July 17th, 2009
Propagandhi Interview with WayTooLoud.com
Ruben says this is a great interview with Jord. Rube knows. Go to WayTooLoud.com
Category: Propagandhi
July 17th, 2009
Propagandhi Interview with Critcal-hit.org
A recent interview with Propagandhi at Slim’s in San Francisco, CA.
Full Interview available here:
Critical-hit.org
or here:
We recently had the chance to sit down with Canadian rockers and activists Propagandhi for a face to face interview at Slim’s SF. In collaboration with The Liberty Movement Magazine and Critical-Hit Records, we caught up with the affable vegans Chris Hannah and Todd Kowalski for a humbling conversation discussing their latest release Supporting Caste, auto-tuned farts, and technology among other things. Check out Supporting Caste off of Smallman Records, out now.
Interviewed by
Andrew Lopez
Chris Hopkins
Alex Flory
Liberty Movement: So what’s a half-head?
Chris: A half-head, (points to Todd’s head) take a look more at our drummer. That’s when your hair like…if you look at someone when their hair has actually receded right to about a half way point. Jord has a more pronounced one. Then there is a transparent head, and the toilet seat.
LM: On “Supporting Caste” there is this very distinct metal influence, aggression, and over all feel, including the production. What is the writing process like for you guys?
How does a song come to be?
Chris: It’s a case by case thing. Every one of them is a struggle. To get anything, amongst anything you ever played on your guitar, to get it even down to your basement to play in front of the other guys is a struggle. It wasn’t too bad this last time, (on “Supporting Caste”) but there were a few nightmares.
Todd: For me the lyrics are the hard part, to get your real ideas down in a way that doesn’t sound cheesy.
Chris: I don’t think any of it comes naturally to us at all; we have to work at it.
LM: Do you guys write the lyrics first and then put them to music?
Chris: Sometimes you change the music to fit the lyrics and sometimes you change the lyrics to fit the music, or a huge combination of both. If we had a formula we would be home free, but every song is a different struggle.
LM: Popular music is basically auto-tuned farts now of days; there isn’t any content. It is kind of insulting to the collective intelligence of people that listen to it. Do you feel your music could have a greater impact if it adhered more to the templates of popular music?
Chris: Not for us. Our prime directive is to make sure that we are stoked. On the Last record Bill and Jason were doing the first mixes and I was really hyper-paranoid of hearing auto-tune. We tried it on some songs and I said “Get rid of that!” It sounds like a computer, and once your ear knows what auto-tune is, you never want to hear it again. There is nothing you could do strategically to get us to the next level. It has to be what it is. People have to accept it or hate it.
LM: Where and how do you draw the line on your self-fulfilling desire to “rock,” and your desire to propagate a message and try to create some change?
Todd: If we weren’t writing about what we were, I don’t know what we would write about…I was actually writing about stabbing kids, just stupid. If that’s what people want we could give it to them.
Chris: The struggle of writing the lyrics isn’t for lack of wonder about the world. We have plenty of over load for wondering about the world, throwing it down in to lyrics is the struggle part of it. I don’t think that if our lyrics are a reflection of our core values, they aren’t really selfless. It is a self preservation thing to care about other people too. If other people are getting fucked over, you are going to get fucked over. What goes around comes around.
LM: What aspect of your music pleases you guys the most? What is your favorite song to jam on or play?
Todd: Right now my favorite song to play is “Supporting Caste.”
Chris: We don’t play it right now because Todd’s vocals aren’t happening. But “Night Letters” is one, when we play it in the basement and get close to what it sounds like on the record, it is satisfying. It is a really difficult song and it’s in a strange tuning.
Todd: What satisfies me the most actually are Chris’ vocals…
Chris: (interrupting) Todd’s vocals are my favorite!
Todd: I’m not a real singer or anything, so when I work with Chris I enjoy his singing.
LM: Do you find technology as an ultimately oppressive or liberating force, especially modern technology like internet, ipods, computers and such?
Chris: You could talk about it on specific technologies and contexts, but generally it is a case by case basis. It is the same with language. Is language good or bad? It depends on how you use it.
Todd: I find it interesting that people in other countries who would never be listening can do so because of technology. I mean the music I like in terms of technology comes out of amps.
Chris: Also, the same industries that produce weapons technology that can destroy the planet are the same industries that produce things that help further the human sense of wonder. They help in figuring out, not why we are here, but how we are here and where we are. To me those questions are very interesting. I would rather live now knowing some things about the universe rather than in the 1400’s.
LM: Do you guys get death threats still, even after being voted the second worst Canadians?
Todd: That’s Canada though, they don’t count.
Chris: Yeah, we haven’t gotten serious death threats for years.
Todd: Canada should apologize to us for not being a better country! (laughs)
LM: Got any tattoos?
Todd: Nah, we are real rockers.
Chris: The Beaver has an ear piercing from when he was like 13.
LM: How did he get the nickname “Beaver” anyway?
Chris: There was this comic book that he read when he was a kid called “Space Beaver,” and I guess he looked a lot like the character.
Todd: Strangely enough I read the same comic book when I was a kid.
LM: Still pass around the puck and play hockey?
Chris: Jord played in a beer league this last season, he plays for a team every year. We play some pick up games and a lot of street hockey.
LM: Any companies you might recommend that offer fair trade textiles for reasonable prices?
Chris: On our resource page on the website there is a section for ethical consuming, there are some listed on there. For T-shirts the company I try to get behind is “No Sweat Apparel” out of Boston or New York, mainly because the transparency of the company. They actually show you where their sources are. They don’t do an industry self certification, where as in the fashion industry they say “We are certified, by ourselves.” They take pictures of the factory and show and tell when things aren’t perfect. Makes you feel like they actually care.
LM: We noticed that “Supporting Caste” was released on Small Man Records. Is there any future for G7 Welcoming Committee?
Chris: I think if there are any more records released on G7 it will just be Propagandhi records. Derrick is the other guy from G7 and he just isn’t interested in putting out music by other bands anymore.
LM: Given the chance, would you open for Rush?
Chris: Fuck Yeah…He loves Rush so much (points to Todd).
LM: How do you pick your supporting acts?
Chris: Well “Bridge and Tunnel” we played with in Brooklyn, and they were just on a list of bands that were interested. The promoter usually picks the other opening band.
LM: According to the internet, your most popular song is “Ska Sucks.” Does that suck?
Chris: It’s kind of funny. I mean it’s a terrible song, but when all is said and done, its funny that that is what most people will remember us by.
Category: Propagandhi
July 16th, 2009
Propagandhi’s Tertium Non Datur Live
Punk Empire recently recorded a Propagandhi set in Montreal, QC in HD. Go to Tertium Non Datur LIVE!
Category: Propagandhi
June 30th, 2009
Propagandhi interview with Hardtimes.ca
http://hardtimes.ca/propagandhi09
Category: Propagandhi
June 29th, 2009
Propagandhi Interview with PCWC
Chris discusses the relationship that anti-capitalists have with professional organisations. http://firesneverextinguished.blogspot.com/2009/06/pcwc-interviews-chris-from-propagandhi.html
Category: Propagandhi
June 17th, 2009
Propagandhi Pics from Minneapolis Show June 16
Cutlture Bully posted some pictures from the June 16 show in Minneapolis. Propagandhi Pics from MPLS
Category: Propagandhi
May 22nd, 2009
Sexiest Vegetarian…
Bored? Pick Your favourite Propagandhi or Comeback Kid (Jeremy, that is) band member at PETA2 Sexiest Vegetarian 2009
Category: Propagandhi, Various Artists
May 22nd, 2009
Propagandhi Las Vegas Show Moved
New Venue! Monday, May 25, 2009
THE FARM. 5597 South Rainbow Blvd. Las Vegas, NV. All tickets honored.
Category: Propagandhi
April 28th, 2009
Propagandhi live session on BBC Radio 1!
While in the U.K. recently, Propagandhi took over BBC Radio 1 for a few minutes and played some tunes.
You can listen to the show (which also features a spin of ‘Only Babies Cry’ by The Ergs!, who are a band you should check out right now if you aren’t familiar) here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/mikedavies/
Category: Propagandhi
March 26th, 2009
Propagandhi on IssueOriented.com podcast!
Todd and Chris from Propagandhi stop by the Issue Oriented studios…
Host Ronen Kauffman talks to Chris Hannah and Todd Kowalski of Propagandhi about sarcasm, personal vice, the role of community in daily life and much more!
Ch-ch-ch: ISSUEORIENTED.com
Episode also features an interview with Mike Hale (Into The Red) and also a new segment with Justin Brannan (Most Precious Blood and Indecision).
Category: Propagandhi
March 10th, 2009
SUPPORTING CASTE - OUT TODAY!
Christmas in March.
Well friends, the day is upon us! March 10th, 2009 – Supporting Caste hits the streets.
In case you haven’t already illegally downloaded the album (!!!), you can stream it on the following sites today:
PunkNews.org
Spinner.com
AlarmPress.com
Also, the good people over at NME have given Propagandhi full control of their blog today. If you like stories about bullet-proof vests, 80’s metal and more, check out NME.com today.
Category: Propagandhi
February 9th, 2009
NEW PROPAGANDHI SONGS AVAILABLE
We’re gonna throw you a sweet, sweet (human) bone in the form of two wicked new songs (Supporting Caste and Human(e) Meat) from our rad new record while simultaneously trying to scrounge some spare change for a handful of organizations whose efforts in some way reflect our values.
Its your lucky day.
Propagandhi have announced the download of two sizzling new jams from their forthcoming album Supporting Caste. For a small donation in the amount of your choice to one of three organizations, you will receive an instantaneous download of ‘Supporting Caste’ and ‘Human(e) Meat’.
http://propagandhi.com/supporting-caste/
Hopefully this will tide your ears over until Supporting Caste drops on March 10th, 2009.
Category: Propagandhi
January 13th, 2009
PROPAGANDHI ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF ‘SUPPORTING CASTE’
‘Supporting Caste’ is the fifth release from Winnipeg, MB’s legendary Propagandhi.
PROPAGANDHI – SUPPORTING CASTE
RELEASE DATE: MARCH 10TH 2009
Propagandhi are proud pleased delighted required to announce the release of their new album, Supporting Caste.
Recorded at the band’s own Illegal Combatant Studios and the world-renowned Blasting Room in Ft. Collins Colorado, Supporting Caste is the fifth full length release from Winnipeg’s Propagandhi.
Crafted in collaboration with Bill Stevenson (Black Flag, Descendents, Zeke, 7 Seconds), this 12 song collection of boundless power and depth is a 50 000 watt forward-thinking tip-of-the-hat to the giants—Voivod, Rush, SNFU, Sacrifice, Razor, Guilt Parade – that have gone before them.
Legendary and unrepentant residents of humankind’s ideological peanut-gallery, Propagandhi does not disappoint with Supporting Caste, launching crude rockets into the heart of the prevailing order with meditations that range in focus from the humane slaughter and consumption of non-vegans in an elaborate 18-course banquet (with wine pairings) to the apparent confusion of turning on the TV to watch a simple hockey game and having to wonder whether or not the Nazi’s actually lost the war after all.
Supporting Caste: 12 new laments, reveries and extrapolations from 4 visibly-aging prairie skids who still cannot believe that of all the gin joints in all the galaxies in all the universes, they had to be born on this one.
Supporting Caste will be released on March 10th, 2009 on G7 Welcoming Committee/Smallman Records.
SUPPORTING CASTE TRACK LISTING
Night Letters
Supporting Caste
Tertium Non Datur
Dear Coach’s Corner
This is Your Life
Human(e) Meat (The Flensing of Sandor Katz)
Potemkin City Limits
The Funeral Procession
Without Love
Incalculable Effects
The Banger’s Embrace
Last Will and Testament
http://www.propagandhi.com
http://www.myspace.com/propagandhi
Category: Propagandhi
