This Interview was published in So Fuckin' What? #3, in  October of 1999,
$- Spindel
P- Pat Dent
K- Kevin Dent

$ - Who are the Dents and what do you guys do in the band?
P - The Dents are four very distinct individuals who play '81 style hardcore, with newer punk influences as well.
K - I'm Kevin, I vomit out the words. Pat here plays bass and yells sometimes, while our pal Paddy McMayhem plays the drums. This other guy Rob plays guitar.
$ - When did The Dents come to be?
K- I suppose you could say we started about 2 years ago. It started off with Pat, Rob, and this other kid Chris. Then they asked me to come in and sing and our friend Iggy played drums for us. (The End's first drummer too!). We were called Potential Riot back then. After a while we got Paddy to play drums instead of Iggy. He was the final piece and the Dents were born.
$-Does the name "Dents" have any meaning? Where did it come from?
K - Well, it comes from Pat's chest. You see, sort of like, in between his nipples, maybe a little bit lower; is this huge indentation, about the size of a fist. His chest just goes inward, it's so cool. That's basically where the name came from. I'd like to think that we could make a couple dents out there though - hopefully with our music, but not necessarily confined to that.
$ - How did you guys get involved in the punk scene? What do you define as punk or hardcore?
K - Personally I got into punk around - what? - 3-1/2 to 4 years ago. It took me a while to find a scene  though. I was the only punk I knew for like my first year. Finally I met Paddy and at least had one person.j Eventually me and him started meeting some kids and when our friend got an apartment on Edmonds street, more and more people began popping up. That was really the first exposuretime a remember something that I would call a "scene." To me, punk is a rebel music and way of life. Doing what you want and not letting someone else dictate your actions. Well, that's a short definition that definitely doesn't
cover everything, but I don't have all fuckin' day here.
P- Punk and hardcore are a subversive and heartfelt music form. True HC is merely a style of punk just like crust or pogo. Although there are many incredible metal bands, like Catharsis or Holdstrong, I do not feel that they are hardcore music. As others have said, these bands are only associated with hardcore because they're involved in the DIY scene. Of course, many of the metal bands and metal kids are condescending, mindless fucks.         
$ - Is the band political? How so? 
P-Yeah. 
K - Definitely. Not overly political and boring like, I don't know. Crass, for example, but I think politics - are something that affect us all and definitely have a place in our music. Everyone in the band has different views, but I think they're probably close to each other. None of us are happy with the current government system. But I think that complete and total anarchy would fail. Groups of people would still get together and bully people around like our government is doing right now. If everyone in the world was cool, anarchy would be the only choice, but unfortunately the are a lot of greedy assholes out there that would fuck it up. They'd group together and kill and steal to get their way and everyone else would just live in fear of them like a bully on the playground. So I think a better idea would be an extremely minimalist government. One that would keep those bastards in check, while allowing everyone true freedom and peace. Our political views show through in our songs, but I don't think every song should be about politics. There's more to life than just politics and we represent that stuff too.
$ - Any plans to play out soon outside of the immediate area?
K - We've played a few shows in Olean, Canandaigua. and such. We're supposed to be on tour right now, but complications arose and that isn't happening. Hopefully soon we'll be setting up another one though, that should take us all over NY, PA, and maybe NJ or something, but nothing is definate yet. If your reading this we're always looking for shows.
$- What other bands have you guys been in/are in?
P- I'm Also currently in Dickrub, The Blake Guyers, Antcor, Gastointestinalatrocity, Two Reasonable Headbangers and Complacent Solitude.
K - Paddy and I used to have this kickass band called Malfunction about 2-1/2 years ago. We played a couple times then we changed our name to the Heartattacks. That was cool. We then broke up. I'm currently in Antcor, The Blake Guyers, Wideload, and 2 Reasonable Headbangers. Paddy's in The End, The Violent Bastards and Antcor and he used to be in The Cronies.
$- Does the band work shitjobs? Does this help or hinder band efforts?
K- Oh definitely Pat and I scoop ice cream at Abbott's. Paddy works at a bakery. Rob, on the other hand, owns his own store - Old Church Skates in Webster. So I guess his doesn't really count as a shitjob. Its definitely a hindrance to the band. Coordinating our work schedules for a practice or even a show is one of the biggest pains this ass has even faced. Most recently it has shown it's hindering power m decimating our tour.
$ - What do you think of your scene? Is it good or bad?
K -I think it's small, but has potential. There's enough people around, but I don't think enough of us believe in it or care about it enough to actually do something positive in the scene. I like it, but I'd like to see more involvement.
P - Rochester's scene has gone from having a few crappy bands and no shows to having a few good bands and tons of shows. It always seems to revolve around one band, such as Danny Down and the Syndromes or the Cronies. I think it rules here, though.
$- What do you think of the ARA/FNB's making a comeback in Rochester? Any plans to help out in any way?
K- I'm real glad to see these organizations back here. Things like this are what makes a scene more than just a couple of bands, a few kids, and some drunks. Wen we get everyone together, working for something positive in the scene or the community, we become a force, not a bunch of weirdoes. Also the scene has changed quite a bit since the ARA was back in Rochester. There are a lot of new kids here that need to get exposure to other facets of our culture, so I'm happy to see it back. The Dents, as a band, are always willing to play benefits for these organizations and personally I try to help out with flyers, word of mouth, personal contributions, or whatever else I can do to help.
$ - What bands would you say have had an effect on your style and desribe your style.
P - State of Alert, Violent Society, the song "Hold" by Ensign.
K - We all have different influences. Rob's into the Conflict/Crass/Subhumans style of political punk. I'm more into the early CA scene like 7 Seconds, Circle Jerks, and Social Distortion as well as newer pogo/street punk like the Unseen/Violent Society/Casualties style. Paddy's into that as well as the Varukers /Exploited older British scene. We're all different and yet it's all punk rock. The Dents sound originally started off inspired directly by the early D.C. scene. Like the Dischord '81 year in 7"s CD. Then me and Paddy added a newer pogo sound when we came in, so it's something in between those to things...
$ - Why do you do this? Is it for personal satisfaction or do you have a message you want to send to people out there?
P - Much like the Unseen, we all do the band for different reasons. Seeing as how I am as close to nihilism as one can be without being suicidal, I'd have to say my reason for playing is that I like the music and my time with friends. The only satisfaction I can find is in the enthusiasm of others.
K - I'd fuckin' explode if I ever went too long without being in a band. But at the same time, we do try to send out a message I our lyrics - well, most of them -I suppose some of them are just silly but that's important too. Anyway I'd have to say both.
$- Any final comments, contact info?
P- Shout outs go to everyone we thanked in the demo, Danny Down and the Syndromes, The O City Bombers, Brian B., Violent Society, Nobody Cares and all the Olean punx (especially Ryan).
K - Also thanks to my boys and the Dents Ho's. We've got our demo tape out finally. You can get it for 2 Bucks from one of us or for 3 dolla's by mail. To get that or to contact us for patches or to set up shows or whatever: 1130 Woodbridge Lane, Webster, NY 14580,Kevin @ (716) 671-5664 (after August try (716) 396-1046) OR
http://members.tripod.com/~lazypunker/dents.html.
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