Kelly Alvarez - Interview with a record collector.

 "I don't think people that only buy CDs go around telling people "I buy CDs!!" - it's just not very interesting."

This interview is not about a band, a release or a label. This interview is with a female who loves records more than anything, and for me, that was more than enough to get started.

Kelly Alvarez lives in San Diego, Cal. and works in a record shop. Besides being around records on a daily basis, she is also the singer/guitarist in the band Jungle Fever - to ask for more is just greedy! This interview is about collecting records in its purest form.

Kelly's record collection

Kelly let's get right to it. There's a big step from just being into music and to start collecting records. What influenced your progression from regular interest to collecting?

I was forced into collecting because I worked at a record store... I was young, and had nothing to spend my money on BUT records! I don’t really know if I’d be as serious a collector as I am now if I didn’t work at a record store (mainly because I can get them for so cheap). It's also a fun hobby... I don't think people that only buy CDs go around telling people "I buy CDs!!" - it's just not very interesting. But when people find out I not only buy records, but I collect them, they really do find it fascinating for some reason.

Which records are among your favorites and why?

This is a hard question to answer, because when it comes to records, it’s not just about a favorite band or specific album... records are special because, unlike CDs, you have a lot of area to work with. Since the covers are bigger, bands can go all out with their artwork. There could be interesting things stuffed inside the covers: lyric inserts, rare posters, zines, stickers or whatever the original owner stuffed inside and forgot to take out before he/she sold it.

Some of my favorite records are my favorites because of the cover art/photography (i.e. Roxy Music’s “Country Life” or Sparks “Kimono My House”, etc.) and some are my favorites because of something unusual and exciting, like my Crystals LP that was signed by Phil Spector in the 1960’s or my European version of Blondie's "Greatest Hits" but it's spelled all in one word across the top "BLONDIESHITS" - so it looks like "Blondie Shits" haha!!

But "collector" talk aside, some of my favorite albums at the top of my head are probably: X “Under the Big Black Sun”, The Replacements “Tim”, Nick Lowe “Labour of Lust”, Real Kids "self titled", Phyllis Dillon "One Life to Live", Nikki and the Corvettes "self titled", Shocking Blue "At Home", all the "Girls in the Garage" and "Rodney on the ROQ" compilations...

Some of my favorite 45s are probably Howard Werth's "Obsolete" on Dangerhouse Records, such a great song. Mark Perry's "Whole World's Down On Me", Noosha Fox's "S-s-s-single Bed", The Bermudas' "Chu Sen Ling", I could go on and on.... :-)

Why are you collecting records? you can answer with aesthetic perspectives, hi-fi perspectives etc. etc. Do you care for rare pressings and/or several different colors of the same record, or just 1 random copy of each record?

I used to care about rare pressings, colored vinyl, having the record and cover be in “mint condition” and now I don’t really care about that kind of stuff. Records, especially rare records, are few and far between. I’d rather own a rare record that’s scratched to shit, rather than not own it at all. In fact, I think the scratchy sounds add some authenticity and make the song(s) sound more romantic. But don't get me wrong, I can totally see why people get crazy over different colors of vinyl, test pressings and so on. It's really no different than collecting, let's say, guitars. I mean, you really only need ONE guitar when you play and maybe one back-up guitar if a string breaks, right? So why are there people who own TEN guitars? Same goes for records! People buy 5 copies of the same record that they will NEVER listen to only because it's on different color vinyl.

Ms. Kelly Alvarez

What records are on your all time top want-list and why? (state specific pressing if relevant)

There’s a rare oldies record I’ve been looking for forever. It’s a Puerto Rican singer from the 60’s named “Julio Angel” and the album is called “Julio Angel & Tammy: 2 a Go Go” on the Hit Parade label (HPLP004). I don’t really buy records on eBay anymore, so having said that, other bands I’m looking for that I haven’t been able to find on vinyl in stores are The Flatmates, another band called Twa Toots and I really want Beat Happening’s 45 of “I Let Him Get to Me”. I'm ALWAYS looking for 60’s girl groups and obscure girl punk. I'd love to get The Deadbeats "Kill the Hippies" and Black Randy "I Slept in an Arcade" 7-inches because those 2 records would complete my Dangerhouse collection - it's my favorite punk label. I'd also love to have Knugen Faller's 1st EP and almost everything on the Ny Vag label (especially The Vicious s/t 12") - it's really hard to find records like that, at least in San Diego. 

You mentioned that you work in a record shop, please elaborate on how that has had an influence on your collection.

I get really good deals on new and used records, and that’s why I continue to work there on the weekends, while I have a “normal” job during the week. Working there has made me appreciate vinyl a lot more. 10 years ago people would pull up in front of the store with a truck load of records, now they just trickle in from time to time. Nowadays, it's people selling their grandparent's records. I've come to the conclusion that grandparents have really shitty taste in music! The internet has destroyed used record stores. People want "top dollar" for their used records (and I don't blame them) - but these are the same people that talk shit because we don't have a rare punk 45 section in our store. Ask yourself this: Do YOU want to sell YOUR rare punk 45s to a record store? Well, neither does anyone else!

You're in a band called Jungle Fever, tell about that.

I sing and play guitar... it’s a female-fronted 3-piece pop punk band with my friends Cara (bass/vocals) and Mikey (an amazing drummer). I’m really influenced by other girl punk/pop bands from the 80’s and 90’s, like the 5.6.7.8’s, Shonen Knife, Go Sailor, the Go-Go’s, Nikki and the Corvettes, etc. and I just try to emulate that sound. Our debut 45 comes out around October on Windian Records and we’re beyond excited about someone putting out a record of ours.

Jungle Fever on myspace

Debut 7" out soon on Windian Records (facebook page)

**Side note: your blog is mostly about hardcore bands, so I have to mention that I'm aware that there's already a band called Jungle Fever from Australia!! Oh well!! 

A selection from Kelly's record collection

How would you feel about paying... let's say paying $500 for a record, or $1000?

The most I've spent on a record is $60 for my YES LA picture disc compilation LP and $40 on my original Bags "Survive" 45 - both on Dangerhouse Records. It's just not in my budget to spend $500 or $1,000 on a record. $1,000 is 5 months worth of my car payment. Right now I have to keep my priorities in check (unfortunately). If you're spending $500 - $1,000 on one single record, I want to know what you do for a living!!!

Pick 1 band/record from the 80s era

Can I choose 70's and 80's? God... this is hard!! I guess I'd have to say The Ramones because they are the band that has influenced me the most. Also X's "Wild Gift" and "Under the Big Black Sun" LPs.

Pick 1 band/record from the 90s era

I mostly listened to oldies when I was a teenager, but I really love the first 2 Weezer albums. I haven't really followed their career since those 2 albums.

Pick 1 band/record from the 2000s era

Hmmm this is when it gets harder for me, since I don't really listen to THAT many modern day bands. I really love The Spits and Nobunny. I keep trying to write a song that sounds like The Spits, but no matter how fast or tough or loud a song I'm able to write, because I'm a girl, it just sounds like a cute little baby is singing along :-(   I also really love The Muslims (now known as The Soft Pack). They're from San Diego/LA.

Pick 1 current band

Since I'm fascinated with really catchy, bubblegum "one hit wonder" type songs from the 70's, I guess I'd have to say Nobunny. His songs are really fun and his live shows are INSANITY.

What reunion show, if it were to happen, would you kill to attend (and not a random person, someone you cared about has to die)

I don't want anyone to die!! I'd love to get in a DeLorean and go back in time to see The Ramones, the original line up, in New York, in the 70's.

Your all time biggest want again?

JULIO ANGEL AND TAMMY: 2 A GO GO LP!!!!! It's too rare and I will never find it (insert crying noises here)


That's it. Be sure to pick the Jungle Fever 7"! Thanks to Kelly for spending time on this.


Next interview will probably be awhile due to communication problems.


Yours truely,


Rune.

Interview with Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid

After some time away from the blog due to exams and such, I'm back with a new interview. This time Comeback Kid vocalist Andrew Neufeld chose to dedicate his time to answer a handful of questions I'd cooked up - mind that the interview questions were made before Victory launched pre-orders for Symptoms + Cures.

I asked Andrew some questions about the new record, his views on hardcore and what brought him to where he is music-wise. Here's his 2 cents...

So Andrew, how are things going with your new record - recording, artwork and such?

Everything is going good. We are now just coming to the end of some down-time (touring-wise). The new album is done. It's called Symptoms + Cures and it's coming out on August 31. We finally finished the artwork and getting packaging together. It's been a lot of work recording and post-recording but we have it ready and we're excited to get back on the road and play around the world.

How's the process been so far - had any problems or set-backs?

We had to push mixing back about a month or so because we couldn't get finished in time. We had a tour with Set Your Goals in the USA and couldn't get everything done in time, so we decided to come back and mix the album after the tour. I think it was a smart move because it allowed us more time to be prepared.

Can you unveil any details about the new record?

Symptoms + Cures is our 4th full-length. We recorded it in Toronto, Canada with Eric Ratz ad Kenny Luong. Our friends in Cancer Bats recommended them to us. We just kind of wanted a switch in studios, since our last two albums were with The Blasting Room in Colorado. It was cool for CBK to work with some fresh ears. 

If the vulnerability of comparison allows us: How do you see the new record compared to your previous releases? 

Musically, I feel like it's a bit of a throwback to our earlier material, but it's much more heavy and urgent vocals. More singalongs, and more of a punk twist to it. We wanted to have the album sound tight but raw, and have it screaming through the speakers as opposed to the clean sound you hear nowadays. 

Please elaborate on what you want to do with the record musically?

This is our take on the hardcore/punk we want to play. We wanted to do some new things and expand with our genre. We wanted to write an album that would mostly translate live. There are some fun beer-spilling-over-the-red-cups-singalong songs, and then there are some more in your face hardcore songs. 

Symptoms + Cures is being released through Victory Records just like your two previous records. A lot of bands have had their beef with Victory Records, but maybe that list of bands does not include you?

Every band/label that have been together for a few years have issues. It's a relationship like any other (business/personal), we have ups and downs. What I will say is that Victory has been so supportive of us as of late and really getting behind this record. They are really good to deal with and I'm in contact with them most days. We hope that they are as excited about our new album as we are. 

You guys have been touring a lot. I remember me and a friend went to Hamburg, Germany to see you with Defeater. We ended up lost there because apparently the venue used to be on another location. So we did not attend anything (as our plan B, Have Heart - playing in Hamburg the same day, ended an hour before we got there)... Are you guys gonna make up for this any time soon?

Yes, we will be in Germany for Area 4/Highfield Festival. It's crazy that we're playing alongside Blink 182/Queens Of The Stone Age/Etc. so it will be an experience. We are coming back for a full European tour with Parkway Drive, Bleeding Through, Your Demise, etc. (red. see tour-dates here)

 

How did you get into hardcore? What was the scene like when you were new, and which bands made an impression on you?

I got into hardcore through the local scene in Winnipeg. I grew up listening more to skate punk in the 90's. Propagandhi was probably my first punk band, and then I would listen to NOFX, Lagwagon, etc.  In the small city Winnipeg where we grew up, when I went to shows it was punk, oi, hardcore and metal bands all playing together. So there would be HC kids, punks, skins all circlepitting for all the different bands. Genres at shows weren't so separated then. So when I was about 14 after liking the Fat Wreck style stuff, I was introduced to Earth Crisis, Strife, Harvest (who were a new band in my area), Warzone, Lifetime, and Gorilla Biscuits. I was introduced to HC as a whole big diverse music scene, and that's why our influences are all over the place. We have a traditional HC base, but adding new elements to that.

How do you see the hardcore scene today? Is there anything that bugs you or fascinates you?

I love that HC is opening up in different parts of world, like SE Asia, South America, (we're actually touring South America with Sick Of It All in a few months - so excited!), and just a lot of places we've started to go to with strong local scenes, and now bands are able to tour these places. It blows my mind and we want to take advantage of these opportunities. 

Pick 1 band from the 80s era - Sick Of It All/U2 haha

Pick 1 band from the 90s era - Propagandhi/Madball/Nirvana

Pick 1 band from the 2000s era - Twilight Singers/Mew

Pick 1 current band - Alberta Cross is kicking my ass right now.

Pick 1 record you'd kill to own - I don't have a home so I'd have nowhere but my storage unit to put my vinyl haha. 

Pick 1 reunion show you'd kill to attend if it were to happen - Chain Of Strength!

Any last comments?

Thanks for the interview!

Pre-orders for Symptoms + Cures are up at the Victory Webstore now - go grab it!

That's it. Next interview will be posted in mid-August. 

Yours truely, 

//Rune

Interview with Timm McIntosh

Me and Timm have tried to do this interview for quite some time, and due to some unfortunate problems with the Panic Records website, shipping orders and such the interview first came through about a week ago. This interview, however, is worth the wait if I may say so.

I talked to Timm about Panic, hardcore in general, records and especially the new Another Breath record.

Enjoy!

First, I want to congratulate you on the things you’ve accomplished with Panic Records and with finally having the new Another Breath record out the way it was supposed to be.

Thanks. Seems the record was cursed and wasn't meant to come out. Seems as though Jan from Assault Records (Vinyl Pressing in Europe) also suffered some set backs on the record and it was delayed for him as well. Like I said, a cursed record, but man prevails and the record is out. One of the best records in recent hardcore history in my opinion.

A quick one… Who is Timm MacIntosh: how did he get into hardcore and which bands has he played in?

I'm just a kid that loves hardcore. I got into hardcore/punk around 1988/89. I would attend punk shows at a place called Second Level in Sacramento California, where I grew up. I was just a metal head that stumbled onto bands like DRI, 7 Seconds, Agnostic Front and then got more and more into that sound as I moved along. I had a friend that lived down the street from me and I am pretty sure it was the same for him, though he was a year older than me and stumbled onto more punk/hardcore and gave me a lot of stuff that I was really psyched to hear. I grew up in Sacramento, going to shows in Sacto and heading to the bay area (Berkeley) to see shows at Gilman as often as I could get over there. I was definitely excited about it all and in 1994 I moved to Seattle and started a band called Trial with Greg Bennick and Derek Harn. I also played guitar in Champion and sang for Wait In Vain. Right now. I just run a record label and get excited about new bands. Outside of the usual hardcore thing. I enjoy hanging with friends, movies and playing baseball. That's really it, I'm a simple man living a simple life (sometimes).

Could you please give a brief summary of how Panic Records was born?

I started Panic Records in 2005. Though I had always wanted to do a label and was going to attempt one in 1992 to release a friends band on 7". I got information from people that were already doing labels and found that it was a lot of work and the potential to lose a lot of money. At that time, I wasn't really financially stable enough to throw away a couple thousand dollars, I'm still not...but...fuck it. In 2005 I started up Panic to re-release the earlier Trial recordings since they had been out of print for so long and people always asked where they could get them. A remedy to their search was to release it myself. I didn't plan on releasing a ton of records, just whatever I enjoyed. If a band was filled with good people playing music that I loved...then I would help them out. Here it is 5 years later and I'm still putting out records that I think are great and have made a lot of great friends throughout the process, in that regard, it's pretty rewarding.

Why did you want to start a label?

I love music, have always loved music since a young kid. Any way I can be a part of music, I want to be a part of it. Listening, playing, putting out, producing, anything music related, I want to do it. There's absolutely no way that I could survive a day without listening to music. Starting a label just seemed like a natural thing.

The roster of your label contains other than just hardcore bands at the moment. With bands like Make Do And Mend and Man Overboard, and on the more melodic side of hardcore: Hostage Calm and Set Your Goals, was it your intentions to have such a diverse roster from the start when you first released the Trial record?

Most definitely. The label started with Hardcore bands because that's where I'm from. It's easier to deal with people that are on the same level as you. They understand there's no money in this. We're not going to get rich, we can't expect it. I would love Panic to get to a point to release any sort of record that I wanted. I listen to everything, all genres of music. Just because the label started as a hardcore label, doesn't mean that was the intention. Panic is whatever I want to put out. I don't expect that a kid into Another Breath or Trial is going to be into Man Overboard or Set Your Goals. It doesn't matter, it's what I'm into. If I can help out friends bands with their records and I like their band, then that's the way it is. The problem is, well for example...I'd love to release a record for a band that sounds like The Smiths or Stone Roses. I don't know if that will ever be possible because bands like that (indie rock bands) have this idea that they're going to be rockstars and expect a label to shell out thousands of dollars. There's no possible way for Panic to do something like that, so...Punk/Hardcore bands are where I'm at. Probably better that way. The guys in these bands are more modest and understanding. Kids like to steal music from artists and small labels and the money just isn't there to support their egos.

How do you see the hardcore scene today? I reckon you have been around for quite some time, so you must have witnessed some changes during the years. Could you tell about that?

Everyone has their own perspective of what the hardcore scene is. I think that has to do with your age. A kid that's around today would say "hardcore is the best that it's ever been" a kid from 1988 will say "hardcore is over, these kids have no clue". I'm probably stuck between the two because I don't think it's the best it's ever been, and I don't think it's horrible either. I see a lot of trends which can be highly annoying and I see a lot of kids and bands that are really inspiring. The biggest difference is the involvment of kids. Seemed as though up until the early 2000's, there was a lot more involvement from people; zines, tables, booking shows, helping bands, causes. The new generation (not just hardcore kids) is very sedate and I think that has a lot to do with the distraction of our modern culture. They're bombarded and their attention spans are limited. There's just so much all the time. Hardcore has suffered dramatically from this and our culture dwindles in the number of kids that are free thinking active individuals.

Of course now that you’ve told about the past, could you perhaps tell about the future for hardcore? Which way are hardcore heading if you were to make a prediction?

Man, I have no idea where it's heading. I hope that it becomes more involved. I just couldn't say though. I'd like to see more positive things coming out of the hardcore scene. One of the best things that I've seen lately is the Enough Is Enough Digital Compilations. That's the kind of involvement I would like to see more of. It'd be great for hardcore bands and kids getting involved in things like this. It's very inspiring and makes hardcore more than just music. If things like this don't continue...then it's really just background music for us to mosh to. I don't even mosh anymore, so I guess that would leave me out.

You’ve toured Europe with Trial and Wait In Vain. How do you see the European hardcore scene?

I toured Europe in 1999 with Trial and it was incredible. There was so much appreciation that was given to the bands. It was the same in the states at that time too. I toured Europe again in 2003 with a friends band and the appreciation was there, but not as much as I had noticed in 1999, could have been the band though. Last year Wait In Vain toured Europe with Outrage. There was a good amount of appreciation, but it definitely isn't the same as it used to be over there. I think it's that same mentality that "oh, another band, no care ever....will be seeing another one tomorrow" that is happening over here in the US. We've just become so spoiled that we don't really care much for a band that is pouring their hearts out, sacraficing their time and money to just reach 1 person and be happy. I'm not saying that we need to love every band that comes through, I know I don't get out to as many shows as I used to. But when I'm at a show, I pay attention to every band that's playing, they drove all the way to play my city, I'm gonna give them a listen for a couple songs at the very least.

Now to Another Breath and the new record. Why did you want to put this out? I remember reading that the album has been ready for quite some time, but they had trouble finding a label to put it out, is that correct?

Why wouldn't I want to put it out? I mean come on, it's Another Breath. I was already into Another Breath from Not Now, Not Ever and Mill City. I thought the band had broken up because I hadn't heard anything about them in so long. I was on a message board and someone posted that Another Breath had a new song up on their myspace page. I checked it out of course and was blown away. They also posted a blog that said they were looking for a label to release their record. This blows my mind because I couldn't believe a band like Another Breath would have a problem finding a label to put out The God Complex. I wrote them an email and just told them that I would LOVE to put out their record if they still needed someone to do it. We talked back and forth on the phone and it just made sense for the record to come out on Panic. They're all great people and I'm pretty stoked that this record is a part of Panic history. I still can't believe that another bigger hardcore label didn't grab this up.

Personally I see The God Complex as a big step forward compared to their earlier work – especially with the lyrics! How do you see The God Complex compared to their previous releases?

I think that Ted really dug into himself for the God Complex. I can't speak for him of course, but I would guess that with the subject matter you have to come strong or don't come at all. Reading the Another Breath blog about the development of the record and the lyrics, it's evident that Ted did a lot of soul searching and questioning of himself and god in general to arrive at the conclusions put forth on the God Complex. I think he did an incredible job. As someone in a band that is always striving to outdo what has previously been created, you are still proud of everything that you've done in the past. It's a part of who you are, so to compare the two, it's just two different times that you can't really compare. I don't think I would do any of the previous work of Another Breath justice to compare them and say one is better than the other. They're all great in their own rites.

The God Complex to me is kind of a concept-album centered on a topic that has been used a lot and is easily used with less powerful and intense effect. Still, I think Another Breath came out successful and they used this tense relationship with religion really creatively - without comparing - something I’ve only seen Defeater do as good within the last years (I don’t mean the subject religion, but concept-album in general). What are your thoughts on this as a “concept-album”?

I agree that when you get into subject matter that deals with religion, it's easy to lose the intensity by going a certain direction. I think that Another Breath was affectual because they didn't point fingers at anyone, instead delved inside to ask the questions of themselves and where they were coming from. For me, I didn't grow up in a religious family at all. Only went to church with a friend a couple of times, overall, didn't have religion in my life. I of course would question the existence of a god because I wasn't forced to believe there was one. I had the questions and the God Complex resonates with me because of that. I can identify with the record because of this. That makes it a pretty powerful record in my opinion. For a concept album to be relevent, there has to be a journey through it, Another Breath definitely take you on a journey with this record.

Another Breath had to cancel their European tour – can we expect a new one any time soon?

They'll be over there this summer actually. I think the dates are being firmed up right now. (dates are up at the Panic site and AB myspace page, red.)

Another Breath live 2008

What does Panic Records hold for us in the future? Can you give a hint of forthcoming releases, ideas, tours etc.?

The rest of the year is filled with releases. I'm pretty exicited for all of them. There's a new band that I'll be announcing soon that everyone should be blown away by. It's been a long time coming with them and they're finally going into the studio to record their full length. I know you'll love them, they're right up your alley. Make Do And Mend are going in to record their first LP in June. The Effort just finished up thier LP and that will be out in July. The Make Do And Mend / Touche Amore Split 7" and maybe a couple other things in there. So far, it's been a really busy year for Panic and the rest of the year looks to be just as busy. Hopefully everyone is into the records and supports them.

And finally, something I like asking:

Pick 1 band from the 80s era - I assume we're talking punk/hardcore bands so I won't say Bananarama. I'd go with, fuck I don't know. So many great bands from the 80's. Bad Brains, maybe?

Pick 1 band from the 90s era - BURN, hands down the greatest hardcore band of all time. I fucking love BURN. 

Pick 1 band from the 2000s era - I really enjoyed Verse. I think Verse would be the band from 2000 - 2010.

Pick 1 current band - Defeater really gets me excited. That new EP is the jam. Of course any band on Panic would be in there, but then I'd feel like a real dick singling any one of them out. I love them all equally. hahaha.

Pick one reunion show you’d kill to attend - BURN, I would kill someone to see this. But it couldn't be someone random, it would have to be someone I didn't like.

Pick you record you’d kill to own - I don't know. I had a lot of records and sold them to start and keep this record label going. The irony right? So I've pretty much owned any record that I would kill to own. There's records that I would never sell because they mean a lot to me. BURN 7" on Pink and Turning Point LP on Clear. Those two records will always be in my collection, even when I become homeless from doing a record label, I'll carry those two records around with me along with my sleeping bag.

Any last comments?

Sorry it took me a million years to do this interview, hope it came out well. I'm not big on interviews, don't know that I am as well spoken as I'd like to be. To anyone reading, if you've supported Panic Records in the past or going to in the future, thank you. It's appreciated more than I can tell you.

Another Breath - The God Complex can be ordered from Panic Records (US pressing) and from Assault Records (Ger) (EU pressing).

Pressing info for The God Complex (US pressing):

Black vinyl Rejected Test Press /15

Black vinyl Accepted Test Press /15

Grey vinyl "The God Reject" /100

Brown vinyl w/ black labels West Coast Tour edition /100

Brown vinyl /100

Black vinyl w/ silkscreened pre-order cover /108

Grey vinyl /200

Yours truely,


Rune.