Feature / Music
MACRoCk 2008

Words: Cory • Posted pre-2010

American Tourist | Antlers | The Catalyst | Cloak/Dagger | Furnace | Government Warning | Mild Winter | Police and Thieves | Punch You in the Face Big! | Savage Land

Savage Land

http://www.myspace.com/savagelandhc

Scene Point Blank:What are your expectations for this years MACRoCk, as this is the first time it's completely student run and away from the University?

Tim Skirven: I expect this year's MACRoCk to be way small, but in a totally awesome way. Everything will be in closer proximity; the bands will be more of the "up and coming" variety as opposed to the big names that MACRoCk has brought in the past. I think this will be a great year for discovering new bands and seeing some semi-local bands again in a more energetic environment. The motto I coined for this year's committee is "Little bit of money, Whole lotta heart."

Scene Point Blank:What bands are you looking forward to seeing this year?

Tim Skirven: Maps and fucking Atlases. Holy Hell yes. Double Negative, Mas Y Mas, Hot Lava, Pygmy Lush, Antlers. In all honesty I'm really excited to check out bands I've only heard via internet/mix CDs.

Scene Point Blank:What are you looking forward to besides the music at MACRoCk?

Tim Skirven: Out of town friends, beers flowing like water, actually playing twice during the weekend. Besides the music, it'll also be awesome to make people aware of Harrisonburg and all the downtown area has to offer.

Scene Point Blank:As a student of JMU as well as someone that plays in local Harrisonburg bands, what are your thoughts on Harrisonburg's independent/punk scene?

Tim Skirven: As of late, the scene here has been suffering. I know this is a conceited thing to say, but I feel like my generation is the last of the few as far as kids who honestly care. It's a damn shame cause this town has bred some of the most awesome bands and people ever. Hopefully there will be a resurgence of grassroots kids throwing house shows and starting bands. But as always, gear gets more expensive, rent goes up and living in a crappy house just for the basement becomes less appealing every year.

Scene Point Blank:With Phil moving to Richmond and other members graduating, what are the future plans for Savage Land? Are you guys trying to stay together and play music?

Tim Skirven: Well, Phil's been gone for a while and we honestly have practiced just as much as we did when he was in town. We're a rather slow moving band, but we've got some things up our sleeve. Possible split 7" with Valkyrie, a new demo/new songs in the works. It gets few and far between due to school and distance but we'll try to do as much as we can with the time we've got.


Words: Cory | Graphics: Matt

Related features

Oskoed Slotters

One Question Interviews • September 22, 2026

Maarten (Oskoed Slotters) SPB: What is your favorite Ramones song? Maarten: My favorite Ramones song is probably “53rd & 3rd.” The debut Ramones album is one of the first punk records I heard. My dad bought a copy when it came out when he was about 16 years-old. When I … Read more

Red Rockers

Interviews • September 20, 2026

By 1981, the Red Rockers were famously branded "The American Clash" by Lester Bangs -- a tag that carried both the weight of massive expectations and the raw power of a band exploding out of the New Orleans humidity. Decades before they became MTV fixtures with the polished pop hooks … Read more

Shrapnel Pop #1

Regular Columns / Shrapnel Pop • September 19, 2026

I was about 4 years old and in preschool. It was a “meet and greet” day and my dad took me. This was exciting, because I adored him and thought he was basically the coolest person on earth. I marched in, dragging him along behind me, and approached my teacher. … Read more

Vivabeat

Interviews • September 6, 2026

LA’s Art-Punk Pioneers Who Bridged Continents and Genres In 1978, Vivabeat emerged from Los Angeles with a sound that defied easy categorization. As I spoke with Marina and Mick years later, it became clear that this was a band always slightly out of step with the local scene -- East … Read more

Lethal Limits

Music Therapy

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • September 5, 2026

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative … Read more

Related news

MACRoCk 2008 Initial Lineup

Posted in Shows on March 11, 2008

More from this section

Anathema Editions

Music / History 101 • August 11, 2026

Did you know it’s been 10 years since Anathema Editions put out its first release? To make the moment, we reached out to founder Terence Hannum to share some label history. In keeping with our “History 101” concept, SPB asked for anecdotes about 4 of the label’s releases and then … Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2026)

Music • July 13, 2026

That's right: we're halfway through 2026 already, although whether that means this year is a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full kind of year... well, the jury's out. But we'll let you know in December. Despite another six months of chaos, war, conflict and uncertainty, one thing in life remains static and reliable: … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #4

Music / New Kids On The Block • July 7, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more