The Fall-Outs were a brilliant garage rock n' roll band out of Seattle that were around in some form or another from the mid 1980's to the early 2000's. My admiration grew even more for this band when I found out they got their name from the title of the last episode of the 1960's British TV series The Prisoner.  The band uniquely combined Beatle's like harmonies, melodic 60's jangle pop riffs, all backed by The Who's explosive energy and wrapped up in The Jam's unparallelled coolness. The Fall-Outs was started by singer and guitarist David Holmes and bass player Shannon McConnel who were old high school pals. Later they added drummer Dino Lencioni who answered a "drummer wanted" flyer that was strategically placed in "The Who" section of a local record store. Holmes and Lencioni remained as the only constants throughout the band's lifespan. McConnel was in and out, being replaced by various other bass players including Mudhoney...

Interview conducted with bassist/vocalist Lorca Wood and guitarist/lead vocalist CJ Stritzel Shock Treatment: Can we start out by telling me who’s currently in the band and what you all do in the group? CJ: Sure, it’s me (CJ Stritzel) singing n’ playing guitar, Scott Derr playing guitar n’ making weird noises with a variety of machines, Lorca Wood playing bass n’ doing some singing and Ron Skrasek on drums and doing a bit of singing as well. LW: Lorca here, as CJ said….  Shock Treatment: How did rock n roll find you guys out there in the majestic high deserts of ABQ? What bands inspired you to want to pick up an instrument and learn to play? CJ: Well, I grew up in Tucson, so different desert but same vibe, I guess. I picked up a guitar when I was about 13 or so… I just was a suburban kid into all the really cool heavy metal and stadium rock that was on offer at the time. I just loves me some Rush, Van Halen, Priest, The Scorps, G n’ F’n R, all of it… LW: I had always been really i...

Interview with Seth Pettersen, singer, songwriter for Sweet Reaper Shock Treatment: As a songwriter and musician, what band or musical act made you want to pick up a guitar and learn how to play and write your own music? Sweet Reaper: One of the first memories I have of music really taking control of my whole being was when I was about 4 years old, watching The Pound Puppies Movie. There’s a scene where the Pound Puppies do a cover of Danny and the Juniors’ “At the Hop,” and I remember it resonating with me in a really strong way. I realized even then that music does something to you—it made me lose control. I ran around the room, completely excited. My mom was a piano player growing up, so she taught me a few chords on the piano. My cousin Kathy was going to UCSB for a while when I was a kid, and she’d come over occasionally and show me a couple guitar chords. Once I learned a few, I didn’t really know any cover songs, so I just sat there with your basic C and G chords and started wr...

The Suicide Notes started as a recording project for Tim (of Epoxies) and some friends. The fun soon couldn’t be contained to just one small recording space and a full band was formed to play live. Three female lead singers were brought in to belt out those dark lyrics while harmonizing like the Ronettes. A backup band was meticulously chosen from the local talent pool including members of the Mean Jeans and Pure Country Gold. Suicide Notes play music in a fun, frantic ‘60’s girl group style only with some slightly demented lyrics. If you want another sense of what this group is like: imagine you’re on a hell bound train with Joey Ramone wearing the conductors cap while listening to The Shangri-La’s as you’re plummeting into the abyss. With lyrics like: “Life is about choice so i choose death so I don't have to see your face and smell your breath.” It’s this bitter and sweet dichotomy in their music that makes them so unique. However humorless squares: find your kicks elsewhere! ...

San Antonio’s The Rich Hands sound like early Rolling Stones covering Buddy Holly with a bit more dirt and fuzz collected around the edges, which serves in adding warmth and charisma to the music. What separates these three lads from the rest of the hungry pack is the genuine, hearts on their sleeves style approach to their music. At first listen to their dazzling LP, Dreamers, on Fountain Records, you can tell they take their craft seriously. With all the overproduced electro pop rubbish floating around youth culture lately and things getting worse with each passing year, knowing there are bands forming out there like The Rich Hands help me sleep soundly at night. The future of Rock N’ Roll rests safely in Rich Hands! This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on May 1st, 2014 Interview by Jay Castro Please introduce yourselves and how you give to The Rich Hands. NICK: I'm Nick and I play drums. MATT: My name is Matthew and I play bass for The Rich Hands. CODY: I...

Petty Things unleash a murky, swirling psychedelic garage rock much like their forefathers did in The Seeds and The Count Five, and other bands in the mid to late 1960’s that still held on to their Rock N’ Roll roots, but just took it to a wildly new and chaotic level. Petty Things have tapped into the benevolent and malevolent spirits of the Sonorant Desert itself and channel these transcendental energies to us in song form, much like a Native American Shaman. If you listen to Petty Things songs carefully the mysteries of the universe shall be revealed unto you. This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on April 24th, 2014 Interview by Jay Castro Shock Treatment: Please introduce yourself and how you contribute to Petty Things? Jordan: Hello, my name is Jordan Owen and I play guitar, sing, and write the songs for Petty Things. Where are you all from originally and how did you all meet and decide to play music together? Everyone in the band is either from Phoenix or Tempe,...