Features / One Question Interviews

Tempest

SPB: What was your favorite band in high school? How do they influence your songwriting today?

c.a: There are probably only a handful of bands that Tempest as a whole can agree on enjoying. Now, take that handful and whittle it down to bands that we have been listening to for the past 15 years. There really …

Mazz-1 (The Pests)

SPB: What was the first punk show you attended?

Mazz-1: If I remember correctly, the first one I attended was one that I played at 15 years old. I don't even remember the name of my band at the time. We opened for New Jersey band Catch 22 at Storyville in New Orleans French Quarter.

Lee M. Bartow, AKA Theologian Prime (Theologian, Annihilvs Power Electronix)

SPB: Do you have a favorite type of van or bus?

Bartow: Here I am with my friend and bandmate Fade Kainer's van, while stopping for a leg stretch in Vermont en route to Montreal in June 2015. This 2003 Ford E350 has been modified with a welded …

Michael Guggino (The Space Merchants)

SPB: What is your primary tour food?

We really don't have a primary tour food, though we are very into food. We always like to get the standout food in the cities we tour. Like pulled pork sandwiches at Tony Luke's in Philly or Joe's Kansas City BBQ. Ani is a vegetarian so …

Mike Kilker (Tidemouth-vocals)

SPB: What do you think of bands playing an entire album as a tour concept?

Kilker: I love when bands that haven't toured in a while play an old record that everyone knows, the record that made people fall in love. I'm a nostalgic guy. On the other hand, if your new record just came …

Viktor (Tear Them Down)

SPB: Do you take any precautions to stay healthy while on the road?

Viktor: Well I think any member of any band have a brief moment before going on tour like the scene in Backstage Passport where Fat Mike puts a ton of random pills in a toiletry bag. Whether it is only some …

Martin Stewart (Terror – guitar)

SPB: Do you read press written about you?

Stewart: After playing in bands for about 15 years now, I have to say that I don't. I'll read an occasional good review here and there if it's brought to my attention by somebody I know. I definitely don't watch any video interviews that I've …

Skye (Terminal Sound System)

SPB: Your use of effects in Dust Songs reveals a quite out of the box thinking from your part. Can you describe the process of applying effects to your music? Does it happen as you are recording or in the mixing stage? Can you also give us some of your favorite effects? Can be software …

Jon Balun (The Brokedowns)

SPB: You scream a lot. Has that gotten easier or harder on your voice as you're no longer in your 20s?

Balun: I have talked to my personal physician. He strongly agrees with my strict regimen of cigarette smoking and whiskey shots to warm up the ol' vocal cords. He also recommends that Kris, …

Mike Blaha (The Blind Shake)

SPB: You have now released records on a lot of labels. What do you enjoy about changing affiliation with each release?

Blaha: I think the best part about label Mormonism is discovering the newer or lesser publicized bands on a label. For example, Thee Oh Sees are one of the best bands on …

Thou

SPB: What is your favorite part about the recording process? 

Andy: Overdubs, without a doubt. James Whitten, our recording guy/sound guru, is really good at helping us create outlandish sounds that end up sitting way back in the mix. I sometimes wonder if people listening to our records even notice them. Sometimes it's just banging on a …

Marc Euvrie (The Eye of Time)

SPB: In your self-titled album, you had a more aggressive outlook and quite a different instrumentation for your music. What signaled the change from that to the more peaceful aura of Acoustic? And what does that change signify for you? 

Euvrie: It is not a change movement, it's just an experimentation. …

Witt (The Wild)

SPB: Do you embrace the folk/punk genre?

Witt: Sometimes embracing a genre can be very limiting. The amazing thing about the folk/punk world is that there is an incredible amount of freedom to express yourself however you want. Folk/Punk is more than a musical aesthetic to me. It is a community, a mindset, and a …

James Goodson (Teen Death, guitar/vocals)

SPB: Who is your favorite band to see live?

Goodson: I think my favorite band to see live is AFI. Not only are they one of my favorite bands in general, they also kill it live. Every show feels special and epic: they always seem like they're giving it everything they've got. They …

Toby Driver

SPB: How have your musical taste evolved over the years? Do you think your “high school self” would appreciate the music you make now?

Driver: I think my aesthetics are still similar to what they were when I was in high school, but I'm quite a bit more open-minded when it comes to the social implications …

Russ Van Cleave (The Tim Version)

SPB: What got you interested in pursuing science on a professional level?

Van Cleave: There are a lot of different reasons, but the easiest answer I could probably give would be high school physics. I quit marching band my senior year so I could free up room to take a physics class. …

Dan (True Widow)

SPB: Are genre labels important to assign to music? 

Dan: I don't think genre labels are important. I do think they are helpful. When I get asked what kind of music we play I always say rock music. Not very helpful. Then I start saying things like 'it's heavy and slow. But not aggressive heavy. …

Isaac Thotz (The Arrivals, Treasure Fleet)

SPB: Have you ever hooked your dangling earrings on anything?

Thotz: I've hooked them on countless things all over the universe that I'm unaware of; I've misplaced at least thirty or forty. I was down to one earring for about six months there a little while back. It was my favorite, so …

Eric Quach (This Quiet Army)

SPB: How big is your record collection?

Quach: 466 CDs, 109 vinyls, 16 cassettes!

Tesco Vee (The Meatmen)

SPB: What’s the best love song ever written?

Vee: George Jones - "He Stopped Loving Her Today"