Features / One Question Interviews

Ardent Nova

SPB: You changed the name from Pagan Thunder to Ardent Nova after a dream so, what exactly happened in this dream you had that made you change the band’s name?

Ardent Nova: It really wasn't all that eventful, was just playing a show and the banner behind the kit said "Ardent Nova" and when my alarm went off, …

Josh (Autogramm – drums)

SPB: Walk us through some of the recording equipment used in the making of Autogramm’s new album, Music That Humans Can Play.

Josh:

Conner Rush (Auric Echoes)

SPB: Who is the first musician whose technique or style really stood out to you?

Rush: To me, the first musician who really stood out to me as something unique was Thom Yorke. My whole life I had only really had experience with classic rock and sort of thought that was “the music to like” and …

Patrick Porter (A Very Special Episode – guitar)

SPB: What was it like putting together your new record during a pandemic?

Porter: Honestly, it was very therapeutic to have something to work on during the first several months of lockdown. We were lucky enough to have most of the drums already tracked, so recording the rest of the instruments and …

Adam Nice (A.M. Nice – guitar/vocals)

SPB: Were there any amps, cabs or anything else that stood out when you recorded with Steve Wethington at Candyland studio for your upcoming album?

Nice: Our friend Jeff’s microphone stand with a built-in cup holder stood out as the worst piece of gear I’ve ever seen, however this Musicman HD130 amp head stood out …

Tristan Shone (Author & Punisher)

SPB: You are well known for building your own instruments in Drone Machines, and they have been part of your music since the beginning. How has your process for creating or modifying these instruments changed through the years?  

Shone: In the beginning of A&P, I was in art school and my machines were my attempt to …

Jake Robertson (Alien Nosejob)

SPB: What was the inspiration to start Alien Nosejob?

Robertson: I listen to a lot of different types of music, but often bands are restricted to one style. I love hanging out with friends at the pub and band practice and all that, but I also have a fondness for locking myself in a room with no …

Steven Mandell (American Standards – bass)

SPB: Show us your rig setup and tell us what you like about it.

Josh (Asbestos Worker)

SPB: You play everything yourself – What pieces of equipment are the most essential to “the Asbestos Worker” sound?

Josh: The number 1 most important pieces of equipment that is essential for the Asbestos Worker sound is on my pedal board. I use Robo Pedals exclusively and I don't think I could live without them. Various songs …

Jeff Dean (All Eyes West – guitar)

SPB: What type of guitar do you play and how did you choose it?

Dean: In All Eyes West I play a 62 Fender Jazzmaster, but with everything else I play a Gibson Les Paul. My 68 Goldtop is probably the best guitar I’ve ever played. I don’t think there is a better …

Mike Bruno (Adult Magic, Iron Chic, Dead Broke Rekerds)

SPB: What is your favorite 1960s artist?

Mike Bruno: My personal favorite ‘60s artist is definitely the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Jimi Hendrix, of course is one of the greatest guitar players to ever live, if not the best. His band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience (that existed mid-late ‘60s composed of Noel …

Rob Huddleston (Ann Beretta)

SPB: Did you use a different model guitar on the recordings of your old material (Old Scars, New Blood) than on the original recordings? How did it affect the overall sound, in your opinion?

Huddleston: The answer is yes and no. Old Scars, New Blood is a collection of rerecorded songs from every record …

Anthem Grief

SPB: The two of you recorded the album on your own. How does the band’s live setup work?

Anthem Grief: The two of us met through a previous band that was around for a short time. The two of us were the only ones who really clicked in that band. Throughout the years after that project was finished, …

John Peck (American Steel)

SPB: With the band spread out geographically, how did you approach writing the new material? How was it different than songwriting in the past?

Peck: As we started preparing for our recent shows, we added one new song each from Ryan and Rory to our rehearsals. With me living overseas, practicing these songs (and indeed practicing …

Mattia (Abstracter)

SPB: In my opinion Abstracter has adopted a more and more bleak sound over time. Do you perceive the development of Abstracter in the same way? What influences this development? 

Mattia: It is undeniable that the sound has gotten bleaker. This was the band's fate all along in some way. We just needed the right people in the …

Avola

SPB: What stood out to you the most the first time you performed as a solo musician?

Avola: My first solo performance was in 2009. It was a Sunday afternoon. I remember a lot of anxiety. I no longer had a band of hairy folks and too many amps to distract people with. Just me hunching over my table …

Jason Corbett (Actors)

SPB: Between music journalism and genre-tagging, musical descriptions often get pretty out there. What is the most ridiculous genre name or description you've heard of your own music?

Jason: I love when articles and reviews come from other countries and the translation is off! "Very much dark is the case of romantics nighttime song inevitably..." Too funny.

Brandon Kellum (American Standards)

SPB: Have you ever forgotten lyrics midsong? How did you recover?

Brandon: There’s always the fear that I’ll forget a part before going on stage especially if we’re playing something new. Normally the songs become second nature though and the words seem to come from somewhere outside of conscious thought. That’s not to say that I haven’t …

Daniel Porter (At the Heart Of The World – guitar/programmer)

SPB: Do you wear earplugs when you play? Why/why not?

Daniel: I wear them when I watch other bands but not when we play. Partly because I’m dumb and don’t value my hearing it seems and partly because they weirdly take me out of the playing environment, I like to hear …

Nate Erickson and Jordan Compton (After Hours Radio)

SPB: What was your first CD (or record or tape, as applicable)? 

Nate Erickson: Greg, our bass player, and I both got our first CDs as gifts from our parents so they aren't very representative of our music taste at the time. Most of my music exposure growing up was from sharing MP3s …