Interviews
Helene McKoy (Pouzza Fest)

Helene McKoy (Pouzza Fest)

In its third year, Montreal's Pouzza Fest is starting to look a lot like a north-of-the-border version of The Fest, and that's just the way the festival's organizers want it. That's because when Hugo Mudie and Helene McKoy conceived the idea a few years back, Mudie always saw Gainesville's annual throwdown as the model for a proper punk rock festival, and with three days (May 17-19), 12 venues and 150 bands, including American Steel, Crime in Stereo and Me First & the Gimme Gimmes, it seems that the vision has become reality.

Punknews interviewer Adam Eisenberg rang up organizer Helene McKoy to get the details on this year's festival, solicit some advice for newbies, and learn a little bit of French.

Young Statues

Carmen Cirignano (Young Statues)

The city of Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs, a region usually associated with the American delicacy that is the cheesesteak as well as highly irritable sports fans, seems to be experiencing a rapid expansion in its DIY scenes. Although being a hotbed for independent music for several decades, the area has lately has produced a new, younger set of bands destined for success. Young Statues are among one of these up and coming artists. Staff interviewer Andrew Clark spoke with frontman Carmen Cirignano about Philly, working with Run For Cover Records, and the band's new EP.

Taylor Madison (Daylight)

Taylor Madison (Daylight)

Daylight's debut LP Jar leaves little to be yearned for. The band, whose sound is reminiscent of '90s grunge and punk, have been busy heavily touring behind the record in recent months. The official release date of the album was April 30 and their next show is a release party in their thought-to-be hometown of Doylestown, PA. Punknews staff writer Laila Hanson spoke to singer/guitarist Taylor Madison about the album, their work with longtime friend and producer Will Yip, and how they've progressed their sound from their many early EPs (five total) to this rich full-length.

No Sleep Interviews
Broadway Calls

Ty Vaughn (Broadway Calls)

Having released their last full-length in 2009, Broadway Calls returned earlier this year with their No Sleep Records debut Comfort/Distraction. Punknews interviewer Faye Turnbull caught up with vocalist Ty Vaughn after their show in Kingston, UK, a town they hold rather fondly and regard as somewhat of a savior. The pair talked about the new album, the downfall of their relationship with former label Side One Dummy Records, and how it's a crazy time in the US right now.

Interviews
Rick Remender

Rick Remender

Rick Remender is one of the biggest writers in contemporary comics, co-creating Fear Agent, Sea of Red, and Strange Girl; and penning acclaimed runs on The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, and Venom; to name a few. Over the course of his career, Rick has worked as an animator on the likes of The Iron Giant and Titan A.E., pencilled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, illustrated album covers for Fat Wreck, was lead writer on Bulletstorm, and is now penning Uncanny Avengers and Captain America for Marvel Comics, as well as working on his forthcoming Dynamite series Devolution (with co-creator Paul Renaud).

With a résumé like that, and the workload that comes with it, it's perhaps a little surprising that Remender came out of hardcore; the Arizona scene of the mid-'80s to be exact. Punknews Editor Andy Waterfield called Rick recently to talk corpses, mutants, neaderthals, and punk rock.

World/Inferno Friendship Society

Jack Terricloth (World/Inferno Friendship Society)

It has been a rocky few years for World/Inferno Friendship Society. After the release of 2007's Addicted to Bad Ideas almost all of the band's long running contributors left. 2011's The Anarchy and the Ecstasy saw the band reform with new members, most of whom left shortly thereafter.

It seemed that perhaps WI/FS would end with a whimper; this would have been a shame, because they're utterly unique. By combining soul music with classic punk and old world folk, the band have forged a daring mix of danger and celebration. But, just as it seemed that the band would forever be in a state of flux, they suddenly congealed, released the dynamite Turnstile Comix EP and embarked on a tour with a revamped lineup that hit like a rhino.

Punknews' John Gentile shared a few drinks with Jack Terricloth, where they talked about World/Inferno's ill-fated tour with the Adicts, the band's current status, and threatening President Reagan's life.

Nightmares for a Week

Nightmares For A Week

Kingston, New York's very own trio Nightmares For a Week used influences of growing up in Kingston to record a stellar full-length album, Civilian War, which was released on March 26 via Broken English Records and on CD and vinyl format from Suburban Home Records. Staff interviewers Christopher and Samantha Barrett sat with Bill Manley and Sean-Paul Pillsworth to talk about the new album, on growing up and plans for the band.

No Idea Interviews
Dan Yemin (Paint it Black)

Dan Yemin (Paint it Black)

"In my head, I feel like my voice is getting weaker," says Paint It Black lead singer Dan Yemin, "because the busier my life gets, the less we play and I have to get my voice back to where I want it to be. It can be hard getting back to that level when we play shows after not screaming for six months."

Paint it Black's most recent release, Invisible, doesn't show any signs of subdual, with the songs and vocals being louder than before. But he's right, Yemin doesn't get to scream as much as he used to. With full-time gigs as a father and a psychologist, it's not easy to find the time for music, especially when it's with at least three bands.

Because all of Paint It Black's members have their restless hands in a number of projects, the stars need to align for the guys to come together to make a record, which, after four years since their last EP, has finally happened.

Yemin found some time in his crazy schedule to chat with Punknews interviewer Gen Handley about how adulthood has influenced his music, the similarities between hip hop and hardcore and the joys of recording their latest release.

Red Scare Interviews
Direct Hit!

Nick Woods (Direct Hit!)

The thing you need to know about Direct Hit! is that they are not fucking dead; they're simply biding their time until their impending attack, coming this summer. Punknews staff writer Justin Dickman had a conversation with vocalist/guitarist Nick Woods about their first Fest experience, The Walking Dead, the upcoming Star Wars films and a little bit about music.

Black Flag Interviews
FLAG

FLAG

What many thought would never happen has happened. The most unlikely scenario has come true. The prayers of teenage punks (and middle aged ones, too) have been answered. FLAG have risen.

Featuring Black Flag alumni Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Dez Cadena and Bill Stevenson, as well as Stephen Eggerton of the Descendents, FLAG are about to embark on a tour where they will play what is possibly the greatest music ever made: The music of Black Flag. Anticipation is high, but so are expectations. Not only do the band have to annihilate the stage, they have to stack up to their own history.

In order to learn about FLAG's vaunted history, their plans for the current shows and the emergence of the other Black Flag-related band, Punknews features editor John Gentile spoke with all five members of FLAG.

Read the history below.

Interviews
Round Eye

Craig Englund (Round Eye)

A lot of bands think that they're wild dudes because they have a song or two about hating cops. Well, if the members of Round Eye say the wrong thing, they might get carried away in the night and be never heard from again.

A group composed of five white dudes living in the orient, Round Eye combine the explosively zaniness of early rock and roll with the danger and nastiness of early 80s punk. Still in their first year, the band have toured all over mainland China, bringing a bit of the west to other expats as well as showing a new culture to young Chinese people.

In order to get the scope of the danger that Round Eye is in, Punknews' John Gentile telephoned Round Eye founder Craig Englund across twelve time zones where they talked about danger in music, censorship and smoking the herb with Greg Ginn.