One of the things I admire the most about Duncan’s former band The Boys, is how great the band remained throughout their career. For me, each of their albums got better and better when it seemed for many of their peers the exact opposite was happening. They started off as punk with a pop edge and ended up with straight power pop gems To Hell With The Boys and Boys Only. Duncan Reid’s debut solo album Little Big Head picks up right where those two albums left off. Tremendous power pop the likes of which this earth hasn’t seen for a long time and was long overdue for. Memorable songs with no fillers, the way our rock n roll forefathers intended it. A friend of mine described Duncan Reid’s music as “beyond brilliant”, who am I to squabble? This interview orinanlly appeard in Audio Ammunition on August 29th, 2013 Interview by Jay Castro Shock Treatment: Let’s start with: where you are originally from and what (or whom) motivated you to want to pick up an instrument and learn how to p...

After about 30 seconds into Wyatt Blair’s debut record Banana Cream Dream, I was pretty sure I was going to love it. It’s one of those records you sit down to listen to, loving every song, hoping and keeping your fingers crossed the next song is going to be as good as the one you just heard, and it is! Wyatt Blair’s music embodies everything I love in bands like Dave Clark Five, 1910 Fruitgum Company, and The Bay City Rollers (yes you read correctly, THE Bay City Rollers). Rock N Roll that straps a smile on your face and shoots high tension coiled springs from the bottom of your feet. Can’t wait to hear more! This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on  Interview by Jay Castro Shock Treatment: Who is in the current Wyatt Blair band and how do they earn their keep in it? Wyatt Blair: Jeremy Katz (Bass)- he plays in an awesome band called Froth! I live with Jeremy so it is convenient and he is one of my best friends. Tomas Dolas (guitar)- Tomas & I have bee...

The term “punk” has gotten to be such an all-encompassing term these days. Used to be you’d throw that word out, and you knew pretty much what you were getting. Now days, it means so many different things to so many people. When I hear that word used in a band’s bio description of themselves, I can only hope to hear a band that sounds like French Girls. They take the bits of punk that expose their rock n roll and nerves like The Damned or The Vibrators. A jumble of that crushed in with some 90’s Rip-Off Records underlining and you have yourself a force to be reckoned with! This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on August 22nd 2013 Interview by Jay Castro Who is in the band and how do they earn their keep in it? Chela: I play bass guitar and sing. As far as earning my keep, I think they just keep me around for a good laugh. Mike: I play the guitar and yelp a bit. Donald: I play the guitar and am a fellow yelper with Mike. Amy: I play drums and sometimes let out som...

Night Birds – Born To Die In Suburbia LP (Grave Mistake Records) In the 90’s, New Jersey was a bottomless well of terrific Street Punk/OiI bands like The Bristles, The Wretched Ones, Those Unknown and the labels that housed them; Headache, GMM, and Pogo Stick. So that’s kind of what I still think of when I hear about a punk band from Jersey. Somewhere along the line, tides shifted. Night Birds are here and do a searing Posh Boy/Hostage Records sound that commands consideration. With one LP and a hand full of 7”’s prior, this seems to be their strongest effort. The sound is better fortified, leaner and meaner! I love the way the instrumental surf punk scolder opening track Escape From New York melts into the second title track. It’s like crossing the street, being hit by an eighteen wheeler, only to wake up thankful to be barely alive stuck splattered on the radiator grill. As the feeling of gratitude continues you suddenly realize the whole mechanical ogre is going off a cliff ...

Photo by Clint Kirk This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on July 17th, 2013 What can I say about this band that far more skilled writers haven’t said already? A band that has been a Phoenix area pillar of Rock ‘N’ Roll prominence for quite a while now, they’re working on their sixth LP! For those of you who have yet to delight in the sounds of The Love Me Nots, I shall attempt a brief description. A lead singer that prowls around the stage radiating Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin and Chrissie Hynde, while pounding a keyboard so fervently as if attempting to exorcize demons from within its mechanical bowels. Then there’s that tall, ominous guitar player that’s relentlessly hurling down sonic depth charges at the hapless spectators. Not to mention a rhythm section sturdy enough to keep this out of controlled freight train on its rails and on a collision course straight towards your soul! Interview by Jay Castro Who’s answering the questions here ? Nicole Laurenne Who...

This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on July 17th, 2013 I first saw these guys open for Rock ‘N’ Roll titans Guitar Wolf in the fall of 2012. I had never heard of them prior, but after listening to some of their songs, I was looking forward to seeing them just as much as the headliners, and they did not disappoint. Three young guys from New Zealand that play punk rock music that sounds considerably better the higher the volume gets. Its fast, extremely catchy and they seem to be having the time of their lives doing it, which in turn makes anyone listening to it have a blast as well. What more can anyone ask of a stellar punk band? It’s a little Ramones, a little Angry Samoans, a little Buzzcocks, and a whole lot of fun! Interview by Jay Castro Who’s answering the questions here? James Who is in the band and what instruments do you play? Olly plays drums and sings, Colin plays bass and sings a little bit and I play guitar and sing. What parts of New Zealand ...

This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on July 11th, 2013 Most bands that I hear from my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona either make me recoil or their music goes totally without notice. I don’t know which is worse. However, every now and again I hear one that makes me want to root for. One that gives me hope that all is not lost in an ocean of second rate metal dinosaurs and uninspired blues copyists. One of those bands is The Rebel Set. They glide at their audience on a wave of reverberation that is wrapped up in classic noir and surf guitar mystique in the midst of a garage punk assault. The band takes the better parts of Rock N Roll from times ago and mixes it up with a dose of their own allure. Sounds easy enough, however you have to know which parts to excavate and which parts to lend your soul to. That’s been the recipe for rock n roll since its conception and the Rebel Set have become master chefs at this delicacy. Interview by Jay Castro Who’s answeri...

This interview originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on July 2nd, 2013 Anyone who thinks good rock n roll is defined by how fast some pompous ass can fondle a fret board or how high some overpaid wanker can vocally hit some hideous high note is sorely mistaken. Good Rock ‘N’ Roll has always been about heart and gusto, in fact any good art is for that matter. Judging by what is passing as rock n roll in the main stream now days, it’s easy to lose optimism. However, any person that thinks this torch has been smothered out long ago isn’t looking in the right places. There are still bands breathing the truth and vigor of the forefathers. Take for example The Ricky C Quartet. They have taken queues from some of the greats and serve it to you lean and mean. They are now in possession of the aforementioned torch, and they’re burning it like a supernova. Interview by Jay Castro Who’s answering the questions here? Ricky C, Joe the Dog and Jimmy Jones Who is in the band and what instrum...

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 June 25th, 2013 One can take any given Hex Dispensers song and create a very good screenplay out of it. The song’s lyrics put you into the skulls of paranoid, delusional individuals straight out of a Coen Brothers movie. Or it can plant you into the desperate situation of a science fiction calamity. All of this is delivered with one of the most contagious brands of garage punk combusting in the universe today. The music rockets into your psyche and forces you to beat your feet and shimmy your shoulders like you’re under some kind of Haitian Voodoo trance. The full meaning of the name Hex Dispensers has now become clear to me. I’m going to go find my copy of the Serpent and The Rainbow now. Interview by Jay Castro Who’s answering the questions here? Alex Cuervo Who is in the band and how do you earn your keep in it? Alex Cuervo - guitar/vocals Alyse Mervosh - drums/vocals Rebecca Whitley - bass/guitar/vocals Whe...

This interview was originally published in Audio Ammunition on June 11th, 2013 After hearing the Breakup Society for the first time, I felt ashamed that I had never seen them play live. I truly believe they are one of Arizona’s best kept secrets. The band cranks out power pop rock n roll in the same school as Dramarama, Buffalo Tom, and The Replacements. The band has 3 consistently great full lengths with the legendary Get Hip Records. With comedic, cynically introspective lyrics and a barrage of guitar volume, this band deserves your attention, your time, and your attendance! Interview by Jay Castro Who’s answering the questions here? This is Ed Masley. I sing lead, play guitar and write the songs. Is the band originally from the Phoenix area? That question is more complicated than it seems. I’m actually from Pittsburgh but I flew in with two members of my former band, the Frampton Brothers, to make an album with producer Bob Hoag, also formerly a Frampton Brother, at Flying ...