An Interview with Jesus from the Band The Beat Officers

Somewhere in Sacramento in a dirty storage unit the white lights have been turned down and only black light shines in the dark cold night air. Like a Mack truck hitting a three-year-old on a tricycle the Beat Officers music crushes you with its power and intensity. The air around the storage yard rings with the furious screams of Chester and Ominous while the electricity from the guitars of Jesus and Spent tears through your ear drums, all while Weppon, Emu, and Fedi lay down a rhythm so thick you can see it move across the yard.

I met the Beat Officers in early 2002, and from the beginning I knew they were a different sort of band, they had something that other bands seem to lack. They had a pulse pounding sound that seemed to level everything in its path, but they also had a unique and exciting stage show. While many bands avoid makeup, and glow in the dark paint, the Beat Officers have embraced it and made it an integral part of their stage show and their identity. Many call such things “gimmicks”, and believe that bands that resort to such things are trying to hide their lack of talent. 

This is not the case for the Beat Officers, they have a solid musical ground to stand on and the stage show is there only to heighten the overall Beat Officers experience. Something must be working, because from the day one I have seen the massive crowds of young kids who crowd into the venues to get a chance to see the Beat Officers. The same kids who dress up like their favorite members of the band and follow them fanatically. 

The first time I met the Beat Officers it was in the dingy storage yard that they still practice in today. I had no idea what to expect, and was more than a little surprised to see a band with seven members in it come together so flawlessly on every note. From the beginning the Beat Officers have enthralled me with their raw and powerful music, their presence on the stage, and the way that they interact with their fans.