Ben (Much Worse)
SPB: What was your first live show?
Ben: First concert: Oasis/Black Crowes at Roy Wilkins [Auditorium] when I was in 7th grade. My old man got tickets through his work or something like that.
Related features
Skyway
One Question Interviews • May 23, 2025
Andrew Burgess (Skyway) SPB: What is your favorite protest song? Burgess: My favorite protest song? That's a tough one. I think it's impossible to talk about protest songs without mentioning the all-time greats that have held up over the years. I'm talking about songs like "We Shall Overcome," "We Will … Read more
ButcherBird
One Question Interviews • May 22, 2025
Rob (ButcherBird – guitar) SPB: How do you draw the line between taking influence vs. mimicking? Rob: When it comes to human creativity, almost nothing is truly and completely new. There’s a song by Iron Monkey called “House Anxiety” which has an absolutely crushing riff in it -- and it’s … Read more
Perfect Buzz
One Question Interviews • May 20, 2025
Petey J. Cool (Perfect Buzz) SPB: What is the best TV theme song? Petey J. Cool: I’ve still never seen an episode of Hawaii Five-O, but when I was a kid I’d get to catch the opening sequence just before I was marched off to bed. I was fascinated because … Read more
Caterwaul 2025
Music • May 13, 2025
Each year in late May, the 4-day party and noise-rock festival Caterwaul takes over multiple venues in Minneapolis. It’s a stacked lineup this year, to put it mildly, with each night’s headliners FACS, Young Widows, Naw, Pissed Jeans, and Uniform -- and that’s leaving a ton of other great bands … Read more
Ilya Arbatman (Rotary Club)
Book store co-ownerInterviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • May 13, 2025
There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative … Read more
Related reviews
Much Worse
Macrocosm is a Wash
Forward Records (2013)
Following a couple of excellent 7”s, the confusingly-titled Macrocosm is a Wash is the first full-length LP from this Minneapolis foursome. Spun from the same Mecca-like breeding ground as Wild Child, Total Trash, Varix, and countless others, Much Worse play a non-stop, angry, and poignant style of hardcore punk. While there is an air of reckless abandon in their approach, … Read more
