- White Stripes
- Disciple
- Transplants
- Dream Theatre
- Suicidal Tendencies
- Blackout Gorgeous
- just
- Vapor
-
The Miskins
Interviews with: The Iron Maidens, nemo_dna and
Violet Grey.
1. Foo
Fighters
2. Coldplay
3. Black Eyed Peas
4. Shakira
5. Seether
6. Zao
7. Nazareth
8. HOTSPUR
9. nemo_dna
10. The Zero Points
Interviews with: Disciple, AnaDies and just.
1. Gorillaz
2. Alkaline Trio
3. Oasis
4. MXPX
5. Cori Yarckin
6. Glenn Hughes
7. Melvins
8. Credence Clearwater Revival
9. AnaDies
10. Adrenaline Theory
11. The Common Men
12. The Tomatoes
13. F.P. Toz
Interviews with:
The Chariot, Debra DeSalvo,
LeAnna Mosley, HOTSPUR and Dead Romance
1.
Audioslave
2. System of a Down
3. Falling Up
4. The Persihers
5. Radiohead
6. Black Flag
7. Scattered Ink
8. Debra DeSalvo
9. Darque Carnival
10. Young Elderz
Interviews with: Who Killed Marilyn?, Torn, Mark
Roberts and Reino Ermitańo
1. Weezer
2. Dave Matthews Band
3. The Starting Line
4. Limp Bizkit
5. Deftones
6. Jethro Tull
7. LeAnna Mosley
8. Toast
9. SoulStream
Interviews with:
Monet Madrid Madagascar, Scattered
Ink and Blessed By A Broken Heart.
1. Nine Inch Nails
2. 4th Ave. Jones
3. John Prine
4. Mondo Generator
5. Sonic Youth
6. Anacrusis
7. The Showdown
8. Coded
9. Torn
Interviews with: Summer Blanket, roAE, Neck and
Alterior Motive.
1. Garbage
2. American Hi-Fi
3. Starlight Run
4. Mudvayne
5. At The Drive-In
6. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
7. Richard’s Nixon
8. Do Unto Others
Interviews with:
Modern Day Zero, Kids in the Way, Peculiar People Band and Deadworks.
1. Beck
2. Eisley
3. Modern Day Zero
4. Kathleen Edwards
5. Prong
6. Fastway
7. Jah Root
8. Monet, Madrid, Madagascar
9. Chaos Order
Interviews with:
The Juliet Dagger, Mankind is Obsolete and Quiver of Jasper.
1. Queens of the Stone
Age
2. He is Legend
3. Shooter Jennings
4. NOMEANSNO
5. Mankind is Obsolete
6.
roAE
7. Alterior Motive
Plus Interviews
with:
Calico System, Given and Inkognito
1. Rise Against
2. Ivy
3. (hed) P.E.
4. Grascals
5. Primus
6. Rush
7. Drivin’ Rain
8. Fists of Phoenix
Plus Interviews with:
Ryan Clark from Demon Hunter and Dick Witham from The Curse of Western Culture.
Mars Volta
Jack Johnson
Interpol
Thievery Corporation
Blindside
Deep Purple
Quiver of Jasper
Plus an interview
with the band, This, Is A Virtue.
3 Doors Down
The Zutons
Shadows Fall
Alison Kraus and Union Station
P.J. Harvey
Fugazi
Driven to Her Death
and you
will know us..
Tobymac
Killswitch Engage
Kelly Clarkson
Kenny Chesney
James Gang
Underoath
U2
Green Day
Slipknot
Gwen Stefani
Blake Shelton
Mudhoney
Given
The Audio Nut - Issue 2 -
featuring reviews from:
Chevelle
Cake
Ministry
Bad Brains
Byproduct
The Audio Nut
- Issue 1 - featuring reviews from:
Muse
Brand New
Demon Hunter
Shellac
Emaciation
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The Audio Nut
Vol. I Issue 17
Six months down, six to go. This year has really been
going by fast around here. Plenty of good music has been released in 2005 and there will be plenty
more coming out soon. You’ll have to stay tuned to see what we here at The Audio Nut think about the
new stuff on the horizon. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome a special guest
reviewer to the mix. He is a person that I have met from doing this page and I respect his opinion
on plenty of things both musically and otherwise. It is really up to him on what he reviews and how
often he does it. I just hope you all make sure he feels as welcome as you have made me feel.
Remember all comments and questions are always welcome.
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
1. Team Sleep
2. Tracy Bonham
3. Scary Kids Scaring Kids
4. Reggie & The Full Effect
5. Cheap Trick
6. Inkognito
7. Talk Engine
8. Violet Grey
9. Skill of Lying
Interviews with: Pat
Zelenka, Darque Carnival and Fragile Porcelain Mice
Message Board: I have been encouraging
bands to post information about themselves on the
message board. Please check
it out and also post anything on there if you wish. You don’t have to be in a band
to post something. You can be a fan of a band or just post anything on there musically
related.
|
Reviews |
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Team Sleep
Team Sleep
2005 Maverick
Grade: A-
http://www.teamsleep.net
So, this is the
release that fans of the softer side of the Deftones have been waiting
on. Deftones’ singer Chino Moreno has had this project in the works for
years and now it has finally seen the light of day. Overall, I will say
that it truly sounds a lot like the mellower stuff that Moreno’s main
group has released. “Ever”, “Ataraxia”, “Live from the Stage” and “Paris
Arm” are all smooth and melodious tracks that will calm even the most
ferocious beast. There are really no moments of the heavy guitar driven
rock that Deftones fans have come to know and love, but at the same time
it contains shear beauty and soul all it’s own. Basically, it is worth
the listen, but I wish that all of this could be incorporated into some
of the Deftones albums. Fans of the group should enjoy Team Sleep. |
|
Tracy Bonham
Blink the Brightest
2005 Zoe Records
Grade: B
http://www.tracybonham.com
It’s been a few years
since Tracy Bonham has released anything and I can see that she’s spent
some of her time working on her musicianship and song-writing skills.
Blink the Brightest is probably the best effort I have ever heard
come from this multi-talented woman. “Something Beautiful”, “And the
World Has the Nerve” and “Naked” are all soundly written and really good
songs. You can tell that Bonham has been in the company of plenty of the
Lilith Fair artists, as she tends to remind one of Liz Phair, Poe and
Tori Amos in some spots; while still sounding like herself in others.
Basically it’s a pretty good release and one worth checking out if you
are into any of the artists mentioned above. |
|
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
The City Sleeps in Flames
2005 Immortal
Grade: B-
http://www.scarykids.com
Yes, I know that the
music world has been bombarded with bands in the emo/screamo genre that
past few years, but finding the good bands are like going to yard sales.
You have to know what you’re looking for and what you are willing to pay
to get it. Scary Kids Scaring Kids have some quality moments on this
eleven-song release. They also have moments that are very reminiscent of
bands like Taking Back Sunday, At the Drive-In and Underoath. There are
some good songs written by promising musicians, but again there are
plenty of similarities to sprinkle across the landscape here. They get
the ‘slightly above average’ grade, because I think that they have some
potential, and if I hadn’t already heard four other bands like them this
week I would bump them up just a tad. Basically, if you are into the new
post-punk/emo movement you will probably appreciate the Scary Kids
Scaring Kids. |
|
Reggie & The Full Effect
Songs Not To Get Married To
2005 Vagrant Records
Grade: A-
http://www.reggieandthefulleffect.com
There’s a wide
assortment of styles and influences draped all over this album. I was
pleasantly surprised with Reggie & The Full Effect, because a lot of
people had been knocking them stating that they were nothing more than a
joke band and not worth the listen. All joking aside Songs Not To Get
Married To is a quality recording. The group mixes elements of indie-rock
and electronica into a genuinely excellent release. Check out the songs
“Take Me Home, Please”, “Deathnotronic”, “Guess Who’s Back” and a song,
which is titled something that I can’t write here without censoring, for
some high-quality diversity. Fans of Atom & His Package, Ween and The
Bloodhound Gang will surely enjoy the full effect of this CD. |
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Back To
Top
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Blast From The Past |
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With this issues
installment of BFTP Col. Lump from Richard’s Nixon has enlisted to do this
review. Look forward to hearing and reading more from the Col. in issues to
come.
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
1977 Epic/Legacy
Review by Col. Lump
http://www.cheaptrick.com
Timeless.
That's the catchphrase used by the adjective impaired to describe works that
withstand the test of time. One need not go to eBay for a pair of platform
shoes or bitchin' red bell-bottoms to listen to Cheap Trick. The Fab
Four from Rockford, IL used a can't miss recipe of searing vocals, sweet
harmonies, punishing layers of guitar, fat bottom bass, and thundering drums
to produce some the most complete and satisfying songs
ever.
A bombastic drum pattern
introduces us to “ELO Kiddies”. A fierce modular track that finds
room for a ringing phone; yet is catchy, almost hum able. The pump your
fist riffage of “Oh, Candy”, “Hot Love”, and the classic “He's A
Whore” allow the listener to understand why Cheap Trick is revered by
punk fans. The obligatory ‘ballad’ “Manocello” is a space cadets
vision of a jangly acoustic guitar rocketship bouncing off planets to a
showcase of the galaxies tightest rhythm section.
Pop sensibilities aside,
the best track on Cheap Trick is “The Ballad of TV Violence (I'm Not
the Only Boy)”. The lyrics are a journey into the mind of serial killer
Richard Speck and the song is so dark, the vocal delivery so bloodcurdling
that by the time the slamming door closes the track (and the album) you're
left feeling nasty and violated.
The visual allure
and live prowess of Cheap Trick are legendary and compelling. But the Trick
has always been about quality songs. And that is truly
timeless.
Col. Lump is the
drummer for Richard's Nixon. Visit their website at
http://www.richardsnixon.moonfruit.com
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The Underground Spotlight |
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To be considered for The
Underground Spotlight send me an e-mail with contact information to
jsohn@nutzworld.net
or
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
 Inkognito
Dilate
2004 Unsigned
http://www.inkognito.moonfruit.com
http://www.myspace.com/inkognito
First of all I send my
apologies to the guys from Inkognito for taking so long to get this CD in
The Audio Nut. I had told them that I would have it in here way back in
January or February and just now have included it. There really is no excuse
why it took so long to bring them to you; they are a hard rocking band out
of Missouri that bring various styles of the rock spectrum home for your
listening pleasure. The band has entertained numerous recording contract
offers over the past couple years, but have chosen to wait for the right
moment to strike. My assumption is that the offers will still continue to
roll in as they are scheduled to record again later this year. (I believe
that’s what I heard)
Inkognito really covers
the spread with Dilate; you can hear influences ranging from Led Zepplin to
Temple of the Dog and Napalm Death. Just kidding about the Napalm Death
part…just checking to make sure you were paying attention. In all
seriousness this is a fine piece of recording with some catchy guitar
grooves tangled in with solid bass/drum parts and first-rate vocals. Songs
like “Leave”, “Life With a Thief” and “Exorcism” are all great examples of
the bands talent when it comes to writing and performing music. I hope you
take the time to check it out.
Note:
You can read an interview with Randy and Steve from Inkognito in
Issue 8
Talk Engine
Talk Engine
2005 Unsigned
 Grade:
A
http://www.talkengine.net
This is an outstanding CD
by the New York group Talk Engine. They are dubbed as the rock-n-roll answer
to hip-hop and I’m here to tell you that they are much more than that. I’d
say that they are more like the bluesy, jazzy and poetic version of rock.
Forget the whole hip-hop declaration; that has no place in any association
with Talk Engine in my opinion. This 14-song disc has moments that will make
you think, moments that will make you crank the stereo to 10, and moments
that will make you feel weird and wonderful at the same time. The group
truly has the perfect name for what they are doing; vocalist Jackie Sheeler
paints an eccentric picture over a driving landscape that is delivered by
Bryan (bass), Glenn (drums) and Landru (guitar). I read in their online
press kit where they are described as Patty Smith meets Stevie Ray Vaughn; I
truly agree and would have to say that’s a better and fairer comparison than
I could come up with.
Violet Grey
April EP
2005 Beau Ideal Records
 Grade:
A
http://www.myspace.com/violetgrey
http://www.myspace.com/beauidealrecords
Solo artists can be an
unpredictable and touchy bunch at times. There are some who are trying to be
different for the sake of being different or attempting to branch out from a
group or band that they have been a part of for a long time. There are some
who probably have chosen the ‘solo’ road due to their people skills and a
lack of the ability to work well with others. Occasionally you run across
solo artists or musicians that seem to really have a grasp for what they
want to do. Violet Grey falls into the later category. Michael (I don’t know
his last name) has what it takes, in my opinion, to move himself and his
music to the ‘next level’. This 5-song EP is a sincere and placid release
from Violet Grey. “Thursday”, “So Let This (Be)” and “Glass Doors” are
smooth and settling songs that will whisk you away into the land of
daydreams while letting your emotions and soul flutter around like a
butterfly in an open field of green pastures and forgotten times. Now don’t
take that as ‘this is a happy-go-lucky little CD’ it is chalked full of
feeling and heart, straight from the blue-collar elements of Michigan. I
would recommend this to anyone that likes Abandoned Pools, The Cure or Jeff
Buckley.
Note: You can check out an interview with Michael, the brains and
architect of this project by viewing Issue 16
Skill of Lying
The Amber Lighting EP
2005 Unsigned
 Grade:
A
http://www.purevolume.com/skilloflying
http://www.theskilloflying.port5.com
http://www.battleofthebands.com/skilloflying
Skill of Lying is hard
hitting quartet from Massachusetts that display many skills on this EP.
There is the skill to write good songs, the skill to shred on bass and
guitars, demolish drum sets and the skill to annihilate crowds with
remarkable lyrics and vocals. “Headbands Are In”, “Soundtrack to a
Nightmare” and “The Silence Reveals the Truth” are top-notch songs and this
EP is worth every penny that you spend on it. They remind me of a mix of
Anthrax meets Thrice…weird combination huh? So I’m sure that fans of those
two bands and any others with some similarities will find some truth to
Skill of Lying.
Note: Check out an interview with Skill of Lying in the next issue.
Back To Top |
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7 Questions With... |
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Pat
Zelenka
Q. You are a very busy guy. What are some of the things that you
arecurrently involved in?A. Currently, I am in the studio working on a CD of home recordings tobe titled "Lo Fi Happiness". Basically, 4 track experiments mixed through a large studio board. You can check out two of the completed tracks on my web page, http://www.patzelenka.com under a link for the project on the "music" page there. You can also view a link to the studio where I am working, Sacred Hill Recording. Vanity project mostly, and very different from what I did on the Radiosoul CD. I plan on having it available in August. Check my web page for details. Q. Tell us about Radiosoul. Is that a project that you are going to continue or was it just an idea for the disc?A. A little of both. I am rehearsing with a new line up of Radiosoul right now. Joel Butts, who played bass on the CD, has left the band, and I am working with a new bassist, Chris Hamilton. Also, the band will be known from now on either as "Pat Zelenka's Radiosoul" or "Pat Zelenka and Radiosoul". I haven't decided which yet, but from now on, I want my name to be "up front" so to speak. I plan on being in the studio with that line up before the year is out if I can help it. Q. What would you like to tell us about the CD and where can we get it?A. It was probably both the most rewarding and stressful time of my life! haha. I had a collection of tunes that I really felt should be all together, but the band I had been in didn't want to press a CD...and for that (as well as other reasons) I quit that band, and formed Radiosoul. My intention was for Radiosoul to be a shared band, but it has since become a great vehicle for me to present my musical ideas. I feel very at home there.
They are kind of my "Double Trouble" so to speak. I am very proud of how the CD turned out. It is selling very steadily, and you can buy it at Elderly Instruments via this link:
http://www.elderly.com/recordings/items/RADIO1.htm Q. What would you say are some of your goals as a musician?A. To become what Muddy Waters referred to as a "known person". I want to be known for my work, and be able to sustain a financial living from it.
To that end I'm registered as a publisher and writer via BMI, and I am currently seeking proper management…I want to take this thing the "whole way", as far as it takes me. Q. What are you listening to in your home/car stereo these days?A. Right now, I'm listening to the following CD's: 1. Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones: The Remixes Vol. 12. Johnny Winter: Captured Live3. Debra DeSalvo: Electric Goddess4. Brian Wilson: Smile5. Judas Priest: Angel Of Retribution6. Leslie West: Mountain7. King's X: Gretchen Goes To Nebraska8. Jason Becker: Perpetual Burn9. Joe Satriani: Crystal Planet10. Anything by Robert Randolph Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you be? Why?A. Just me if I could become famous! haha. Seriously...Hmmm..... I guess I would have to say Jimi Hendrix's roadie.....hahahaha.......I don't know, I guess I'm just happy being me. Q. Is there anything else that you'd like to share with us about you and your music?A. I would like to say that nothing I do could be completed without the help and support of my beautiful wife Barb and my precious daughter Chelsea, both of whom I dedicated songs to on the CD. They put up with a lot, and stand by me always. I would also like to say that, for me, music is a religion, and I attend my musical church on a daily basis. Music has taken me to a place that I would not have otherwise come to. I am forever grateful that I discovered music when I did, and hope that it continues to bring me the peace that I have only been able to find through creatively pursuing it. Thanks to everyone who has believed in and purchased the Radiosoul CD, and please support Net Radio. Banner links to the great stations that play me, such as Scrub Radio, Cygnus Radio, and Song Planet, can be found on my web page, http://www.patzelenka.com. Click on them and check these stations out. Indie music is alive and well on these stations. Take Care.
Darque Carnival Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. Rick Brenner, Drummer
Tim MacDonald. Bass Player.
Shane Whitecloud - I am the frontman/singer for Darque Carnival Q. What are some of the goals for the Darque Carnival?
A. RB-Write new material, record the 3rd EP or full length if we can. Play as much as possible and eventually, hopefully do it for a living.
TM- On the short term we have a few shows lined up the end of June and beginning of July. After that, the rehearsing for the tour in August. From Mid-August until the end of the month we will be on the road and soon thereafter get into the studio to work on a new EP featuring our new vocalist, Shane Whitecloud.
On the long term, play more shows and gain more of a following on a national as well as international level. We will be working a little harder in attaining endorsement and distribution deals. I could say "get signed" but that'll come if we get the right following. Someone once told me, "you start selling lots of your own albums and get the people talking, they'll find you".SW- Recognition isn't much of a big problem it seems, but recognition
by the right label is still a struggle. So in answer I'd say priority
#1 is to get the name out even more, and get signed...we'd also love
to get a video made sometime in the near future, and we really need to get some stuff recorded with my vocals on it for DC.Q. Is there anything you'd like to tell us about the CD "All For Naught"?
A. RB-It is apply titled. We went through hell and back trying to get it done. It took us a year and a half to get it done and then another 6- months to raise the money to get it out and other than stress and money it costs us a vocalist. But were back in the mix and ready to promote it.
TM- The title about summed the whole experience. We made a deal to build a studio. We built it. The owner of the studio kept adding stuff that we never planned on doing. It took us nearly a year to build the studio.
We were recommended to a wonderful producer, Dennis MacKay. He has worked with David Bowie, Judas Priest, Whitney Houston, Al DiMiola, Tommy Bolin, etc... Dennis has a resume as long as my arm. When we were done, we didn't care for what we heard. It isn't to slight Dennis, he was great. It just wasn't the mix we were looking for. We needed to remix the disc. Unfortunately the owner of the studio was booked for a few months after that. We had to wait.Finally, after three days of work, the disc was mixed. The two things that went right were the Mastering and artwork. Tom Gordon (Dr. Dre, Dio, Whitesnake, etc.) did wonders mastering. Shawn Ward did amazing artwork for the album. Both of these guys are long-time friends of the band and we knew they are perhaps some of the best two guys at what they do in the West. We sent the CD to get mass-produced. It came back wrong! They sent us pictures of what they said they could achieve. We gave them the go ahead and it came back wrong!!! More than once we asked if we were cursed. We knew that the title of the album was so fitting for what we had gone through. Then our lead singer decided after the CD was finally done, he was as well. All the more fitting, All For Naught.We now have the guy for the job. He's ready to kill.SW- It's a great CD
Q. What can we expect from Darque Carnival by the end of the year?
A. RB-We will tour as much as possible this summer and hopefully be in the studio by the time the weather gets nice and cold. Some new tunes, hopefully some new endorsements and back in the studio. A contract with say Interscope or someone would be nice somewhere in there.
TM- see goalsSW- If you could expect it, we wouldn't be a great band, LOL! In all
seriousness, you can expect to see a lot more of us, and you'll hear
a lot of really new tunes that will broaden your mind even more then it
ever has before. DC is experimenting with more stuff now, so this year
will be even more interesting, as I'm sure it has been every year for
DC before me.
Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you be? Why?
A. RB-William Wallas. That dude had balls. Not to mention the charisma it took to lead the army he did.
TM- Perhaps President GW Bush, so I could have done things so differently. That's a tough question.
SW- Jim Morrison, Dimebag Darrel, or Stevie Ray Vaughn...they were all heart, everyone knows who they are, and some even look at them as gods, other then the fact that they are dead now, what isn't cool
about the life they lived and the impression they made.
Q. What are you listening to these days in your home/car stereo?
A. RB-What I consider my favs. The first Korn disk, Meshuggah, you know the good stuff they don’t play on the radio. Pantera is always within reach.
TM- Unearth, "With Teeth" by NIN, "Lost and Found" by Mudvayne, "Vertigo" by U2, "Deliverance" by Opeth, Eight Times Over, "And All That Could Have Been" by NIN, etc. I hate to say it but I listen to a lot of talk radio as well.
SW- Killswitch Engage is my ultimate favorite, American Headcharge,
Soilworks, Soil, Slipknot, but that all depends if I can talk the
drummer Rick into taking out his damn Brittany Spears CD long enough to let me listen to one of mine!
Q. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about Darque Carnival?
A. RB-We need a break. LOL We sponsor a lot of bands from out of the area. We love to have bands come to town and help them get gigs. We are an honorary member of Bands4bands, and like helping other bands out when we can, many times at our own expense. We are a pretty well behaved group of guys and love doing what we do.TM- It's really weird how things work sometimes. We've gone from a band with no vision to a band with more vision and more opportunities than I can ever remember. We lose a longtime singer who lost his heart for Darque Carnival music years ago and we pick up Shane who is as talented as he is driven. I cannot say that we would be heading in any direction if we still had our former vocalist.Things are great and we are ready and willing to take Darque Carnival to a new level, undiscovered territory for the band.SW-
Love us or hate us, either way we aren't going away. We are the
band that likes to crawl under your skin when you least expect it and
force you to let loose a blood curdling scream in your little cubicle
at work because you can't get our music out of your head. We'd prefer
you love us, but even if you did hate us, at least you took the time
to listen to us and form a judgment, which means your cool after all,
and bad publicity is STILL publicity.
Note: You can read a review of the All For Naught CD by viewing Issue 13http://www.darquecarnival12.com
http://www.myspace.com/darquecarnival
http://cdbaby.com/cd/darquecarnival (to purchase)
http://www.garageband.com/artist/darque_carnival
Fragile Porcelain Mice
Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. Mark Heinz, drummer.
Q. How did you come up with the name, Fragile Porcelain Mice?
A. FRAGILE PORCELAIN MICE was #8 on a 1990 David Letterman Top Ten list for “Least Likely Names for
an NFL Expansion Team,” coming in right behind “The Groin Pullers” and just before “The
Fightin’ Amish”.
Q. What is going on in the FPM camp these days; tours, live performances and
recording wise?
A. We’ve been playing pretty steadily in the Midwest since we’re from Illinois, and have been
fortunate to play some really great shows over the last several years. We’re not looking to play the
east and west coasts as much as we did in the past.
We’ve been working on material for the follow-up to our 2004 LP, “The Best of Modern Rock”. So
between writing, recording, and playing shows, FPM has been keeping really busy without heavy
touring. We used to tour a lot, but after Tim (O’Saben, original and
current FPM guitarist) took a break from the band and then returned in the fall of 2000, our
operating process has changed entirely. When Tim rejoined the band, we knew that Fragile had to
evolve. The climate of the live music industry and the way that the entire touring circuit operated
was changing dramatically. Basically, we agreed that it was time to take everything to the next
level and depend on ourselves—from the consistency and strength of our albums and live shows, to
things like the usefulness and functionality of the Web site for people
that follow the band.
As anyone who’s into this band knows, the thrill of playing live is probably the single biggest
fruit of our labors, but in order for a band to thrive it has to keep its focus on creating. We had
gotten ourselves into such a constant cycle of traveling and performing that we were never able to
pour everything that we had into each and every new song. We were so busy playing live, and
identified as such, that our time for writing new material was ultimately compromised.
Now, we’re continuing to build on what we learned from the process of making “The Best of Modern
Rock”. We allow ourselves the time and energy required to make the songs and, ultimately, the albums
and shows the best that they can be. We really
sweat the details now more than ever, and in my opinion FPM is consistently producing its best work,
which continues to get broader in scope and detail.
Q. Who are some of your influences both musically and non-musical?
A. Musically, I could write a monstrous list of artists that have inspired me and whose influence
has guided me along the way. Suffice it to say that almost everyone whom I’ve met or have heard play
has influenced me in some way or another, either positively or negatively. It really all just
depends on the circumstances at the time, what someone takes from any given experience.
Non-musically, my mom has always been a big influence on my life—mostly because she is just a
genuinely good person who has really taught me a lot about tolerance and patience. Besides my
mother, my beautiful wife and most excellent son always keep me at my best.
Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would
you be? Why?
A. Me. I wouldn’t want to fill anyone else’s shoes. My size 9 1/2 Asics are big enough.
Q. What are you listening to in you car/home stereo?
A. Helmet, “Size Matters”; NIN, “With Teeth”; Camp Climax for Girls, “Ten Dollar Birds”; Shame Club,
“VOL”.
I usually only listen to music in the car, and I don’t change out my CD’s very often.
Those are some good CD’s to have on hand.
Q. Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers about the band?
A. Just like the U.S. Mail, we will keep braving the weather and delivering.
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