Interview: Neil Hamburger
The world of stand-up comedy is a bold and treacherous one at that. Take it from me, someone who’s actually been there! Well in all honesty, I’ve never actually been on-stage performing live, in front of some sauced-up crowd at a nightclub – although I have walked past the Improv and Comedy Store a few times – and Foster Brooks once vomited on my shoes. And I’m sure that must count for something?
Interview: Lewis Black
Lewis Black can be seen Wednesday’s on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, hosted by Jon Stewart, and on various other appearances (like Tough Crowd, also on Comedy Central, and on Conan O Brian). A funny comedian and a damn good American to boot, I tried to get Lewis riled up to the point of enragement. After all, the name of his new album is, “Rules of Enragement,” and since people hate it when you incorrectly say their name or something they’re working on, so began my interview.
Interview: Broken Spindles
Joel Petersen is going places. Besides being the bassist for Omaha indie rockers turned synth stars, The Faint, he has also gone off and started his own side project under the moniker Broken Spindles.
Interview: Les Savy Fav
It was a fairly strange and uncommon night, for as much as I can recall of the very first time I encountered Les Savy Fav. This unusual evening took place several years ago in Southern California, when a small group of my friends suggested we go check out Ugly Casanova, as their tour would be rolling through town on such an eventful and listless evening.
Interview: Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
The broad community of space science has lacked the vocal prowess required to keep both lawmakers from being myopic with our future, and the public informed, educated and engaged. Not an easy undertaking by any means, as that type of pedestal requires the accredited individual who is smart, well-spoken and forward-thinking enough to address the US Congress, but also able to shake off the frigid, deep nerdiness typically associated with said talent. Toss in some humor with a shake of average Joe vitality useful in appearances on radio and late night talk shows, and you’d be describing Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Interview: Taking Back Sunday
With passion, emotion and conviction, Victory Records Taking Back Sunday have taken the emo/hardcore scene by storm. After releasing their debut, “Tell All Your Friends”, to rave reviews, it was a matter of months before the band has headlining tours and registering on Billboard’s Top 200. I spoke with guitarist/vocalist John Nolan about life on the road, friends, family, Weezer and why it’s necessary to take it easy on the booze every once and a while.
Interview: Glassjaw
Lauren, GlassJaw’s tour manager, took me from the Warped Tour parking lot into GlassJaw’s tour bus. Inside is the usual touring paraphernalia: Playstation 2, Southern Comfort, and cases of Yoo-hoo. The band is roaming the sweaty grounds of the LA coliseum while I wait, watching Godfather II with Lauren, who has never seen it. Larry, their drummer for the last two years, stops by just in time to catch Michael Corleone get shot at in his bedroom. Larry digs the HBO’s Sopranos and OZ, and highly recommends watching Six Feet Under. Lauren hasn’t said anything.
Interview: Alexisonfire
“People used to ask us all the time to describe our sound and we used to say we’re like two catholic schoolgirls in mid knife-fight,” explains Alexisonfire guitarist Wade Preston. “When it was time to come up with the cover for our album we got some friends together and George took the pictures in some schoolyard. It was funny because all the neighbors just looked at us really strangely while we did this, but nobody got fined or arrested and it all worked out great.”
Interview: Dave Attell
Comedy Central viewers know the drunken pirate theme that brings in each episode of Insomniac with Dave Attell. The theme song often provided a backdrop to numerous late night sessions of pounding out this very magazine. And because I’m a TV whore and Comedy Central, like any channel, runs shows relentlessly in repeat, I’ve seen most episode’s of Dave’s show numerous times. Each episode starts with the tail end of Dave’s appearance in any given city. He then proceeds to roam the city streets with cameraman in tow looking for drunken adventures. The expected bars and drunk chicks abound, but what gives the Insomniac show it’s charm, is it’s unifying them of finding people up all night.
Interview: Daryl Palumbo of Head Automatica
Head Automatica is not Glassjaw. If you’re looking for a Glassjaw sound, then just keep on walking as Head Automatica is not for you. It’s way different then anything you’ve heard recently, that’s assured, as vocalist Daryl Palumbo spends most of his time singing. It’s dance-bass heavy, and the samples mix well with the rock.
