AN INTERVIEW WITH FAKE SMILE
2-13-26
1. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! I was very fortunate in that growing up outside of Portland, when I got into all sorts of alternative and experimental music and, of course, hardcore, the different scenes were extremely vibrant, and Maine bands were making massive waves, whether that be Outbreak and Cruel Hand in hardcore or a doom band like Ocean and their insanely-long songs getting shine in Pitchfork. We had tons of great bands large (Slipknot, Korn, System of a Down, etc.) and small coming through town all the time and it was incredible. It makes me extremely happy that there are still loads of bands in Maine carrying that torch, but as opposed to back then, I think—and this is zeroing-in on hardcore specifically—the scene here doesn’t quite have the same outside recognition for how vibrant it is, though I see that starting to change. All of this to say I am thrilled to feature a band from my home state to do my small part in brightening that spotlight on the special thing we have going on here. For readers who may not be familiar, would you mind introducing yourself and what you do in the band as well as providing some background basics on the band like when you formed?
Hey, thanks man. Like everything hardcore has its ebbs and flows. Definitely on the up since COVID and all the new bands so I’m glad to hear people recognize what’s been here all along. I’m Andrew, I do vocals in the band and recorded all the drums on both releases. When we first started it was just me and Cody who plays guitar and recorded the bass as well on those same releases. It started out just as something different while jamming. We are both in a band, Free To Think, that stopped playing 10 years ago just due to life. Cody and I started jamming again during COVID for Free To Think but the vocalist Ryan Grindle had a son during that timeframe, so we were just kind of in a holding pattern until he was around and ready, so we started jamming something new. When we started talking about playing shows is when we filled out the line up with Alex on bass and Wyatt on drums.
2. What got you into hardcore and want to play it?
I’ve always been super into skateboarding which I am so thankful for because it really opened my eyes at an early age to awesome music across the board. Also, my best friend is a couple years older than me, so he always had an edge when it came to finding out about cool stuff. Whatever he was doing at the time I wanted to as well so when he started a band, I wasn’t too far behind.
3. Who would you say are some of the bands you’re pulling from in terms of influence?
The Maine big three for sure, Outbreak, Wake Up Call, and Cruel Hand. Also, Ceremony, American Nightmare, The Suicide File, 90’s hip-hop and wrestling, 2000’s hardcore, moshing, and ripping FS grinds.
4. You’ve got two releases under your belt at this point. What’s the reception been to them and do you have any plans for more new music in the near future?
We’re stoked on how the reception has been. I think for us if it’s something that we all like and want to be playing that’s all that really matters. We’re working on some new stuff right now, excited for what the rest of 2026 will bring!
5. You played Eyestone Fest North in November. Community in hardcore (in general really) is so important, and it was amazing to see the community pull together in support of a longtime fixture in Ryan Eyestone. How did it come about and what were the highlights of the show?
I could go on for days about how important Ryan is to the Maine hardcore community. I first met him at the Waterville Bullmoose where he worked when I was in high school. He did a shirt design for my best friend’s first band and since then he was always someone I looked up to. I remember thinking like whoa it’s so sick that Jules Verne got a shirt done by Eyestone. Outside of that early memory, the amount of art he has done for so many bands is insane. Knowing that someone like that came from my town doing artwork for all my favorite bands just made me feel proud.
The band I was a part of in college, No Future, got him to do our last demo artwork before we called it a day. That is something I will always hold close. Before he got sick, he started a design for Fake Smile in homage of his earlier work for Outbreak. He was never able to finish it, but we made posters out of his sketch that we have with all the money going towards his GoFundMe. It was an honor that he ever agreed to do anything for us.
He also took pictures at all The Kave shows and Braden put it so eloquently at the Eyestone Fest South that he didn’t just take pictures, but he caught the in-between moments and those have gone on to be what we hold so close as time ticks on. Just being able to play it not only Fake Smile but Free To Think as well meant so much, it is and will be the best show I’ve ever played. Cruel Hand getting everyone in for the picture and then just starting Redneck Stomp while the pictures happening, so sick.
RIP to a friend who I was always happy to see no matter how much time had passed you were someone I looked up to.
6. Speaking of community and generosity, you played the Xmas Toy Drive Maine HC Style, which is such a cool event and idea. How did that come together and what details can you share with us?
Yeah, that was an awesome one too. For every Kave show Kathy would ask for a pet food donation along with admission to the show. The guys at the Old Town Theatre just took that to the next level for the holidays. If you aren’t helping your greater community at large, what are you doing? You can thank Kathy Kave for instilling that in all of us up here.
7. Outside of Fake Smile, how else are you involved in the scene (artwork, other bands, etc.)?
As I previously mentioned, Free To Think has also been doing stuff during the formation of Fake Smile. We played our first show in 10 years at Eyestone Fest North. I only play drums in FTT. We put out a new demo for that band as well in 2024, just as proud of that as we are Fake Smile. Grindle helps write lyrics for FS too so it’s just like one big family haha.
In 2021 through efforts from myself and a parent group in conjunction with Bangor Parks and Rec we finally after 10 years got a concrete skatepark in Bangor. Through that project and a couple others at the time a few of us across Maine formed the Maine Skateboard Association, a formal 501c3 non-profit. It’s been awesome, we’ve raised some money for parks across the state like in Waterville and Brunswick and run jams throughout the summer. Also, through the connection with MSA I work with my friend Toebee at Connie Skateboards. I’ve done about half the graphics! Maine skateboarding rules and there is so much talent here. Glad that is starting to get recognized now too.
8. For folks who may not be as aware of the “lay of the land” in the Maine scene, would you be able to provide a brief snapshot of bands people should be paying attention to as well as any major figures and/or venues that are central to the scene?
Corrective Measure are carrying the torch for all of us right now. They just did a European tour last year, so proud of those guys. Other bands to check out Retract, Last Embrace, Stab, Half Step, Dying Mind, Infernal Diatribe, Holy Filth, Combatant, Zinc, Manismurder, Bluntforcetrauma, so many right now. For venues Old Town Theatre in Old Town right near Bangor is an awesome newer spot, others to check out Squashed Warehouse in Windsor, Rumors in Biddeford, and Blue in Portland.
[ed. note: You can check out my interview with Retract here and my interview with Stab here]
9. Who would you say belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Maine Hardcore?
Kathy Kave, Ryan Eyestone, Chris Link, and Jess Harvey!
Crucial Links:
https://www.instagram.com/fakesmilehc/
https://www.instagram.com/freetothinkhc/
