's buttocks to support his surf over the crowd. Richie sang about heartbreak over girls, dropping lines like "I kiss the amulet between your breasts", or like "Sweat with me, let me come inside". Meanwhile, we were passionately singing about the company of men. Do you see where I'm going with this? Yeah, INTO ANOTHER was pussy shit, sure. Sign me up then... Oh, and by the way, ask anybody who used to kick it with Richie back in his YOUTH OF TODAY days and you'll get first-hand confirmations that the dude may have been sensitive but he was a brawler and a real hard-nosed sonofabitch when it came down to knuckling up.
So, do yourself a favor, stream this motherfucker -Into Another's 1994 masterpiece Ignaurus- or punch it up on YouTube, I don't know, whatever you millennials fucking do to hear tunes these days, and think about being a pre-twenties shit-head, or think about old girlfriends and/or boyfriends, conjure old sadness that you just cant shake, and a new bittersweet happiness is what you'll find in this record if you come to it with an open ear, and a bruised heart. Dale, Bolts!
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