It’s been a busy year for Mike Park. His record label, Asian Man Records, continues to be a vital resource for the underground punk community, with a back catalog (including classic releases from Alkaline Trio, Bomb The Music Industry! and the Lawrence Arms among countless others) only rivaled by its current output, from young bands (Big Nothing, Warm Thoughts) and scene staples (Smoking Popes, Dan Potthast) alike. Later this year, he’ll release Simple Pleasure, the debut EP from the boygenius-esque supergroup Sheena, Anika And Augusta, comprised of Sheena Ozzella of Lemuria, Anika Pyle of Katie Ellen and Augusta Koch of Cayetana.
AMR has been crucial in not only keeping ska alive for the past two-plus decades, but also for nurturing young punk, emo and indie bands on their way to bigger venues and larger SoundScan totals. Park conducts business on little more than handshake agreements, and he treats those around him with respect. He’s also raised thousands of dollars via his Plea For Peace Foundation and benefit compilations and tours to help out marginalized peoples and spread the joy of the arts.
Eight years ago this week, Park managed to convince defunct Chicago ska-punk band Slapstick — without a doubt the second-best ska-punk band of all time, only behind Operation Ivy — to reunite for his Asian Man 15 festival in San Francisco. In a rare moment of hubris, a jubilant Park got onstage during their set and said the reason they got back together was because, and I quote, “I’m Mike Park, and I’m the fuckin’ best!” (This was also the same show where a visibly and audibly intoxicated Matt Skiba Kanyed Brendan Kelly, a hilariously cringeworthy exchange which found Skiba honestly admitting, “Mike Park is the reason we all have careers.”)
In short: It’s entirely possible someone out there might not like Mike Park, but they’re certainly in the minority.
Park continues to make music as well, both as a solo artist and frontman for the Bruce Lee Band as well as a member of Kitty Kat Fan Club and Ogikubo Station. The latter band — a socially conscious, heartfelt indie-punk group co-fronted by Maura Weaver (formerly of Mixtapes) — just released their brand new EP, Okinawan Love Songs, on Asian Man on June 14, and they’re currently on tour in the U.K. in support of it (dates).
Unfortunately, Mike Park is not with them.
In a video posted to Ogikubo Station’s Facebook page, Park explained that he was recently diagnosed with tinnitus and learned he has sustained hearing loss, and that he’s going to sit this tour out. For the first time in his musical career, his band had to move on without him.
Okinawan Love Songs is Ogikubo Station's third release in as many years, making it your most prolific band in years. To what do you attribute the burst of songwriting?
MIKE PARK: Well, I don't know about that. This latest release is just a three-song 7-inch and it includes a cover song. But I've always been a prolific songwriter. It's something I relish being able to do — I could pen a song in five minutes if my life depended on it.
Alkaline Trio’s Dan Andriano played bass on your new EP. Despite your long history with him and his myriad projects, I believe this is the first time the two of you actually recorded a song together. Were his contributions done virtually, or did you actually get in the studio with him? Is it harder to work with someone you've known that long over a newer face, or is it easier?
Dan actually played on the first Chinkees record — he played bass and lent some backing vocals — but that was over 20 years ago. We did record some some solo Mike Park stuff [together] that never got released, but again... it's been some time now. And yes, he recorded from his home in Florida. This one was so easy. I just said, "Dan, play something good." The next day, he was like, "Here you go." Bam! It was done. It would probably be totally different if we were composing together or recording a full-length together, but this was just a song already recorded and him laying down his golden touch.
When I saw Ogikubo Station last month, Maura introduced a song by talking about how it was inspired by both of your shared Asian-American histories. Up until that point, I was completely unaware Maura was Asian-American. Have you run into this often, where people mistakenly assume that any Ogikubo song about the Asian-American experience is solely about you?
I'm sure that's the take from most. I have a superhero power, or maybe it's an inappropriate power, of asking anyone whom I think is even a little bit Asian if indeed they are. It's usually the following:"…are you Asian?" It feels less degrading coming from me than perhaps an older white man, so I think they're at ease with that question or assumption.
Ogikubo Station is about to embark on a European tour, but you aren't going with due to recent developments with your hearing. Can you talk about that?
Before I left for tour in May, I had been dealing with ringing in my ears. After getting tested, I found out I had some hearing loss. This put a huge damper on my mental state, but it also had me ultra protective. I went on tour wearing double ear plugs: the regular type and then the industrial-size ones that you see construction guys wearing. Even after that, my ringing got worse and I was feeling sharp pain. I just felt like it would be best to take a mental break and try to fix my health if possible.
What does it feel like to see a band you're in leave for tour without you?
It feels extremely weird. They had their first show last night. It seemed to go really well, and I'm proud of Maura and Megan Schroer (who basically is part of the band) for pulling it off.
Unfortunately, tinnitus is incurable. How do you think this will affect you going forward in terms of playing live music? Do you see yourself stopping performing completely, limiting yourself to acoustic shows, or something else entirely?
But it is curable — maybe not in the conventional way, but many people have rid themselves of tinnitus through alternative medicine. I am hoping to be one of those. I am doing acupuncture and taking many herbs hoping I can get rid of it. I’m not sure what I'll do moving forward. I've thought about just doing acoustic shows or trying in-ear monitors and see if that helps. I'm not 100 percent sure.
The Tokyo suburb Ogikubo, from where you got your band name, is well known for its ramen. What's your favorite ramen spot?
My favorite ramen spot is in my house with a $.48 instant ramen package. Sapporo Ichiban is my favorite brand. Add some egg and green onions and voila! Ramen. Ramen is too expensive at a restaurant. I always feel let down. I never feel let down after spending less than a dollar on a meal.
Today’s subject line is a lyric from the song “From Korea” by Mike Park, off his 2003 Hopeless Records-issued solo album For The Love Of Music and reissued on the digital compilation Beans & Toast via Asian Man in 2011. Listen to the song below, and if you dig it, you can buy the record it’s from on Amazon (and by clicking that link, there’s a chance I may make a few cents):
This has been Colors Of Insomnia. If you liked this post, please consider subscribing, clicking on the heart icon and sharing it with a friend. You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram.