AMP Magazine Interviews

Guest Blogger: HEIDI MINX of Builtonrespect.com!

2009-07-09T19:24:09-05:00

AMP Says: Monthly Music Recommendation for July & August 2009

2009-07-01T23:08:16-05:00

• Bash any bands/talk trash: This is not a place to say how much a certain band, person, music genre sucks. Just stick to voting please.

• Self Promoting: Okay so we always support hardworking bands, especially independant bands who self promote! However, we would appreciate it, if you guys just talked about the listed bands in blog comments. If you just have to promote your band, there is a place for you on our Forums page! If you would like your band to be featured in AMP SAYS, send us a message on myspace!

• Scroll Comments or Votes: Feel free to say what you have to say, just don’t repeat yourself over and over. It’s annoying and no one likes it!

General FYI:

RIYL stands for Rocks If You Like

July / August 2009 RIYL: All Bets Off, Ramparts, Refused Read more...	RIYL: Boucing Souls,Rancid, Bad Religion Read more...
RIYL: Sky Eats Airplace, I See Stars, All Time Low Read more...	RIYL: David Usher, Our Lady Peace, The Dears Read more...
RIYL: For Today, War of Ages A Plea For Purging Read more...	RIYL: Cartel, The Starting Line, Cute Is What We Aim For Read more...
\ RIYL: The Soviettes, Against Me!, Banner Pilot Read more...	RIYL: Forever The Sickest Kids, Mayday Parade, Boys like girls Read more...

Let Me Run

2009-06-11T22:14:06-05:00

You guys have quite a throwback sound in a world that seems to desperately need it. A lot of younger bands these days seemed to have glazed right over the SAMIAM, JAWBREAKER, PEGBOY classes in school. How old are you guys, what are some of your favorite bands, and what has influenced you musically?

(Travis) We are all in our twenties. I’m 27. Louis is 24. Trevor is 24, and Corey is 21. My overall favorite bands and musicians include Hot Water Music, Springsteen of course, and I’ve been really big on Jets to Brazil over the last few months. Aside from these artists, I think my overall influence would be day to day stuff. We are getting help from and meeting some awesome people right now, and that is a huge push. It’s very positive.

(Louis) I personally am a big fan of bands like the DESCENDENTS, FUGAZI, WESTON and a million others. We’ve all been influenced by many great bands and all come from fairly diverse musical backgrounds.

Do you find being from Jersey that more of history has been kept in your face, with inescapable bands like THE BOUNCING SOULS being from your hood, and being surrounded by historied cities and scenes such as Richmond, VA and Boston in your backyard?

(Corey) I know Boston has a big hardcore scene, and Richmond has an awesome punk scene. New Brunswick really has a lot of diversity, but it’s a really tight-knit community for the most part. Everyone helps out everyone else in any way they can. I think that’s a big part of the New Brunswick scene history. New Jersey is definitely a tough place to break out of musically because there’s so many bands here that it’s hard to stand out sometimes. It’s almost like, if you can make it in Jersey you have a good shot of doing well out of state. Bands like the Bouncing Souls have really proven this years ago, and 20 years later they’re still killin’ it!

(Travis) Being from NJ has really been a blessing for us. New Brunswick and Somerset, in general, are home. It’s amazing to think that so many great things have occurred in and around that area. Music and historical events. The last time we played in Richmond, our friend Chris actually took us by the Confederate Whitehouse. Pretty Crazy. I remember us all kind of laughing at how shotty it looked. In comparison to the REAL Whitehouse. I think the next time we are there, we are actually going to do more site seeing. There is a giant statue of Stonewall Jackson on a horse in the middle of town. That is pretty much awesome.

Sorry, I’ll get away from your sound for a second. I was just really taken back by how great it was to hear such authentic sounds coming through my speakers Let¹s talk new album. You guys had previously released a self-titled EP, and this is your debut full-length. How long have you guys been working on these songs? How have they evolved over time?

(Travis) Well, the eleven songs on "Meet Me at the Bottom" are the first eleven songs we wrote. Three of them were demoed out in October of 2007 and we used that primarily to get onto shows, give away, and party with rock and roll elites. We wrote all of the songs in a period of about six months and then made some changes here and there during pre-production.

(Louis) Yeah 3 of the songs were written in August/September that we demoed with Nick Rotunda at Clay Creek Studios, actually on my birthday of that year. It was done on a really small budget, paid for by us. We took all three songs to the full length and were writing up until we actually laid down the tracks in the studio a few months later.

How did you guys hook up with XOXO Records?

(Travis) Jay of XOXO got our demo from us at one of the Hot Water Music reunion shows last year and came out to see us a few times. We went to a chain restaurant, talked, and later, we signed contracts at a diner. Our signing bonus was a case of Golden Anniversary Beer bought from the HUB in New Brunswick, which is one of the finer establishments in town.

Where, and who with did you record "Meet Me At The Bottom", and how was that experience?

(Travis) We recorded the record in Freehold, NJ with Josh Jakubowski at Canon Road. A proper summary of the experience would be "oof". Everything that could have went wrong, went wrong. This includes spinal injuries, spider bites, hard drives crashing, coffee spilling into amps, our drummer quitting - which was actually not bad at all, a botched mastering job, and a shortage of taquitos at 7-11. Everything else was pretty good. Josh pushed us and made us a better band. He had me lay down on the floor and sing a few times. When things went really well, he would throw some piece of studio equipment on the floor. Joe from Exeter Recording Studios also worked on the album as well. We drank so much fucking coffee.

(Louis) Travis pretty much said it all, we were swamped with problems and trying to basically play shows and practice five days a week while making the record, as our band was still very new and we needed the exposure. There was a lot of trying times as most of the problems we faced were outside of the band’s control, but we all made it through and probably for the better.

(Trevor) When I joined the band and made my first trip to the studio, everything seemed to be going fine. Aside from the serious medical issues Louis was having, I thought everything was going quite smoothly. Oh yeah, and the infamous "coffee in the orange amp" situation that I got an earful about. It just seemed to snowball from there, though. Like Travis said about hard drive crashes and botched mastering. It just seemed that some people’s heart fell out of the project at a time that we really needed all the support we could get making the album. The songs on the album are amazing. I have a cool standpoint as being a fan of the band, then joining it.

You guys seem to have a 50 or so date assault on the East Coast coming up. Do you guys tour a lot, or are you planning to this year? Anything in the works so far?

(Travis) Yeah, we are going out full-time in March. I quit my job as a teacher, and the other guys left are leaving many opportunities behind as well to venture out. We start off with a six week trek throughout the Midwest and South East. I think we are in Florida for six days, which is awesome. We’d go to Disney World, but it costs money. We will be getting home right before Easter and then heading out on a two week tour of the North East with our friends Sakes Alive. After that, we will be doing 3 weeks in May and most of June out to the West Coast. If you want us to come to your town, please shoot us an email and let us stay at your house.

How is the scene in New Jersey, and do you find the kids being open minded to new bands, or just ol’ fav’s and touring bigger bands? Do you think bands like Static Radio and Gaslight have helped rejuvenate the scene out there?

(Louis) Gaslight Anthem and Static Radio are two very important bands in my opinion. The New Brunswick as a scene has always been an incredible place for music, but the fact that both of the bands are venturing out and connecting with so many people outside of new Jersey is amazing. Both bands represent an important heart and soul that I feel is missing from a lot of scenes these days, and it’s great for fans to see this first hand at a show.

(Trevor) I really like both of those bands that you just mentioned as people and as musicians, and I mean no offense when I say it’s not just them that have rejuvenated the scene. Every band that starts up around here contributes somewhat. Every band wants people at their shows. Everyone has a different take on music, and its really cool hearing what all our friends have to offer. The range is vast around here.

(Travis) For the most part, kids have been really receptive to us, which is awesome. Unfortunatly, kids booking shows in New Brunswick have run into some problems in the last month or so. Apparently cops have been trolling message boards and breaking up shows as well as ticketing those that live in the houses. Its kind of funny though, we got a message in our inbox the other day from someone saying, "Please delete HUB-CITY PUNK from your myspace friends. We have reason to believe that the account is a front for police officers trying to disrupt basement shows from happening." Thats really kind of a sad sad sad undercover task force. hahah. What do you do? Go home and say, "Honey! I broke up two shows today!!!"

Smoothie and a diary, or a beer and beards?

(Corey) Beerds.

(Louis) Beer and Beards all the way. No blogging allowed.

(Travis) A Beer Smoothie, while reading the diary of Stonewall Jackson.

(Trevor) I cannot grow a beard. But I like beer.

What 5 bands would you recommend people checking out that have really turned your head lately?

(Louis) Scream Hello, The Revelling, Sakes Alive, The Riot Before, Fake Problems

(Travis) Minnesota’s Calling, We’re all Broken, Sakes Alive, The Menzingers, Bruce Springsteen

(Trevor) Definitely Minesota’s Calling, Scream Hello, PJ Bond. Torchbearer. And also go back in time. There’s so much shit out there that a lot of kids have skipped. Like, what influences did your favorite band My Chemical Romance have? Check that out and maybe you’ll appreciate it more.

(Corey) Warship.

Any last words?

(Louis) We are gonna be on tour forever, Come hang when we are in your town!

(Travis) www.myspace.com/babyletmerun

party, party...party

(Trevor) Travis leaves parties way to early nowadays to say "party party party"

(Corey) Thank you to anyone who has given us a chance.

www.myspace.com/babyletmerun

www.xoxorecords.com

Let Me Run’s new Record can be purchased at Punkrockmusic.com, Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and most other stores.

M Ward Interview

2009-06-03T20:17:32-05:00

On February 17th, 2009, Portland-based folk star M. Ward debuted his latest record Hold Time to the world. Ward, known for his signature, peaceful baritone voice and finesse in finger picking on acoustic guitar, has been a fixture in the world of folk music for the past ten years, and caries such big name fans like Conor Oberst, Jenny Lewis, and his SHE AND HIM side-project-partner-in-crime Zooey Deschanel. Recently, M. Ward sat down with AMP to discuss his new record, the modern day musical world, and the return of his other super group THE MONSTERS OF FOLK.

How did the acoustic guitar become the voice for your music?

The acoustic guitar was the first guitar I learned how to play on; it was a really cheap acoustic with terrible action, and I played that guitar for years before I ended up buying an electric guitar. I made my first four-track tape on acoustic, so I think had a big part of the appeal for me; it’s how I learned how to play.

Did you play any instruments prior to the acoustic guitar?

I played piano for a couple weeks, but guitar was my first instrument.

What music influences you?

There are so many things [in modern music], but I get a lot of my inspiration from older records; there’s a lot records being made these days that I appreciate. There’s a lot of guitarists that I think are great, that are still around; I think Nick Zinner from the YEAH YEAH YEAHS is an incredible guitarist and I like Jack white, also.

Your latest record Hold Time has a scratchy, vinyl record-like quality to it; how do you achieve such a sound?

We use all analog gear, and that’s a big part of it. We don’t use digital equipment in it at all, and that’s the biggest reason [for the sound].

What does it feel to be compared to have your music compared to icons in the music world like Tom Waits?

I don’t really care much about the comparisons; I think people naturally want to compare [music] to [other music] to help someone else understand it, and I do the same thing. It doesn’t matter to me who or what they compare [my music] to.

What did you do differently with Hold Time than on the last M.Ward record Post War?

I wanted to try a new balance on this record, on the production side of things; a lot of bigger sounds and a lot of smaller sounds. [I wanted to] just create a new balance between different production styles.

How would you describe the overall feel of Hold Time?

I don’t know; I think, in general, all my records kind of sound pretty much similar.

How do you feel about today’s folk scene?

There are just so many great singers and artists out there, but I think I get most of inspiration from older record; I don’t listen to a lot of things that are on the [music] charts, these days.

What are your thoughts on the recent rise in interest and in sales of vinyl records?

I think that [the rise of vinyl interest] is a good trend, and I think it’s going to continue to come and go, like that. I think it’s a good trend for people to care about sound quality.

Are you a vinyl connoisseur?

I have a bit of vinyl; I don’t really have a huge collection, but I have a solid collection.

Are there any gems in your vinyl collection that you’re proud of?

I have all of Elizabeth Cotton’s stuff on vinyl, and I’m pretty proud of that.

What else is next for you, in terms of Hold Time?

The promotion of this record will take the most time; doing interviews, playing shows, making set lists, and stuff like that.

Any plans to revive the Conor Orberst/Jim James/M.Ward super group THE MONSTERS OF FOLK?

Yeah, we’re working a little bit together this year; it’s difficult to get all four of us in the same room because of the different schedules, but I love that project. I imagine that record will be out in 2010.

Envy On The Coast

2009-06-03T16:49:58-05:00

Born on the shores of Long Island, Envy on the Coast came together in 2006 with, in their own words, “a swiss-army rock aesthetic, boundless ambitions, and hearts big enough to fit each of their growing swell of fans.” Following their self-titled debut EP, they hit the road, touring with bands like 30 Seconds to Mars and Angels & Airwaves. The road was good to them, but they retreated to a wintry existence in cold cabins in a desolate, isolated outpost in Windham, New York, where they were inspired to write their first full-length, “Lucy Gray."

Living out of a van supporting the new record, the guys from L.I. hooked up with Taking Back Sunday, finishing up the year in grand style with high expectations for this current tour that concludes back home in the Empire State. I caught up with them in the van the day of their first show. Vocalist Ryan Hunter was gracious enough to share a few minutes about the approaching days on the road.

First, how are you guys doing and how has the past year been?

We’re anxious and itching to play at this current point in time. I’m currently sitting in our van, parked outside of the venue in Corpus Christi, Texas. It’s a 32 hour-drive from Long Island to Corpus Christi, so we developed a decent case of cabin fever these past few days. We’re just itching to play and shake all the insanity out of us. As for our past year, it’s been great. “Lucy” took us to countries we’d never thought we’d visit and it’s been a grueling but rewarding year.

How did the tour with Taking Back Sunday come about? When did it start and how has it been going thus far?

The tour with Taking Back Sunday came straight from the source. Adam heard our record and dug it. He came up and jammed with us at a show back in New York a couple of months ago, and Eddie came down to hang as well. Eddie pulled me aside backstage following the show and told me that the next tour they did, they wanted us on it. I can’t really tell you how it’s been going yet, because we have yet to play a show. Taking Back Sunday is inside soundchecking and they sound really good, so I can give you that much.

Are those guys pretty cool?

They’re solid dudes, great players, and they’re passionate about what they do. I was 13 years old when I saw that band play for the first time, and it’s nice to see that 8 years later, they’re still killing it and enjoying themselves. That’s what it’s all about.

Talk about “Lucy Gray.” What’s the response been like?

The response to “Lucy” was great. I don’t know how to answer that question specifically, since it is fairly vague. There’s a ton of people with tattoos dedicated to Lucy and people are still coming out to shows and singing along, so that would be my best way to describe the response. Lucy was good to us. She’s a sweetheart.

You guys are from Long Island? How did the band start and what inspired you guys to form “Envy on the Coast?” And where did the name come from?

The name came from an old song title of ours. We used to go by “Writ in Water,” which holds a shit ton of meaning to me, but confuses the hell out of people due to the antiquated language. As for the band coming into fruition, it’s a fairly complicated story. The most simplified way to put it is that all 5 of us are kids who grew up making noise in Long Island bands, and when everyone went away to school or experimented with new endeavors, we stuck around and decided we wanted to be musicians. We were fortunate enough to find each

other in that decision.

Now that gas prices have come back to relatively normal, has touring and being on the road gotten easier?

We filled up for $27 earlier today. The last time we were in a van, it cost us $120. That’s just fucking ridiculous and I hope things stay this way. However, we all know this economy fluctuates at an incredible rate. We chose to live out of this van and although it smells and I miss New York from time to time, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The tour winds down in New York at the end of the year. Will you guys be taking a break at its conclusion?

We’re done with this tour on December 20th. At that point, we’ll relax for the holidays with our families. Following all the Christmas gifts and good home cooked meals, we’ll head out on a small holiday tour that we do every year, and following that we’ll be returning home to continue writing our new record.

What does the New Year hold for you guys?

We’ll be continuing writing the new record until April. Assuming inspiration crawls into all of our beds at night and keeps us warm during the months of January, February, and March, we’ll record our record in April.

Lastly, why should folks come check you out?

Both bands on the tour are from New York. I need to sell you on that shit? Come on now.

Frank Turner

2009-06-02T19:08:11-05:00

It’s been about four years since Frank Turner turned down the amps and picked up an acoustic guitar, but he is still every bit a punk rocker at heart.

His latest effort, Love Ire & Song is a brilliant collection of angst, rebellion, hope and acceptance. More than a dozen tracks drawing influences as disparate as BAD RELIGION and Bob Dylan. A member of the former hardcore group MILLION DEAD, Turner has moved to a folksier sound with his solo releases.

The punk rock indie stalwart Epitaph recently signed Turner and has agreed to release Love Ire & Song in the U.S. Meanwhile, his earlier album, Campfire Punkrock, is finally getting a vinyl release from Good Friends Records.

Turner spoke with AMP recently about his new life as a folk rocker, the appeal of American crowds and politely apologized for being a “prick tease.”

It’s been a few years since you left MILLION DEAD. Do you ever miss playing louder punk rock?

Yeah, there are days when I miss it, particularly the physicality of the shows. The problem is though that hardcore is the easiest style of music to play badly - so many bands do. If the heart isn’t in it, you can tell straight away and it’s fucking terrible. When I was 19 years old or whatever I had the fire and the right kind of anger to sustain playing in that kind of band and touring all year round. These days, not so much, and the last thing I’d want to do is to give the world more bad hardcore. There’s already so much of it (ha, ha). These days I get to tour with a backing band in the UK, and that kinda covers all bases for me now.

When the band broke up, did you know all along you wanted to start playing more acoustic/folk songs?

I started doing this pretty much straight away. We did a farewell tour, so I’d had a little time to think about it. I can’t say I was sure I’d be doing it long-term though. I think part of me thought it was a stop-gap thing to do while I figured out my shit. It so happened that I’d stumbled across my niche in life, so I’m still here now, which is lucky!

What can you tell me about the follow up record to Love Ire & Song?

I’m working on it right now. The previous records I’ve done have been very meticulous processes- me playing most of the instruments, laying things down track by track and so on. This time round I’m hitting the studio (in May) with my band and we’re going to record as live as possible, try to get a more raw, earthy sound. We’re working with Alex Newport, which is going to be great. Right now we’re rehearsing like machines, going through the songs over and over until they’re note-perfect. Actually I think my band hates me now a little bit (laughs). I’m a bit of a slave driver sometimes. The record’s called Poetry Of The Deed and it’ll be out in September.

Who will be releasing the new CD in the U.S.?

I’m literally days away from signing a deal with an amazing label for worldwide distribution, but I can’t say who right now, sorry! But yeah, my, um, operation in the States is going to really step up a level later this year, and I’m really excited about that. (Editor’s Note: A few days after the interview, it was announced that Frank Turner had signed with Epitaph Records).

Do you find it harder playing as a solo musician vs. being in a band? Is there more pressure knowing it’s your name out front?

I’d characterize it by saying that everything’s more extreme. When things go badly, then it’s worse, but when they go well, it’s better - I take the credit (laughs). Right now, having the regular backing band that I play with, I get a really great balance of both worlds, and I’m really happy with that set up.

How have the tours with GASLIGHT ANTHEM and ANTI-FLAG been going?

The GASLIGHT tour was an absolute pleasure - those guys are a fucking great band and a really nice bunch of chaps, too. We had a blast, and hopefully we’ll be on the road together again soon, I miss ‘em. The ANTI-FLAG shows actually didn’t happen. Justin broke his collar bone at a show in the UK just before we were due to go to Russia, so the trip got cancelled, which was a bummer. I have a show with them in Zurich coming up though, so we’ll get to meet and hang out, which I’m looking forward to.

Is there a difference to the audiences in the U.S. vs. Europe?

Being English gives you something of a head start in the U.S. with audiences - you guys are Anglophiles, on the whole. That’s nothing to complain about, it makes my job a little easier! I’d definitely say the U.S. is my favorite place to tour outside the UK, and objectively I think American audiences are really great, but at the end of the day I’m an Englishman through and through, and it’s always a blast playing to a home crowd.

You’re touring with the OFFSPRING later this year? Ever toured with them before? Do you know what to expect?

That tour is kind of keeping me awake at night right now. It was a direct request from the band, which is hugely flattering. I grew up listening to those guys, and just to meet them would be great. The tour is going to rule. It’s going to help me out in the States a lot I think and I’m really excited to be on it. But it’s a BIG tour! Like, many thousands of people a night, and I’m not stereotypically punk. Essentially I think I’m going to have to prove myself each night, and while I’m confident and like a challenge, this is, uh, a big one.

Campfire Punkrock is being released on vinyl in the U.S. - any plans for other re-releases in the U.S.?

Yeah we’re working on some ideas. Actually, a lot depends on this deal I’m about to do which I can’t talk about. Sorry to be such a prick tease.

The Ataris

2009-06-02T18:41:38-05:00

For the last year, much of the news coming from THE ATARIS pertained to acoustic tours and talk of a new record. Kris Roe embarked on a series of solo acoustic tours, which spanned multiple continents to play some older material. When he came back, a renewed vitality in THE ATARIS was born. The new ATARIS album is set to be released this summer, and leading up to that, the band is playing some dates including Bamboozle and the Vans Warped Tour this summer. Bassist Bryan Nelson and guitarist Chris Swinney took some time out of recording to talk with us about what to expect in the months to come.

What have you guys been up to lately?

CHRIS: We are in Indiana right now, and the weather is horrible. We’ve been doing a lot of press and promo for our South African tour we have coming up after Bamboozle. Other than that, we’ve been pretty much just finishing up the album. Kris is finishing up recording the vocals right now. He just got back from Australia; he did an acoustic four-show tour there.

BRYAN: A lot of the time we’ve been practicing too.

CHRIS: Yeah, lots of practice. We are doing a MISFITS set at Bamboozle, and that’s been pretty much taking up all our time trying to get those songs down.

Why did you guys specifically choose the MISFITS for Hoodwink [Day 1 of Bamboozle], and what era of MISFITS should we expect to hear stuff from?

BRYAN: We did MISFITS because the DESCENDENTS songs were too hard to play. (laughs)

CHRIS: Yeah, we wanted to do the DESCENDENTS, but man, we just didn’t have enough time. MISFITS were our fall-back plan so we went with them. We pretty much are doing all Danzig MISFITS era, not anything after that.

Bamboozle is just around the corner. With all the bands playing, are there any in particular you’re excited to see?

CHRIS: We’re really psyched to see NO DOUBT because they haven’t played in so long. We’re really excited to see SUM 41 again ‘cause it’s been a while.

BRYAN: And FACE TO FACE.

CHRIS: Yeah, FACE TO FACE. We’re crazy excited about that. THE GET UP KIDS reunion will be great too. I’ve never seen them live so this will be my first time seeing them.

BRYAN: I saw Matt Pryor play a couple months ago with Dustin from THRICE, Chris Conley, and Anthony from BAYSIDE.

CHRIS: I’m stoked to see BAYSIDE too. I really like them.

After Bamboozle, you’re heading to South Africa. How did that tour come about? Do you guys have friends over there who helped set it up?

BRYAN: We had been talking about wanting to go to South Africa for like the last month before it was scheduled. (laughs)

CHRIS: Yeah, we watched NOFX’s Backstage Passport from South Africa, and it looked pretty cool. We talked to some guys who have toured there…. Henry Rollins said it was awesome. UNDEROATH went there and had a good time. We had some friends at Johannesburg talk to us about getting the shows together.

We have some dates in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, and New York leading up to Bamboozle, Florida and Texas too. Then we have Warped Tour, and after that, we go to South America for a month. Hopefully after that, we get a package deal to do some more touring. We thought about doing a US tour after Warped, but we didn’t want to be touring at the same time as Warped Tour and having to compete with that.

Kris mentioned recently that you re-recorded ‘Fast Times at Drop-Out High’ for the new album. Does that mean the album will have an older End Is Forever feel to it?

CHRIS: We’re definitely progressing forward from the last album, but with a flare of the old ATARIS style to it. Kris fell back in love with a lot of the old songs on his acoustic tour that he was doing. He shied away from that stuff a lot, but after playing them on the solo tour, he fell in love with them again. We are a bunch of punk and metal guys so naturally the stuff we wrote for the new album had an old ATARIS sound to them. I feel like a lot of doubters of THE ATARIS are going to love this album. It’s very reminiscent of Blue Skies and So Long Astoria.

BRYAN: Especially lyrically, the album is a lot like So Long Astoria with the subjects of memories and reflection.

CHRIS: I think the skeptics and the lovers will both really dig it. The lyrics make for a really fun rock album.

With the record industry tanking (as well as our country’s economy), have you guys thought about self-releasing your album or following PENNYWISE’s footsteps of pairing up with an organization like Myspace to offer it online?

CHRIS: We are thinking about a certain record label for the album. We are in talks with several agents, figuring out where to put the new CD. The idea of putting the album out DIY was enticing, but I’d be worried about us having enough push to get the ads and promotional support out that would be enough for it. Perhaps we can do a vinyl with a digital download or something like that. Bands are doing pretty well, but the record labels definitely need to figure out some other way to get albums out better. But anyway, we are looking at some decent-sized labels. I’m hoping we can do a couple good tours and get a good single out there or something.

Chris, you were on Warped Tour back six years ago with one of your old bands, and THE ATARIS were main-stage on that tour. Is it surreal to go from being in one of the bands that played with THE ATARIS to actually being a full-time contributing member to the band?

CHRIS: Surreal is a good way to say it. I’ve been in a lot of different bands, and I have toured on the Vans Warped Tour four or five times now either as a band or a roadie. Our band THE WIDOW JENKINS was in talks with Victory Records and had just booked a big showcase when our singer quit. It kinda worked full-circle for the best though. The old members of THE ATARIS had started a side-project in New York together and left THE ATARIS to pursue that. Kris contacted us about getting old friends together from Indiana and play as an actual band instead of like a Kris Roe-show or something. It worked out very naturally. We had our first show as a full band to 3000 people in Las Vegas. They had us in a hotel, and we had a really good time there. Then I realized “Oh man, we have to play tomorrow.”

BRYAN: We had minimal problems…. Other than technical difficulties with the bass.

CHRIS: Yeah, we borrowed gear from CAROLINA LIAR, who opened the show, because we flew in for the show. We had a bunch of technical difficulties, and it was tuned up high in a country-style sound. (laughs)

Have you talked to Kris much about his recent experience with airplanes being struck by lightning this weekend?

CHRIS: He called before the flight saying he was stuck in the airport in Melbourne with his tour guide because flights were getting delayed by this storm. Then he goes onto this plane, and the thing gets hit by lighting! People were going crazy, thinking they were going to die and stuff. He calls me at like 3 in the morning after they landed and was like, “I just went through the most crazy experience. I miss you guys and love you guys and will see you soon.” (laughs) That’s pretty nuts because Kris has been on like 150 flights, and ten minutes before this flight, he called me, and then immediately when he lands, he calls saying how he loves and misses us. What a crazy thing.

You two have a recording studio together, right?

BRYAN: And we are sitting in it right now! (laughs) It’s called The Gallows.

Aside from your own material, who have you been recording?

CHRIS: We just finished recording a full length for the band CRUSOE. We also just recorded Zephyr and Dreams of University. I teach guitar when I’m home, and Bryan does a lot of the recording. He’s like the head recording guy. We also started recording Chopper (old bassist of EMERY who was also in our band THE WIDOW JENKINS) [Joel Green]’s new solo full-length album. We played some stuff on the record as well. It’s like a bluesy, country type sound.

What do you guys do aside from recording and hanging out with friends and family?

CHRIS: Friends, family, and recording is a good chunk of our time. I watch a lot of TV. Bryan works out a lot.

BRYAN: I work like constantly.

CHRIS: I watch a lot of Ghost Hunters. We’re very much into that paranormal type shit, like ghosts and stuff. We also read a lot. We’re a pretty lame group of guys. (laughs)

Last question to wrap things up: You guys are getting an opportunity to see a lot of the world. What are you looking forward to seeing outside the US?

CHRIS: Africa is going to be especially crazy. We’re planning on swimming with sharks at some point. Our friends over there wants to take us to some beach to see penguins.

BRYAN: We also really want to go to Iceland.

CHRIS: Yeah, we’ve been in talks about going over to Iceland soon. It doesn’t seem like many bands get to go there-

BRYAN: Well, other than Norwegian metal bands. We’re looking at getting over there after the summer hopefully.

CHRIS: We want to definitely see Machu Picchu in South America. We are going to Japan in October for a bit, which will be awesome.

BRYAN: Pretty much going to all these places is awesome.

CHRIS: After a couple weeks of touring, we’ll be in tour-mode and having as much fun as possible. We love playing shows. We’re also looking into possibly coming to Boston around the 26th or 27th of April. We have a friend who owns a tattoo parlor there, and we’re talking with him about doing a show at the Middle East Club. Oh, and we’re possibly doing a weekend in Hawaii and another weekend in Alaska after Warped Tour.

BRYAN: We’re looking at going to Puerto Rico, too.

CHRIS: Maybe Cuba.

BRYAN: I’m not sure if we’re allowed to go there (laughs)

CHRIS: Oh, and we want to get over to China in October as well. Lots of tours coming up!

Thank you to Chris and Bryan for taking time out of recording to talk with us. You can catch all the info on the latest tour schedule of THE ATARIS and news on their new album at www.myspace.com/theataris.

The Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band

2009-06-02T18:22:25-05:00

I’ve been a pretty big fan of THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND for about a year now and I still find that all three of their albums are in rotation in my stereo at least weekly (I looped all three while I did dishes at work tonight as a matter of fact). I guess you could say that steady of a rotation, the band must be in my top favorites, and you would be right. I’ve written before that THE BIG DAMN BAND are a continuation (not to be confused with imitation) of a long standing tradition of Blues players. And that complete honesty, you could say, is one of the key things that I love about the band.

In talking with Rev over the last few months, he has told me about some pretty big news the band has to share: They will be doing their very first headlining European tour this May and June, soon thereafter doing their very first Warped Tour and lined up with that will be their very first 12” LP of their most recent release “The Whole Fam Damnily” (which will be come out on Side1Dummy Records July 23 on orange vinyl… like a persimmon ya’ know?). I had another great opportunity to talk with Rev while he was driving on his way to Lexington, Kentucky. We had a great conversation. He had lot to say, as he is quite excited for the big steps the band is making.

How has the tour in the US been going thus far?

It’s been great man. We were just talking right before you called about how in 2009 (we have two more shows left on this tour and then we have a four day break) we’ll have eventually played every part of the United States in our entire US tour in ’09. Some with the rock band CLUTCH, mostly our own headlining tour and it’s been awesome. I’m just real appreciative because there’s a lot of people, they’re struggling right now and, knock on wood, we can’t complain. Therefore we don’t take one fan for granted, not one show.

I think that I’ve mentioned this before, but that’s one thing that really sets you guys apart to me. You aren’t too cool to hang out with people.

I’m just a guy, you know what I mean? I’m just a guy, that’s all there is to it, just a fella.

So, in a couple of weeks you guys are going for the first time to Europe to do a headlining tour. How did you guys get that set up?

We have a new European booking agency and that was part of it. You know, part of it is the record; people in Europe have been responding huge to it. We’re getting covered by Rolling Stone Germany and the biggest papers and magazines in the UK. It’s been pretty amazing.

You all have actually played Europe before, though, right?

We have yeah. We’ve done mainly festival stuff over there. This will be our first time doing a full on tour with clubs and festivals, in-stores and record stores and the whole deal.

You mentioned how well the record is doing over in Europe. I was wondering if you could elaborate on your opinion on how Blues is received over there? It has been said that Jazz and blues are some of the only uniquely American forms of music (however they do draw heavily from other places). How do you see that that translates in the UK?

Well, it’s like this man: American music from Rock ‘n’ Roll on down there’s a lot of different things that are uniquely American. They’ve evolved from a lot of different styles around the world. The one thing about Europeans is, when we play a lot of places in America, we get a lot of, “Oh, what is this, a kind of Bluegrass?” Reviews say, “You’re too Country too be Blues or too Blues too be Country” or we’re “too this or too that.” But, in Europe hey go, “Oh man, you all play Country Blues.” They get it; they know what Country Blues is. You know electric city Blues never really caught on over there like the rural stuff did.

Has the record actually done better in the UK than it has in the US?

I mean we have sold more of them here, but press-wise, the press over there has been way more aggressive and there’s just been so much more of it.

Are you guys handling the European tour similarly to your US tours in that you leave the supporting acts to the individual clubs?

Yeah all the stuff there will be locals. Yeah, we’re not really bringing any kind of support on this European tour, not this time. It just didn’t make sense for us… Doing a whole big club tour has never really made sense until now. The promoters are excited. It seems like they’re more excited than we are almost. It’s really been heartening and exciting.

In a more isolated sense, how has the reaction been when you all have played shows there in the past?

Well, in my experience, I don’t know about other bands, but from our perspective people over there love American music, they love American culture, they love Americans. They don’t always get our political whatever but as far as our music and movies, they love it. Our music is pretty American when it comes down to it. Over there people they really respond to it. It’s pretty neat to be about as far away from home as you can possibly be and have people be excited about songs about home, you know?

So, when you all get back from Europe you will be playing the Western portion of Warped Tour?

Yeah, we’re doing pretty much all of the West Coast of the Warped Tour. That’s going to be a really, really awesome experience for us, I’m convinced. We’ve done shows with FLOGGING MOLLY and they just raved about how cool the Warped Tour is. So, we landed that. It was just real real super exciting for us. We’re going to be on the Warped Tour Compilation it looks like too.

What song is going to be on that?

“Mama’s Fried Potatoes.”

You guys have a video out for that. Has that been picked up by any cable or online stations?

Yeah, here’s some cool stuff. It’s been picked a lot of different place, but the coolest one in my opinion (I don’t even know how big it is it just sounds so cool) is MTV Latin America has picked it up. Ain’t that wild?! So maybe we will be touring in Latin America. Wouldn’t that be cool? I’d love to play for some of those people down there.

Now looking back at the Warped Tour. That, traditionally is a Punk Rock based festival, branching out now into just more purely alternative music and you all also have down a pretty extensive tour with FLOGGING MOLLY and just recently done a few weeks with CLUTCH, how has the reaction been to THE BIG DAMN BAND with fans of these types of music?

I would say it’s like this: Fans of particularly of Punk rock music, CLUTCH fans are a little more metal oriented, but fans of FLOGGING MOLLY. Now FLOGGING MOLLY isn’t just a straight up punk band. They’re a Celtic rock band that sort of leans to punk, and has roots in punk. They take sort of a traditional style and kick it up. They write songs about their family, [things they know] and are true and from the heart. We’re doing the same thing, playing music that’s true and from the heart, gets people’s blood flowing, their foot stomp. I think it’s just sort of the same thing. Punk rock has always been about that. It’s conscious socially, it’s danceable, it makes you feel something. I think that today too, [even though] I’m always complaining about it, that thanks to the internet a lot of people are exposed to so many different kinds of music. A lot of people, especially younger people, have their eyes more open and they’re more open to accept something different, try something out. I know that Warped Tour fans aren’t going to take any crap from anybody. They are going to want something that’s real and that’s heartfelt and I think that they’re going to give us a fair shake. I have a good feeling about it.

Do you know what stage you are going to be playing?

I think it’s the Kevin Says stage.

Now, I looked at how often you guys have put your records in the past and it’s been about every year to year and a half. Since “The Whole Fam Damnily” came out in the summer of last year, do we have something to look forward to coming from the BIG DAMN BAND in the near future?

Well, I’m always writing songs. I’ve got a bunch of stuff I’ve started, a few things I’ve finished. If things go the way I’m planning, in the fall/winter maybe we’ll go back in the studio again and see how things go for an early release next year. I dunno… I haven’t even talked with Side One or anything yet, about the next record. But, I’m always writing songs. For me it’s like whenever I hear something that strikes me as interesting, funny, something that pisses me off, something that I think about that I really like, just living life, that’s what I try to write songs about. I try not to hold anything back either. I think that the best songs [are the one’s] where people just don’t hold anything back. You just throw it out there and if it sticks with people, great, and if not at least you did something that was for real.

Will you guys be premiering any of those new songs in either Europe or on Warped Tour?

Well, we’ll see. In Europe we’re probably going to push a lot of songs off of The Whole Fam Damnily because it’s still fresh. I might pull out something I’m planning on for the future. Warped Tour, we’ll have to see. It’s hard to say how Europe and the summer will change our set. But for Europe what I’m planning to do is just really push the record. Even though I’m working on new stuff, this record still feels fresh to me. I’m still excited about it and I don’t know if I can say that about previous stuff. Not that I’ve ever disliked our previous records, it’s just usually like, “OK now I’m ready for the next thing.” But something about this record, The Whole Fam Damnily it just feels fresh, still feels brand new to me.

I know that in the past you guys have played to some fairly large audiences but with Warped Tour, you will be consistently be playing in front of a pretty huge crowd. How will that change your live show any if at all?

Well here’s what I always say about: What we try to do, and I mean like 150%, if we play a crowd in front of five people, I try real hard to give them the same show that five thousand people would get. But there’s just something about that big crowd out there that you feed off of, you can’t help it but feel the energy of these people being a part of it and feeling the music; there’s just no way around it. Shows like that are always special. But still, people always say, “Man, that show is huge. That show ought to change your life.” It’s like, man, every show is huge as far as I’m concerned because everyone paid… It’s like this man, if you sell five thousand tickets or five at ten bucks or whatever, each one of those people still paid ten bucks and they should get the same show regardless because to them it’s no different; to them nothings changed because the show doesn’t have five thousand people there. They paid the same ticket price so you have got to give them the same show they paid for regardless. I had a woman at the Greenville, SC show tell me that she was a single mom and she’d been saving up literally for weeks just to come out to the show. Our tickets ain’t expensive but when someone comes out to the show and saves up to buy a T shirt, or a CD or their drinks, or their food for the night… It’s a night out for a lot of people and she was saving up for weeks she said. To me it’s like this: The show in Greenville was good, but let’s say it hadn’t been. She still would have deserved the same show because she was out there supporting us, supporting our music, helping keep us on the road and spread the word about what we’re doing. Each one of them deserves a show regardless. Sometimes there’s five thousand people out there and their going nuts and crowd-surfing and everything you know, it’s easier. I always tell the band this, “You know, we’d be doing this if we was at home anyway. So let’s go out there and do it like we would on the porch.”

O Pioneers!!!

2009-05-21T20:58:33-05:00

O PIONEERS!!! reside out of Houston, TX with quite a mix of folky punk mixed with some of that mid-west gritty style, along with some Gainesville flavor. Think AGAINST ME! meets SMALL BROWN BIKE, with some LATTERMAN and Ted Leo thrown in there! Vocailst Eric sat down with AMP and discussed the new record Neon Creeps, and the future of the band.

So tell me a little bit about O PIONEERS, how you all started and came about, and what seems to be the numerous line-up changes?

O PIONEERS!!! is a rock band from Houston, Texas. Right now there are three members. Myself on guitar/vocals, Athony Adani is playing bass, and for this tour Garrett Carr is playing drums. We’ve been a band for almost 5 years. It will be 5 years in October. Which I’m pretty excited about. It’s been a very strange and peculiar trip! The band started as an outlet for me to do something with myself. I had just moved back home from dropping out of college, and was so engulfed in music that I really wanted to do something in it. I went to a boarding school while I was in high school, and no one was interested in doing any type of musical venture with me. So when I moved back home and found out a co-worker played drums, I harped on him forever until finally he came over to practice. That was the original drummer Jeff. No one in Houston was interested in playing bass for us and/or touring the amount that we wanted to, so we just kept it as a two piece. So Jeff was in the band for two years I believe. Maybe it was three. Either way he left to pursue another interest he had in a different garage rock band, and to start a recording studio called Pigeon Eater Studios! So when Jeff left Chris Ryan joined. We kept it as a two- piece, as still no one wanted to join to fill the position. Chris left a little after 6 months, as he also ran a recording studio, and had to turn down business to go on tour. When Chris left I was in a bind, as we had 3 shows booked in Texas, so I asked my friends in the band The Paper Moons to join in, and make OP!!! a three piece. So Matt joined in on bass, and Daniel joined in on drums. Over the next 6 months they helped me write and make Neon Creeps, but it became pretty obvious that they didn’t want to deal with full time jobs, and 2 full time bands, so they ended up stepping down. So when I sensed they were leaving, I put an ad on craigslist. A kid from Richmond, IN emailed me saying, "Hey I have family in Houston, I’m thinking about moving down. Think I can try out?" So he sent me some videos, and they ruled. So that’s when Aaron joined the band. Aaron’s best friend at home was a stellar bass player, and wasn’t doing anything at the time, so Aaron asked Zak to move down and join, and they helped me record Neon Creeps. However almost to the day 6 months went by, and they decided they didn’t like the constant touring, as well as the music scene we are apart of. So when they stepped out I was out of options. No one in Houston to play with, and got bummed out. Anthony and his brother Dino had just moved down to Houston, and their band had broken up. So I ended up texting Anthony, and he as well as his brother have been writing and practicing together for a couple months. Dino is unable to tour, so Garrett stepped in to help with the tour we’re on right now. And that is a very long way of explaining the band!

One thing I have noticed, O PIONEERS doesn’t seem to have one home as far as a label, its more of a traveling circus with tons of labels being each individual city! Explain why that is?

There are so many awesome labels right now, that each one is doing something unique and exciting. Also its pretty exciting to be working with legendary labels like Asian Man and Suburban Home. Everyone at the labels we’ve worked with have been so kind in helping us, that it’s just kind of unreal. I still think of this band as a shitty high school band. I’m sure a bunch of other people do as well, and that’s why it’s so crazy to me that we can do all these awesome projects on different labels. And better yet, that these labels want to work with us! Also, I feel that the more labels we work with, the more of a community we can help create, by being able to pair up with different bands and different people on things, and make it all interlinked like a big family.

Where did the name O PIONEERS come from?

The name of the band originally was supposed to be Oh, Pioneers. Kinda like "Great, here comes these stupid kids, thinking they are doing something special." Jeff didn’t like that. He wanted to make it more exciting, like ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT! which is really bold and in your face. So we ended up dropping the H, and adding three exclamation marks to make it kind of pop a bit more. Sometimes people think it came from the book and/or the Walt Whitman poem. It didn’t. There is also a band, I think they are an indie/folk band from NYC with the same name. I’m hoping they sue us so we can change our name.

Your new full length Neon Creeps recently came out, speak a little bit about it, your inspiration behind it?

The title Neon Creeps comes from a joke band I was supposed to start with members of this amazing band called BY THE END OF TONIGHT. We had gotten into a discussion about how a lot of disco songs were really upbeat and happy, but about sad or depressing subjects. Someone had made a joke saying, "lets call it Neon Creeps". So that was supposed to be the name of our disco band. But it never happened and I stole the title for the record. This record was written when I was in a really shitty time in my life. I was not stoked about some people and events in my life, and was being treated really shitty by some of my better friends. I had also just gotten out of some credit card debt, but there was so much that I was so broke, and bored from being broke. So it’s sort of a depressing record I guess? At least to me it is.

What are the immediate and future plans in 2009 for O PIONEERS?

Hopefully touring? I don’t know really what else we are doing. Neon Creeps just came out on CD and LP, so that’s been pretty cool. It also just got released in Australia, so I think there are plans to go there. Also, we are trying to talk to some labels in Europe about doing a version of it. I think we are headed to Canada for a week or so in June, then probably/hopefully Fest in October!

What inspires O PIONEERS song writing, and life in general?

Disconnection from a lot of things. Like feeling disconnected from people you care for, or being in a different world from other people. I’ve forced myself to become a workaholic, and still have nothing to show for it, so that can be a bummer sometimes. I also guess just feeling so isolated from people in my city, and my city’s scene. Houston is a weird place, and I think even if it’s a negative one it’s had a pretty crazy effect on me.

Your personal thought on the "next" great depression?

It kind of blows my mind that this is happening you know? Like I went over it a lot in high school, read Of Mice and Men a ton, and it just baffles me that we are headed back to something like that. Didn’t we learn the first time? Never in my life would I have imagined that we’d be heading into a depression like that.

How do you feel about the new president Barack Obama?

I think its great that a lot of people have faith in the government again. I just really hope he ends up delivering on his promises. I also hope people understand that even though there has been a change like this in the white house, it doesn’t mean everything is going to just work itself out. There will be a lot of steps that need to be taken, that will involve everyone doing their part. People need to take part in things, and can’t just let things work themselves out.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Thank you for the interview! And I hope everyone is well and excited about what’s going on in the future. Punx.

Olehole Interview

2009-05-14T21:04:27-05:00

OLEHOLE

By

The Bay Area quartet OLEHOLE are a mixture of great DC post-hardcore, mixed with a little of that bay area/mid-west style punk. Often compared to FUGAZI, JAWBOX, NO KNIFE, and DEAD AND GONE; they were kind enough to sit down with AMP and talk about their record Holemole, their new line-up, and future plans. Welcome OLEHOLE.

Share with us a little about OLEHOLE, its members, and how you all came together.

JACKSON: Hi I’m Jackson and I play the shitty guitar in OLEHOLE and I’ve known Dan for 13 years, Brian for 11 years, and Ian for about 6 months. We all love punk in different ways and I think that makes our music sound weird. Hopefully it’ll keep getting weirder.

BRIAN: Jackson, Dan and I have known each other for over a decade. We grew up in the same local music circles and all became friends during our teenage years. Before I moved back from Chicago, in December of ’07, Dan and I had already been speaking about starting a new, loud project together. Jackson seemed like the perfect addition. He didn’t

really play guitar much for four years or so, but somehow showed up with newfound, other worldly spell-casting abilities. We all share a lot of similar sentiments regarding punk, and the relative ethos. However, there’s also a lot of diversity in our individual musical styles and tastes, which helps to keep things fresh, collaborative, and challenging. There’s a lot of interplay and learning that goes on when we hash ideas out.

IAN: Hi my name is Ian and I just started playing in the band OLEHOLE. I have known Brian for a long time. I used to go see his bands all the time in Santa Rosa where I grew up. I always really liked Brian’s music. THE WUNDER YEARS’ record Fashion Over Function is in the top ten. That record influenced me heavily as a drummer. I also used to see and play with Dan’s bands around the North Bay. For a long time I only knew of him as "Chongo" I don’t think I was ready for the shear brutal experience at the time, but now I love most of the records he played on. I just met Jackson. He is super fun to play with because he is up for anything, and constantly trying out new things. But really I always wanted to meet him just to up my street cred. Did you know he has a signature guitar series? It’s called the Jaxmaster. I’m super stoked to be playing with these guys. They have been super easy to work with, and very understanding of my situation.

DAN: I’ve known Jackson and Brian for at least the last 12 years. Jackson and I played together in a few bands in high school, and I roadied for one of Brian’s old bands. I’ve known Ian for a couple of years. We pretty much all know each other by being around each other a lot at shows and then becoming friends.

Talk about your relationship with your label Underground Communiqué Records and how that came about?

J: The only thing I know about Justin UCR is he’s a righteous dude that genuinely loves pizza, and really that’s all I require in a record executive.

B: I met Justin years ago when I was working at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago. We hit it off initially and maintained a friendship over the years. I always respected the sincerity that bled out of his love for punk and hardcore and the manner in which he kicked back to the community (booking/venue aid, maintaining a show on Loyola’s radio station, emphasizing local music, etc). Justin was always incredibly supportive of my music and as well as kind. I was stoked when he started a label and once OLEHOLE got going it seemed like a perfect home; it’s fairly low key, honest, and there’s lot of shared interests

and ideologies. Justin also works very hard, which is a huge plus as well. A lot of folks suggest that friendship and business should never be mixed - I don’t consider this a business by any means, but I only want to work with friends.

D: Right after we recorded our demos, a few months before we recorded Holemole, we sent some copies around just to see if anyone would be interested in putting out a record. One of the first people to get back to us was Justin, who is friends with Brian. That was actually the first time I’d heard of the label, but I was familiar with a lot of the bands that Justin’s put out and I liked the way he runs his label. Justin’s one of the most humble and sincere people I’ve worked with as far as putting out records go. There has been absolutely no stress or anxiety like I felt with some labels I’ve worked with in the past.

Your debut record Holemole came out late last year. I must say it was in my top 5 of 2009. Can you talk a little about it?

J: Our stupid name was misspelled on the spine of the LP. We love Adam Myatt for recording it and Ryan Massey for mixing it; I think they both did a bang up job. The name of their studio was misspelled in the record as well, for which I don’t think they’ve received an apology. Luckily neither of them can read, so none of this matters!

B: It was written over the course of roughly a year. The writing process was collaborative and one of the smoothest I’ve personally ever had. We opted to record at our friend’s studio, Sharkbite, in Oakland and had a blast doing so. Except for when my car got towed while I was doing my guitar tracks. That was fucking weak. There’s a rich culmination of influence in the music and I think all of us pushed our musical norms. Lyrically, Jackson and I both wrote and occasionally collaborated. Thematically, issues include immigration reform, realism, the hindering and destructive effects of capitalism, police brutality, idiot mating courtships, fear, isolation and anger brought on by impending cultural decay, empty political views and pseudo-liberalism that involve no direct action or cultivation of change, the embrace of imperfection, addiction, the magnetism of violence, and a handful of other cheery and light subjects.

OLEHOLE reside in the Bay Area, can you share a little bit about the punk/music scene these days in that neck of the woods?

J: I think TRICLOPS is the best band in the Bay, if not Earth, right now. I also really like OVENS, their record is bananas. They are from Millbrae but I claim them anyway. STREET EATERS, ACTS OF SEDITION and MASTER VOLUME are all great. Also a hip hop group from Berkeley named Optic are a couple of nuts.

B: Well, the 80s and 90s punk and hardcore heyday that seemed to put the area on the radar has seemingly dissolved. I still listen to all of those bands though. Currently, there’s a lot of noisy art rock, neo-hippie shit, and punk that seems to revel in a staggering lack

of talent. Most of those folks are social transients anyhow. I’m a jaded prick. However, there are a handful of contemporary praise-worthy East Bay acts that come to mind. I dig TRICLOPS, SOME SPECIAL MOVES, DEAD TO ME, THE NEW TRUST, AMERICAN STEEL, DROWNING WITH OUR ANCHORS, DEL, and TOO SHORT.

IAN: I have been to more shows in the East Bay in the last 6 months than San Francisco where I live. Oakland has a lot of great spots. We just played The Barn, a super fun old barn that is set up for show, and is run by great folks. Seems like most of the shows in Oakland are house shows, and that shit is always fun. I just got to play my first Gilman show. That was rad. Definitely something I have wanted to do for a long time. Thanks OLEHOLE! Oakland seems to have a sense of organization that a lot of places don’t have. Or maybe it’s a lack of organization but shows here just seem to be stress free and fun for bands. Seems like anything goes in Oakland.

What are OLEHOLE’s immediate and future plans for 2009 and beyond?

J: I’m psyched to be stoked about our new songs and getting them available to people, and also about going out and finding some kindred spirits in other parts of the country and world.

B: Recording, writing, and playing. Hanging out with each other. Touring if we can afford it… hopefully outside of the U.S.

What inspires OLEHOLE’s songwriting as individuals and collectively as a group?

J: I’ve been inspired lately by things like KARP, BREEDERS, Thurston Moore, some George Carlin stand up bits about the world ending, THE MAE SHI, TUBERS, side A of SQUEEZE’s Argybargy and just playing with these dudes.

B: Individual and collective experiences, the idea of reversing introversion into expression, culture and society, and bands that are very good or very bad.

IAN: Collectively we have a lot of freedom when we write. Meaning we get do whatever we want and see what sticks, (some guys call that "jamming" but we all know that sounds dumb) that is super key to writing collectively. Weed helps to. Also Jaxmaster is good with recording practices. Demoing songs is super crucial to writing for me.

D: Obviously all of the music that I constantly listen to (I’m one of those people who always has music playing no matter what I’m doing) has a lot of influence over the way I write music. I don’t ever try to bite anything; I just soak it all up and try to incorporate pieces of the sounds I really like into my writing. What I do like better than coming to practice with parts, though, is when we just find ourselves jamming out something spontaneously. All of us pushing each other and encouraging each other at the same time feels like the most satisfying and organic way to make music.

Recently I read OLEHOLE had a line-up change and Ian from DEAD TO ME is now playing drums? Can you talk a little bit about that and how it’s going as far as writing new material?

J: Alex was rad, and he’s still playing with me off and on in this thing I do called FRESH TENDRILS. We’ve been writing with Ian and we got some killer jams that I think are totally smoking. He’s a righteous drummer that I think adds another layer of energy and

sophistication to our music.

B: We switched drummers due to Alex’s inability to really put forth due to time constraints. He was a great drummer, but somewhat detached and unavailable. I’ve loosely known Ian for quite some time. I’ve also been a fan of his work with DEAD TO ME. He’s incredibly talented and blatantly feels fervor for what we do and his equal role in the mix. Furthermore, he’s a really fun and intelligent person, which is a crucial factor. He likes to throw rocks at bowls with us.IAN: Can I answer this one?!

D: Ian’s been great! Basically, we’ve been writing pretty productively since he started playing with us and it’s been a lot of fun. I think the way he plays brings out new energy in the rest of us.