This is taken from the band's bio (courtesy of Monty):

"When hardcore icons DFL (dead fucking last) broke up in 1997, cofounder, songwriter, and guitarist Monty Messex may have needed a break from the intense fishbowl of the music industry, but the infectious burn of hardcore music would never let him rest for long. His new band, The Family Dog, infuses the furious old-school sensibilities of DFL with a volcanic new energy and vision. The Family Dog lineup instantaneously solidified in the summer of 1999: Chad Daly (vocals), Gil Bonus (guitar), Matt Geiger (drums and didgeridoo), Monty (guitar and vocals), and Rob Galvan (bass and vocals). In September 2000, The Family Dog released its first offering to the altar of hardcore music on El Pocho Loco Records: SoCal Hardcore."

Monty was kind enough to take a few minutes away from his day job to do this interview.

Facedownfall: First of all, what led to the breakup of DFL?

Monty: ahh, well the short answer is we were not getting along with each other. tom, the singer was pretty unhappy touring and then he quit and that was kinda the end.

Facedownfall: but do you still talk with those guys?

Monty: from time to time, we are still friends, no hard feelings.

Facedownfall: that's cool..so how did you get hooked up The Family Dog?

Monty: after dfl broke up i took some time to myself and then i started writing hc songs again and i tried to get dfl back together but the guys were not down for that so i started a new band with some friends check our bio on the tfd page for all the details.

Facedownfall: ok, so how did you hook up with Voodoo Glow Skulls' El Pocho Loco Records?

Monty: eddy the guitar player recorded us at his pad and then he got his bro frank into the demo etc, and i guess it was good timing cuz they were looking for bands to sign.

Facedownfall: has it been a good experience with them?

Monty: yep, nice guys helped us out a bunch.

Facedownfall: What do you think about Grand Royal going under?

Monty: oh man that sux, i dont know how that happened, it seemed like they were gonna rule the world at one time.

Facedownfall: I have yet to hear "So Cal Hardcore" for myself yet...can you tell people who haven't heard it what to expect?

Monty: sure, if you like dfl you will most likely like the family dog, its that same old hc flavor, people seem to dig it.

Facedownfall: more of that lo-fi in your face stuff?

Monty: you got it, we recorded and mixed ten songs in one day.

Facedownfall: man, that was fast...how did it come out?

Monty: i like it lots.

Facedownfall: So do you sing on any tracks like you did with DFL on songs like "Lost Cause"?

Monty: yep a couple songs.

Facedownfall: What are some of the songs on "so cal hc" about?

Monty: friends using drugs and bumming me out, crusty punkers, bad brains, and love songs, life.

Facedownfall: sounds pretty eclectic.

Facedownfall: What bands have you and any members been influenced by?

Monty: hardcore wise its the usual suspects, minor threat, old bad religion, adolescents, wasted youth, so cal bands mostly.

Facedownfall: do you listen to any of the newer hc or punk bands?

Monty: sure, i love NOFX, they are one of my favorite bands along with radiohead.

Facedownfall: what else do you listen to other than hc or punk?

Monty: radiohead, radiohead, and more radiohead.

Facedownfall: wow, you really are a big radiohead fan...that should answer my question of what's in your cd player/changer right now(when not at work, of course)?

Monty: yep, that sums it up, at work i listen to NPR, the only decent source for news.

Facedownfall: So regarding the news, what do you think about all that has happened lately?

Monty: sad commentary on the human species, waring bunch we are, full of hate sorry to say but left to our devices it always seems to devolve to this sad stuff.

Facedownfall: what does everyone do away from the band?

Monty: work and go to school.

Facedownfall: Are there any touring plans in the future?

Monty: not really. we just stick around la, we might tour next year: who knows: but nothing soon.

Facedownfall: cool the dfl show in norfolk a few years ago was awesome, i'll look forward to a family dog show then!

Monty: thanx!!

Facedownfall: but if you could tour with any band, who would you tour with?

Monty: hmmm, that is a good question....maybe pennywise or nofx, that would be fun and i think their fans would get a kick out of us.

Facedownfall: do you think you could get some dates on the warped tour?

Monty: probably not.

Facedownfall: too busy with day jobs, school etc?

Monty: no, we could make time im sure. i dont think they are down with old school hc. but i wouldnt mind being wrong.

Facedownfall: how long do you see yourself being in the The Family Dog and being in hardcore?

Monty: dont know...a long time hopefully.

Facedownfall: Thanks for your time Monty, anything you'd like to add:

Monty: thats about it! thanx back to work for me.