"Spotlight On Dubai" Public Refuse !

Public Refuse is a Dubai based Hardcore Punk band, the band features band members from other Dubai based bands such as Amongst Skyscrapers (Mychal Martinez, Drums), and Ghandi's Cookbook (Adarsh Sekhar, Bass/Vocals).

Formed in 2007 under the name The Mugshots as a cover band, covering songs for Rancid and Choking Victim, the band is now releasing original tracks under their new moniker Public Refuse.

They have 2 "in your face" punk songs up on their Myspace. "Cut To Commercial" and "Hypocrites" which showcases the band's raw punk sound and that Dubai has alot to offer in the punk scene !

To get to know the band a bit better, I asked George Hughes the band's frontman about their sound, the band's lyrical theme, today's punk scene in Dubai, their upcoming releases, and alot more.
Heres how it went:



TMR: Hows everything coming along with your upcoming EP?

George: Well, we currently have 2 songs finished and ready for the EP, with 3 more in the making. we'll be recording with our local crust punk Chris Ryan at Cesspool Studio's, and we're scheduled for late November after Behold the Locus. I personally can't wait to record, it's amazing to have something to call your own as a band, we recorded some live demo's a month or so ago, and we we're extremely proud of how they turned out. now we're incredibly anxious to hear properly produced and recorded tracks.


TMR: Can you describe your sound?

George: We call ourselves a Hardcore Punk band, but it's a still a slightly narrow term for our music, as far as punk goes. yes we're highly influenced by hardcore punk, which is clear in our recordings so far, but each band member brings their own influences to the table, for example, Adarsh, our classically trained guitarist. Likes to integrate different genre's and sounds into our music, from ska to post-hardcore Fugazi type tunes. I like to bring the old American Hardcore sound, for example Minor threat, Bad Brains, Black Flag, the pioneers for Hardcore Punk. Mychal, Our drummer, is heavily influenced by metalcore, ska, and more contemporary punk, so he likes to mix it up on occasion on the drum lines. And lasty Bruno, Our bassist, likes to just do what he's told, and play his bass lines, he is a truly gifted guitarist.

so to describe our sound in a few lines would be, Old school hardcore punk with contemporary punk and ska twists.


TMR: What lyrical themes do your songs center around ?

George: All band members contribute to the lyric writing process. Mainly we like to write about politics and society, although i find punk bands, especially at our age, who have never truly LIVED in "the system" only as far as under they're parents roofs, a bit pretentious when they seem to write passionately about how "the system" has fucked them over etc.
so our lyrics tend to centre around local issues and things that we have experienced ourselves as individuals.


TMR: Any Future Shows?

George: Our gigs tend to be organized quite randomly and last minute, which isn't anything new to be said about the Dubai scene. The only gig that we have in our books right now, is the DDE skate championships, at the Dubai Festival City skate park on November 21st. Our Myspace www.myspace.com/publicrefu

se, is always up to date with upcoming gigs, so if you are interested in seeing us, check there for an opportunity.


TMR: What do you think of the Punk scene in Dubai, is it growing ?

George: With the Dubai Scene being predominantly Metal, The Punk aspect of it is very small, for example you can count the number of punk bands in Dubai on one hand. but over the years the punk bands that have existed have put on some incredibly energetic shows and continue to do so i.e. Bloody Mary and Gandhi's Cookbook, to name a couple. We hope to be able to put on the same kind of show that they are famous for.

I think the Dubai scene is growing, especially with the recent success of Gandhi's Cookbook, more and more kids are listening to punk rock and we are hoping that they are starting to form their own bands and integrate themselves into the scene. it would be a real shame if Punk in Dubai doesn't take off, it is one of the most powerful and and emotionally driven genre's that music has to offer.


TMR: Would You Like To Add Anything?

George: there's not much else to say, except we appreciate any support from the scene in helping make Punk Rock a dominant force in Dubai music. also shameless self advertising is never a bad thing, so check us out if you're interested in hearing some homegrown punk from Dubai, www.myspace.com/publicrefuse.


I'd like to thank George for taking the time to answer my questions !

Dont forget to check out the band's Myspace for the latest updates and to get a taste of the band's punkSKA attitude !