Direct Order ’82 is the latest outlet for longtime New Jersey hardcore lifer Tim Shaw, a name many will recognize from Ensign, Fuck It…I Quit!, and years spent behind the scenes with Sick of It All. True to its name, the band taps into the fast, scrappy spirit of early ’80s U.S. hardcore, keeping things short, sharp, and completely free of filler. What started as a casual conversation between neighbors quickly turned into a full band, a batch of songs, and an EP rooted in the kind of no-frills aggression that defined the genre’s earliest years.
I caught up with Shaw to talk about how Direct Order ’82 came together, the influences behind their sound, his perspective on today’s hardcore landscape, and some of his all-time favorite New Jersey releases.
Tell me how the band initially got together. What’s the connection you all have with each other?
It’s funny because DO’82 was kind of a happy accident. Our guitarist, PJ, lives across the street from me. My other band, Fuck It… I Quit!, was playing a benefit show, and I was trying to get some bands I really like to play. PJ is in this awesome band called AMMO, and I really wanted them to play. I ran into PJ on the street and asked what AMMO was up to. He said not much at the moment. Then he said we should do a band. By the end of the day, we had songs, lyrics, a name, and a full band.
I’ve known PJ casually for years. Our bass player, Guy, has been a scene fixture for years. He plays in bands, puts on shows, and does a podcast with PJ! I work with Bobby, and we’re good friends. When GEL ended, we talked about starting a d-beat-influenced band together, so we were getting ready to get that going. Then Nick and Sam left the band (on totally good terms)!
By the way, Nick and Sam are in a band called Ballistix that fucking kills it. Anyway, I asked Bobby if he wanted to join DO’82, and he was on board right away. I love all the guys in the band because it’s such a fun group of weirdos.
How did you guys figure out the stylistic direction you wanted to take?
To be honest, our guitar player, PJ, is a crazy person, in the best way possible. He wanted the band to be all go and no slow, songs in under a minute, no mosh. He sent me the batch of songs that would become the EP a few days after we first had the idea for the band. And it wasn’t like he had these songs lying around; he wrote them all in like 2-3 days.
What are some of the specific influences, whether that’s specific bands, labels, or eras/scenes?
I can only say what I hear in our music as far as influences. I know we’re heavily influenced by early '80s USHC. Stuff that was coming out of the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. If I had to name a few bands, it would probably be bands like Necros, Negative Approach, Crucifucks, early 7 Seconds, and Void! That’s sort of just a small sampling of things I hear in our music.
Label-wise, I would say Touch & Go, SST, Dischord, and maybe Frontier (because of the first Suicidal Tendencies record). The stuff definitely has an early '80s vibe.
Speaking as someone who has been around hardcore for a long time now, what differences have you noticed from what’s been going on in the last few years that have surprised you?
I’m not sure. I see the punk scene as cyclical; it just updates with the current generation. I like that there are a lot more women and queer people making hardcore music. And that younger folks are creating spaces on their own terms, spaces that make them feel safe. I’m never surprised by awesome bands. I might be a little surprised at just how many killer bands there are. It’s hard to keep up.
Do you think it’s all gotten too big for its own good, or do you celebrate its reach?
[Laughs] I’ve been arguing with people all week about Turnstile getting a Grammy. I’m fucking stoked for them. I’m always stoked when hardcore/punk folks are successful. It was the same way I felt when Sick of It All put out Scratch the Surface on East/West. I was totally happy for them that they extended their reach and kicked in a lot of doors for other bands.
What are your all-time favorite NJHC bands and releases?
My list is probably different from the other folks in the band, but:
Vision - In the Blink of An Eye
Sand in the Face - Music Made to Riot: New Jersey Hardcore 1982 - 1983
Endeavor - Constructive Semantics
Misfits - Walk Among Us
Chronic Sick - Cutest Band In Hardcore
Detention - S/T LP
What’s next for Direct Order '82? How much time commitment can you dedicate to it?
Shows! Lots of shows. Also, recording the LP. We’re willing to commit as much time as we can to it. We have realistic expectations that we have lives and work, but want to do as much as possible.
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Direct Order '82 on social media: Instagram
Tagged: direct order '82, ensign
