The Afterdarks: the best thing that ever happened to hot-rodders and beer sales

[Photo of The Afterdarks by Josh Ford.]

The Afterdarks is a band from Quad Cities that I first heard on Radio Free Bakersfield. Papa D discusses what is essential to every Afterdarks song, and why you should have the band's music in your collection.

Complete the sentence. The Afterdarks is...

The best thing that's ever happened to hot-rodders and beer sales

What is essential to every song of The Afterdarks?

We don't really stick to a formula. But, we try to use elements that invoke an emotion that the end of everything is coming, so it might me a damn good idea to get up and dance!

What is essential to every show?

Blood, sweat, beer, and dancing, preferably at night of course.

Why should I have your music in my collection?

Because if you didn't, you'd be kicking yourself 10 years from now for missing out on all the fun.

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

I don't even want to think about how bleak that future would be. I'd probably be pumping gas or teaching physics.

Want some tunes by The Afterdarks? You can hear 29 (that's right, 29 full tracks) of them on ReverbNation.

The Barbarellatones: campy and hypnotic

The Barbarellatones is a band from Malibu that I first heard on Radio Free Bakersfield. Robbie Quine discusses the band's music, and who is his ideal choice to write and record a song with.

Describe your sound for someone who has never heard the band.

I consider The Barbarellatones to be a Neo-Glam band, even though we have some Gothabilly, Surf and Psychedelic overtones. Some call us 'sleaze-rock', but that is only half the story! To me the main vein of the music is Glam or Glitter Rock with a twist, very campy but also hypnotic. I love B-Movies, especially the really bad ones! A lot of the songs lean towards that direction, but I am not afraid to be transparent and bare my soul either. I write dark ballads a lot too.

What is essential to every Barbarellatones song?

I love a retro surf guitar...I am a surfer and I also love Sitars, so will often incorporate that into a song if it feels right. A lot of our songs are kinda dark but playful, a weird combination. Kind of Warhol-ish? Songs about drag-queens and zombies, strung-out surfers, semi-autobiograpical! I was also in Sex With Lurch, a similar gothabilly-ish band. Inspired by Rocky Horror for sure.

If there is an afterlife and you are in the house band, who do you get to fill out the band?

Mick Ronson on guitar, definately! Maybe Johnny Thunders too...Marc Bolan, it would be super-Glam!

If you could write and record a song with any artist, who would it be? Why?

That's an easy one...BOWIE. I love that guy. I've always loved his dark crooning in Diamond Dogs, just beautiful. I would want him to produce also...Bowie's albums with Lou Reed and Iggy are fantastic.

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

I used to teach surfing lessons in Maui to tourists...that was a very fun job. I would love to do an 'endless summer' trip at some point in my life, and go to Indonesia, Bali, South Africa, Peru, Fiji...all over the world and surf warm-water waves with no time restraints. That would be heavenly!

Chicken Coupe Deville: one part poultry, one part GM luxury car

Chicken Coupe Deville is a four-piece band from Los Angeles. I first heard this band on Radio Free Bakersfield. (Aren't you listening yet? It's a great way to find new bands.) The band answers some questions about its sound, why you should have CCD in your collection, and who they would like to share a 12-pack with.

Complete the sentence. Chicken Coupe Deville is...

One part poultry, and two parts GM luxury car.

What sets CCD apart from other bands?

A restraining order.

What is essential to every CCD song?

At least 3 guitar solos.

Why should I have your music in my collection?

It just feels good in there.

If you could have a beer and a conversation about music with anyone, who would it be? Why?

How about we split a twelve-pack, that otta keep you from talking too much.

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

Trying to get all this blood out of my clown suit.

The Utah County Swillers: unhealthy country punk

The Utah County Swillers is a punk band from Provo, Utah. In this interview, Scott discusses why you should have the band's CD in your collection, where is the best place to hear its music, and what he would be doing if he weren't making music.

Complete the sentence: The Utah County Swillers is...

A band of unhealthy and unhygienic punk rockers from the heart of Utah County, Utah.

Why should I have The Utah County Swillers in my collection?

It's the best anthropological record of a tiny subversive class of suburbanites from the center of the most politically Conservative hell hole in the U.S. of A.

What is the best place to listen to your music?

ABGs Libation Emporium in Provo, Utah. It's the best place to see any band. If you don't dare come to Provo, we also play most of the major dive bars in Utah and occasionally make it out of the state. We just got back from Colorado where I'm afraid we seriously wore out our welcome. We've also got a CD for sale on all the major on-line music stores. It's called Polygamist on the Big Bender label. Of course, there's also Radio Free Bakersfield, the best roots music show on the Internet.

What should I expect if I attend one of your shows?

A cheap cover - only a few people - over consumption - lots of country punk about the usual topics: drugs, bad women, religion, booze, trucks - spitting, jumping, kicking, swearing - the occasional fist fight - etc.

If you could write and perform a song with one artist/band, who would it be? Why?

It's a toss up between, Elvis Hitler, Mojo Nixon, and the Waco Brothers but probably the Waco Brothers because it would be such an unlikely combination. We love them, but I'm sure they'd hate us.

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

Making something I'm sure, probably tattoos, hot rods, zines - something bad.