Category: Interviews
Nick Ghanbarian from Bayside interview
So Bayside/Saves the Day was awesome! The show was grand, even while I was walking around on an untreated broken foot (I did eventually go to the hospital). The entire night was definitely a nostalgia trip, both bands playing songs I have treasured since my high school days.
I got the chance to interview Nick Ghanbarian, the bassist for Bayside.
We started off the interview in the Bayside/Saves the Day dressing room. Unfortunately, we scheduled the interview right during sound check, so I could barely hear Nick’s response to my deep, probing questions. So we took the interview outside. With all the cars whooshing by. Same problem. So listen CLOSELY…very closely.
Interview is worth it. Check it out below.
Introducing The Front Bottoms!
Gotta love The Front Bottoms. I first started listening to them when they came to Athens in September. Even though I missed them when they were here (I had already bought Bright Eyes tickets for the same night), I looked them up and was immediately hooked.
Luckily, they came to Atlanta this month, so I was able to get a second shot at seeing them. And this time, I got to interview them. They were great. The interview was sort of a drive-by gauntlet of questions being fired at them as quickly as possible, since I was not the only interviewer on the list. However, after they finished up with everything, we still had about an hour before the show was to start. During this time, we got to hang out, have a beer, and chat with them. Conclusion: these guys are awesome.
Oh yeah…and the show was great, too! They gave a really energetic, fantastic performance, and I was extremely impressed. Long story short: this band has got it, and you should definitely check them out.
Backstage with Astronautalis
Just got back from interviewing Astronautalis at The Masquerade in Atlanta. This. Was. Awesome.
Before I get to the show, let me talk about the interview. This guy is completely fascinating to talk to (which might explain why the interview ended up going for almost an hour- had to edit the video down and cut it into three parts).
Now for the show- first, let me just say…the audience absolutely adores this guy (with good reason, let me tell you). If you can’t make it to a show, which I adamantly urge you to do, check out some YouTube videos of his live performances. You’ll get it.
Major highlight of the night was the famous freestyle that he does at the end of his shows. He chooses a few people from the audience to give him topics, and then he raps about them on the spot. It’s pretty dang awesome. And guess what? He rapped about Vinyl Mag. No big deal. We’re officially awesome.
Check out the interview below, and then get online, find his latest show, and get on over there.
Exclusive interview with Kut U Up
Kut U Up is a band that I hold very close to my heart. In 2002, they went on the Pop Disaster Tour with blink-182, Green Day, and Jimmy Eat World. Their tour was documented in the film Riding in Vans with Boys.
Throughout the tour, Kut U Up is portrayed as a group of ne’er-do-well punks wreaking havoc and creating chaos. Aside from making you instantly love them for their hilarious- albeit inappropriate- shenanigans, Kut U Up manages to make an impression as a truly solid band. I’ve been rocking their one and only album for almost 10 years.
Now, the guys are back making music, getting ready to come out with a new album, and gearing up for their Australian tour in January.
I recently (virtually) sat down with guitarist/vocalist Brandon Parkhurst and bassist/vocalist Chris Cote via the wonderful world of Skype to discuss where the guys have been, what’s happening on the album, and what their plans are for the future of the band.
Heads up: I downloaded a terrible free Skype video recorder to do this interview, so yeah…there is no way to get rid of the words “Call Recorder Demo” across the screen.
In the Studio with Circle Takes the Square
I got the chance to sit down in the studio with Kathleen Stubelek and Drew Speziale from Circle Takes the Square to talk about their new album, the recording process, and how they got where they are.
For those of you who don’t know, CTTS is an experimental screamo band from Savannah, Georgia. They are currently recording their new album, Decompositions, Volume 1, Chapter 1: Rites of Initiation.
Just wanna be sure to really thank Drew and Kathy for giving me such a great interview to launch VINYL with and Anthony Stubelek for inviting me into the studio and helping set up the interview. Couldn’t have asked for a better interview, and couldn’t have done it without you guys!
Interview is below:
Check out this bonus interview with producer and engineer (not to mention Kathleen’s husband), Anthony Stubelek, with some “deeply” inspiring comments from Drew.