This is another "tandem" post that I'm doing with my Born Too Late co-host and pal Lord Rutledge. For his list of "Essential 90's Punk Bands, go check out his blog Faster and Louder . This time, I have no idea what he's going to put on his list. This proved to be FAR more difficult than I had imagined. I tried to use completely different bands than the ones I mentioned in our previous tandem post "My Favorite Records of 1996". There was so much going on in the 1990's that it wasn't hard to think of bands, it was hard to narrow it down to only ten(ish)! So below, after hours and hours of inner conflict and deliberation, I present to you my list of bands that were "essential" to me during the 1990's.  The early 1990's included my high school years. This was also the time I discovered underground rock n' roll/punk rock. I was coming into the decade already being a fan of 50's Rock n' Roll, 60's British Invasion...

What makes a good pop punk band? Surely it’s not musical skill; The Ramones have been hounded for years over their technical simplicity and yet they remain kings. It most certainly isn’t lyrics; most pop punk bands use the simplest of words to describe everyday mundane events, love, hate and every emotion in between. What I feel makes a good pop punk band is the ability to emotionally throw yourself into your music, admitting imperfection, vulnerability, and most importantly, just have pure, unpolluted fun. Long Beach, NY’s, The New Rochelles take all of these qualities, stuff them into very loud amplifiers and blast it at you like confetti cannons. What makes most grownups so boring? Whatever it is listening to the New Rochelles will help in steering clear of it! This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on July 24th, 2014 Interview by J Castro First off, who’s all in the band and what is everyone’s function in The New Rochelles? RONNIE: I'm Ronnie Rochelle. I'm t...

In a perfect world, there would be a tribute statue erected in Norway with the likeness of Yum Yums front man Morten Henrikson. For years he’s been strumming away writing and performing glowing pop songs, just the way the Norse God of pop songs intended. Songs that are so jam packed with guitar hooks and genuinely heartfelt lyrics that you instantly feel a connection with them. Sometimes I feel like maybe that's why bands like The Yum Yums aren't as popular as they should be; it's almost too emotionally “real” for most people to take. That's why all these disconnected theatrical rock star puppets rule the airwaves. So where is this Norse God of pop songs and why isn't he striking down all of these fraudulent poets of musical swill you ask? Why he's too busy writing songs for his band The Yum Yums! This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on June 17th, 2014 Interview by Jay Castro What is the origin story of your band Morten? I know you have h...

(photo by Aaron Oxborrow) For decades power pop and punk rock have had a history together. However, to successfully execute this merger a band needs to possess a sort of X factor, a certain something that allows a person to open up like a dropped book on a busy street and let passersby to peer into the pages of their lives, their souls. To do this well, there can be nothing artificial, the feelings and emotions that come through those amplifiers must be genuine no matter what instrument is being used as the conduit. Primitive Hearts have raw and sincere reactions to the world around them and they present their findings to you in song form and you’ll soon realize that their hearts are far from “primitive.” This Interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on May 29th, 2014 Interview by Jay Castro First off Paul, I would like to thank you for taking time and doing this interview; I know you are a busy individual, well…. I’m assuming. Let’s start with names of all in Primitive Hearts...

Musically, toyGuitar picks up right where Jack’s former band One Man Army’s She’s an Alarm EP left off. Jack continues his streak of churning out snappy, quick paced, ultra melodic punk rock. This however isn’t your doom/gloom/death and destruction are imminent style of punk rock though. San Francisco’s tG play a style of music that sends you soaring into the stratosphere and before you know it you’re looking at your troubles far below you where they now seem insignificant. Their self titled EP on Adeline Records, that came out in the latter part of 2013, is an adrenaline shot straight into the heart of life itself, its music that urges you to live fast and take chances. Once you play this record all the way through: you’re unbreakable! This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on June 11th, 2014 Interview by Jay Castro Please introduce yourself and how you contribute to toyGuitar: Hi, I’m Jack and I play the guitar and sing. Miles plays the other guitar and sings as well....

  Frank Portman aka Dr Frank writes books and pop songs that are packed full of humor, angst, and awkwardness that everyone can relate to whether they care to admit it or not. Frank has the unique ability to speak to the inner teenager within you. His words reignite fires you thought long extinguished in parts of your soul and bring you to a state of glorious adolescence no matter what age you’re feeling. They say youth is wasted on the young. This phrase becomes null and void when you enter the universe of Frank Portman! This Interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on March 6th, 2014 Shock Treatment: You have written two full-length young adult novels King Dork in 2006 and in 2009 Andromeda Klien. What or whom inspired you to want to write and particularly young adult fiction? Dr. Frank: With me it’s not a case of having a burning desire to be a novelist and making it happen. It was a suggestion that I give it a try, as a way of possibly making a little extra money. I w...

The first time I heard Boris the Sprinkler, my brain melted. Sure I’ve heard wit, sarcasm and humor in Rock N’ Roll songs before but never put together so meticulously and sung with such ferocity. I remember thinking the same thing when I first read Norb’s monthly column in Maximum Rocknroll. Norb now fronts another band called The Onions with former members of Last Sons of Krypton and The Tantrums. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, the good reverend is now also producing his own podcast called Bubblegum Fuzz. A punk rock jack-of-all-trades, he injects his trademark mixture of charm, pop culture wisdom and manic energy into everything he does. So prepare to get tie dyed, deep-fried, pie eyed and Shanghai’d tonight with the voice of geek America himself! This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on February 6th, 2014 Interview by Jay Castro Shock Treatment: You are known throughout this land as being a bit of a Rock N’ Roll enthusiast. At what age do you reme...

This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on July 2nd, 2013   To try and place one label on Legendary Wings sound would not do it justice. For one, it’s an album that could have only been conceived by youthful vitality. Oh sure all the good elements are there; a touch of the ol’ lo-fi rock n roll and power pop. However it also has an element of charismatic Lookout Records punk pop that the label put out in the early to mid 90’s in its heyday. Whatever it may sound like is irrelevant, its rock n roll with magnetism and hooks so contagious it’ll wrap itself around your head like an Alien Face Hugger. But unlike an Alien Face Hugger, you don’t really want to tear it off. Hicks, Vazquez……..stand down! Interview by Jay Castro Who’s answering the questions here? Jeff Who is in Legendary Wings and what’s your contribution? I play drums, Scott plays guitar and sings, and Matt Wing plays bass. Are you all originally from the Kalamazoo MI area? Yeah. What is the bands...

This interview was originally published in Audio Ammunition on May 14th, 2013 When I hear a good power pop band, my heart feels like jumping out of my chest and doing a dance like John Cusack’s cheeseburger did in “Better Off Dead”. It happened when I first heard Cheap Trick, then with The Beat, now The Sugar Stems! The tunes are memorable, and the lyrics are emotionally authentic, which makes the entire package multi coated; so you never get worn-out listening to it. “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears, ” you won’t be dissatisfied, because this is timeless pop music. I am confident that decades from now, The Sugar Stems will still be in heavy rotation on many turntables, including mine! Interview by Jay Castro Who’s answering the questions here? It's me! Betsy! Who is in the band and what instruments do you all play? Betsy - vocals/guitar Steph - bass Andy - keyboard Drew - guitar Jonny - drums Are you all originally from the Milwaukee area? How did the ban...