Bobby Hussy (The Hussy/Fire Heads/Cave Curse/Kind Turkey Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2017? (In order 1-5)
ISS - Endless Pussyfooting
My favorite new band in forever. Confrontational, edgy and dancey punk rock. Most songs are based around drum samples from '70s and '80s punk, kraut and goth staples such as The Cure, Faust, and the Slits. This is the most unique record I've heard in half a decade at least.
Peter Perret - How The West Was Won
Ex The Only Ones first album in fifteen years. Fantastic meandering rock with conversationalist vocals. Opening track is an awesome reworking of "Sweet Jane."
Wood Chickens - Countrycide
Meat Puppets meets Minutemen meets Dead Milkmen.This record has it all! Rock, surf, psych, country, punk, hardcore, speedy indie, and everything in between. Madison's finest local band.
Vacation - Southern Grass/The Continuation Of Rock N Roll
Probably the best underground punk band in the country currently. Just got off a tour supporting the Breeders. This band has written some of the finest catchy punk-pop songs over the last decade. Their new record is two volumes, and both are completely essential and work off of each other extremely well. Lo-fi experiments interspersed between the catchy fist pumpers.
The Smells - Manure Spreader
Local country punks. Angular Jesus Lizard guitar meets the lo-fi rock of GBV with a dash of slacker indie along the lines of early Pavement. Home recorded by the band in true DIY fashion.
2. What band did you discover in 2017 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
ISS - Best new band in forever. Well I had known the dudes in it from their previous projects...most notably Whatever Brains, who I had booked in Madison about 5 years ago. Really great band!
3. How will you remember 2017? (In terms of music)
The year everything went pretty synthy. Lot more excellent synth happening. Kind of an end of an era for Garage-Rock I think.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2018?
The first Hussy live LP ever! Then maybe a new Hussy LP full of new tracks. The Cave Curse record just came out but it's basically gonna be coming out on January 13th in Madison. That's when I have the release show planned.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2018?
The new Wood Chickens record I've been recording for a month, the new Proud Parents record I've been recording for a year, and the No Hoax record that I've been recording for 2 years. As for records I'm not working on: The new Digital Leather record, probably a new Sneaks record. Who knows. We'll see what's in store when it comes around.
6. For most, 2017 will be remembered as a year of political and social conflict. How does that cultural atmosphere influence your own music or artistic life?
I try to use my pent up anger and energy as a catalyst for creating music. I never have been much of a politically charged music guy so I try to keep politics out of my music but I know that for a lot of people it's a good way to get it out as well. it's just not for me. I'd rather use the energy playing and beating up a guitar and whatnot, but maybe not base my band and lyrics around politics.
