Features / One Question Interviews

Multicult (Nick Skrobisz/Rebecca Burchette – guitar/bass)

SPB: Describe your pedal board: How did you choose which pedals to use and why did you arrange them as you did?

Earthset

SPB: You released a live soundtrack to L’Uomo Meccanico at the start of the year. As a project so focused on live performance, how have this year’s COVID-19 restrictions impacted your creative process?

Earthset: The Covid-19 crisis had a huge impact on our project. Here in Italy things were really bad at the beginning, so places such …

Al Smith (Geld-vocals)

SPB: What is the most overrated guitar feature?

Smith: It may seem rich to bemoan something Geld has casually lent on in our last few records, but the “howl of cicadas” guitar tone feels pretty played out at this point. I mean, don’t get me wrong, a big come to Jesus moment for me was …

Miski Dee (City Mouse)

SPB: What type of guitar do you play and how did you choose that model?

Dee: I absolutely love my guitar! It's a 2006 Epiphone Wilshire and I would say that it chose me. After I started City Mouse I kept switching guitars (I had a little metal Ibanez, a Squier, then a Washburn) …

Teddy Panopoulos

SPB: The new record is strictly analog. Can you walk us through the (main) gear that you used?

Steven Mandell (American Standards – bass)

SPB: Show us your rig setup and tell us what you like about it.

Gino Bambino (Gino and the Goons)

SPB: Walk our readers through your kit and offer insight as to how you arrived at your sizes (shells and cymbals).  

Gino: I have a 1966 set of Champagne sparkle Ludwig drums. It’s not worth much due to the fact they made so many at that time and the shape it’s in …

Michael J. Wolf (Wolf-Face)

SPB: How has Wolf-Face’s mission/concept changed since the band first formed?

Wolf: My mission to spread the word about the trials and tribulations of being a teenage werewolf remains unchanged—that we all have things that make us different from our peers. Everyone can relate to the idea of not being like other people and …

Ryan Jones (Body Stuff)

SPB: Is there a specific piece of equipment that’s essential to “the Body Stuff” sound?

Jones: "Yeah man, I'd say the one thing that comes out of the speakers that is a MUST is the drums. Those are some Steven Slate drum triggers!!!"

Noel (Grumpster – drums)

SPB: You just released a new 7", following last year's full-length. What is your favorite format of record (EP vs LP) to listen to as a fan?

Noel: LPs! We feel like a longer release can be more cohesive, and indicative of the artist(s) at the time of release; an LP can almost define …

Chris McNeal (Vincas – bass)

SPB: What bass/amp pairing do you use and why did you choose it?

McNeal: When I was a kid, every band I saw that had an awesome bass player seemed to play thru a old SVT bass head paired with a 8x10 bass cab. After seeing and hearing many ear destroying shows with …

Storm Ross

SPB: Is there a single piece of gear that you would say is the most essential to “the Storm Ross sound”?

Ross: As you can see in the video, I primarily play a 2008 Gibson SG Custom. I run this through an array of pedals, ending with a looper that then goes into my amp, a …

Rick Jimenez (Extinction A.D. – guitar/vocals)

SPB: Did you experiment much with different equipment, setups, mics or equipment when recording Decimation Treaty? Did any particular item stand out?

Jimenez: While we recording Decimation Treaty we actually experimented quite a bit with different amplifier and cabinet combinations. We quad-tracked the rhythm guitars like we tend to do and, …

Chris Rest (Lagwagon – guitar)

What model guitar do you play (and how did you choose it)?

Check out Chris' answer below:

TN (...But the Shadows Have Foes)

SPB: How much space in your home is dedicated to music storage (instruments or records)?

TN: I've had to move cross-country for work a few times, so I sadly wound up paring down my record collection from its staggering heights in my early twenties. However, I've managed to live in the same …

Stu Folsom (SpiritWorld)

SPB: Your musical inspiration (heavy + country) combines two worlds. Was that part of the concept behind the project’s name, which is also a melding of two worlds (of sorts)?

Folsom: That is interesting. I'd like to say I was that on the ball to tie everything in but no, the name is an homage …

Cory (Bar Tape)

SPB: If I understand correctly, you’re all US expats now living in Dublin. Was it hard to acclimate to the scene in a new country?

Cory: We’re lucky enough to have been embraced by both the hardcore and punk scene in Ireland.

After we started, our friends gave us a chance to play a …

Jim (Boilerman - guitar)

SPB: What's the most overrated guitar feature? eg. whammy bars, D-Tuna?

Jim: I don't know about overrated, but my most hated guitar feature is the floating bridge. The Dan Electro guitar I use for Boilerman doesn't have one, but the guitar I learned on did and it caused me nothing but trouble as a …

Kepi Ghoulie

SPB: What guitar do you use in your solo material, and how did choose this model?

Kepi: Lately is has been a Martin 00-15M acoustic. I am on my 2nd one! I got one a little over 10 years ago, I think. I played over 500 shows on it and it was signed by Daniel Johnston! …

Jem (DEAD - drums, WeEmptyRooms – label operator)

SPB: Walk us through your kit and offer insight as to how you arrived at your sizes (shells and cymbals)?

Jem: I have never owned a complete, matching kit and probably never will. I'm a tone chaser and I imagine when I find the "perfect" kit is when I will …