Featured Artist

How did Teenage Bottlerocket get started?                                                                                  Ray and I were playing in Homeless Wonders.  We were more or less a high school band.  That band lasted from 1994-2000.  Homeless Wonders had a lot of sounds over the years.  We started out being heavily influenced by Screeching Weasel/Green Day, then Less Than Jake/Slapstick, and finally Fugazi/Hot Water Music.  We weren’t intentionally trying to sound like the flavor of the week, we were just playing what we liked, and it turned out that way.  When we finally called it quits we realized that the HW sound had changed quite a bit, and it was something we weren’t proud of.  When we started Teenage Bottlerocket in 2001, we were really into the Ramones.  I think a conversation might have taken place between Ray and I that went something like “this band is going to be leather jackets, chuck tailors, all Ramones.” 

How would you describe Teenage Bottlerocket to someone who had never heard your songs?
Our live show is all down strokes, and no stopping.  Our sound is like Ramones/Green Day/ Screeching Weasel with two vocalists.  I don’t know, people ask “what kind of music do you guys play?”  I always say, “good music”

What are the future plans for Teenage Bottlerocket?
We want to tour Europe again.  There has been talk of us going back over there..  Our last tour there in 2005 was a huge hit.  We’re going to be hitting the states in ten day segments as well.  We’ll probably hit the west coast first with our buddies, the Femurs.  Then we’ll do the east coast with the Leftovers.  I know we’re planning on doing a record release show in Chicago.  I want to do it at the Beat Kitchen, that place is great. 

Where is your favorite place to do shows?                                                                                                Chicago is certainly the best. That is where we draw our biggest/rowdiest crowds.  Baltimore is pretty crazy too.  Any show in Italy rules. Denmark is great.  One time we had a show in Denmark, and we had a head bang competition.  We had 20 people come up on stage with us and head bang as hard as they could for “Stupid Games”. 

Is there any one place you’ve done a show and decided to NEVER play there again ?                              Not really, we realize that not all of our shows are going to be great.  If we end up playing a small show somewhere, that’s okay.  Of course we got started playing small shows, so we are not picky.  We try to have fun no matter what.

How’s the recording going for your 2007 release named “Warning Device”?                                           It is done, and the record turned out amazing.  I spent 3 days tracking drums, and we spent 10 days on everything else.  We are very proud of how it turned out. 

Is there anything special from this release that we should expect?                                                        We recorded a Dead Milkmen song “Dean’s Dream” but it will probably be on vinyl only, or maybe on a split 7” with Dead To Me. 

Now that you’ve had some time to recoup from the Insubordination fest, what are some of the highlights & lowlights from “The Fest”?                                                                                                               It was such a blast.  The show was amazing, everyone/bands were great.  One of the best shows we’ve ever played.  

I read that you gave permission for your music to be used on “Homeless Hero”. What is Homeless Hero?                                                                                                                                                                          I’m not exactly sure what it is.  When someone wants to put TBR on a comp, or a movie, or a commercial, we always say yes.  We are especially cooperative with smaller productions.  We know how tough it is to get art/music our there, and we figure, the more the merrier.  We want to get as much music out there as possible.  Homeless Hero contacted us, and of course, we said yes.

You’ve been fortunate enough to tour & play shows with some great bands. Who is the most memorable?                                                                                                                                                                  I can’t say just one.  Here’s a few: Methadones, Ben Weasel, All, Dead To Me, Chixdiggit!, The Unlovables, Lawrence Arms, Lillingtons, Femurs, MTX, The Briefs, Groovie Ghoulies, Epoxies.  That’s a few that stand out off the top of my head.  It was great playing with these bands because we are huge fans of them.  I would love to play a show with Green Day. That has been a long time dream.

What if anything has changed about Teenage Bottlerocket since you first started up in 2001?Singing to Redscare was the best thing that ever happened to us.  We played one of our first shows in Chicago in 2004 and 15 people were there.  Then “Total” came out. That year we came back and 400 people were there.  I guess the biggest change is that we are playing to larger crowds now.  As far as our “Ramones” philosophy goes, we are still in that mindset. That will never change for us.

What kind of problems does having brothers in a band together?                                                                 I think the biggest problem is that we fight like brothers. When people haven’t really been around us at all…they see us fight and they get a little freaked out. It’s kinda funny. We really don’t fight as much as we did when we were younger.

What are some of the advantages of having brothers in a band together?
We connect on a level that really can’t be put into words. We have the same goals. It helps drive the band everywhere we want to go.

What is the most memorable moment you’ve had as a musician?                                                            It’s got to be playing the Beat Kitchen in July of 2006.  The crowd was amazing.  Everyone was singing along so loud it was almost louder than the PA.  It was a huge turn out, and I remember thinking to myself while we were playing, “This is the reason I wanted to be in a band.”  That was the most memorable for me. 

The term "Pop Punk" is thrown around in many ways. What makes music true Pop Punk" to you? I’m not in love with the term “pop punk”. It’s open to your own interpretation I guess.  I know, I know, boring!  But that’s all I got. 

What is your favorite Teenage Bottlerocket song to play live?
I like playing Go Away because it tends to get the crowd pumped up. I’m looking forward to playing the new songs when the record hits the shelves.