Features / One Question Interviews

Dez Dare

SPB: You’ve been very prolific in releasing records of late. How do you keep yourself motivated?

Dez Dare: I have always been fluid and flowing in ideas, whether people want to hear them or not. When I was younger I had trouble culling which ideas were better than others, a hot mess of concepts, styles, and plans. I …

Terry (Dot Dash)

SBP: Your new album title is a nod to the Buzzcocks. What’s your favorite deep cut from the band?

Terry: My favorite Buzzcocks song is/was/always will be “Love You More'” -- there are tons of great ones by them, but that's my fave.  

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Dot Dash on bandcamp.

Kevin Kimberlin (Daredevil Falls)

SPB: You’ve had several projects over the years. What are you seeking with this specific band (ie what is your artistic goal)?

Kimberlin: With my self-titled album, Daredevil Falls, I set out to tell intimate stories about the complexities of relationships -- how they evolve and survive. Each song explores a real-life experience in an attempt …

Brian Amalfitano (Deaf Club)

SPB: You also run a record store (which we’ve discussed). What is your all time favorite record (as in “the full vinyl package”)?

Amalfitano: Wow, that’s a tough one. I mean, I own a record store (Spinning Plate Records) so I have a lot of great stuff always coming through. Stuff I really want …

Dave Strong

SPB: Who is your favorite 1970s artist?

Strong: Joey Ramone!!  

Ben (Detachment - drums)

SPB: How did you choose “Choke(d)” as a single from the upcoming EP?

Ben: The single "Choke(d)" for our upcoming LP is a re-written and updated version of the opening track "Choke" from our debut EP, Gaslight. "Choke(d)" is about 80% the same song as "Choke," with a few parts tweaked and extended. We chose this …

Doki Doki

SPB: Who is a band that’s been taking too long to release their next record?

Randy Moore (guitar): Alkaline Trio!!

Donnie Walsh (bass): Yes! He ain’t wrong!!

Lucy Giles (drums/vocals): I would say Henry Chadwick, because I cannot wait for him to put out new stuff! His last record was amazing. I was also thinking about Cub. …

Mike (DeeCRACKS)

SPB: What show, outside of Austria, have you been most excited to play (either because of the city, the venue, or the rest of the lineup)?

Mike: Tough question actually. We've done a lot of touring in our 20 years as a band and basically every adventure we were and still are excited for. The first proper tour …

Dave Lombardo (Venamoris, Fantomas, ex-Slayer)

SPB: You’re known as a drummer: what was the first instrument you learned to play (and what else you play overall)? 

Lombardo: The first instrument I learned to play was the marching drum. I was in 4th grade, I believe I was 9 years old. Other than drums, I can get by on guitar and …

Doe Paoro

SPB: If you could experiment in any one genre that’s far removed from what you do now, what would it be?

Paoro: If I could experiment in any genre that's far removed from what I do now, I think I would play with country music. I imagine that I would learn a lot from a songwriting perspective: I …

Teddy Panopoulos (Dead Waves)

SPB: Tell us about how you captured the sound on Abandoned Children.

Teddy: Like usual, we wanted to use everything we own on this new Dead Waves release and brought back some acoustic drums and percussion which our last release didn't have.

For the first picture, I have my Ancient Lyre - I got this …

Gabriele (Deaf Lingo-bass)

SPB: What is your favorite album cover of all time?

Gabriele: Maybe there's already a lot of talk about it, but this is one of the best examples of record covers that complement the music.

You might not even listen to it, but you already know what to expect.

The first big visual impact from that saturated …

Alix (Daydream)

SPB: What do you remember of playing your first show?

Alix: My first show ever was when I was 13 years old. My two younger brothers and I formed a cover band with a friend and we called it FEENIX. We played a benefit party at a church that we all grew up going to (against our will …

Jace (DEAD – bass)

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

Jace: For live shows I have 2 Fender Precision basses. Both made in Japan, one from the mid ‘80s, one from the mid ‘90s.

I’ve changed the bridge on one and upgraded the pickups on both. One has a low action and …

Chris Fogal (Discomfort Creature-guitar/vocals)

SPB: Do you get nervous before you play a show/take the stage?

Fogal: If I haven't played for a while I do get a little nervous but it's more like an annoying excitement. It's not like fear of being up on stage or anything. It's more like I wish I could just relax and chill but …

Jem (DEAD - drums, WeEmptyRooms – label operator)

SPB: Walk us through your kit and offer insight as to how you arrived at your sizes (shells and cymbals)?

Jem: I have never owned a complete, matching kit and probably never will. I'm a tone chaser and I imagine when I find the "perfect" kit is when I will die. My …

Marc Diamond aka The Fresh Prince of Darkness (The Dwarves)

SPB: What is your gear setup when playing with the Dwarves and why did you choose what you did?

The Fresh Prince of Darkness: When we tour, be it foreign or domestic we don't bring our own gear. We have the support band carry the backline. But to get the gig …

Jesse Sendejas (Days N Daze)

SPB: Is there a special technique you use to optimize the sound of your banjo when playing clubs?

Sendejas: It's just me layering instruments in the recordings so we've only actually had a banjo player play with us live a handful of times, and usually all acoustic so sound wasn't an issue. John Warmb of …

Alex (Debt Neglector)

SPB: Songs about girls: yay or nay? (Why? Any favorite examples?) 

Alex: Songs about girls are fine I guess if it’s done respectfully. Some of my favorite bands write songs about girls but there are times when it can get a little cringe inducing. Like I don’t want to hear a song about a “nice guy” complaining …

John (Disconnect Disconnect Records)

SPB: You've had a good run in 2019. What do we have to look forward to in 2020?

John: 2019 was great for Disconnect Disconnect, working with some great upcoming bands (Blowfuse, A Time To Stand, Drunktank, Stone Lions, Kill The Rooster), great new albums from some bands we’d worked with before (The Decline, Primetime Failure, …