fifteen
I first heard Fifteen on vinyl at my dear friend Louis’ house. I was 13 years old. Over a decade later, they are still my favorite band. They have had the single biggest influence on my life by anyone besides my family - I am who I am and I do what I do because of Fifteen. Jeff Ott’s lyrics and speeches have opened my eyes to and shaped my views on issues surrounding homelessness, drug abuse, sexual abuse, politics, rent control, racial injustice, discrimination, police brutality, and the importance of being there for one’s family. The most significant seed his songs planted in my mind was a green one: respect and care for the environment. The song Petroleum Distillation is what made me want to become an environmentalist.
Fifteen, sometimes written as XV, was started in 1991 by guitarist, lead singer, activist, and revolutionary Jeff Ott after his former band, Crimpshrine, dissolved. Fifteen broke up and got back together a handful of times before ending things for good in 2000. Jeff had a mostly acoustic solo career for a while, but decided to leave it behind to focus on nursing school and his family. Not much information is cataloged online about Jeff’s life, although his candid prose-style lyrics give glimpses into his beginnings, struggles, and current life. I am grateful that someone was willing to share his whole life story with me and the rest of the world, so that we may learn from his mistakes.
Anyone familiar with Fifteen can see a clear progression throughout the band’s discography from questioning social phenomena and earnest love songs with a grunting voice and harsh chords to a bolder no-nonsense lyrical style and a much more polished sound. Yet, I must confess: I’m not the hugest fan of Fifteen’s music. There are plenty of other bands and musicians that are more interesting to me from a purely musical perspective, and I grew out of my punk stage years ago. What keeps me listening to Fifteen is Jeff Ott’s message. He has become my guru.
Days after my sixteenth birthday, Louis and I and some friends drove down to Austin to see Fifteen play at Emo’s. It was amazing. We asked for a picture, he took the camera from my hand and held it up high, his long arm snapping our picture from above. I still secretly laugh when I see that picture, because everyone else got cut off except for me and Jeff (and Louis’ chin).
This catalog of Fifteen albums and songs is a work in progress, but I’ll start by critiquing some of my favorite and most inspirational songs.
1992 - Swain’s First Bike Ride
1993 - The Choice of a New Generation
1996 - Buzz
1996 - There’s No Place Like Home
1996 - Ooze
1998 - Extra Medium Kick Ball Star (17)
1999 - Allegra
1999 - Lucky
2000 - Hush
2000 - Survivor new lyrics!