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Interviews
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Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains

Darryl Jenifer (Bad Brains)

19 February 2011

“It felt like a natural progression for me to explore and experiment with dub based ideas in my O.G’ness, but I have always been a fan of rebel music, all music.”

Music's Not For Everyone, Chain & The Gang

Chain & The Gang, Music Is Not For Everyone (K Records, Release Date 2/22/11) (conversation with Dion De Arroganto)

14 February 2011

The breakup of the USSR may also just be a way to talk about your parents divorce in drag. Just don’t underestimate the as yet anonymous female vocalists. Live, who knows? They might even induce that whirling dervish frenzy…

If Chain & The Gang’s main message was really at its deepest the Gregorian monkish spartan existence suggested in the title track, why is it so radically different from anything else on the album, an album that, on a musical level, may very well be the most seductive, populist album Ian Svenonius has yet created in over 20 years of recording and performing?

Sister Crayon photo by Eliot Lee Hazel

Terra Lopez of Sister Crayon

27 January 2011

Four kids from Sacramento are likely to be the next success story to come out of the Californian house show scene with their ethereal, contrasted and layered melodies. Sister Crayon vocalist Terra Lopez opens up about humble beginnings, dreams for the future, and her Jeff Buckley obsession.

Bison BC by Femke van Delft

Bison BC: The Good, the Bad, and the Shaggy

3 December 2010

I don’t like injustice, and cops – fuck, they got guns. I don’t like people with guns. I don’t like 22 year old cops walking around with guns – I think it’s stupid. It doesn’t make any sense to me. I don’t think that’s political, it’s like logical, or something.

Still from Straight to Hell

Straight to Hell Returns: filmmaker Alex Cox on Joe Strummer, punk politics, and The Wonderful World of Kittens

15 November 2010

I watched the old DVD, and I thought, “Ohh, I wish we had, back in 1986, the digital technologies we have today, in order to amp this up and make it much crazier.” And then I thought – “but wait, we DO have the digital technologies that are available today!”

DOA (Mark Van Manen, Vancouver Sun)

You're D.O.A.! An Interview With Joey Keithley

24 October 2010

Punk rock legend Joey Keithley, long-time leader of Vancouver hardcore standard-bearers D.O.A., talks writing, riffing, touring and a whole lot of hammering!

Benoit Pioulard

21 October 2010

Thomas Meluch, the soon-to-be Portland expatriate better known as Benoit Pioulard, discusses the detailed nature of his work, his photographic art, and how the delicate approach he favors permeates other aspects of his life, as he talks about his third record, Lasted.

Pat Thetic of Anti-Flag

Pat Thetic of Anti-Flag

7 October 2010

These straightedge vegan punks have voiced and fought fervently for their leftist sociopolitical beliefs since emerging as angry, outspoken kids in the early ‘90s. Co-founder and drummer Pat Thetic sat down during their recent Canadian tour to discuss the elements that keep Anti-Flag alive: activism, punk and politics.

Arc in Round

Arc in Round

25 September 2010

Philadelphia’s Arc in Round has been churning away for five years, tooling around with atmospheric walls of sound thanks to frontman and studio savant Jeff Zeigler. With a new EP due out in Novemeber and a tour and full-length to follow, singer Mikele Edwards and Zeigler stole time from a frightening schedule to answer some questions.

Fol Chen The New December cover art

Fol Chen

16 September 2010

California’s mysterious pop outfit Fol Chen sits down and talks Prince, Boards of Canada, and how being compared to a band they’ve never heard can be slightly irritating.

Mike Gent of The Figgs

Mike Gent of The Figgs

6 September 2010

This year The Figgs released their tenth studio album and toured as Graham Parker’s backing band. Mike talks about life with the band, songwriting, and the man who fights himself.

Steve Diggle of the Buzzcocks (Part Two)

19 May 2010

The conclusion of my interview with Steve Diggle, touching on his new record, his relationship with Pete Shelley, and tattoos.

Steve Diggle of the Buzzcocks (Part One)

16 May 2010

The Buzzcocks’ co-founder and singer/guitarist discusses their impending American tour, during which the band will be playing their first two records in their entirety.

Nara Denning (featuring Stoo Odom of The Graves Brothers Deluxe), Part II

16 January 2010

The Graves Brothers Deluxe were one of the first three rock bands I got into when I moved to the Bay Area, and the only one for which I jumped around in an ape suit.

Guest interview: TSOL singer Jack Grisham (and His Humanitarian Efforts)!

13 January 2010

Got this excellent interview with TSOL founder/frontman Jack Grisham from our contributor Jeff Alexander and wanted to share it with you!

San Francisco Film-Maker Nara Denning, Part I

9 January 2010

In Nara Denning’s Neurotique, words get in the way of the games couples play.

The Music Lovers Part 2

28 December 2009

“I had a tight vision of the record — despairing people in tight corners who can still find some hope. If this makes me sound naive or overly precious, I’m sorry.”

The Music Lovers Part 1

27 December 2009

“My deal is that I never force anything. I might go months and not write anything, then write four or five songs in a couple of weeks. Often, melodies and words appear while I’m out walking. I never sit down and say ‘I’m going to write a song.’”

Bob Mould (part 5)

26 June 2009

“I wouldn’t wanna go back to the Husker Du mentality, side 2 of Zen Arcade. That’s not really good for anybody’s health.”

Bob Mould (part 4)

23 June 2009

My neighborhood was turned upside down. I live right in the epicenter of Obama world. It’s a huge difference.

Bob Mould (part 3)

19 June 2009

I DJ, so I have to spend a lot of time listening to music.

Bob Mould (part 2)

16 June 2009

It would be nice, instead of waiting 18 months to put out an album, to just be able to put out 7” singles.

Bob Mould

11 June 2009

Now I’m back on the guitar on a more consistent basis and I have a satisfactory outlet for the electronic stuff.

Chris Ashford of What/Iloki/Wondercap Records Part 4

7 June 2009

The final part of my interview with Chris Ashford.

Chris Ashford of What/Iloki/Wondercap Records Part 3

30 May 2009

Part 3 of my interview with Chris Ashford.

Chris Ashford of What/Iloki/Wondercap Records Part 2

24 May 2009

Part 2 of my interview with Chris Ashford.

Chris Ashford of What/Iloki/Wondercap Records

17 May 2009

LA’s first DIY label creator offers his opinions on digital music and the current state of the music industry.

Charlotte Hatherley

4 May 2009

I am a massive XTC fan so it was mind blowing! I went over to his house in Swindon and we sat in his garden shed writing songs with our acoustic guitars.

Peter Cortner today

Peter Cortner (Part 4)

5 February 2009

I think that what I’ve learned is that if you sing off-key and that’s just what you do, you have to work with that and let it be part of what you do instead of trying not to.

Peter Cortner (Part 3)

3 February 2009

I think that I was chosen because we all get along. That was it. I made it a point not to ask any questions about MINOR THREAT and I think that helped.

Peter Cortner (Part 2)

29 January 2009

What I love about that solo on “Here’s to You” is that it really pissed DOUG CARRION off.

Dag Nasty @ City Gardens late '80s

Peter Cortner (Part 1)

28 January 2009

I think that in their own way JUDAS PRIEST is one of the world’s great disco bands.

Mike Riddick of Metalhit.com (Part 2)

14 September 2008

Part Two of an interview with the internet metal mogul.

Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound) - Part Two

30 August 2008

The conclusion to my interview with Steven Stapleton, the creative force behind Nurse With Wound.

Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound) - Part One

30 August 2008

Steven Stapleton gives a rare glimpse into the mysterious realm of Nurse With Wound.

Mike Riddick of Metalhit.com (Part 1)

17 August 2008

Part One of an interview with the internet metal mogul.

The Funeral Crashers

6 January 2008

Creeping forward whilst changing form and focus since the turn of the century, The Funeral Crashers have become a mainstay of New York City’s fledgling “new dark rock scene.” A new appreciation for The Crashers grew after immersing myself in their first full-length, so I decided to fill in the blanks through an interview.

Thee More Shallows (Part 2 of 2)

1 July 2007

Dee Kesler explains why fish, rabbits, dogs, frogs, monkeys, sharks, piranhas, eagles, turkeys and bears have all found a home in the group’s discography.

Thee More Shallows (Part 1 of 2)

21 June 2007

Dee Kesler: “Belgian audiences are ridiculously attentive and then equally appreciative after you finish each song. They were by far the best audience we’ve run across on a national basis.”

A New Dark Rock Scene for New York City? (Funeral Crashers, Bellmer Dolls, Blacklist)

21 March 2007

Over the course of an evening, in bathroom lines and at bars, I tracked down P.H. Lovecraft, singer for the Funeral Crashers, Peter Mavrogeorgis, singer for the Bellmer Dolls, and Josh Strawn, singer for Blacklist, to see if they believed in the existence of a burgeoning NYC dark rock scene.

Dir En Grey

11 October 2006

Since 1997, the five members of Dir en grey have thrashed their way to prominence in Japan, leaving an indelible bruise on the rock scene wherever their black leather boots have tread.

Alison Goldfrapp

19 May 2006

After attending GOLDFRAPP’s delicious live show twice in the past six months and falling in lust with their newest electro-glam masterpiece, Supernature, I was excited to speak with the platform-loving siren behind the songs, ALISON GOLDFRAPP.

45 Grave's Dinah Cancer

8 April 2006

Before a revamped 45 GRAVE took the stage for a hellacious set at CBGB on March 5th, I had the honor of speaking briefly with lead screamer and reigning queen of deathrock, DINAH CANCER.