Marshall, Michigan's Small Brown Bike recently released Recollected, a new revised edition of their 1998 compilation Collection. The album reflects on a personal collection of music and memorabilia that traces the entire 15 year span of the band's discography. Interviewers Christopher and Samantha Barrett spoke to guitarist Travis J. Dopp about the album and more.
1992 was a pretty significant year: Encino Man was a hit in theaters ("Shush!"), Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back" held Billboard's number one spot for five weeks ("And ugh, double-up, ugh, ugh."), the Cartoon Network was launched (Jonny Quest anyone?) and Destiny Hope Cyrus, aka Miley Cirus, was born ("So let 'em know your name. No limitations on imagination. Imaginate."). But in stark contrast to a lot of irrelevancy, it was also the year that Face to Face released their debut album, Don't Turn Away, influencing a new generation of fans and bands as well as a string of albums that continues to this day.
At the beginning of May, the band released its eigth album, Three Chords and a Half Truth, a Clash-inspired collection of songs that stray to other sonic areas, but mostly stick close to the familiar Face-to-Face path. Lead singer and guitarist Trever Keith chatted with Punknews interviewer Gen Handley about what may be Face to Face's most political record so far, the professional implications of playing in a band at 44, and why punk rock is the new soundtrack of Americana.
Jello Biafra has no problem with being blunt. If he thinks you need to know about Middle Eastern politics, then he's not going to mask his opinion behind an ambiguous metaphor. He thinks Jimmy Carter's administration is partly responsible for 9-11 and he'll tell you just that. In this age of TMZ and Perez Hilton, there is not enough space to waste on talk of who-is-banging-who.
The vocalist and co-founding member of incalculably influential The Dead Kennedys, Biafra introduced radical, specific politics into American punk. Later, he would go onto record many different projects with artists including DOA, The Melvins, Mojo Nixon, and Ministry. Now, he's just released the third album by his band, Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine. White People and the Damage Done is the bands hardest, most rockingest, most fact-jam-packed release to date.
In order to get some of the details behind the new album, Punknews staffer John Gentile recently rang up Biafra where they talked about the album's title, contemplated depression, and argued whether Elton John was good or not.
Burbank, CA's The Shell Corporation is a punk band with values and determination. From touring their band and releasing a 7-inch within only two months of their formation, to supporting causes important to them, to mixing it up creatively when it comes to their song themes and lyrics, The Shell Corporation have been a hardworking band from the get-go. And it all started with a few Propagandhi acoustic covers. Staff interviewer Laila Hanson spoke to vocalist Jan Drees about the band and its beginnings.
For its ninth year running, Michigan-punk festival Bled Fest has cemented itself as both a good time (it's an anagram for founder "Big Love"s Educational Fest) and a staple in the local community. This year's headliners, Andrew W.K and Anti-Flag, will take their main-stage spots in a converted school cafeteria in the small town of Howell, Michigan. There will also be a flea market-style gymnasium, classrooms with floor acts, and supportive record label sponsors. Staff interviewer Laila Hanson spoke to Production Manager Scott Bell about the Fest's setup, its band selection process, and just how involved the key players are with integrating Michigan bands and the community of Howell.
Before the recording of Alpha & Omega's second LP, No Rest, No Peace a string of horrifying coincidences began to crop up around vocalist Luis Hernandez- Three of his best friends suddenly passed away and each had an eerie connection to the vocalist. While that would cause some people to lock their doors and coat the room with bubble wrap, Hernandez became reckless, subjecting himself to more and more dangerous dares.
That's probably the reason why on No Rest, No Peace the grim reaper seems to pop up on every corner. Throughout the record, he follows Hernandez, always remaining just out of sight, which in some ways, is even worse than knowing when he's coming.
In order to understand Hernandez's morbidity, punknews' John Gentile called up the vocalist where they talked about Hernandez's upbringing, the new record, metaphysics, and doing swan dives off of cliffs.
Click "Read More" to see how John needlessly works Amebix into another conversation, yet again.
This month Seattle's Big Eyes are celebrating the release of their second full-length LP, Almost Famous on Grave Mistake. Since 2009, four years and one US coast ago, they've been a hard-working band. Now based in Seattle after moving from Brooklyn, with a couple splits, 7-inches, and full-lengths under their belt, there's no end in sight - they've got a tour starting this month and a European tour in the works for fall. Punknews interviewer Stephanie Thornton had some questions for lead singer/guitarist Kate Eldridge about the new album, growing as a musician and bandmate, upcoming tour plans, and how to deal with being treated differently as a woman in the punk scene.
Patrick Kindlon and Matthew Rosenberg are a comic book-writing duo who have recently debuted their latest project, 12 Reasons to Die, a story originated by Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan and music producer Adrian Younge. The story tells two intertwined tales: one of Anthony Starks, and another of a mysterious, unnamed character. As the story unfolds, the reader begins to understand the overarching course of the series.
The duo are no strangers to the comic book business having worked together on projects such as Menu, released by Trip City, and a backup story in the Image Comics' series Five Ghosts. The book itself is being released by the up-and-coming publisher, Black Mask Studios. Black Mask is headed by Bad Religion guitarist and Epitaph Records owner, Brett Gurewitz, alongside comic book industry veterans Steve Niles and Matt Pizzolo. Contributing editor, Armando Olivas, spoke with Patrick and Matthew about the latest project and more.
No one knows where Mischief Brew will head next. Though they recently released the hardcore-meets-folk of The Stone Operation. and followed it up with two radically different EPs to boot, the musical landscape is now their oyster.
Mischief Brew started out as a solo project of Erik Petersen where he planed to write medieval acoustic poetry. But since then the band has morphed into one of the earliest folk punk bands, one of the earliest gypsy punk bands, and more recently, a straight up, kickass punk band with some real old-world style (as well as the unnerving, occasional toast to Death himself).
In order to see where the band is headed next, Punknews' John Gentile met up with Petersen where they talked about Mischief Brew's next record, argued about history, and complimented each other for being Italian.
Emotive hardcore band BoySetsFire made a name for itself during its 13-year tenure, blending melodic punk with scathing hardcore. The band threw in the towel in 2007, making way for other projects from the members of the band. We saw the return of BoySetsFire in 2010, and the band finally made a return to the studio to track the Bled Dry 7-inch and a new full-length record. Punknews staff interviewer Gregg Harrington spoke with BoySetsFire frontman Nathan Gray about the band's reunion and subsequent plans.
Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil have quite a few albums under their belt. Ten years after the album that brought them U.S fame, Comalies, the band is still going strong, with the original lineup and original record label, Century Media. Their latest, Dark Adrenaline recently brought them on a US tour with Sevendust and Coal Chamber. Staff interviewer Laila Hanson sat down with male vocalist Andrea Ferro on their recent stop in Philadelphia to talk about the progression of the band's sound, what it's like being married on the road and how they tapped into a higher form of lyric writing due to their partnership with producer Don Gilmore.