Features / One Question Interviews

Rocco (Bankrupt – vocals/bass/lyrics)

SPB: You release albums both in your mother tongue and in English. Which do you prefer and why? 

Rocco: The original concept when we started the band was singing only in English, as most of our influences were British and American punk rock bands.

But while this made it easier to play abroad, …

Dez Dare

SPB: You’ve been very prolific in releasing records of late. How do you keep yourself motivated?

Dez Dare: I have always been fluid and flowing in ideas, whether people want to hear them or not. When I was younger I had trouble culling which ideas were better than others, a hot mess of concepts, styles, and …

Nick Bitikofer (Heavy Weather)

SPB: How much space in your home is dedicated to music storage (either media or instruments)?

Bitikofer: I'm fortunate enough to have a pretty good sized basement, which acts as a music room and hang out space. I'd say about half of the space is set up for band rehearsal with drums, amps, guitars, …

Terry (Dot Dash)

SBP: Your new album title is a nod to the Buzzcocks. What’s your favorite deep cut from the band?

Terry: My favorite Buzzcocks song is/was/always will be “Love You More'” -- there are tons of great ones by them, but that's my fave.  

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Dot Dash on bandcamp.

Jim Fitzpatrick (ZEPHR)

SPB: What was the first band you were ever in? What style of music did you (try to) play? 

Fitzpatrick: My first ever band was called The Stone Giants. I was in 8th grade, and I started the band with my neighbors who lived a couple doors down. Our drummer was eight years old, and …

Won’t Stay Dead

SPB: As your recent releases have been called Purgatory and 3 Hits from Purgatory is there going to be a similar theme to your next release and what can we expect?

Won't Stay Dead: You can expect something a little different for the next album. We have finally made it out of purgatory. We can’t …

Josh Levine (Middle-Aged Queers)

SPB: Tell us about the day you bought your current (primary) bass and why you chose it.

Levine: I bought my current primary bass in the ‘90s at Univibe Music (RIP) in Oakland. It’s a DanElectro Longhorn, ‘90s reissue. I thought it was black. I played it and really liked the feel of it, …

The Abruptors

SPB: Who is your favorite band/artist you discovered on your last tour?

Mike & Toni: I think we're going with The Filthy Radicals: high-energy ska punk. A real treat to watch and hang out with!

Caitlin Edwards (Bumsy and the Moochers )

SPB: What was the first song you learned to play on your current instrument? 

Edwards: "Basket Case" (Green Day)

Arik Victor (Goddamnit)

SPB: Who is your favorite Philadelphia band of all time? 

Victor: Kid dynamite.

Tristan Welch (Requiem/Sutras)

SPB: You often primarily play a very ambient style – How do you typically begin the songwriting process for a composition?

Welch: What's funny with me is that my ambient style is really just a punk or hardcore song. It's just over the years of not having full bands available or people who like the …

Battery Licker

SPB: As a synthy band, I’ll assume you keep up with tech changes. How has the increasingly digitalization of the music industry changed how you consume or listen to music?

Battery Licker: The increased digitization of the music industry has translated to us listening to a lot of artists through streaming services when we’re on the …

Trevor (Hopper – guitar/vocals)

SPB: What is the best (or worst) reunion show you’ve seen?

Trevor: By far, the best reunion show I've seen was Jawbox. They did not fuck around with their musical legacy. They clearly put the work into living inside their material after years away and it enabled them to perform those intricate songs masterfully. …

Taxi Girls

SPB: Have you ever forgotten lyrics mid-song? How did/do you recover?
Thanks for asking us! We have two singers and this actually happens to us -- especially with new songs! 

Jamie Radu: I usually just sing the line or verse over twice…or three times!

Vera Bozickovic: I definitely have blanked more than once and didn't …

Flesh Produce

SPB: What is your go-to tour food?

Karl: Tacos. You can't really fuck them up, they're light enough to have right before you go on, but you can make them a heavier meal if you want by just having more tacos. Also, shout out Situ Tacos, owned and run by Lupe, the drummer of Wild Powwers, …

Jeremiah Duncan (Small Steps – guitar/vocals)

SPB: How did Small Steps, the band, come to be?

Duncan: Small Steps started in late 2023 outside Lexington, Kentucky when me (Jeremiah) and Coty -- our drummer -- got together in a crammed office and started writing music. We had an idea of what style of band we were wanting to …

Courtney (Black Adidas)

SPB: Looking at the growth between your first and second albums, what stands out to you most about how Black Adidas is taking shape?

Courtney: I would say what stands out to me the most is that our live sound is really starting to feel more alive, and more exciting to us. The band is …

Jono Giralt (Stress Positions – drums)

SPB: Walk us through your drum kit and how you arrived at your sizes, etc.

Giralt: I play on a Tama Starrclassic. All Bubinga shells. 12”, 18”, and 24”. Charcoal grey, I guess? They look nice. I’ve been playing the Ludwig raw copper phonic snare. 6.5”x14”. Honestly the best snare I’ve ever …

Taylor (Pretend Molly – guitar)

SPB: Every time I see your name I have to get past the mental association with an Irish-style punk band, so I have to ask: What is the story behind the name Pretend Molly?

Taylor: So we had been struggling to come up with a name for a while, never really having one …

Watermelon

SPB: Who does the majority of the band’s driving? (Why? Any stories?)

Watermelon: Erika definitely drives the most even though she has the smallest car. Both Erika and Ali have mini stacks and Jared usually only brings breakables so we have the Tetris of loading in and out all figured out. When we opened for The Spits, …