Mason Summers: Punk Inspired By Its Roots!

I really dig this band. Mason Summers is a really unique band with a very original sound that you don’t hear much these days. Most of the punk you hear is not well thought out, basically, it is noise. Mason Summers is refreshing, and they draw inspiration from all the great punk roots bands like the Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, the Ramones, and smash it together with 50′s style rock-a-billy, and even throw a little ska influence in the pot. It makes for a unique sound and a great story, the band, with its unusual name is forging a new path for Christian punk. And, one of their members juggles flaming torches, a must for any punk band.

Band Name: Mason Summers
Music Style: Punk
Location (Home Base): College Park, MD

Q: When did Mason Summers form as a band, did you really name the band after one of your friends? Please share that story!

A: We formed about three years ago. At that time MAC didn’t play much drums and Lydia had barely begun to learn bass. We definitely did name ourselves after a friend. With a name like Mason Summers, how could you not name your band after this guy?

Q: Mason Summers has a very unique sound in the punk scene, when I listen to your music, I can hear the influence of the late 70′s early 80′s punk like the Ramones and maybe some Still Little Fingers, and The Clash, and then also, the Rock-A-Billy influence, can you tell us about where you get influence as a band?

A: You pretty much nailed it on the head. We definitely are big into the whole 70′s punk thing, especially the European sound but also the Ramones of course. And The Clash had a love of rockabilly which inspired us to look deeper into that style and it became a second musical love for us after punk.

Q: Tell us what everyone in the band does when they are not playing.

A: Mikey and Lydia are into old black and white films and shows and MAC actually does spend all his time drumming outside of the band. He’s a drumming fool!

Q: Can Lydia (who plays bass for Mason Summers) really juggle flaming torches like her bio page says?

A: She can and she does! We can’t imagine why a band would ever hire a bassist who couldn’t juggle flaming torches!

Q: Tell us something about Mason Summers that nobody else would know.

A: We are probably the most misanthropic band in Christian rock. We want people saved and we formed to see that happen but we’re hardly “people persons”. You’ve basically got three introverts who made the wong decision of learning to play music.

Q: You guys don’t hide the fact that you are a Christian band, how is your music influenced by the Bible?

A: I don’t like when Christian bands hide the fact that they’re a Christian band. More and more frequently these bands are doing that. We proudly say we’re a Christian band. Lyrically we don’t include many Biblical references but we always sing about dealing with Christian life.

Q: Being in the punk scene, does Mason Summers catch a lot of heat for being a Christian band?

A: Not at all! Probably about half our fans that come to shows aren’t Christians and they’ve never expressed any complaints when we share our faith. Neither do the secular bands we play with. They seem to respect us and regard us as one of them.

Q: Have you had kids approach you after shows to discuss Christ or get saved at a show?

A: We do have many conversations with kids about serious issues in their lives at which time we steer the conversation towards Jesus. We have heard about kids getting saved at our shows though we’re not sure we’ve actually seen them take that step. It’s wonderful to hear they have though.

Q: Share with us some bands that you have played with, what are some bands that Mason Summers would like to play with in the future?

A: Two of our favorite bands to play with are relatively local to us; 180 Out and Upperdeck. They are all about seeing people saved and they both put on high-energy, exciting shows. In the future it would be amazing to play with some of the punk bands we’ve been influenced by. But all those 70′s bands have broken up of course, but there’s Rancid, The Living End, and Green Day who took a lot from that 70′s sound as well. It would be great to play with them.

Q: Do regular “church folks” look at you guys funny when you tell them your are in a Christian punk band?

A: We haven’t experienced that. I think that people are so used to Christian alternative music now that it doesn’t phase anyone anymore. Like I said, even the non-Christians hardly bat an eyelash when I tell them who we play for.

Q: What was the best show you guys have ever played and why?

A: We had a wonderful experience in a very small town, actually, called Denton, MD. It was an outdoor show, which usually goes horribly because the weather either goes bad or people are too easily distracted from the band by the sights around them and they go wandering off. But in this case there was a crowd of really enthusiastic listeners who were really in tune with our music and message.

Q: Mason Summers has an album called “Gain The World” do you plan on putting out other albums? What tracks on the album is the band most proud of?

A: We certainly do plan on putting out other albums. We haven’t begun to consider when we’ll begin that process though. The tracks were most proud of are “Goodbye, Friend”, “The Bottom Line”, and “Scream”. Mikey and Lydia are also proud of a song called “Rock ‘n Roll” though for some reason MAC can’t stand the song. He must be crazy, because it is so good. (You can buy the album HERE).

Q: You guys are located in Maryland, any plans on touring?

A: We did an East Coast summer tour with 180 Out but would love to head West for our next tour.

Q: What are the future plans for the band?

A: Well, all the best bands have one thing in common; a period of spectacular demise. We greatly look forward to ours.

Q: If you could share one message with the punk scene, what would that be?

A: Lighten up. Jesus loves you.

Q: Any thing else you guys want to add about the band?

A: Please check us out at www. masonsummers. com, or on our myspace page, and look us up on iTunes.

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to support bands like Mason Summers, if they come your way, go and see them! Also, don’t forget to visit the forum where you can discuss Christian hardcore, punk, ska, and Oi! (click the image below and post away)