Features / One Question Interviews

John (Dead Bars)

SPB: What does your name mean?

John: It comes from a long history of drinking by myself at bars with no one in them.

Lionel Ziblat (Modest Midget)

SPB: Which music by classical composers do you think has held up the best into the 21st century? 

Lionel: Great question! Since it's also a great passion of mine to write for Classical instances (choirs, orchestras and chamber), I try to keep in touch with contemporary Classical music as well. You'll be amazed how much …

Chuck Stern (Stern)

SPB: How do you draw the line between taking influence and mimicking?

Stern: I think of this as reverential versus referential. Influences are what shape us. They're crucial, but I've never really wanted to cover anyone else's songs or duplicate a specific style. Mimicry falls flat and is often reduced to what it isn't. …

Kenny Brown (Loud Boyz-vocals)

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

Brown: I'm pretty much exactly the same! Loud Boyz is derived from the same punk bands we grew up listening to in high school. Before this band I was in …

Jim (Boilerman)

SPB: What’s with the numerical song titles on the EP? 

Jim: The deal with the numerical song titles for the 10" is two-fold. First, all the songs on the record deal with really similar subject matter -- they're all more or less about different facets of existential anxiety. I also feel like the songs flow together …

Zach (Pears)

SPB: Who is the best band happening in New Orleans right now?

Zach: The best band happening in Nola right now is a country band called Yes Ma'am. They busk on Royal Street and are planning on touring in the fall if they can get enough money together to buy a limousine. Yes, this is real …

Dan Webb (Dan Webb and the Spiders-vocals/guitar)

SPB: How likely are you to pick up a record based off its cover with no knowledge of the band or music?

Webb: I am not likely to buy a record on the strength of its cover art alone. Record space is in short supply at the Webb house which means …

Valenten (Askrinn)

SPB: What is your favorite music related film or documentary?

Valenten: Probably, it would be Whiplash, the recently-released jazz drumming movie. Although jazz is a genre I almost never listen to, I can only but acknowledge the quality drum patterns in this film, and I was truly mesmerized by the intense drum solo at the …

Slim Cessna (Slim Cessna’s Auto Club)

SPB: You recently played at a brewery in Minneapolis. What are some of the more off the beaten path venues you’ve played and what are some pros and/or cons at such settings?

Cessna: 15 years ago or so we played a curling club in Perth, Ontario. Munly Munly and I were so …

All Eyes West (Justin)

SPB: Have you ever forgotten lyrics mid-song? How did you recover?

Justin: Oh yeah! Totally. It's happened more times than I'd like to admit. Sometimes during a show, my mind will just wander off on random thoughts. Especially on a long tour. You're playing the set every night for a couple weeks straight and …

Cape Noire

SPB: What prompted you to choose a black cape as a sartorial statement and a band name? 

CN: Cape Noire came out of me one day as it is. The black cape is not a garment, it’s a character in itself. We don’t really know who is under the cape: a man, a woman, or dozens …

High Priests (Mikey)

SPB: How did you “discover” punk rock?

Mikey: Well, like a lot of folks out there, I had older relatives who got me into music; who started bands; and brought music I had never heard into my ears. I’d watch my cousin practice at my Aunt’s house and then they’d show me a cd or …

Mike Stoloski (Ma Jolie – vocals/guitar)

SPB: Is there a particular interview question that you’d prefer to never answer again?

Stoloski: Well, this is a hard question to answer. I feel bad criticizing the people who take the time to ask me questions about my music and sit through the rambling, incoherent answers I give back to then …

A Death Cinematic

SPB: What is the fewest people you’ve ever played to? How does the crowd size affect your approach?

ADC: I have only played a handful of shows and playing live is a fairly new development for A Death Cinematic. Tthe fewest people i played for was 10 or so.

At this point, I don’t really …

Bo Lueders (Wolfnote)

SPB: Assign each member of your band to a character from Sex in the City.

Lueders: I think I'm the only one in the band who watched this show, and growing up with a single mother I have definitely seen the entire series a few times all the way through, so I can wield …

Angel Bond (Cusses)

SPB: What’s the weirdest description you’ve heard of your music? Do you think it’s accurate in any way or can you see where it came from?

Bond: The weirdest description we have gotten is we are weirdos. How's that for weird?"

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 …

Sal Medrano (Rebuilder – vocals/guitar)

SPB: Who is the first musician whose technique really stood out to you?

Medrano: While I play guitar and sing in Rebuilder, I grew up playing drums. I really wanted to push myself to become a better drummer when I listened to the Vandals and saw them open for No Doubt. Josh Freese …

Matthew Ryan

SPB: Is there a regional food you look forward to when you tour?

Ryan: One of the best parts of touring is getting to enjoy the local culture and foods. My times in Italy stand as my favorite experiences, meal after meal. Late night focaccia fresh out of the oven in some ancient square to absorb …

Tom White (Frog)

SPB: What do you remember of playing your first live show?

White: We played 15 second covers as a house band for a live improv comedy show. We played between acts, but most of the acts didn't know we were going to play, so they would walk out and start talking, and then have to …