Mark Gunnery (The Riot Folk Collective)

With so much folk and folk-punk music out there today, it's nice to know that there's a group of musicians who are in it for the right reasons. The Riot Folk Collective gives away all of their music for free either online or at shows if you don't have the money. Punknews interviewer Matt spent an evening at an anarchist bookstore and coffee shop in Baltimore named Red Emmas to hear one of the Riot Folk's workhorses, Mark Gunnery, play. After a heartfelt, but not too-serious set from the Jewish folk artist, they arranged an interview, to be conducted over the phone, for the very next day. To hear the extended audio interview, which features listener-submitted questions at the end, go here.

Sascha Lazor (Mad Caddies)

For fifteen years the Mad Caddies have been combining genres with their ska roots to bring music to people all across the world. They've accomplished a lot, most notably becoming a hit internet meme on Punknews. The band recently released Consensual Selections. A collection of their best songs as voted on by the fans. Interviewer Alex Eschbach sat down with the Caddies guitarist and founding member Sascha Lazor to discuss their newest record, future plans and what it's like to be in a band for fifteen years.

Dan Regan (Reel Big Fish)

As one of the last original members of ska-punk pioneers Reel Big Fish, trombonist, Dan Regan has seen a lot in the ska scene. The band is currently on Warped Tour supporting their greatest hits album Best Of Us For The Rest Of Us. In an interview with Alex Eschbach, Regan shared his thoughts on Sublime (With Rome), the dynamic of the band, the current state of ska and tackled the criticisms his band has faced over the years.

Chris McCaughan (Sundowner, The Lawrence Arms)

It has been well over four years since The Lawrence Arms released their last full length in 2006's Oh! Calcutta!. While collectively the group has remained relatively quiet (to their standards), individually, they have remained active. Perhaps the most recognizably busiest one is guitarist Chris McCaughan. Under the Sundowner moniker, McCaughan found success in 2007 with his first "solo" record, Four One Five Two. After three years, Sundowner is ready to follow up its debut with We Chase the Waves. Punknews contributor Matthew Bentel caught up with Chris at a Mexican restaurant in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood to talk about the new record, his vision for Sundowner, and – of course – the Lawrence Arms.

Matt Caughthran (The Bronx/Mariachi El Bronx)

Los Angeles' The Bronx are among the most adventurous bands out there today. Whether it's 3D-enhanced tours or releasing a mariachi album, the group consistently pushes boundaries. Lead singer Matt Caughthran talked to interviewer Ryan Raffin after their recent performances at Calgary's Sled Island Festival, discussing their upcoming plans to record, their friendship with The Killers and how they were ahead of the curve with 3D.

Thomas Barnett (Strike Anywhere)

On the grey Vancouver streets of East Hastings and Main, Punknews interviewer Gen Handley had the opportunity to have a curb-side chat with Strike Anywhere frontman Thomas Barnett. In the midst of a tour with Bane, Touché Amoré and Lowtalker, Thomas took some precious pre-performance time to talk about the overall reaction to the band's most recent album, Iron Front, how his wife is as punk rock as he is and if the band is starting to slow down. Near the end of the interview, they also had an interesting conversation with one of locals and as always, Thomas was his friendly, thoughtful self.

Gwar

GWAR, the always controversial, always violent, band of intergalactic marauders is seeing a sudden resurgence of popularity in their 25th year of brutalizing Earth's denizens. In addition to recently releasing their highest charting album to date, Lust in Space, Gwar recently was, surprisingly, the closing act of the modern peace and love music festival, Bonnaroo. Composed of aliens from throughout the galaxy, Gwar made a name for itself in the early 90's by terrorizing and enslaving humans all while playing crushing heavy metal. While they faded from public fear in the end of the last millennia, they've recently (quite literally) exploded back on the scene, cutting some of their tightest and loudest tunes to date. In order to get the scoop on the resurgence, PunkNews recently sent interviewer John Gentile on assignment, where he traveled to Gwar's fortress in Antarctica to talk to one of Gwar's more notable slaves, Dave Brockie, only to have the interview interrupted by the band's fearsome and vile vocalist…

Patrick Stickles (Titus Andronicus)

Titus Andronicus hails from Glen Rock, New Jersey. And while it's easy for critics to attach "E Street Band" references, anyone that's spent time listening to Titus can hear pure punk rock vitriol oozing from every pore of this young quintet. Laced with driving rhythms, layers of fuzzed out guitars, twinkling keys, and self-depreciating guttural howls, their newest album, The Monitor, showcases a band just starting to realize their supreme songwriting capabilities. The band's ringleader, Patrick Stickles, recently took the time to chat with Punknews interviewer Michael Dauphin.

Tom Gabel (Against Me!)

It's hard to think of another band that is as heavily criticized as Against Me! for every decision they've made as a band. Whether it's signing to FAT, or to Sire, or releasing a new record, or filming videos, or playing larger venues, or polishing their sound, or an assortment of other things, Against Me! seems to be the go-to punk band that "lost their way."

Last week, Punknews interviewer Ollie Ottoman snuck out of work in the middle of the day to have a phone conversation with Tom Gabel. For all the slack the man gets, on the phone he sounds calm, articulate, and just in good spirits. Having just finished a tour with the Silversun Pickups, I caught up with him to discuss their new album, the recent changes the band has undergone, and why the addition of a new keyboard player involved a bag of porno.

Jim Lindberg (The Black Pacific, ex-Pennywise)

In August 2009, Pennywise's long-time front man, Jim Lindberg, announced he was leaving the band after some 20-plus years. It didn't take long, however, for Lindberg to refocus his energy and, with a renewed sense of optimism, begin work on his new project, The Black Pacific. After subtly revealing their presence on MySpace and through their own website in late June 2010, Lindberg reached out to Punknews to offer up a look inside The Black Pacific and what the band has in store. Punknews interviewer Sean Jain was fortunate enough to answer the call and spoke with Lindberg about The Black Pacific, his new bandmates, the song writing process, and his departure from Pennywise.

Franz Nicolay (World/Inferno Friendship Society, The Hold Steady, Against Me!)

A musical mercenary armed with an accordion, Franz Nicolay has made a name for himself supplying old world oom-pah and soul to emerging modern rock bands. Although he just joined Against Me! as a touring member, he did several tours of duty in The Hold Steady, and until recently, was one of the more distinctive members of the already pretty darn distinctive World/Inferno Friendship Society. In addition to slanging his accordion and piano skills to some raucous rock bands, Franz recently released his first solo LP Major General, handles the keys in his Eastern European influenced band Guignol and is a member of Anti-Social Music which is avant-garde even among the avant-garde. In order to at least try to keep the record straight, punknews interviewer John Gentile recently sat down with Franz to hear what hanging out with Against Me! is like, what's next on his plate, and why he keeps jumping from band to band to band to band.