Feature / Music
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2008

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

LINKS TO ALL THE PAGES

Banner Pilot (Nick Johnson)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2008?

  1. Lemuria - Get Better
  2. Monikers - Wake Up
  3. Bridge and Tunnel - East/West
  4. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
  5. Howard Stern Show

What band did you discover in 2008 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Jonesin' and Iron Chic in a barn at the Fest that I think doubled as a bicycle repair shop. Seeing old friends in great new bands was awesome.

How will you remember 2008? (In terms of music)

Let's see?. Getting Cory from the Manix to play secnd guitar in our band, playing with Snuggle in the backyard of the FBK house in Seattle in front of a fire and behind a unicorn-shaped bouncy house, barely making it in to 1982 in Gainesville to catch an awesome Unlovables set, and camping out in an elk preserve in Redwood National Forest on our way to Thrillfest in San Francisco. Tip: if you don't eat all of your hot dogs and hamburgers don't burn what's left in a bonfire.

Vinyl record sales saw a significant increase this year while hard copy sales continued to dwindle. Is this a return to the glory days for vinyl or just a phase? Explain.

If it's a return to the glory days I need to fix my turntable. Then I'll finally be able to rock out again to my brown splatter copy of the Vindictives' Leave Home (if I can find it). Shameless Plug: "Resignation Day" will be available on vinyl on Kiss of Death in January, yea!

What was the most memorable moment for you in 2008? (Can be in terms of anything)

Playing one of the Triple Rock 10th Anniversary shows with The Hanson Brothers. Those guys put on a hell of show! Their two roadies wear referee jerseys with one running sound effects and the other on merch. At one point while the merch guy was over at the board talking to the sound guy, the duct tape gave out on a shirt they had stuck to the wall. I looked over to see the sound guy pointing and blowing his foul whistle. Classic!

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?

More blistering punk rock. We'll be putting out a new LP mid-year and also hope to put out a couple of split 7"s, maybe with the Measure (SA) and The Copyrights if we're lucky. Tour wise we're looking at either the UK or Japan and maybe both. Fest definitely!

What three records are you looking forward to most in 2009?

Dear Landlord, Drunken Boat and Ben Weasel

Homepage: http://www.banner-pilot.com

Related features

Fest 23 – The Wrap

Music / Fest 23 • November 15, 2025

Pure Joy The 23rd FEST in Gainesville, Florida recently wrapped up. Scene Point Blank has been to the majority of them over the past two decades, beginning at FEST 5. I've personally attended roughly half of them. And at FEST 23, I saw 44 bands in 3 days (an even … Read more

The Saints

Interviews • November 14, 2025

As The Skids sang, The Saints are coming!.......Storming North America! The Saints ’73-’77 land on North American soil in early November and will feature original Saints members, guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay, and filling out this lineup is singer Mark Arm (Mudhoney), guitarist Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party … Read more

UK Subs

One Question Interviews • November 6, 2025

Charlie Harper (UK Subs) SPB: As someone who is used to performing and being on stage, how has the book release process been similar or different than playing music to fans? Harper: It’s a bit of both but as I’ve made a few records, the book is so much more … Read more

Beth Seymour & The Lizzies

One Question Interviews • November 5, 2025

Beth Seymour (Beth Seymour & The Lizzies – vocals / guitar / production) SPB: You’re essentially releasing back-to-back albums this year. How did you choose that approach in getting these out to the public? Seymour: There are a few reasons that I chose to release back-to-back albums within 3 months … Read more

Brain Fog

One Question Interviews • November 4, 2025

Jeff “El Jeffe” Seeley (Brain Fog – guitar) SPB: What is a record you love that would surprise people? Seeley: Hi, It’s El Jeffe, guitarist and song writer for Brain Fog, an Okanagan hardcore punk band. My favourite punk rock record right now is Dancing With The Curse by Get … Read more

More from this section

Fest 23 – The Wrap

Music / Fest 23 • November 15, 2025

Pure Joy The 23rd FEST in Gainesville, Florida recently wrapped up. Scene Point Blank has been to the majority of them over the past two decades, beginning at FEST 5. I've personally attended roughly half of them. And at FEST 23, I saw 44 bands in 3 days (an even … Read more

FEST LIBS 23 & Fest Moments

Music / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

Guest List: ADD Records Picks 5 Favorite Leatherface Songs

Music / The Set List • October 18, 2025

This summer Little Rocket Records announced Leatherface: The Peel Sessions, a collection of live studio recordings with Leatherface from the 1990s with the late John Peel. While Little Rocket handled the release, ADD Records took on US distribution for a limited release. Available from ADD records here As Leatherface means … Read more