Jon McKiel
SPB: Do you get nervous before you play a show?
McKiel: Yes, but it really depends on whether I've played the room before, how much practice the band has had leading up, whether or not the sound check was ok, or the PA even exists! Sometimes we sing through our amps and improvise a whole lot, so that keeps things pretty light. We can't do anything but go out and play and if we're making it up as we go there's no expectations, at least from a playing perspective.
Aemilia (ELDP) SPB: In your experience, what band has been the most fun to play with? Aemilia: Our most favourite band to have played with so far has been Dutch band All Dogs Go To Heaven. They're not only great people off stage, but they also make amazing music! When … Read more
Sarah (Quattracenta) SPB: Which of your songs is the most difficult to play live? Sarah: “In Dust,” from our new record III. It’s not necessarily difficult in a technical sense, but because it is a very quiet and intimate song, playing it in a noisy club or bar can be … Read more
Joao (Illuminati) SPB: What inspired Illuminati to reform? Joao: The original lineup disbanded in 2004 after I migrated to the United States. We self-released a demo in 2003 that was intended to be a literal "demonstration" of our songs rather than a definitive statement of what we wanted to do … Read more
Did you know it’s been 10 years since Anathema Editions put out its first release? To make the moment, we reached out to founder Terence Hannum to share some label history. In keeping with our “History 101” concept, SPB asked for anecdotes about 4 of the label’s releases and then … Read more
Still a Dirty Mess: The Stormtrooper Oral History Before the Sex Pistols swore on television -- or tried to brush it off as "nothing, a rude word" -- and corporate labels commodified safety pins, there was a bar at The Marquee and a damp basement on King's Road. In 1975, … Read more
An old, black-and-white photo depicts five dilapidated homes slowly crumbling away on an island in the middle of a vast, dismal ocean; the sea's endlessness and archaicness adds a sense of sentimentality to the picture. With such a glum album cover, it’s a dazzling surprise once the effervescent, action-packed “New Tracy (I Will Learn To See)” - opening song on … Read more
So it's finally summer, and that usually means an overload of new music. I can't name the number of songs or albums that remind me of a specific summer in my life. Something about the change of pace and warm weather that just makes music attach itself to memories. What does this have to do with this album? I'm just … Read more
Aemilia (ELDP) SPB: In your experience, what band has been the most fun to play with? Aemilia: Our most favourite band to have played with so far has been Dutch band All Dogs Go To Heaven. They're not only great people off stage, but they also make amazing music! When … Read more
Sarah (Quattracenta) SPB: Which of your songs is the most difficult to play live? Sarah: “In Dust,” from our new record III. It’s not necessarily difficult in a technical sense, but because it is a very quiet and intimate song, playing it in a noisy club or bar can be … Read more
Joao (Illuminati) SPB: What inspired Illuminati to reform? Joao: The original lineup disbanded in 2004 after I migrated to the United States. We self-released a demo in 2003 that was intended to be a literal "demonstration" of our songs rather than a definitive statement of what we wanted to do … Read more
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