The Haggard: ‘Zine There.'

The Haggard play the Byron Bay Youth Centre on Thursday, the Gabba Hotel on Friday and the Sands Tavern on Saturday.

“We're here in Australia, we're actually here in Wollongong,” starts two piece all-girl hardcore punk band The Haggard's guitarist/vocalist Emily. “I love it, the weather's been great we spent four days in Sydney and had a few days off and went to the beach.”

Have you noticed anything that's really different to back home?

“One of the things I've noticed... have you heard off the Riot Grrrl movement? It happened in the Northwest well, I sort of came into the whole rock scene half way through that movement and I sort of noticed a lot of changes that it made. I'm noticing here... we're travelling with this band called Bracode, they just been telling us horror stories that they've had like being banned from clubs because of their politics and they've been telling us about some of the sexism that they've encountered. The one thing that I've noticed it seems like... I don't know if the riot grrrl movement would of affected here? It seems like there is some sort of a need for change or revolution in the punk scene here. It seems like a lot of female musicians and a lot of females in the music industry are getting a lot of crap.”

The Haggard are a very political band; what's something that's really important to you?

“We're totally pro-queer, pro-feminist, we're into bikers rights, both me a Shan are cyclists - bmx-ers.”

What's an issue that's going on in the world that more people should be aware of?

“One thing that's going on in Portland that I guess that isn't so big that it's happening here, there's been a lot of change with the Transgender movement. A lot more people are coming out as Trans and there's been a lot of activism regarding that. That's something going on in our little world that is kind of important.”

I was told that you guys hand out song lyrics sheets at gigs; is it really important to you that people can get what you're singing about?

“Yeah, it's really important 'cause it's just that with our singing style you can't really understand what we're saying. I think it's really important to have it written down so people can see what we are saying. It gives them a chance to read them and to think about it and our politics and what we're all about.”

I heard you write zines?

“That's actually Sharna that writes zines so I'm going to hand her the phone so you can ask her.”

“Hello,” Sharna the Haggard's drummer and vocalist greets me. I repeat the question regarding the zines.

“I have one zine that's just personal narrative, it's called Way Down Low and I'm up to issue number nine now. I have another one called The Gay Hotel which is a pornographic illustrated novel about... I don't know, it's just strictly pornography. I've only done one of those, that one was pretty fun though.”

Will people be able to buy them at your shows; did you bring any with you?

“Yes they will.”

The Haggard are a two-piece band. What's it like performing as a two-piece?

“I really like Emily and my stage dynamics, the chemistry between the two of us. I think it's really great. I think that I feel really great about playing with other musicians as well. I think we really like being a two piece because of the way we get along when we travel or record or when we make big decisions for the band. We just have a lot of the same ideas and ideals for what we want to do.”

What attracted you to the punk scene in the first place and when you became a part of it what did you find unattractive?

“I think there was probably nothing that was attractive about the punk or hardcore scene except for the fact that people got to play really fast and scream; that's what drew me to it. I think that once we got involved in it we've met a lot of really awesome queer-hardcore bands or a lot of advocates for queer rights like Ausrotten and Harem Scarem, Limp Wrist are all hardcore bands that are all really amazing people and performers.”

What is The Haggard out to achieve with their music?

“I think higher political awareness, that's what Emily just said. Inspiring young girls or females in general to pick up an instrument and play or to show them that it's okay to learn how to scream. When I first started to play with The Haggard I didn't know how to sing or play drums let alone use my voice in loud ways to express myself. I was kind of liberating, it kind of changed my whole attitude. It changed the way that I carried myself as well... on a day-to-day basis to be able to be loud and obnoxious and to not give a shit if someone wants me to be quiet. It feels good.”