Features / One Question Interviews

Universe217

SPB: As far as I know you record your music at your own studio. Do you think that that allows you to be more creative? Having more time to try out different things?

Universe217: We have our own studio, yes. We actually never produced a record other way, so I can’t really compare it with not doing it …

Paul Rivera (La Armada – guitar)

SPB: What is the secret to a successful tour?

This question is more complex than it seems. I think the answer varies a lot depending on so many factors like what size of band is touring, what’s the main goal of the tour, and other logistical issues. At the root of it, …

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. …

Scott Wilkinson (Scene Point Blank)

SPB: What album changed or had the biggest impact on your life?

WIlkinson: I would have to say Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles. The record came out when I was 12 and dominated my record player (yeah I'm that old). The Eastern influence was there in “Within You Without …

Aaron H (Scene Point Blank)

SPB: What's a band totally outside of your typical stylistic preferences that's you're an avid fan of?

Aaron: I'd say there are two answers I could give for this. I grew up with a mom obsessed with ‘90s pop/alt-country so a lot of that was playing in the house while I was growing …

Spyros Stasis (Scene Point Blank)

SPB: What was the best show you have seen this past year? 

Stasis: It has to be the gig Neurosis did in Athens back in July (2014). I had seen them twice in the UK, but that last time in Athens really stood out for me. I mean, when you see them at …

Loren (Scene Point Blank)

SPB: Which is the most difficult and which is the most enjoyable part of being an editor for a music webzine?

Loren: The most difficult is simply finding time. As a global site that, in turn, means we get submissions from everywhere and at all hours of the day. The most enjoyable part is …

Nate Pischke (United Teachers of Music)

SPB: What role does humor play in songwriting?

Pischke: Humor doesn’t play a role in our music. We’re serious as fuck and I’m pretty upset that you’d even ask that.

Recreant

SPB: What’s the largest crowd you’ve played to? Did you approach it differently?

Recreant: Not really sure, we approach every show differently. It just depends on the space. We have played for crowds that have just been the other bands, to almost 200 people. We prefer playing on the floor to a stage. A house show or …

Joel Tannenbaum (Plow United, The Rentiers, Ex Friends)

SPB: As a musician, do you find terminology such as “side project” to be relevant to you in any way?

Tannenbaum: In my experience, once a band starts being perceived as a side project, it's pretty much dead. So yeah, I'd say I find the term to be highly relevant!

Stephen Pierce (Kindling, Ampere)

SPB: Rank these listening options: cd, vinyl, digital, cassette, (other?)

Pierce: 8 track, floppy disc, player piano, minidisc, wax cylinder.

From worst to best. 

Scott (Kowloon Walled City)

SPB: Do you think that more bands are getting robbed nowadays? Has it happened to you?

Scott: It seems like lately you read about another band's van getting stolen or broken into every week. Fortunately, it hasn't happened to us yet. We try to be careful. We don't leave our van unattended when …

CJ Ramone

SPB: In what setting are you least likely to wear a leather jacket?

Ramone: On the toilet. 

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 …

Nathaniel Chapman and Austin Lunn (HammerHeart Brewing)

SPB: What about Bathory’s music is most aesthetically similar to your beers?

Chapman: A simple question requires a simple straight forward answer. I asked Austin, his response: "Epic metal inspires epic beer." 

I will add to that by saying that the HammerHeart album was the beginning of the Viking Metal …

Quintron & Miss Pussycat

SPB: How do you describe your sound to strangers when they ask?

Quintron & Miss Pussycat: SWAMP TECH

Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head Brewing, founder and president)

SPB: What is the connection between brewing and music?

Calagione: There are two art forms that have been created and enjoyed since the dawn of civilization, and enjoying them simultaneously amplifies the experience of each.  

Our brewery has been obsessed with music since long before we opened. Back in …

Fletcher (On the Water)

SPB: What is the worst job you’ve ever had?

Fletcher: Tough question: Being a high school dropout, I have worked some very shitty jobs.

Providing customer service and sales for a mail/online porn business here in Philadelphia, one of my special tasks was clearing out the voicemail for Mailing List removal. [I] had …