Harley Moore of Fugitive Bubble: "I Used To Be More Afraid of What People Would Think, Like, 'What if They Think We're Too Weird?' and I've Gotten Over That"

Fugitive Bubble's high energy art punk antics are characterized by fast, angular rhythms, quirky melodies, and a raw, unfiltered energy that resonates with the DIY ethos of Olympia. The flaw in some hardcore punk bands these days is their lack of true commitment to chaos. Fugitive Bubble demonstrates how to fall together and fall apart with equal conviction. The trio also continues to defy genre boundaries with their latest album What Will Happen If We Stop? (Sorry Slate), composed of twelve tracks that are viciously hooky, direct, and meditative. Throughout its twists and turns, the group proves it's still possible to make punk rock that's politically relevant and musically complex without losing sight of the youthful energy at the genre's core. With the new album, Fugitive Bubble further cements their reputation as a band unafraid to explore new sonic territories while staying true to their punk roots. After the group's recent tour across the South, bassist-vocalist Harley Moore talks Fugitive Bubble's creative evolution and how that fueled the making of the new album. They also dive into their side projects like the Kraut-inspired Connective Tissue and the moody synth-driven Odor Eater, revealing a deep love for collaboration, experimentation, and staying true to oneself.

Hot Sounds: How did the recent tour go and what were some of the highlights?

Harley Moore: The Southern tour was definitely the best one we've ever done because the audiences were more excited. My favorite cities were Birmingham and Jacksonville (shout out Coffee Stain!). The scenes there had real energy, the kids danced more than they do in the PNW. 

HS: Where did you grow up and what was the local scene like? What sort of records or books/magazines would we find if we would travel back in time in your teenage room?

HM: Haha! I grew up in Phoenix and it sucked. My dad turned me on to Gang of Four when I was about 13, so I was a real post-punk/goth kid in an area where NO ONE — I mean no one — was into that stuff. My high school was mostly Christian athletes lol. My favorite band in high school was Nine Inch Nails and I thought I was very cool and different for that!

HS: When did you first become aware that you wanted to play music or front a band and what made you want to go in this creative direction? Did you play in any groups before Fugitive Bubble?

HM: My dad was always giving me musical instruments when I was a child and playing jazz, punk, rap, all kinds of bands for me. I remember playing keyboard with him when I was five years old. Thanks dad! I've been in bands since I was 18 when I moved to Tacoma. I lived in a punk house there and was in some shoegaze/indie bands, and also a stoner metal band (haha!). Then I moved to Seattle and was in a gothy band called Vats. 

HS: When did Fugitive Bubble form?

HM: Fugitive Bubble started in 2020 with a different drummer named Perry Holstein, who has now moved to New York. Kurt (guitarist) knew Perry from skateboarding and the punk scene in New Orleans. When we started playing together it was very electric, a perfect flowing machine of song writing, and all three of us had a vast mix of influences we were drawing upon. Perry broke his collarbone (from skateboarding) after recording the Delusion LP and we had to find a replacement drummer, Riley (the drummer of Physique). Riley was a jazz drummer in high school and is pretty much a prodigy, a musical genius, so the electric feeling in songwriting has continued. 

HS: How would you say it's evolved over the years and what are your thoughts looking back on past releases like the self-titled tape and No Outside?

HM: For me I would say I have gained confidence in my singing voice and being less afraid to say the truth, say what I'm really feeling. The new LP What Would Happen if We Stop? is more ambitious I think. Kurt has always been extremely ambitious and NEVER afraid to experiment, try new freaky things. It took me a while to come around to that and be open to that. I used to be more afraid of what people would think, like, "What if they think we're too weird?" and I've gotten over that.

HS: I still occasionally watch the video to "Doves Fly." What do you remember about the filming of that video? 

HM: Logan Devlin from Odor Eater filmed it and made all the animations — SO COOL! The special effects and medieval theme were all Perry's ideas! Perry also made videos Mystic Inane and Special Interest — you should check out both of their other videos! 

HS: One of my favorites of yours is this footage of Fugitive Bubble playing the Le Voyeur on November 30th '23. What do you remember from that show?

HM: I had to look this up. It looks like our friend Tubey (2B) filmed it on his VHS camera. It was with Dekrepit from Tacoma, Reek Minds and Alienator from Portland — an excellent bill. 

HS: How did the cut "Rotting Flower" come together that was included on the No Deal compilation back in '22? 

HM: Haha omg that's a deep cut. I wrote the vocals of the song while driving in my car. That's the only song we've ever written using that method, of me writing the lyrics first. I want to do that again! We've never played that song live, but last week we were just talking about trying to play it!

HS: What can you tell me about your upcoming release What Will Happen If We Stop? and what insight can you share about how and where it was recorded? What were some of the highlights putting it together? 

HM: We recorded with Evan at Red Lantern Studios in Portland. He does all of his recordings on reel-to-reel and he is so easy to work with, so sweet, just very good at what he does. This was the first record we wrote with Riley on drums, so I think it reflects Riley's insane drumming and ideas.

HS: How did the opening cut "Parade of Pissants" come about?

HM: Kurt's brain pumps out riffs like there's no tomorrow

HS: What can you tell me about "Rot" and what it was like putting it together?

HM: Ah, I wrote that one in Indianapolis, I believe, on a voice memo on my phone. I was feelin anxious as hell and needed to get something out.

HS: What's the story behind the title track?

HM: Kurt's brain is a vast landscape of funk and punk riffs. I wrote those lyrics in New York, while I was feeling really anxious again hahaha. I guess I feel anxious a lot.

HS: What inspired "Scanners"?

HM: The Cronenberg movie!

HS: What can you tell me about Connective Tissue and the benefit tape you released last year? 

HM: Connective Tissue is a kraut-inspired band I do with Gemma, my girlfriend. She is a synthesizer goddess. I play drums on that. I was high on mushrooms when we recorded that haha!

HS: What can you tell me about your other group Odor Eater and the Fairytale tape you released on Rotten Apple back in '23? 

HM: Odor Eater is me and Logan, who did the music videos for FB. Logan also knew Kurt from skateboarding, which is how we met. Logan writes all the synthesizer parts and I do vocals. Basically, Logan and I share a deep obsessive love for new wave and freaky 80's synth music, and it's kind of rare to find someone who understands that genre as well as he does. He is one of the best musical collaborators I've ever had, because he is very reliable, zero drama, very sweet, but also very talented. 

HS: What are some future plans for Fugitive Bubble and Odor Eater?

HM: Odor Eater has a tour coming up! Fugitive Bubble will probably continue to record and tour until we are haggard old fucks.

HS: Any advice or last words you'd like to share with our readers?

HM: Tell your friends you love them because they might not be around forever. Please start new bands! Especially if you're a girl, gay, or a teen, START BANDS!

What Will Happen If We Stop? is out now on Sorry State Records.