Washington, DC embodies a rich musical history that extends beyond being associated with one of the US' most significant punk scenes. The city, especially as of late, has also witnessed a blossoming hip-hop scene with artists just as politically-minded as their punk peers. One such MC is Mana who spoke with staff interviewer Andrew Clark about her bilingual rapping, navigating two cultures, and upcoming plans for 2013.
Editor's Note: A (not really that) new thing we're going to initiate here at the 'org is a monthly series that features a band interviewing another band they either really like, respect and/or just enjoy. Our first in this series has Terror's Scott Vogel interviewing Make Do and Mend's James Carroll. If you're in a band and want to get involved with this feature or have an idea of who we should ask, email kira@punknews.org. And with that we'll hand it over to Scott.
Every year people tell me to check out this band or that band knowing that I love Hot Water Music. I usually do and am usually let down for the most part. The first time I heard Make Do and Mend was at the Lost Horizon in Syracuse, NY. Friends had been telling me I'd love them so I went upfront for their set. They definitely took me by surprise with their sound, energy, and power. After they were done, I went up to their merch table and asked them a few questions about music and life. From that moment on they have become one of the bands I listen to most often. I love all their releases and still see them growing and getting better as time moves on.
Are The Transplants growing up? While their last records dealt with getting drunk, getting high and getting girls, the new album In a Warzone, out June 25 on Epitaph Records, deals instead with politics and the concept of war itself.
Featuring Rob Aston of Death March, Tim Armstrong of Rancid, and Travis Barker of Blink-182, The Transplants are daring in that they unabashedly mix punk rock with hip-hop plus lots and lots and lots of other styles. The result is an entirely unique sound that challenges most of the tenants of the aforementioned genres and makes the band really, really divisive among the punk rockers.
In order to get the scoop on the new album, Punknews' John Gentile rang up Aston and talked about mixing punk with hip-hop, good d-beat records, and reevaluating one's younger self.
Matt Miner is passionate about animal rights activism, and has been involved with the animal rights movement for over a decade, but he also has a passion for writing comics, studying the craft under Scott Snyder (Batman, American Vampire). With Liberator, from Black Mask Studios, Miner, in collaboration with artist Javier Sanchez Aranda, is combining these two passions, looking to tell a compelling story while also bringing a topic he's passionate about to a new audience.
Matt is also a contributor to Black Mask's Occupy Comics project, having been assisted by Occupy Sandy volunteers in the aftermath of the hurricane.
News Editor Andy Waterfield recently spoke to Matt to find out more about Liberator, the politics around it, and how he and his wife incorporate their beliefs into their lives.
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.