Chuck Robertson (The Mad Caddies)

It's been seven years since The Mad Caddies released a record. During that time the band played an occasional show and several members went on to form Ellwood. Now the band is back and ready to take on the world with a renewed vigor as well as a brand new album in the works.

As the band gears up for a west coast tour set to begin early next month contributing editor and interviewer Armando Olivas was able to share a few words with lead singer Chuck Robertson. The duo talked about what to expect from the band's next release, the state of ska music today, and plans for the band's upcoming 20-year anniversary.

Sam Trapkin (Diamond Youth)

Diamond Youth is gearing up for the release of their new EP, Shake, out February 4, 2014 via Topshelf Records. The ever plucky Armando was able to have a rather detailed chat with founding member Sam Trapkin. In their discussion they briefly touch upon the EP in question before engaging in a much more interesting conversation on plethora of topics vaguely related to the band.

At one point the topic of professional athlete Deion Sanders and how his inspirational speaking ability was integral to forming the band came up; truly a story reserved for the likes of VH1 or at the very least a Spinal Tap rip off.

Brendan Kelly (The Lawrence Arms)

Do you know Brendan Kelly? He likes to read heavy-duty literature like The Brothers Karamazov and he also watches dirty movies like Greased Big Butts 7. He's a guy in The Lawrence Arms and they have a new album out called Metropole today, which is basically Org-core made tangible.

Because one of the Punknews readership's most anticipated albums of the year hits the shelves today, Features Editor John Gentile met up with Kelly where they spoke about the new album, sex in punk rock, and how the universe works… or something.

Jason Cruz (Strung Out)

More than four years since their last album, Strung Out has spent time dabbling in other projects, seemingly trying to re-establish that progressive, infectious energy surging through most of their beloved discography. Lead singer Jason Cruz spent the years with a new baby daughter, his impressive noir-Americana painting and photography, as well as his similarly styled alt-country project The Howl.

Only a day before they began recording the new, very anticipated Strung Out record, Transmission Alpha Delta, the contemplative frontman spoke to Punknews interviewer Gen Handley about rediscovering passion with the new album, how revisiting the past has helped him move forward and why 2013 was a "motherfucker."

Greg Horbal (The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die)

Before heading out on a US tour soon with Into It. Over It. and A Great Big Pile of Leaves, Punknews interviewer Xan Mandell caught up with Greg Horbal of The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die to try and dissect the difficulties of being in a band with eight people, as well as talk about the new music they're writing.

During the discussion, Horbal said in regards to being one of the hype bands for the emo revival, "It's not even really worrying, we're kind of waiting for it to end."

It was a small, but very important statement. When a new wave of music comes around, a band that is at the forefront of it usually soaks it in, trying as hard as they can to ride it and stay at the top of their game, but not The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die. No, they're not in it to win it. They're in it for the pure joy of expressing themselves and enjoying doing so with strangers in sweaty venues. The honesty of their music doesn't just come out of headphones or speakers; it comes out of them, as human beings.

Crazy and the Brains

Crazy and the Brains are a wild-as-hell, totally-kickin', mad-energetic bunch of weirdos that happen to be in a band with a xylophone. They cut two and a half minute stompers that rock like Jerry Lee Lewis and roll like Little Richard. Also, they might be insane. They released Let Me Go in 2013 and it was one of the best records of the year.

In order to get a taste of this crew first hand, features editor John Gentile met up with them at a secret show following their tour where they talked about the latest album, macking on Lindsay Lohan, and The Jersey Shore.

Kris Megyery (The Brokedowns)

The Brokedowns are probably not coming to your town. The Elgin, Illinois band is made up of guys with jobs and kids, which prevents them from hitting the road much. They keep busy in the studio, though. They just churned out a slew of songs for a new full-length, on top of releasing two splits this year - one with Vacation Bible School on It's Alive Records and another with The Slow Death on Red Scare Industries. Punknews Copy Editor Adam Eisenberg caught up with singer/guitarist Kris Megyery to talk about The Brokedowns' penchant for putting out splits, the band's low self-esteem and why he desperately needs help with his holiday shopping.

Walter Schreifels

Citing his family and friends as his own "scene" more so than any other, Walter Schreifels continues to contribute greatly to punk, hardcore and post-punk - scenes he's had a definitive role in shaping since the late 80s. Between touring with Rival Schools and occasionally playing with Quicksand and Gorilla Biscuits, he's a label owner, producer, solo act and father. He is hitting the road solo this month with Saves the Day. Punknews interviewer Stephanie Thornton had the pleasure of speaking to him about the challenges he faces jumping from project to project -- both at home and in Germany, the evolution of his lyrical inspiration throughout the years from straight-edge hardcore in Gorilla Biscuits to his solo acoustic releases, his stance on straight edge and how Title Fight deserves even more popularity.

Nuno Pereira (A Wilhelm Scream)

It's been a busy seven years for A Wilhelm Scream, having played festivals around the world to self-producing and engineered their latest record. Their new album Partycrasher came out on No Idea Records this month. Interviewer Samantha Barrett sat with Nuno Pereira to talk about the new album and their beloved hometown of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Up For Nothing

Meet Up For Nothing. This Brooklyn based pop-punk band has been playing anywhere and everywhere for over a decade. The band has shared the stage with some notable acts such as The Bouncing Souls, Grey Area, and None More Black, and collaborated with likes of The Pete and Ernie Parada. While success has been elusive, it has always been a labor of love for this band. Punknews interviewer Christopher Barrett sat down with the band recently to talk about the fruits of persistence, good friends, and staying positive.

How Smegma and the Nunz became Gang Green

While mid-80's hardcore is usually thought of as a time when hardcore grew, spreading into the straight-edge movement or morphing into the first wave of emo, the fact is, Boston had a small pocket of hardcore bands that, while sounding traditionally hardcore with fierce instrumentation, fell outside the stereotypical hardcore box. In lieu of rules, the bands were humorously self-destructive, echoing the early LA punk bands.
Recently, Glen Stilphen, who was in a number of hardcore punk bands in Boston, including Gang Green, discovered several different demos, outtakes and b-sides by several notable Boston bands that were linked together and has just released the set as Drop the Needle: Boston Punk Anthology. Perhaps most interestingly, the set includes the first ever release of Smegma and the Nunz, a wild, chaotic, nihilistic band (that had a sense of humor) that after breaking up, would reform as the second incarnation of Gang Green.

To learn about the history of these intertwined bands, Punknews Features Editor John Genitle recently spoke to Stilphen about Smegma (the band), his time in Gang Green and how awesome Elton John is.