#147 Joe Kiser (Slap Of Reality)

The Story of Joe Kiser: Slap Of Reality, Tampa Scene, Touring and More

In this episode of the Florida Sound Archive, we're joined by Joe Kiser to trace his musical journey from growing up in Tampa's Clair-Mel neighborhood to becoming a longtime fixture of Tampa, Florida's punk, hardcore, and alternative music scene. Joe talks about being raised in a musical family, discovering rock and metal through bands like AC/DC, KISS, Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden, and later finding punk and hardcore through local radio, record stores, and bands such as DRI, Bad Brains, and Dead Kennedys.

Joe discusses meeting Rob Sexton in high school and how their friendship led to the formation of Slap of Reality. He shares memories of learning to play together, recording early demos, and building the band into one of Tampa's notable melodic hardcore acts. He also reflects on Rob's recent passing and their decades-long friendship.

The episode covers Tampa's music scene during the 1980s and 1990s, including venues such as the Sunset Club, Empty Keg, Generic Club, Masquerade, Tampa Armory, and many others. Joe recalls attending shows throughout Florida, traveling to places like Gainesville, Orlando, Melbourne, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Pensacola, and describes how interconnected Florida's punk and hardcore communities were during that era.

Joe walks through the history of Slap of Reality, including the band's recordings, tours, record labels, and experiences on the road. He discusses the band's discography, along with stories about recording sessions, touring across the United States, and sharing stages with numerous bands.

Beyond Slap of Reality, Joe talks about several other projects he has been involved with, including Balance, Paineater, Milk and Cookies, Murder-Suicide Pact, Closure, which became The Sophomore Effort, No Fraud, The Path, and Defrauded. He shares stories about touring Europe and Brazil, recording with different bands, and continuing to pursue new creative outlets rather than focusing solely on music from the past.

Joe also discusses the musicians, labels, and bands that influenced him, including Dag Nasty, Government Issue, Moving Targets, Bob Mould, and Brian Baker. He explains how those influences shaped his guitar playing and songwriting while emphasizing that the DIY mindset of punk has remained a constant throughout his career.