Laternpoll

Laternpoll was a Dutch band that put out some great pop-power on Mp3.com.
I first met Teun thru a mailing list on yahoo groups. He spent time talking about his band, so I found them on Mp3.com. For a pop-punk group from Holland, I didn't know what to expect because I used to be into the Dutch hardcore scene stuff, but I was amazed at what I heard. I finally decided to do an interview. This is an interview with Tohn, who was cool enough to do this.

How long has the band been together?

I think we started to play seriously together, making songs 'n stuff (so that doesn't mean playing Green Day and Nirvana covers in someone's basement!), about three years ago, beginning of '99.

How did it start?

Most of us known each other for quite a while now, so we just started to play cover songs in someone's basement one day and then after finding a place to rehearse and a few line ups we ended up where we are now; four friends making the music we like.

How do you come up with the name?

A few months after we started our band we had the most stupid name in the world. God knows who came up with it back then, but we wanted to change it anyhow. Then some evening at a party smoking weed under a streetlight our singer asked one of us for the first word he could think of, so the other said "streetlight", which means lantaarnpaal in Dutch... So with the naive idea of becoming famous all over the world we made it sound more english; Laternpoll...

Describe your music...

We're making fast but tight, melodic, somewhat emotional and agrressive punk music. Might be pop-punk depending on your definition of pop-punk. We just make the music we like an do it the best we can. thats it.

Who are your influences?

We're mostly influenced by bands such as Satanic Surfers, Lagwagon, Ten Foot Pole, Venerea, Nofx, Good Riddance, Pulley, Strung Out, Bad Religion, Propaghandi, etc. I think our style can best be described as a Dutch-Europe-Scandinivian-Epi-Fat sound. I know some people dispise that sound saying it's not punk 'n stuff, but we're punk enough not to care about that. We also listen other shit from jazz to reggae from pop to rock.

Have you guys toured?

No, not really. We played in Germany once at a festival and several places throughout the Netherlands, but we haven't really toured yet. We just play shows once in a while, mostly local anyway... We need to get outta here.

What have you recorded?

We recorded a 9-song CD in the summer of '01. Its titled M7H. It's dedicated to a friend of our singer who died that year. it contains 7 minus 1 old but fast, weird quality punksongs, and two skasongs. It's a funny CD, but were kinda sick of it, and we'll be recording a new split CD with our friends from The Almighty Kingpin in April.

Describe the song writing process...

We're not that punk, we don't have a point of view we necesseraly want to defend. For us it's mostly about the music and melody, lyrics come at second place. First one of us has a cool piece of music on the guitar or bass and from there we build a songs, combining it with other pieces we already made. Then our singer makes up a melody and from there he writes the lyrics as last (which doesn't mean he hasn't got shit to say) and hopefully a new song is born.

Who have you guys played with?

The Almighty Kingpin (www.kingpin.nl),Sellfish (www.sellfish.net), Resonic (www.resonic.net), Dependent (www.dependentpunkrock.com), Beyond'93 (www.beyond93.com), Dweeb (www.theworstband.com). We played with more bands, but these are the only worthy to check out that I could think of right now. I suggest that you check out punk.pagina.nl to check out some other dutch bands.

Is there a favorite band you liked to play with?

Well, no, not really. Most people of those bands I know personally and they're all good musicians and great to hang out and play with. But I must say that live I liked Dependent and Sellfish best of all the bands we've played with.

Is there a favorite place you like to play?

At any festival with loads of good people and good booze.

What is the local scene like?

Quite ok! from Doetinchem and the smaller villages around I must admit we got some pretty descent bands! We got punk bands like The Almighty Kingpin and pop-punk bands like Resonic and further there are a shitload of other people just making good music and that's what it's all about for me, for us, making music. Also the local people are great. Lots of people listening punk rock music so thats cool, lots of support and good criticism.

What do you see is the future of LATERNPOLL?

I couldn't tell ya! I'd say we stay together till we're old and fat, but I don't know. We're just friends now, making music and we do our best and it will last as long as it may last!

How can people contact you guys?

People can find our email addresses at our website, or otherwise they could find something on our mp3.com site to contact us. For now you can visit us at www.mp3.com/laternpoll or u can see our new, but not yet completed site at www.kingpin.nl/laternpoll