I’ve only made about four or five friends in the Bay Area since moving here from Pittsburgh, PA a few months ago, and Jose Reyes is one of them. I’d seen pictures of this early-twenty-something Hispanic guy prior to our meeting, and my first impression was that this guy must be a snotty little hipper-than-thou punk brat. You know–one of those guys you love to hate, yet something inside of you secretly envies his youth, his full head of hair, his ability to be seemingly able to pull off any look with ease.
Then I met Jose and found that he is undeniably hip, undeniably youthful, and he undeniably possesses the kind of long, pin-straight, silken hair that women would kill for. But it also turns out that Jose–or Kid Jeffrey Lee Congo Pierce-Powers, as I’ve affectionately nicknamed him–is a harmless pup with a good, warm heart beating in his chest. We share a love of many bands and an affinity for turquoise jewelry. I am happy then, that Jose–with idiosyncrasies in full effect–was willing to step into the Men’s Style Spotlight.
Describe your style in your own words.
The tribe.
What kinds of things influence your style? I’d say you have quite an LA glam/punk kind of look. Did the time you lived in LA have a big effect on you?
Haha. The LA glam scene is kinda of a joke, but thanks. I can’t say LA influenced me a lot because a lot of the kids are into hair-metal and always hangout at the Rainbow or Whiskey. It made me not want to be like them, so I guess it didn’t have any affect on my style. As for music, I’d say a lot has attributed to my style, from bands like the Gun Club, the Joneses, the Dogs D’Amour, Hanoi Rocks, to more simple tastes like Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry, Little Richard.
Do you have any style icons?
Jeffrey Lee Pierce [of the Gun Club] and, ummm, Andy McCoy [of Hanoi Rocks].
There is often a social stigma placed on highly stylish men by ‘normal’ society that we must be weak, effeminate, or even homosexual. Have you run into this problem having long hair and dressing the way you do? If so, how have you dealt with or responded to this?
Hahaha, yeah many dudes yelling “fag!” I just ignore it until it gets serious, then I’m knockin’ heads. Just because I got style, have long hair, and wear jewelry don’t mean I can’t defend myself.
How do you find the things you wear? Do you shop mostly second-hand, for example?
Thrift stores, vintage stores, friends, friends of friends. Sometimes stealing came in to play, but that’s more how I was a few years ago.
Besides looking cool, what else is it that you do? Do you have any sort of fashion–or otherwise artistic–aspirations? You might have a promising future in a Gun Club cover band, ya know.
Playing music would be nice. [My past usage of] heroin blocked a lot of me wanting to do anything positive, so I’d say these days I would pick up the bass and jam with some cool cats. I’d say you and me have a good chance of starting up a Gun Club-sounding band. Or maybe I could so some modeling, but I doubt I’m good lookin’/skinny enough.
Speaking of Gun Club, can you make a list of your top five or so favorite bands?
The Gun Club
Sick Pleasure
Dogs D’Amour
The Joneses
198x
Do you pay attention to any fashion/style media to collect ideas?
Not really.
When did you start paying close attention to how you look? Has this current version of Jose been a long, slow evolution process, or have you gone through your share of fly-by-night fashion phases?
Maybe when I was, like, 11, I got into thug style. Haha. But yeah, that’s like the only over-night change. At 14, I was into punk and hardcore. At 16, I got into more old-school rock-n-roll, and I just slowly progressed, never making an over-night change. I hate that poser kids in LA will go clubbing all ghetto scene, then the next week they’re metal Motley Crue wannabes.
Do you have any final words, advice, philosophy, etc. you’d like to share?
What’s that smell? Smells like punk.
…And I imagine that smells a little something like B.O., hairspray, and spite all wrapped up and conveniently packaged in a studded leather jacket. Thanks, for the interview, Jose!
