Overgrown ***New Interview***

Overgrown is an awesome punk band from the Netherlands. They have an awesome live set and have shared the stage with some of the legends of punk rock. They have also released quite a few awesome releases. I the band to tell their story...

Introduce yourself…
Hi! We are Overgrown.
Overgrown is a Dutch punk rock band hailing from Roosendaal.
The band is consisting of 4 guys, Marty (Vocals/Bass), Wouter (Drums), Hans (Guitar) and Alex (Guitar).

How did the band start?
We started at the age of 15 in the attic of our singer and drummer's (yep, twins) elderly house.
Our main goal was to perform at our highschool's prom, to conquer the hearts of some female classmates. We are still in a band, but we stopped trying ;)

How did you come up with the name?
I guess we read it somewhere in an English adult magazine, presuming "overgrown" had something to do with the length of one's fallus. But hey, we were young and innocent! When we found out what it really meant, we decided to keep it that way. Now everyone just thinks we have a lotta hair. Which we can't deny though..

Who would you say are your influences?
Hot Water Music, The Gaslight Anthem, The Riverboat Gamblers, Against Me!, The Bronx, Red City Radio, The Riot Before and
stuff like that. Bands that perform at The Fest in Gainesville each year I guess.

What is the punk scene like in the Netherlands?
The punk scene is, like the country itself, small but nice. There are a few great bands and they all try to support the big names if they come over to Holland. We supported Red City Radio from Oklahoma a few weeks ago in Amsterdam for example. We used to have a big punk scene in the 80's and 90's. But we can't tell much about that, due to the fact that we weren't around back then.
We're able to play like 30 shows a year in Holland, because it's that small. That's why we also tour Europe once in a while.

Describe the song writing process...
Someone comes up with some lyrics or some chords and if we like it, we make a song out of it. Simple as that! Some songs are written in 1 rehearsal, others in 3 months.

You debut release was “Hand Over The Scepter!”, tell us about the album...
HOTS! was an album we wanted to be more than just music. We spent a lotta money, blood, sweat and tears to get this album the way it is. The album's all about making a statement. 'We are fresh blood. We ought to take the scepter.' The scene needed new bands that were ambitious and determined. Bands that wanted something to happen.
The album is recorded in Amsterdam and produced by Jochem Jacobs of Textures (Dutch metal band). Of all the reviews we received, there was not a single negative word written. Making this album learned an awful lot about sound, songs, artwork, the music industry and so on. All in all we are very proud that we achieved this with an average age of 22 and I think we'll always be.

What else have you released?
Before "Hand Over The Scepter!" we released a single called "Chill Before Serving". There are 3 different versions of it and limited to 300 copies. So if you can get your hands on one, you can stop working. Our latest release is a vinyl split 7" effort with a French band called The Warbs. There are 2 of our songs on side A and it has been released on the French garage punk label "Rigolboch Ricordz" .

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
Red City Radio, The Exploited, Zebrahead, The Briggs, Peter Pan Speedrock, Bloodlights, The Spades, The Apers and many others.

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
I guess I have to say small clubs, as in 50-200 people. And the lower the stage, the better. We like to hear people screaming, feel the stamping and smell their armpits. Big venues are nice, but we're not used to them. Small venues are way more intense.

Have you toured?
Yes. We've played in countries as The Netherlands, Belgium, England, Wales, Germany and France.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
No, we can have fun with every band. Though it's easier to break the ice with another punk rock band.
But for the next year, we'd like to support more big punk acts.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
We don't really fancy one specific place, but venues as 013 (Tilburg NL) and The Devil's Place (Saarbrücken GER) are always one hell of a party. As long as the crowd is happy, we're happy!

What do you see is the future of Overgrown?
We are working on a new album and we hope to release it on a decent label. Make a videoclip and tour the fuck out of Europe! And maybe if we're lucky, go oversea someday.

How can people contact the band?
People can contact the band by:
- overgrownband@hotmail.com
- www.myspace.com/overgrown
- www.facebook.com/pages/OVERGROWN/114833118421?ref=ts
- coming to our shows!

Kobayashi ***New Interview***

Kobayashi is an awesome punk band from Bremen, Germany. They have a great live set that they have played all over Europe and shared the stage with a ton of great bands. They amazing set of releases and are just an amazing band all around. I got the band to tell their story...

Intoduce Yourself...
Peter: I am Peter, I am trying to sing with Kobayashi. Besides I am the usual suspect when it comes to driving the van.
Daniel: Daniel trying to play the bass :) Running a label also, but lazy moments...
Roberto: I am dealing with the drums.
Roberta: guitar, voice

How did the band start?
Peter: Umh... I personally haven't been a part of Kobayashi from the very beginning, but I think Roberto (drums) and Martin (git) wanted to set up a band together after both having moved to Bremen because they were long-time friends and had played together previously. Maik (git) and Daniel (bass) were in the same situation: After having played together in a band in their hometown, both of them moved to Bremen. So it was a perfect match. That was back in 1997. I had a van by that time and always enjoyed driving bands so I ended up as their standard driver pretty quickly. After some concerts, they forced me to sing a song and soon afterwards Martin and Maik got tired of singing most of the time so I took over. 8 years afterwards, Martin left the band because his priorities had shifted. Then Maik moved away from Bremen last year and had to leave Kobayashi as well. Luckily, two long-time friends who both play guitar liked what we are doing and joined us: Roberta and Jana.
Daniel: Actually Roberto and me agreed on going to the practice-room to see what happens when we got to know each other in Barcelona in 1996. The rest happened as Peter already mentioned it.
Roberto: In autumn 1997, Daniel gave me a call and mentioned to meet for a session, by the way, a friend of his that plays guitar just moved to Bremen. That was Maik.
Roberta: We began because Maik couldn't play two gigs which the others did not want to cancel. They asked us if we could replace Maik for these 2 gigs. In 10 days we managed to learn the set and did play like a kind of Maik's guitar-karaoke. It was funny and we did well all together, so they ask us to stay, and we did.

How did you come up with the name?
Peter: Again, I was not involved in that discussion but I think the goal was to find a name that sounded good and straightforward but had no simple meaning. Kobayashi is one of the most common surnames in Japan. There is this movie “The Usual Suspects” where one of the key characters is called Kobayashi. At the very end of the movie it turns out that this character, just as the whole story around him was made up by one of the suspects. The cop realizes this after already having bought the story and let the suspect walk away. I think that´s a good background for a band name. In general I think it has been a good choice: We are still happy with it after 14 years, I guess few bands can say that.

Who would you say are your influences?
Peter: I am not a music nerd at all, I do not even listen to a lot music nowadays. However I think that I would probably not be involved in the band or that we might sound different if I would not have listened to classical political punk bands like early Muff Potter, early But Alive, Graue Zellen, Slime or Koyaanisqatsi. Still I am sure, every band member's list would look totally different in this regard.
Daniel: I also love those bands Peter mentioned besides But Alive (uargh...), but I won`t start naming more influences because I wouldn`t know where to start and where to end.
Roberto: No idea, I think we´re all listening to a lot of different styles and bands. For sure here and there are parallels to other bands. I would say we are more influenced by the whole idea to arrange and organise as much as possible by yourself. We love the idea of diy if it works out. ;)

What is the punk scene like in Bremen?
Peter: We are in the very good situation to have several venues where you can setup uncommercial
concerts, most of them existing for 20 years or even longer. The scene is well established and I think it´s a good mix of older people and younger kids. Another good thing about Bremen is that it is not as big as Hamburg or Berlin. Bremen has around half a million inhabitants. So the “underground” music scenes (justlike the local radical left itself) are not that fragmented as in these big cities. At least I got that impression.
Daniel: I share his opinion. It is pretty relaxed.
Roberto: It's an awesome place for bands. Just come by, make yourself an image.

Describe the song writing process...
Peter: Not very exciting. Usually Jana (git), Roberta (git) or Daniel (bass) come up with a riff, Roberto (drums) plays something along, they are searching for more parts, we discuss every idea until we have a structure everybody is happy with. Then it is often me who thinks about a vocal part, but lately Jana and Roberta are also taking over this part which is really great. Usually the lyrics are written by the one who is mainly singing them and then discussed among the whole band.

You released 'Basta de Ciudad Muerta!', tell us about the tape...
Peter: That was back in 2000. Asier, a friend fom Bilbo / Spain (or Basque Country, whatever you prefer) wanted to put out the recordings of our debut single in Spain. Since vinyl was practically dead by that time in Spain, we decided to release it on tape there. We wanted the packaging to be something special and include a comprehensive booklet so Asier came up with the idea of putting it into a printed A5 envelope. We liked the idea and did it that way. In the end it turned out that the idea was not that brilliant: The envelope looks like shit pretty quickly if you put it into your distro box on concerts and people are browsing through the box continuously.
Daniel: Nice idea, but not so good-looking result. I would add that the tape was we—distributed at that time so a lot or some people got to know us, I think.

You then released a self-titled 7", tell us about the 7"...
Peter: The others recorded some songs before I “officially” joined the line-up as a singer. These recordings were supposed to be released as a single by Skuld, a label of a long-time friend. After I took over the microphone, we decided that we want the debut to contain recordings with the actual line-up, so we had to re-record everything. That's why we we went into another studio and recorded the songs again. I think it was the first recording in that studio which was just opened up by two other friends. Besides lack of recording experience on our side that´s probably the main reason why the single sounds that horrible- at least in my ears.
Daniel: Yes, but it still sounded better than the „first“ recording.
Roberto: .. or the 2nd testpressing and we were not satisfied with the 3rd master version but thought “Ok, that's how it is.”

You then released 'Disco', tell us about the LP...
Peter: We did the recording in the same studio as the 7” but were and are still a lot happier with the result. However, on concerts today we are playing maybe 2 songs from that LP because we have evolved quite a lot over the past years.

How do you feel 'Some Chosen Old Songs' differed?
Peter: The “Disko” LP and the two split singles that followed up had only been released on vinyl. To make the songs available for all those who do not have an LP player, we decided to put out a cheap CD. Since we did not like some songs from the Disko LP anymore we replaced them by the songs from the split 7”. That´s the reason why the tracklists are different.

You recently released 'Neuanstrich', tell us about the album...
Peter: Well, “recently” is relative- the release of “Neuanstrich” has been back in 2006. I still think it´s been our best recording so far although there are definitely things I´d like to have done differently from today's perspective. We are really keen on getting a new LP done soon because the line-up changed and so did ourmusic. I hope this will happen before next summer.
By the way: The whole Neuanstrich LP including some bonus tracks and the booklet are available as a free download on our website.
Daniel: I like the way it was released: Gatefold LP and Digipack CD. Not that it is something important, but I like it that way; also the general fact that it was released on vinyl AND CD.

What else have you released?
Peter: I think we mentioned everything: The debut 7“, two split 7” (with Koyaanisqatsi and Disface), the “Disko” LP and the “Neuanstrich” LP and CD.
Daniel: There are quite a few compilations released over the last years where we contributed a song.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
Peter: You are asking the wrong guy here. I have a very bad memory and will for sure forget to mention important bands if I start naming some we´ve played over the years.

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
Peter: I prefer small clubs without a stage at all.
Daniel: As long as it stays uncommercial and as diy as possible, I don`t care. I also like it when lots of people have a good time. I love to play abroad because there is usually more interchange between us and the people; that is more interesting than in Germany, but that doesn`t have anything to do with your question :)
Roberto: I don't mind as long as we can manage to get a good sound on and in front of the stage. It's always nicer to have contact with the audience and have the chance to be part of it.

Have you toured?
Peter: Yes we did several tours and have visited countries like of course Germany, Spain, Netherlands,Poland, Switzerland, UK, Finland, Israel, Italy, Belgium, France, Denmark, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, UK, Slovenia and Austria.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
Peter: We would love to do a tour with Chicken's Call from Grenoble, France one day. They are very good friends of Daniel and all of us are convinced it would a perfect match.
Daniel: I would love to do a tour or share concerts with Juggling Juggulars and Criatura, but yes, Chicken`s Call are my favorite band in that regard. They are extremely sympathic, excellent people. Besides their music is amazing! Grenoble has a small, but very heartful, dedicated and open-minded punk-scene where old people mix up with young kids.
Chicken`s Call`s website is not just a website, it is collectvie homepage including bands, labels and a self-managed place called „Local autogéré“ - brilliant and somehow a bit different and fresh! Check it out at www.lustucrust.org
Roberto: Definitely Chicken's Call and Juggling Jugglars again.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
Peter: Not really. I am always interested in discovering new places. Still this has become kind of difficult today because we have been playing quite a lot and usually only find the time to do weekend gigs today which narrows down the radius to well-known venues.
Daniel: Asia, Latinamerica!
Roberto: Hopefully Japan one day.

What do you see is the future of Kobayahsi?
Peter: The most important thing for me would be to get a new LP recorded. I don´t think that it is realistic to do a tour next year but of course that would be awesome as well. In general I am quite happy how it´s working at the moment: We are getting along well internally, are enjoying making our music without taking it too seriously and fortunately there are some people out there that come to our shows.
Daniel: Yes, I think we are a bit more relaxed!

How can people contact the band?
Peter: Visit www.kobayashi-disko.org and write to mail@kobayashi-disko.org

Final Prayer ***New Interview***

Final Prayer are an awesome punk band from Berlin, Germany. They have released to reall awesome albums, a few EPs and some splits. They also have a great live set and have shared the staged with  an awesome collection of punk bands and have toured with some really great bands as well. I got the band to tell their story...

Introduce Yourself...
Hey guys, my name is Flo and i play the guitar for the Berlin based hardcore-band Final Prayer.
We're a five piece band and have been around for about seven years. Our music is often
described as heavy hardcore, which hits the nail on the head.

How did the band start?
The band was founded by Felix, our former bass player, and me as a side project. Some of the
band members played in other active bands, which made it on the one hand difficult to get Final
Prayer started, on the other hand all of us had some experience of playing in bands and also felt
no pressure with the new band to achieve anything really.

How did you come up with the name?
Well, that was a long story. The most important thing for us was, that the name should fit the music that we wanted to play. We had wide range of names to choose from. I think most of them were
quite stupid, haha. During that process some touring band, I can't quite remember which band it
stayed at place and their singer had “final prayer” tattooed on his hands. That indeed looked quite impressive and sounded good, too. From the moment we saw the tattoo the discussion about the
name of the band was over and we had found the new name.

Who would you say are your influences?
When we started, the aim was to play classic hardcore in a modern shape and with a modern
sound. We didn't want to limit us on anything and tried to combine different sub-genres within the
hardcore genre, but also mix it with elements of metal or punk. As we're all products of the nineties hardcore revolution, we also tried to incorporate the spirit of the hardcore/punk movement of that particular era, which you can see best in the message of the Band. In the beginning we were also influenced by our old bands, but it became less and less a factor over the years. If you're interested in our old bands, check out Disrespect, Shortage, Self Conquest or lifeforce.

What was the punk scene like in Germany?
We're from Berlin which has got a really big scene for most music genres, and therefore also for
punk and its subgenres. If you like to, you can go to a punk show almost every night. This is on
the one hand pretty cool, on the hand it led to a the Berlin scene being very divided. It has become very rare that you can actually see a mix of bands from different genres at the same gig.

Describe the song writing process...
I guess our song writing process changed over the years. In the past somebody will have come
up with a riff or an idea with which we worked in the rehearsal room and then added other ideas.
Digital home-recording changed that a little bit. Now it's often the case that somebody comes up
with a whole song, including all of the drums already programmed and stuff. That in many ways
has made song writing easier.

You first released a demo, tell us about the demo...
Oh, the demo was recorded what feels like ages ago. When we met Stephan, our later singer, we
already had some songs recorded in our rehearsal room. We liked his voice a lot, even though
he had not much experience in singing in hardcore bands. But we had imposed a tight schedule
on ourselves to find a singer, because we wanted to play shows. So we went to a good friends
rehearsal room and recorded the first demo called “first round knock out”. We had no money for
a professional studio, or for a long studio session, so we recorded the demo in just two days and
released it some weeks later at our first show with Belgiums legendary Liar in the Wild At Heart in Berlin. Everything went great. The demo sold out in no time and was even rated “demo of the month” in Germanys´ leading magazine for Rock and Metal music, “Rock Hard”.

Your first album was 'Right Here Right Now', tell us about the album...
The process for our first album was totally different to the process of the demo. We had lots of time for the song writing process and lots of time for Stephan to work with the lyrics. When we were done we went to the famous “Kohlekeller Studios” near Frankfurt and recorded the songs in a very professional manner. The result was overwhelming for us and a big step forward for FP after the demo.

You then released 'Filling the Void', tell us about the album...
'Filling The Void' was released in 2008. After the very pure and direct sound of 'Right Here
Right Now' we wanted to have a bigger and more smashing sound. Another big difference in
the recording process was, that we went to a studio in our hometown Berlin. We saved time and
money for travelling and the studio was very close to where we all live. That means all of us could pop in and out of the studio whenever we wanted to, and we could also work together as a group when needed. That made the whole process more relaxed. We're very happy with the result.

What else have you released?
A very important release was our first MCD. It was a split release with our friends in 'Crisis Never Ends'. After the Demo it was the first real release. With this CD under our belt we did our first tour with our friends in 'Teamkiller'. This was a very exciting time for us! We also released a split 7” prior to “filling the void” with a band from San Francisco called Alcatraz. Just a couple of weeks ago our new 7”, entitled “Berlin”, came out.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
Puh, that's a difficult question because we played so many shows with many great bands. Like I
just said, our first tour with Teamkiller was great, the tours with No Turning Back, Walls Of Jericho and Comeback Kid were great, too. A very special thing for us were the 'Berlin Angst Tours'. We did them a couple of times together with our Berlin brothers 'War From A Harlots Mouth'. over X-mas time. And then some big shows with bands like Suicidal Tendencies or Sick of it all were great experiences, too.

Do you prefer small clubs or large venues?
I would say small clubs. It's great to see all the faces of the people in small venues. I really like the interaction of the audience and the band. In bigger venues you mostly see only lights flashing and distant faces. I mean bigger venues are cool, too, but if I had to choose between a small sold out venue and a bigger not sold out club, I'd choose the smaller one.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
We really enjoy the shows with bands we already know and we're friends with. There are a lot
of those bands I could name now. But then we also like to play shows with bands we never
played before. It's always interesting to get to know new people who tell you things from another
perspective.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
Berlin is always great for us. We played here so many times and it was always good. Plus there is
this special familiar atmosphere. We meet all our old friends and people who helped us over the
years. A very special place is the Cassiopeia, a place run by friends of us. It's great to see what they've build and even better to play there.

What do you see is the future of Final Prayer?
Like I said, we've just released an EP called 'Berlin'. We're very satisfied with the result and the reviews have turned out to be very good, too. In January we'll go into the studio again to record a whole new album, which will hopefully be released in spring. At the moment we're very busy with that. The songs are great so far and we can't wait to play them live. Looks like a bright future for FP in 2012.

How can people contact the band?
Just talk to us at one of our shows. We always hang around somewhere. If you don't have
the opportunity for that you can also write us or visit us on our pages www.finalprayer.de,
www.facebook.com/finalprayer or www.myspace.com/finalprayer and email us.

Signs of Misfortune ***New Interview***

Signs of Misfortune are an awesome punk band from Switzerland. They have released a great album and EP. They have a great live set and have shared the stage with some legendary European punk bands. They have also toured England. I got the band to tell their story...

Introduce yourself…
SOM: We are Signs of Misfortune, Punk Hardcore band from Geneva Switzerland

How did the band start?
SOM: We've been playing for three years with the current line up! We were friends a long time before playing together!

How did you come up with the name?
SOM: in our case it is pretty straight forward, we were havin' problems at every show, even before the name we were a band of great misfortune.

Who would you say are your influences?
SOM: Influences vary a lot from one member to another, which gives the particular style we play. It goes from good old NoFX punk to relatively new technical metal like Scar Symmetry or Trivium, passing through The Haunted and Soilwork!

What is the punk scene like in Geneva?
SOM: it has evolved a lot throughout the last few years, we now have a couples of labels and a few good bands, but we're still struggling, we would like to export our music as much as possible and it is not an easy thing to do in Geneva

Describe the song writing process...
SOM: for our first album we composed all the songs together, but as we have more and more stuff to do for our respective jobs and studies we changed the process a bit. The songs are usually composed by one of the member of the band and than rearranged during rehersal. It goes a lot faster that way.

You released a self-titled EP, tell us about the EP...
SOM: the EP was released a long time ago, we did not have the current line up, we think it would be more relevant to talk a bit about out first Album. Our guitarist Nouchine joined the band during the recording of our previous album "Come Get SOM" so he worked with us on a couple of songs but it was mainly still the old vibe. The album was a link between what the band was four years ago and what it has become now. We now have a lot more metal influences and the songs can be said to be more technical as well.

What else have you released?
SOM: One of our song was chosen to be part of a compilation on the GoDiY Records

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
SOM: We were really lucky to play with Antillectual last year, it was a great experience, and we also played with one of the French punk rock legend Uncommonmenfrommars this summer. Both show were awesome!

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
SOM: We have the same problem every loud band has when playing in clubs, we are way too loud  sometimes the guys from the venue would ask us to put a shirt or smth on the snare... well we just can't play like that, so we'd have to go for the "large" venues!

Have you toured?
SOM: We just got back from a one week tour in England! In was a great experience. We meet a lot of crazy and awesome peeps!

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
SOM:There are a few, well it's ok to dream isn't it!

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
SOM:We would really be honored to play at Greenfield Festival, which is the biggest metal festival around Geneva!

What do you see is the future of Signs of Misfortune?
SOM: Well we just signed with an agent and we hope to find a great label soon, the next step is the release of our new album Syncretic! So stay put, we're coming hard! (no play on words)

How can people contact the band?
SOM:We have a brand new website designed by our lead singer, it rocks!!! The address is really easy it's signsofmisfortune.com, We also have a facebook page where you can follow our every move!

Garrafa Vazia ***New Interview***

Blazing new punk from Brazil, Garrafa Vazia is an awesome punk band. They have a great live set and have shared the stage with some amazing bands. They have an awesome EP out and have 4 demos. They have also toured a lot. I got the band to tell their story...

How did the band start?
The band began in a dirty room in 1998. We used to like to listen to aggressive music that would bring excitement to our lives. With drummer Danilo Lebre, we started playing our music, three chords and some other covers of the Ramones, Social Distortion.

How did you come up with the name?
Garrafa Vazia is an ironic phrase - something like "born unpretentiousness of ironic laughter, sarcasm anarchy." And because we like our boozy. I almost got sent to the loony bin because of my drinking habit. So I have quit drinking a year ago ... and therefore the name Empty Bottle.

Who would you say are your influence?
'70 British punk, punk NYC '70, '80 Brazilian punk, Finnish punk bands, a little bit of two tone Ska, The Cramps, Black Flag, Social Distortion and Mike Ness - and visceral blues like Charlie Patton, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Howlin´ Wolf.

What is the punk scene like in São Paulo?
Intense. There are many shows and cooperatives exist between people, both in the capital and the country side. Eventually, they roll a few fights, but overall the scene is a self-sustaining and very strong.

Describe the song writing process ...
All the songs on the Empty Bottle to date, were composed by (Mario Mariones) with the exception of "Back to Bacana". Generally compose melodies, riffs, lyrics, the "Elevator White" which is home to the Garrafa Vazia, a primitive kind of studio where we rehearse in the back of my house. Now with the new formation process of composition is more balanced between the three of us.

You released OS GARRAFA, tell us about the EP ...
Since the band has officially emerged in 2009, it went through several changes in line up, today's formation classical training and definitive. "OS GARRAFA" is the record of this new training. There are five sounds, but we are not fully satisfied with the mix of this ep. Yet we are quite satisfied with the songs "Piriguetes on fire" and Cirrose. "
We will soon enter into a new studio, where we will have a better quality, where we can capture all of our sound. The punch of our live performances will have a greater fidelity to disk.

What else have you released?
Four demos: Garrafa Vazia (2009) Aracy com y é bem mais legal (2010) Elevadores são lar de palahços e mortos vivos (2010) O que resotou da rua 1.(2011). All available for download. And also some collections.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
The late Cólera (Redson RIP), Garotos Podres, Excomungados, Invasores de Cérebros, Biohazard (U.S.), Clan Bastardo (Italy), Juventude Maldita, Subviventes
Do you prefer to the concerts at large venues or small clubs?
The small clubs. I once played in a big festival - along with Biohazard - with a stage structure, screens and great stereo, and for many people. It was good, but even better when you play in a small club, with the people there at our side, jumping, pogo dancing and singing along. The energy emanating from this experience is indescribable. When there is no stage separating people, there is no distinction between audience and band - then the line is much more intense and you increase the volume and the volume increases more and when you realize it, everyone is on this crazy vibe.

Have you toured?
We are always on the road, at the moment we are planning to launch the DVD "Os Garrafa na Estrada, Volume 1 (Bottle Road, Volume 1)" with videos from various shows and gigs and some funny and stupid stuff. However, we have not done a full tour of several states it is complicated to reconcile labor with the madness of the road.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
There is no specific, but there have been several notable shows such as Cólera and the Excomungados.

Is there a favorite place you like to do at concerts?
In late Overnight, pub in Rio Claro. The more rotten the place, the better.

What you see is the future of the Empty Bottle?
We are increasingly interlocking and having fun - are emerging more and more songs, which sometimes sound more aggressive, sometimes tending more plumb rhythm section more "ultrasambarilóvipunkblues."

How can people contact the band?
Through emails and websites:
mariomariones@gmail.com / garrafavazia@hotmail.com/ http://www.myspace.com/garrafavazia e http://vozeriodoinferno.blogspot.com
And through the phone:
+55 19 81908870 (Mário Mariones)

Chris Elliot Files ***New Interview***

Chris Elliot Files are a very cool punk band from Chandler, AZ. They are really great guys and have released a few songs on Facebook and Soundcloud. I got the band to tell their story...

Introduce yourself…
Chris: Hello, My name is Chris and I sing and play guitar for brand-new and very famous band the chris elliot files.
Elliot: Hi, my name is Elliot and I sing and play bass for TCEF.

How did the band start?
Chris: Elliot and I have been great friends for years and we have talked about starting a band for quite a while. We have always liked a lot of the same things and had the same favorite bands so it just kind of came together beautifully one day late in the spring of 2011.
Elliot: I caught Chris staring into my window one day, and he said he was just looking for me to "play music" at his house. I went along with it because I enjoy music. I'm pretty sure he bought all his studio equipment and learned how to use it 2 days before I came over, so props to him for creating such an elaborate ploy just to do me.
Chris: ... goddamnit.

How did you come up with the name?
Chris: We were really drunk one night while camping in the Sonoran Desert on a mixture of expired coconut milk, Vicks Vapor- Rub, and Mr. Clean when I got the feeling that god was calling me to the summit of this near by hill. Naturally, I fucking went because I was thinking god was gonna bestow some kind of kick-ass knowledge upon me or give me some rockin' tablets or some shit. Upon arriving to the summit I noticed in my drunken state a bush that was asking me to set it on fire. I lit it up and I started to talk to the bush and figure out what the fuck god wanted from me. He told me that I should name this new band "the chris elliot files" without any capitalization. I told god that I thought that name was pretty lame since it was such an obvious combination of the first names of the two founding members and that the level of creativity that it displayed was not even befitting Dan Brown much less a deity. He told me to "fuck off" and that it was a good name, so I pissed on that burning bush until it went out. I then walked back down the hill, kicking up dirt, thinking about what an idiotic douche-bag god was, when I noticed that the police had arrived. I was then arrested for arson an indecent exposure and I guess the name just kind of stuck after that.
Elliot: Yes that was quite the adventure, but tis not where thy name hath come from. From it....hath...yeah.

Who would you say are your influences?
Chris: Now, I don’t want to compare ourselves to Beatles, because we’re better than they ever were. So, I’ll go ahead and compare our band to Jesus. Our music is similar to Jesus in that it heals the sick, works miracles, and was prophesized by Harold Camping.  Basically, our music will save the world by destroying it, just like Jesus will, except it won't be as cool when he does it.

What is the punk scene like in Chandler?
Elliot: the chris elliot files ARE the punk scene in Chandler. Just kidding, I actually don't really know of any other punk bands currently in Chandler so I decided to say that, but I’m sure there are quite a few good ones other than us.
Chris: It's dangerous, very dangerous…

Describe the song writing process...
Chris: When we first sat down to write, we were having a bit of trouble coming up with ideas. So, I told Elliot about this great technique my dad had for helping to brainstorm when he would help me with my homework. I explained that it involved both of us disrobing and pointing out each other's physical shortcomings to the point of tears and then gently kissing those said shortcomings back into appreciation. He didn't like that idea very much so we just started showing each other ideas we had been working on and went from there.
Elliot: Once we get past Chris's constant attempts to get naked, we kinda bounce ideas off each other until something comes up.

What have you released?
Chris: So far we haven't officially released anything yet, but we have been making some of our demos available on our facebook and soundcloud pages. Once we get a good batch of songs together we will polish them up a bit, make it into an album, and unleash it upon the world at a very reasonable price.

Have you toured?
Chris: We have not yet played any official shows since we have been hard at work on our debut album. When we finish with it we have a couple ideas banging around the ol' noggin. We have been toying with the idea of a limited-run tour of some of the valley's assisted living centers to hopefully expand our 65+ demographic because those are the only type of women I am into. The plan is to hopefully get some of those tasty treats to sleep with me.
Elliot: *throws up*

What do you see is the future of the Chris Elliot Files?
Chris: Well after we finish this record and make a billion dollars off it I plan on getting a decent sized apartment and quitting the job that I don’t have. What about you Elliot?
Elliot: I plan on forcing Chris to work an 80 hour a week business job to "fund the band" then using the money to purchase whistles, pepper spray and karate classes to defend myself against Chris's non-stop physical advances towards me.

How can people contact the band?
Chris: We have a couple of those social networky things. We’re on facebook, twitter, and tumblr. Elliot will post the links below because I have better things to do, bye. Oh and uh, sorry for being an idiot. It really was a pleasure to do this, thank you for the opportunity.
Elliot: Ugh. Ok your majesty...
http://www.facebook.com/thechriselliotfiles
http://thechriselliotfiles.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/chriselliotfile
http://www.vimeo.com/thechriselliotfiles
http://www.youtube.com/thechriselliotfiles

I.R.D. ***New Interview***

I.R.D. is an awesome band from San Antonio, TX. They have an awesome live set and have shared the stage with some really awesome bands. They have also released 3 really awesome albums and 2 EPs. I got Jackass John to tell their story...

Introduce yourself…
Hey, I’m Jackass John singer/guitarist for I.R.D. and guitarist for Murrain. I’ve been playing music for punk bands and metal bands in San Antonio for the past 15 years, 7 of those years with I.R.D.

How did the band start?
I had just quit my punk band No Idea in 2003 and wanted to write my own material. I.R.D. originally was supposed to have more of a hardcore sound like Vision of Disorder or Earth Crisis, but since it was just me writing material, I lacked the ability musically to accomplish anything but lyrics. About a year later in ‘04 I got out of a relationship that fucked with my head bad. I sat down and started writing a song about that girl as a way of telling myself “fuck her, who needs her”. It wasn’t the metal sound I wanted, but it worked and a few of my friends dug it. So I kept on from there. My buddy David joined me and we started writing material for open mic nights and pretty much played as a 2 piece for the next 2 yrs. In 2006 David quit, so I played solo for about another year and recorded the 1st 2 albums by myself. It wasn’t until 2007 when I found a drummer and a few bassists to help play shows as a full band as I.R.D. was intended to play.

How did you come up with the name?
Before the band even existed, I was watching tv one day at home and was flipping through channels when I saw this show called I Am Weasel. I don’t know why, but I left it on that channel and watched the show. There’s a character on the show named I.R. Baboon, and I thought it’d be funny to name a band I.R. Dum or Ime Reely Dum. I actually was going to keep that name until I thought up the name I’d Rather Die. That made more sense and sounded cooler, so I kept it. But, Ime Reely Dum is where I got the I.R.D. initials haha.

Who would you say are your influences?
I’m influenced by many bands like NOFX, Bad Religion, Face to Face, and Sunny Day Real Estate; but the main ones are Nirvana and Social Distortion. I always loved how powerful their music was even if it was considered musically simple. The way Kurt and Mike Ness sang over their music was raw and emotional and everything I wanted to do with mine, whatever genre I sang for.

What is the punk scene like in San Antonio?
I’m not too sure what the scene is like here because I’m a bit antisocial and stick to people I know, but from what I’ve seen here is pretty much how I see it everywhere else. There’s always going to be the elitists who hate everything about bands that don’t conform to their idea of what punk is, like the clothes, the hair, the style of punk music. But there are also a lot of people out there who are just pure fans of music and dig that we don’t try to dress a certain way or act a certain way. They simply just love the music like we do.

Describe the song writing process...
I always get asked this by my non musician friends and the answer is always the same. There is no real process. At least for me there’s not. I have to feel it first. I can have a riff in my mind and I’ll build the song off of that one riff. Or I’ll have a lyric in my head that starts out as a chorus but turns out to be the 1st line of the song. I’d say maybe 70% of I.R.D. songs started with the lyrics though. It all depends on how I feel and get the urge to write or when I’m messing with my guitar and find a nice riff I want to use.

Your first album was 'the Sweet Taste of Bitterness', tell us about the album...
The songs used on The Sweet Taste were pretty much the 1st 9 songs ever written by me, 2 or 3 with the help of David. A common theme in most I.R.D. songs is being heartbroken. The last 2 songs were written while I was recording the album and were based off of conversations I had with a girl I had a huge crush on about how a guy can be head over heels in love with a girl and she’d be totally oblivious to it, or just didn’t care. The Sweet Taste of Bitterness is what I say events like that give me. I recorded every album up until The Good Times EP in my studio Full of It Studios.

How do you feel 'the Beauty of Negativity' differed?
The Beauty consisted of songs written immediately after I wrote most of the songs for The Sweet Taste. The common thread of heartache are there again, but now I started writing more about betrayal of friends and my hatred for them and myself for letting it happen. There’s also a song in there called I Killed David, but it’s not a hatred song. Back when David and I played open mic nights together, his job’s schedule changed where he couldn’t attend a few weeks in a row. I would play the shows by myself and people would always ask where he was at. I’d reply, “I killed him”. Then I had a dream where I actually did, wrote a song about it and he loved it.

Your 3rd album was 'to Olga, Thank Edward', tell us about the album...
To Olga was actually a dare. A coworker, Edward, of mine told me about a documentary called Dig! about The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols. He mentioned how the singer from The Brian Jonestown Massacre was a nut but wrote and recorded an album in a week. I told him I had the time off from work and was left alone for a week I could do the same. So he challenged me to write and record whole new I.R.D. album of 9 songs in 2 weeks, the extra challenge was that they had to be positive. That fucked up my plan haha. A few months before I had gotten into a new relationship with a girl named Olga (she is now my wife) and she was the only thing I loved in my life. So, 8 of those 9 songs are about her. 1 of the songs is about a few fond memories I had of my childhood. So I named the album to her to thank Edward, because if it wasn’t for his challenge I would’ve never had a whole album about her. haha

For your fourth album 'Scratching the Surface', you used previously written songs left out of the 2nd and 3rd album, tell us about the album...
The recording for Scratching the Surface actually started before To Olga but was put on hold for several reasons. To Olga was part of it, but I also had some personal problems, which I’m not getting into, preventing me from completing the recording of Scratching. The album itself is a continuation of songs of heartache, but with a few glimpses of hope. The album is also a way to tell certain people that they don’t really know me as well as they thought they did.

You recently released 'Good Times', tell us about the EP...
Good Times was finally the first album to feature a full band. I updated my studio and was now able to record live drums. All I had to do this album was play guitar and sing. Our bassist Steven Parr and drummer Mark Turner recorded their own parts. The problem is, this album was intended to be a full length. Our bassist went to Iraq for a year for contract work and my friendship with Mark was wearing thin. The preproduction work for the full length never happened. The drum tracks were actually recorded months prior. I.R.D. was pretty much on hiatus until we worked out some problems. During that time I found some drum tracks I had recorded of Mark. I decided I was going to record everything else and just release it like that. Steven came home for vacation and dug what I recorded and wanted to rerecord the bass with him. My old band mate Ryan from No Idea mixed and mastered the album in his studio Sevenne Studios with me and current band mate Chris (who plays bass while Steven is gone and will move to guitar when he returns).

What else have you released?
I released the Nothing Short of Death EP between Scratching and To Olga with a few acoustic recordings and a few demos. Nothing Short of Death is my motto for why we can’t continue doing what we love. Nothing short of death can stop us.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
I.R.D. has played with Green Jelly, Pasadena Napalm Division, Fear, and Agent Orange at some festivals. I only got to meet Kurt from Pasadena and he signed my D.R.I. Crossover vinyl record.

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
I haven’t really played a large venue yet, but I love small clubs. Having the people dancing, singing, and moshing in front of you is just so awesome. You can’t beat that.
 
Have you toured?
We haven’t toured yet but are planning to when Steven returns to the states. We’ve played in Corpus Christi and Borne, TX but no place really out of state. That will change soon.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
Recently while I.R.D. was on hiatus I started playing acoustic shows again and found 2 great bands on 1 bill. Wings of Valkyrie and A Day Like No Other. When we started playing as a full band again we were booked in several shows with both bands and had a blast. I’m glad to say I made some pretty good buds with them.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
I used to like playing at Night Rocker but we got banned because our drummer at the time took his own beer into the venue or some lame shit like that. The guy who runs it is a douche so whatever. It’s hard to find a good place to play in San Antonio because most places treat bands like shit or their sound guys are pricks. As long as I get to play and we make some dough enough to cover our bar tab, I’m fine. haha

What do you see is the future of I.R.D.?
The future of I.R.D. is looking pretty good despite now being short a drummer. We are starting on new material for the next full length, but this time I’m getting help with the writing process. I.R.D. was never supposed to be all me writing everything, it just turned out that way. Now, with Chris helping on guitar and Steven back on bass, our newer songs are going to have more dimensions to it, not just my perspective. I’m excited.

How can people contact the band?
We have a facebook page at www.facebook.com/irdmusic
A reverbation page at www.reverbnation.com/ird
And we also have a twitter www.twitter.com/irdtx

the Terrorists ***New Interview***

The Terrorists are an awesome punk band out of L.A. They have a really cool live set and have shared the stage with some really great band. They also have an awesome EP out. I got the band to tell their story...

Introduce yourself…
H: Hiroshi, drummer.
C: My name's Chris, I play guitar.
E: Ernesto. Singer.

How did the band start?
C: I have not been authorized to answer this question.
H: I don't know.  I am the newest guy.  I met them at the strip club.
E: Chris Roach came to some shows at Highland Park with an early incarnation of the band. Not long after that the guitarist OD’d on his own ego, the drummer choked on his own dick, and the bassist peacefully died in his sleep. After a day or two of grief I figured they would have wanted me to go on, in their memory. So I called Chris. Justin is Chris’ cousin, he started off playing keyboard drums while Emanuel from Mutations filled in on bass. Until Hiroshi, whom I've known for a while, offered himself on drums. Then Justin took over the bass and we were all set.

How did you come up with the name?
C: I have not been authorized to answer this question.
H: They already had it when I joined.
E: God spoke to me in an acid dream. He said, “Thou shalt name the band Thy Terrorists.”

Who would you say are your influences?
E: Buddy Holly, Sumo, Richard Hell, Beatles, Sex Pistols, Misfits, Generation X, Elvis Costello, Alice Cooper, Flema, The Stooges, blah blah blah.
H: Tommy Ramone.
C: Sonics, Dead Kennedys, Velvet Underground, John Frusciante, Stooges, Dead Boys, Minutemen, Gang of Four, many others .
J (via telepathy): Leslie Gore.

What is the punk scene like in L.A.?
C: I believe that L.A. is too large to have one scene. Different areas have their own punk scene with their own sub-genres and sound.
H: I guess same as elsewhere.
E: What punk scene?

Describe the song writing process...
C: Ernesto shows us a song and we all find the most interesting way of playing it.
H: Jamming in the studio
E: Plus old wine and the Retarded Penis acoustic guitar.

You released 'SHOOT IT UP', tell about the EP...
H: I am the newest guy, so don't know.
C: I'm not on it so I have not been authorized to answer this question.
E: It was recorded in April 2011 at Anne Frank’s attic on East Hollywood in 2 hours with 2 mics. Vocals overdubbed at home. The last three songs were recorded at the same place a few months earlier with Jared, who moved back to Indiana. Chris, Justin, and Hiroshi don’t play in those recordings and they always ask from me to stress this point. I guess they believe they have a reputation to maintain.

What else have you released?
C: Nothing yet that I'm aware of.
E: Shoot it up is the first and only thing out. We are recording new songs right now. You are not the one will be the first single to come out.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
H: Don't remember.  One band has 2 girls with decent legs.
C: Ask Ernesto.
E: Bon Jovi, Kiss, Jonas Bros, and U2.

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
H: Doesn't matter.
C: I enjoy the large venues, we've played a lot of those lately.
E: Small.

Have you toured?
C: Nope.
H: Yes.  But not with this band.
E: No. Same as Hiroshi.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
C: Anyone who can tolerate us.
E: U2.
H: The one that has the 2 girls with decent legs.
E: Are you sure it wasn’t 2 dudes with hairy legs?

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
E: Anejo Duddery.
H: Not really.  I play anywhere.
C: Staples center is always fun.

What do you see is the future of The Terrorists?
E: I don’t. I’m short sighted.
H: Getting in trouble because we talk trash a lot.
C: Being on MTV or something really cool like that.

How can people contact the band?
C: Call Justin
E: It’s hard. We move all the time for safety reasons, you can understand that. Unless they hit us up on www.facebook.com/44terror

Disaster Strikes ***New Interview***

Disaster Strikes is an awesome punk band out of Boston. They have a tight live set and have shared the stage with a ton great bands. They have a great album, 7" and split. They have appeared on a few compilations. They have also made it out to the west coast to tour. I got JR to tell their story...

Introduce yourself…
JR: JR, vocalist for the Boston punk band Disaster Strikes.

How did the band start?
JR: The band started in my friend Matt’s basement.  It has been around in one form or another with lineup changes for a while. The band started touring and recording in earnest when Josh joined us on guitar from the band All or Nothing HC around 2006.  Teaming up with Josh was the first step in Disaster Strikes becoming what it is now and getting real about touring and recording. Josh helped teach me the value of shit sounding good and tight both live and in the studio.

How did you come up with the name?
JR: It’s hard to remember. I think it just sounded right.

Who would you say are your influences?
JR: For me personally, I would point to Propagandhi, Dead Kennedys, The Proletariat, Black Flag, The Pist, and others.  For Disaster Strikes, my influences are as much literary and philosophical, as they are musical.  For example, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Cornell West, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Hart Crane have probably had as much or more influence on my contributions to Disaster Strikes than any particular musical influence.

What is the punk scene like in Boston?
JR: If you like going to shows, it seems there’s at least one or two every night that have something to do with punk or hardcore. That can make it tough for touring bands who come to Boston, because generally there are more shows with less people at each show – as compared to back in the nineties. It’s a gamble to list bands worth checking out from your town for risk of excluding others, but some newer Boston DIY bands worth checking out who I’ve seen recently include Opposition Rising, Brain Killer, and Ancient Filth.

You released ‘Liberty Toast’, tell us about the CD...
JR: Liberty Toast is definitely the most avant-garde of our releases, so to speak, very experimental in many aspects – some good and some bad.  We tried a lot of different things on that recording and overall the response was positive. Some of those experiments worked better than others and we’ve definitely had a more disciplined approach in the studio since that release. It was awesome to be able to team up with Jello Biafra and Steve Austin from Today is the Day for guest vocals on that disc and with Winston Smith for the artwork.

You then released 'the Interrogation Sessions', tell us about the 7"...
JR: I feel The Interrogation Sessions was an important 7” for Disaster Strikes.  It was the first record I worked on with Josh whose skills and studio discipline were a big step forward for the band. Thematically, it really took on key injustices of the Bush era, but I think the lyrics offer meaningful content that transcends Bush’s term in office.  That record was a rebirth of the band inspired by the politics of the day, in many respects, and was a much tighter and straight forward recording than Liberty Toast. It’s a record I’m personally very proud of and was stoked to put it out on Alternative Tentacles. We were fortunate to have Amy Toxic contribute some great artwork and to work with Richard Marr and Jeff Lipton locally on the recording.

You then released a split with Bring Down the Hammer, what was it like working with them?
JR: For a couple years, folks who were really absorbing our message on labor justice and workers rights were coming up to us at shows and saying “Hey, there’s this band from Oklahoma that also talks about unions and labor rights like you guys. ” Eventually, we heard Bring Down the Hammer’s recordings, checked out their lyrics, and they were awesome. Chad from BDTH had a great band called Brother Inferior that I was personally a huge fan of.  We were excited to connect with his new project, do some shows with those guys, and make that record happen.  There are not many bands pushing a labor justice message out there.  It’s certainly not the cool thing to do, but BDTH is a band that shares our belief about just how urgent that message is.

What else have you released?
JR: You’ve covered all the important recent releases. There are innumerable compilations out there which we’ve contributed tracks to, live recordings, demos, all kinds of random stuff from over the years – too many to list them all.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
JR: Wow, that would be another long list.  Disaster Strikes has done almost 200 shows at my last count. To name a few of the more well-known bands we’ve played with, you could mention Agnostic Front, Iron Cross, Naked Aggression, The Pist, Jello Biafra (with both the Melvins and Guantanamo School of Medicine), Toxic Narcotic, The Unseen, Resistant Culture, The Pinkerton Thugs, Fucked Up, even Boy Sets Fire at one point… lots of others.

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
JR: Whether it’s a sizeable venue like Gilman or a smaller situation like ABC no RIO, we generally prefer whatever is authentically DIY.  I think we generally enjoy shows the most at places off the grid – warehouses, basement spaces, etc.

Have you toured?
JR: In the United States, we’ve toured the West Coast three times now, the Midwest three times, and did one run through Texas, in addition to stuff on the East Coast. We’ve been to Eastern Canada a few times with our buddies from the band Prevenge out of Montreal.  We’re hoping to hit all those spots and more, incuding Europe, when our new full length comes out in 2012.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
JR: We’re pretty tight with the dudes from Common Enemy and In Defence.  It sounds over the top, but those bands have DIY punk in their veins.  They’re great bands but don’t have a shitty attitude.  They’re authentic, in it for the right reasons, generally chill to hang out with, and down to Earth.  It’s a pretty rare mix of qualities to find.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
JR: Not to exclude any city in particular, but some of my favorite cities to play over the years have included Montreal, Minneapolis, Seattle, Chico, and Phoenix – all for different reasons.  We want to play everywhere.  People should email us because we tour pretty frequently and are totally open to going to new places and to new venues in places we’ve been to in the past.

What do you see is the future of Disaster Strikes?
JR: Priority number one right now is writing new songs and recording a new full length album.  After that, we will tour to support that album.  Integral to that process, as always, is continuing to promote the social justice causes that we believe in, particularly right now doing what we can to support and show solidarity with the Occupy movement.  We’re going to continue encouraging folks to use sweatshop-free merch.  We’re going to continue to support local organizing causes and the message of organized labor.  The next album is also going to definitely touch on broader societal issues like homophobia and immigration rights.  I’m just sick of all the immigrant and gay bashing going on in this country and the media.  Once the album’s out, we hope that we’ll be touring Europe in the near future, and perhaps parts of Latin American or Japan down the road.

How can people contact the band?
JR: Join our email list hosted by RiseUp at www.disasterstrikes.net or email disasterstrikesemail(at)yahoo.com.

the Bloodclots ***New Interview***

the Bloodclots are an amazing punk band from Seattle, WA. They have an amazing live set and have shared the stage with a ton of punk bands. They have toured all over the US and some places outside. They also have some amazing recordings. I have had the pleasure of promoting a show they played and they are all really great guys. Having known the band since the 90s, they have a great name throughout the western US and very loyal followers. It was my pleasure to get Jim to try to tell thier story...

Introduce yourself...
Hey I'm Jim drummer #2.

How did the band start?
I dont know exactly I was in another band that we actually played with the Bloodclots on their first show.

How did you come up with the name?
I don't know but some trivial information on the bloodclots is that it morphed from colonial times of the redcoats to bloodcoats to bloodclots, bloodyclots interesting huh?

Who would you say are your influences?
Shit I'm the younngest of 7 kids growing up in the late sixties early seventies in Montana to boot so everything country, western... I'm joking kind of. Classic Rock My brother turned me on to Ac/DC and other stuff. Kiss Alive 2 rocked my world in 74. Metal in high school.

What was the Seattle punk scene like back in 1994?
Wow the year Spurt Blowbrain went out like a punk and G.G. Allen went out like a rockstar Seattle was AWESOME middle of grunge and the punks were so full of that shit, alot of fuck that attitude and going in the complete opposite direction. Crust... Inhumane, Pregasm, Pissdrunks, Bristle, North American Bison, Rubber, Chicken, the Suffocated.

How do you feel it has changed?
Well everything changes... I can only speak for my experience.  I think there was some just going through the motions and I don't mean the Bloodclots but I feel that everybody was pretty comfortable with things until lately. It's pretty cool that people are actually getting pist off enough to protest.... the wars, wallstreet I never thought I would see that, people getting off their asses and saying something. Maybe it's the start of a movement, or hell I'll just say it REVOLUTION.

What was the song writing process back then?
That's a tough one. The easy answer is, I'm speaking for myself but, grab the bong, the bottle, get fucked up and play. stuff just came together.

How has the song writing process changed?
Well now I look back and want to be able to do something different than I did before. So sometimes when I want to try something alittle different I'll give the other guys a heads up and say hey Im tryin this so let me know if it's o.k. I start now with just keeping basic time and then let the other guys work out guitar and bass stuff, then I want the song to kick so I  go for what I hear and what sounds good. The other guys will let me know what they think. That's all I have to say about that.

What caused the band to take a hiatis back in 2002?
I don't know, I was busy raising my daughter and doing my own thing.

Tell us about your first EP 'Chaos Day is Almost Here'.
I wasn't there for that.  I can say that Sean was afuckin rockin drummer on the album.

Over the years the band has had a few drummers, can you tell us about the current lineup?
#2 IS BACK !!!

Your LP 'Clot You to Rot', was your first full length, tell us more about it...
For me, I was in 3 bands at the time, so I was touring, recording, and practicing alot. I've been listening to that album while I'm riding my bicycle to and from work the past couple of days. It,s pretty good. Good production, good sound. It's hard to get a studio album to kick like live.

Tell us about your most current release 'Let this be your Reveille'.
I wasn't on it. Nicky did a fucking awesome job. Trying to play like another drummer is challenging, getting their licks down.

How do you feel it differs from the first album?
I'm glad they had another drummer for Reveille, I don't know if I could have made it so that it's different from Rot.

Where have you guys toured?
We've toured all over the U.S. We just got back from Brazil.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
I'm not going to name names. The Bloodclots is all that matters to me, and if we can bring great shows then it's all bueno

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
As long as the big venues are full of people. Nothing like playing a big venue with no people to put you in your place.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
For me, I love and remember the shows at the Rockcandy with PoisonIdea, and the Accused. I'm getting old so my memory is not so sharp as I'd like. There's been alot of good times.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
Not really. If family and friends can show up that makes it special.

What do you see is the future of the Bloodclots?
The Bloodclots are comin' and we're comin' for you. We're takin' over join us, join us or fuck you.

How can people contact the band?
Do I look like the Publicist, or the manager. I don't know how did you contact us??

Angels of Mischief ***New Interview***

Angels of Mischief are an awesome punk band out of LA County, CA. They blow up any stage they appear on. They have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with so many legendary bands, as well. They have appeared on great complilation records and have an awesome EP out. They have also toured the west coast of the US. I got Jonny to tell their story...

Introduce yourself…
Well, we are A.O.M./Angels of Mischief a 4 piece punk band out of the San Gabriel Valley.(L.A. County) Been playing backyards, shitty bars and clubs since 2007.
Moses rodriguez-Vocals
Danny Gonzales-Drums
Jonny Medina-Bass
Jonnathan Pinkard-Guitar

How did the band start?
The band was started by the original guitarist/singer Gabe Sandoval with his long time friend Nick C. playing drums. Then I came along and jumped on bass, (moses) and we got this bitch rolling.

How did you come up with the name?
Well that too, was something that Gabe sandoval came up with. I'm not sure how he did so, but I  know he came up with the name while doing 90 day in L.A. County jail.

Who would you say are your influences?
Thats a tricky one right there. We all seem to be influenced by so many different bands,and styles of music. But to narrow it down a whole bunch,musically we would say alot of the early 80's L.A. punk/lots of skate punk/and even some fucking metal!!hahahaa. As far as us in general,we would say just the normal every day bullshit the rest of the world deals with influences us. Mostly alchohol, and some drugs.(kidding)

What is the punk scene like in San Gabriel Valley?
Well here in the SGV its actually really active.Actually the whole L.A area is full of lots of great bands,and plenty of punks to support the scene.But with the lack of all ages venues in the area,most punk shows are held in local bars or some kids back yard....but that's where the punks can just hang out,slam,and do whatever they like to do at a gig.Without having to deal with rules and restrictions that most venues make you abide by.But recently there has been a spot for all ages shows here in the SgV that has been holding some great punk shows within the past year. Its a really rad thing for the local punks to get to see some really good touring bands come through this area. And be free from the cops raiding the show.

Describe the song writing process...
For the most part it really starts off with some beer,weed,and a lil riff on the guitar.We just start of with something small and keep adding till we have something that sounds good.Or one of us will just work on stuff on our own and bust it out at a prcatice session.But we are really really slow when it comes to writing new stuff.Its probably the beer and pot.

What have you released?
We have released :
5 song E.P. (The Drug spell E.P.)
Black Power Records Vol 3(Black Power Records0
California Attacks Compilation (Innocence Lost records)
AOM/Los Mercs split E.P.
We also have a bunch of tracks we will be putting out soon on various compilations and split c.d's.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
We've been lucky enough to play same the stage with some really rad bands since we have been at this. We've played with Dr Know, Naked Aggression, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Circle One, Decry, M.D.C, Battalion of Saints, Los Creepers, Verbal Abuse, Civil Disgust, Neighborhood Watch, Y.A.P.O, and tons of other rad bands bands from So Cal.

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
We pretty much will play any size,or type of venue,just about anywhere.As long as its not a pay-to play type of thing,were down to play it.We really dig playing shows/gigs and having a great time doing it. As long as some one wants to hear our stuff,we'll be there to fuck shit up.

Have you toured?
Yeah, actually we were lucky enough to do a lil traveling in the summer of 2010.
We did some fun shows in Portland Oregon, Eugene Oregon, and San Fransisco Ca. We met lots of cool heads on the road.We got to hang out with one of our favorite bands MDC.Hooked them up w a bunch of AOM merch to sport up there in portland.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
There isnt a specific band we like playing show with.For the most part we really like doing shows with old and new friends.There are lots of bands here in the SGV and LA area we have a good time playing with.(ie:YAPO/THE WIFE BEATERS/LOS MUGROSOS/B.P.D )and our homies in L.A. (THE CONVICTS/LOS MERCS/SOCIAL CONFLICT/The PIN's) and a ton more!! Lots of rad bands!!)

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
We dig playing any spot/venue. Bars,basements,backyards,garages,empty lots,were down for anything. We enjoy a spot in Las Vegas we play twice a year. A really cool spot called Yayo tacos. They can hook up some good tacos and a really good all ages punk show!(thnx to the big homie James in vegas)Also the Gutter Squad pad in South central La. That spot goes off sick!But the backyards are where its at!! Its the bast way to play in front of 200 or more drunk angry punk kids.shit can get hectic in the backyard scene,but we wouldnt have it any other way.

What do you see is the future of Angels of Mischief?
Well, we plan on putting out some more material,(e.p.;s/splits and a full album in 2012) some new merch and hopefully another longer tour in spring/summer 2012. So all you punker sluts reading this,book us in your town! we'll bring the 40's!!!

How can people contact the band?
We can be contacted for booking through face book.I know it sucks to use the internet to book and promote,but its the easiest way to do so.
You can also find a shitload of our footage from shows and practice sessions on our youtube channel.
Just search for Angels of Mischief,and all sorts of shit will pop up!

American Lesion ***New Interview***

American Lesion is an awesome punk band from Atlanta, GA. They put on an awesome live set and have shared the stage with some of the legends of punk rock. They have toured the southwest US. They also have released an awesome EP and full length album. I got Johnny to tell their story...

Introduce yourself…
I am Johnny Bill, the vocalist for American Lesion.

How did the band start?
Back in May of 2009 I started talking with our original bassist concerning the general concept. And it basically took off pretty quick. By July of that year the original lineup was together and already had basically a full set of songs together. We were lucky in that respect, i mean we already had a good set to work with.

How did you come up with the name?
Well honestly I cannot remember who said it first, but I do remember that everyone was very happy with the name because we felt it definently described the general sentiment within the band. Our songs generally have a "theme" concerning the darker side of america.

Who would you say are your influences?
I would say that the band as a whole has been infuenced by just about every genre, but for the sake of keeping a purist answer, I will list some of the biggest influences here: Sex Pistols, Misfits, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Guns N Roses, Pantera, PIL, Beatles, Nirvana, etc.......the list is huge to say the least.

What is the punk scene like in Atlanta?
I have never seen the punk scene be worth a damn in Atlanta as a whole, but there are several bands like ours out here that really try to incorporate those core elements of punk into what they write. The music scene in general in Atlanta seems fucked, hopefully that will change soon.

Describe the song writing process...
Generally, one of us will come up with a riff or something that we are really passionate about. Then the rest of the band will add their distinctive part to it. Occasionally one person will really put it together, but there is always room for additional changes as the song progresses. We really try to consider every single song it's own epic piece.

You released 'the Black Plague Revival', tell us about the album...
That album is absolutely full of blood, sweat, and tears.....but not recorded very well. The songs on the album have become staple tunes at our shows, and all really have a very "anthemic" quality to them. There is no doubt, the album will always be special because of it's recording process as well as the crazy fucking shows we played to support the album. Those shows earned us several titles, our favorite being "America's Most Debaucherous band"!

What else have you released?
We released 1 ep in 2009 called "The worst of many" which contained 3 songs. (We also have a pretty massive collection of recorded material from that time period that has actually not been released for various reasons.) Then we released our first full length album in May of 2010. Our second full length is due out December 1st 2011.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
We have played with some really great bands and have shared the stage with a few people we grew up listening to: The Misfits, The Murder Junkies, Fuel, 10 Years, FLAW, Jackyl.....we have had some really good ones so far.

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
Really difficult to answer that. The smaller clubs are great and can create a much more intimate environment for interaction with fans. But there are advantages to the large venues, such as sound systems that are superior and usually a broader audience to play for.

Have you toured?
Just around the southeast really. This new album will open up more touring opportunities which we are really excited about! There are many fans in the midwest and northeast that have been begging for us to get to their areas, so we are going to do it.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
We have done some of our best shows with Holocaustion, a great band from Warner Robins, Ga. We also have enjoyed playing shows with iNgrain, another great band from the atlanta area.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
The Clermont Lounge in Atlanta, Ga.....hands down! Tits, liquor, and good music.

What do you see is the future of American Lesion?
This new album is very exciting! I believe that our best work is yet to come, and I am always optimistic about the new things we may try. People will be quite surprised with this new stuff for many reasons. We are just really looking forward to seeing the reactions....

How can people contact the band?
The band website is www.officialamericanlesion.com
For bookings or all other info. we can be reached through our management at officialamericanlesion@gmail.com

the Drastics ***New Interview***

The Drastics are an awesome punk band out of the UK. They have a great live set and have shared the stage with some awesome bands. They also have an awesome 4 song EP out as well. I got Tony to tell their story...

Introduce yourself...
Tony 2 stroke, guitar noises and cocking up.

How did the band start?
Myself and Dave were jamming cos there was not else to do, then Liam turned up one day and started ranting down a microphone and it seemd to work. Then Jennie turned up a week or two later and made the mistake of saying she had a bass....

How did you come up with the name?
I'd like to reveal a really witty and amusing anecdote about the name, but I honestly can't remember how we came about it.

Who would you say are your influences?
Personally, pop punk stuff like Ramones, Screeching Weasel, etc. and a load of ska and earlier punk bands. I can't play as good as any of em, so we probably dont sound like any of em either.

What was the punk scene like in the UK?
When? Now? It's ok, things like rebellion festival get a big crowd but it's always the same big name bands but, more people need to turn up to support the smaller/newer bands at local gigs in pubs. It not only helps the bands but the pubs as well, and where we be without pubs?

Describe the song writing process...
I don't think we have a process. sometimes myself or dave might have a full set of lyrics and music to go with it, though mostly it starts with just a little riff and then takes us ages to turn it into a full grown song.

What have you released?
we've got a 4 track ep at the moment called "fuck Romance" that you can get from your local Drastics gig.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
Sham 69, Ed Tudor Pole, Discharge, Anti-Nowhere League, Goldblade, Kingcrows, Threshold Shift, the Original Negatives...

Have you toured?
Not really. we'll play whereever will have us, sometimes we even get to see out of yorkshire! (its scary out there).

Do you prefer small clubs or large venues?
Larger ones are ok but sometimes if its a crap turnout its more obvious, whereas smaller ones can be a lot of fun, and its easier to shout a mate to get you a drink in mid-set.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
Well that would be favouritism. The Negatives, Threshold shift and The kingcrows have been nice enough to ask us to make them look good at gigs quite a few times.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
Hmm, not sure. we seem to have a few places that are abit cursed for us when we play, like the snooty fox in wakefield, i always cock up in some shape or form there.and its filmed for the whole internet to see. its a good venue though. braford itself has gone a bit downhill for places to play, theres not as there used to be, not in the centre at least.

What do you see is the future of the Drastics?
More songs more gigs and hopefully some more people liking what we do. or at least tolerating it.

How can people contact the band?
through our facebook page, or have a listen to few of our stuff on http://www.reverbnation.com/thedrasticspunk
Cheers!