Pink Smoke

     You can’t really tack on any trendy sub genre tags on Pink Smoke’s music. They’re not your new favorite Post, Dark, Psyche anything.  Pink Smoke are however a meat and potatoes punk rock n’ roll band. They’re influenced by bands like The Damned and The Ramones and all the early rock n’ roll; which influenced all the punk bands in the mid to late ‘70’s. They play aggressive and loud and aren’t afraid to add hooks and melody to their catchy shout along songs. So if you’re looking for the answers to life and the universe to be unfolded unto you in cheap metaphors and pop psychology clichés, you may want to look somewhere else. What Pink Smoke can offer you though is a good time at the end of a long hard day, after all isn’t that what anyone has ever really needed from rock n’ roll? 

Interview by J Castro

Who is currently in Pink Smoke and what does everyone do in the band?

Clint – Vocals & Rhythm Guitar

Brandon – Backing Vocals and Bass
Ryan – Drums

Matt – Lead Guitar

How did you guys all meet and decide to play in a band together?

CLINT: Matt and I have been friends and bandmates since around 2004. We’ve played in many different unremarkable bands in our time. I met Brandon through Craigslist in 2010 and I immediately wanted him in my old band at the time because he looked like Dee Dee Ramone and Glenn Danzig had a child. And he was talking about only knowing like 4 notes. I was in! Matt has known Ryan for quite some time. I haven’t known him that long, but he is a great guy and has a good sense of what he’s doing back there. He is our 3^rd drummer. Spinal Tap syndrome…

How would you describe your bands sound to someone who’s never heard you guys before?

CLINT: There are 2 responses. If it’s someone who’s into whatever our “genre” is, I’ll say, “If you like Slade and Rocket from the Crypt, you might like us.”  If it is someone who I know is very unfamiliar with punk or rock n’ roll, I’ll just say “We sound like the Ramones.”

What sorts of things influence your song lyrics? Are there any subjects you try and stay away from for whatever reason?

CLINT: I just kind of do “stream-of-consciousness” type stuff. When I try to have a subject directly, it’s usually just stuff related to what millions of people have to deal with: Shitty jobs, shitty people, and feeling like your life is going nowhere, relationships . . . blah, blah, blah, angst, as far as subjects to stay away from?  I just don’t wanna get too political. Nobody cares. Let’s just have fun and play loudly.

I’ve heard a lot of people say that writing and/or playing music is therapeutic to them.  What do you think, has music ever helped you through a tough time?

CLINT: Yes. The lyrical part isn’t as important as the playing part. Just playing music has a healing power for me. I can kind of jump out of my skin and act like a maniac and no one really thinks twice about it.

I noticed your band has a Facebook page, and you’re on Tumblr and Instagram as well. Do you think social media has become an essential part of promoting bands and records? Do you think anyone can survive these days without having some sort of presence on social media somewhere?

CLINT: There is an ever-increasing amount of bands that are rejecting social media and just living by word-of-mouth and touring like the “good old days.” It seems to work for bands that have a very strong backing from labels and zines that will do all the promoting for them. It also seems to work for bands that aren’t bound to a full-time job “pay rent or you’re screwed” type situation like us. Unfortunately, we were never the popular kids and don’t have enough underground pull to be that cool and know a lot of people. There is so much competition out there. Especially with the type of music we play. Social media is the only reason anyone even slightly cares about us. We try not to over-saturate though. It’s annoying when bands do that. Plus, bands on social media are aware that Facebook will not let people see most of your posts unless you pay money to Facebook. Who wants to do that? I hear it’s mostly fake “likes” anyway. I’d rather have 2 people “like” the page that care than pay for 200 fake “likes.” We’re not trying to be a huge sensation. We’re smarter than that.

There have been some pretty good bands to come out of Denton, TX, but how is it like to live there now and play shows?  Is there a supportive crowd that gets what you guys are doing musically?

CLINT: Denton is a ghost town right now for our kind of music, even when really great rock n’ roll and punk bands come through you’ll maybe see a half-full venue. Drone, noise and electronic music are actually what are really popular in Denton right now. Punk house shows are on the rise though. There seems to be more people putting them on now. And as a result, way more people come out because you’ve eliminated the need for people to pay and be a certain age. We plan on getting in on that in 2015. On a side note, we’ll always pay respects to the Denton bands that got outta Denton and made themselves known: Riverboat Gamblers, Marked Men and Bad Sports to name a few.

And speaking of shows, tell me about one of the most memorable Pink Smoke shows, good or bad and what made it stick out in your mind?

CLINT: They totally turned on “La Bamba” when Matt was playing his solo! Oh, seriously? Do we have memorable shows?  I think what I find memorable are the shows where stupid things happens. Like one time we played this now demolished “club” (more like big garage) in Dallas. We weren’t told there was a frat-bro paintball party going on at the venue that night. The door guy said we had to pay for our own girlfriends to come in and we wouldn’t get paid. This was our second show, so we just wanted to play. We got a bunch of paint thrown at us and got cut off during our last song when the drunk sound guy decided he REALLY needed to hear “Cowboys From Hell” by Pantera RIGHT NOW. Looking back on it, I should have told them to go fuck themselves. I would now. We kind of have a thing now where we try to clear the venue on purpose, which isn’t hard because not a lot of people come out usually. We just play really loud. If there are any people left after a show, Brandon and I will look at each other, shake our heads and say “Well, we ALMOST cleared it, maybe next time!”

I was reading an interview with Keith Richards and he said that anyone buying digital music is getting short changed. Do you agree with this statement?

CLINT: On one hand, I’m all for digital music. Things like Spotify have made almost any band on the planet accessible. I only use Spotify on my phone now for music. It cleared a whole bunch of room and I can listen to most of the same stuff I have at home. Except Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love” album which is mysteriously missing from Spotify. That kinda brings me to my OTHER hand. I really enjoy having the physical document of a lot of music. I own a lot of LP’s, 45’s, CD’s and cassettes. I am known to spend hours in our local record stores when I have the time and the money. There’s something about having that piece of history in your hands and being able to touch and smell it. It’s wonderful. Keith Richards knows nothing about change. He only uses $100’s.

Tell me about the one band or musician that you feel has inspired you the most in your life.  Tell me about the first time you heard them and how it affected you:

CLINT: I come from an ‘80’s Goth background. When I was a 120 lb. 15 year old with teased hair and shaved-off eyebrows, I’d fill my stereo speakers with Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Cure, Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy and Alien Sex Fiend. In fact, I remember the first time I saw a picture of Nik Fiend. I was about 14 years old. I immediately had to find out everything about this weird, gangly creature. I went out to Hot Topic and they had this little Cleopatra Records compilation called Songs To Wake the Dead. The first song was a re-mix of the Alien Sex Fiend song “Magic.” I was forever changed. SO the short version is – ever since I saw Nik Fiend of Alien Sex Fiend when I was a kid, I knew I wanted to do something that would piss off cops, parents and teachers. Then I got into punk when I was about 18 and saw Dave Vanian, who was naturally the Gothiest punk out there. He was a huge inspiration. In fact, sometimes in October I do a Damned tribute band called Stab Yr Front. It makes more money than Pink Smoke.

Where can people go to hear or buy your music?

CLINT: At shows and online.

pinksmokeband.bigcartel.com  –  Merch and music
pinksmoke.bandcamp.com

What lies ahead in 2015 for Pink Smoke? 

CLINT: We have a new album coming out! It’s called Weirdorama and it was recorded at Cool Devices Studio by Mark and Jeff from the Marked Men, just like No Party. We are doing everything ourselves, so it’s slow going. We hope to have CD’s and cassettes in hand by June and plan for a release show in July or August. On top of the new record coming out, there will be a heck of a lot more shows, a ton more merchandise and loads more alcohol and burritos that need to be consumed.

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Cozy

It was a summer in the early 1970’s in what would otherwise seem like a typical night in a Minneapolis suburb. Four teenagers were practicing with their band when they suddenly and suspiciously went missing. This up and coming band these boys were in, who were greatly influenced by groups like The Bay City Rollers and The Ohio Express were regarded by many as being “teen idols in the making” and “the next big thing.” In the year 2012, these boys mysteriously returned unharmed and un-aged. Wherever they were time did not exist. They have returned to this dimension now in its “information age” with a request for us all: disconnect, decompress, strap on your roller skates and fall in love!  

Interview by J Castro

Let us first start out by you guys introducing yourselves and telling us what exactly you do to keep the Cozy machine rolling on.

BONKERS:  My friends call me Bonkers, so I guess you can too! Much like my namesake in the Cozy "Denim Magic" cartoon series, I sing and dance for our lovely fans.

BAZ: Me name's Baz, isn't it? I play an Electra Cozy Deluxe model electric guitar, available at select Woolworth's locations.

GORDIE: People call me Gordie Leatherby and I play the electric baritone string machine.

SWIZ:  Hey everyone! My name is Archie but me mum calls me Swiz. I bludgeon the drums behind these denim dreamboats.

Can you tell me how you all met and decided to play music together, basically tell us the Cozy origin story?

BONKERS: Our manager doesn't like us to talk much about our past to the press, but since Audio Ammunition is aimed at a more mature audience than the readership of the periodicals we are usually interviewed by -- such as Tiger Beat and Flip -- I figure we can give you the real story. Baz, Gordie, and myself played together for a number of years with various groups that never really went anywhere. Eventually we congealed into a psychedelic rock band called Silas Cozy. We cut a record for Pye titled Sidepiper at the Gates of Dawn, but it didn't get within spitting distance of the charts. Suffice to say, it was subsequently deleted, with only a handful of copies making it into shops. At the time we were crestfallen, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Our soon-to-be manager, Edwin Bickerton, stumbled upon a copy of the Silas Cozy LP one day, looked at the cover, and decided we had star potential. He tracked us all down at our day jobs -- I was starring in a musical rendition of Richard III at the Stoke on Trent Free Theater at the time -- and we all convened at a gentleman's club where Edwin laid out his blueprint for chart domination over many bottles of Piper-Heidsieck champagne. As it turns out, Edwin's vision couldn't have been more prescient. The combination of his inimitable managerial prowess, the songwriting acumen of the Stately/Poundsworth team, and our own increased dedication to our craft has been the recipe for the success we’ve enjoyed over the past few years. Swiz recently joined the group and we're sounding better than ever!

BAZ: Old Edwin found me at me belt job at the tire burning plant in Dongcaster. I had to make sure the tires didn't go out and stoke them with lead paint chips and asbestos to keep the smoke thick. He said, "Son, I've heard you play guitar, would you like to Razzle a Dazzle?"And I said, "Razzle a Dazzle? I'll Razzle a Duck!!"

SWIZ:  I met Baz one day in Liverpool as he was floated down the river Mersey in a boat that closely resembled a washtub. It may have actually been a washtub. Either way, it looked like he was unconscious so I swam to him and drug him to the shore to find out what’s the matter and give him CPR. Once I started to bang on his chest he opened his eyes and asked me to be the drummer in Cozy. He seemed fine, so I said yes.

You guys just got back from your second Japanese tour, any fun and exciting stories you’d like to share with us, what are the fans like there as compared to American audiences?

BONKERS: While we love all our amazing supporters across the globe, there is something truly special about the Japanese chapter of the Cozy fan club. Our guide was an old business associate of Edwin's named A-Bone. Bone-san showed us some amazing sights -- who can forget the cafe he took us to where young ladies dressed as French maids gave us deep body massages using severed octopus tentacles in lieu of their hands? However, the most memorable stop on our itinerary had to be the guided tour of Japan's oldest co-ed onsen, or hot spring bath. In honor of Cozy the locals had drained all of the water out of the pools and replaced it with mega-liters of Cola Shock! We lost sight of Baz after discovering the pool he was soaking in had been mysteriously drained dry, but luckily we found him again a couple hours later carrying on something of a Socratic discourse with an undergarment vending machine.

BAZ: We went on the airplane for what seemed like an hour! It took forever it did. Then we were in the famous city of Japan on the southernmost tip of England! I found myself lost for many hours and then I ate something that looked like bacon.

GORDIE: Japan, the land of love, sharing and caring. I needn't extol it any further, except to say that when the beams of the rising sun in the east dabble your pale Dongcaster cheeks and the sacred babbling brooks of the frog spirit tickle your toes, you will feel it too.

SWIZ: Another great memory was being joined onstage at Shelter Hall by very special guest guitarist Fink from Japanese chart-toppers the Raydios. Fink was a true pro, and I must admit he looked mighty dashing in a denim vest.

You guys have a heavy 1970’s glam/bubblegum/Bay City Rollers style and influence.  This was an approach to music that had a more innocent fun to it, are you guys kinda sorta trying to bring that back?

BONKERS: It's long been my opinion that good times spring eternal. As long as there are teenagers on this planet, there's going to be a steady demand for rock n' roll, sex appeal, and denim.

BAZ: You're right, I haven't had much time to listen to all the groups we've influenced with touring and all, but Edwin did bring me a Bay City Rollers record, which I had the chance to listen to and was well pleased! I'd like to thank those Bay City Roller boys for being such huge fans and encourage them to keep up the good work! Who knows? With a little practice they could be a supporting act on a Cozy tour someday!!

Your main influences obviously lie heavily in the past, are there any current bands that inspire you?

BONKERS: As you can imagine, our hectic touring schedule gives us ample opportunity to scout up and coming young bands. Two groups that particularly impressed me of late are Ramma Lamma, from the American provincial town of Milwaukee, and Gorilla, from Tokyo. Speaking of the Land of the Rising Sun, at one of the festivals we headlined over there two years ago, we played with a band called Teengenerate who appeared to go over almost as well as us with the natives. I must admit, they were quite excellent. I was also duly impressed by Firestarter, who opened one of our gigs this past summer.

BAZ: I had a singing duck which I really liked, but it ran out of batteries. Then Rita said the battery store was out of batteries so we couldn't have it anymore. Young Parisian also rule.

I know you guys don’t sing about war, famine, and oppression (which is a VERY good thing) so tell me, where does the inspiration for Cozy songs usually come from?

BAZ: Ducks in the sea, monkeys in the tree, vodka in me. Havin’ a good time!

BONKERS: In all honesty, our songwriting team of Mickey Stately and Alvin Poundsworth would be able to answer this question better than any of us can, since they are responsible for many of our most well known songs. I might get in a row with Edwin for airing our dirty laundry in front of the press, but to tell the truth this is a situation we’ve been frustrated with over the years. We’re all adept composers in our own right -- but as Edwin always tells us “you don’t look a golden goose in the egg hole.” However, we were allowed to write two songs on our album “Button By Button” -- “Denim Dream” and “Sidepiping” -- and the response to them by the fans has been quite encouraging. As far as the inspiration behind those two songs goes, they were both inspired by true events in our lives. “Denim Dream” is about how we are living our dream as chart topping superstars thanks to our fans’ support, and “Sidepiping” recounts memories of our high school days. We have another song we wrote together called “Denim Child” in the can for an upcoming 45, but we are currently debating with Edwin about whether or not we will use it or a Stately/Poundsworth composition on the a-side. We wholeheartedly believe “Child” has all the makings of a smash hit and are strongly advocating it be the single.

So with that being said, I’ve heard people say that “art should always push social boundaries, question authority, and make people think.” What is your take on that?

BONKERS:  I disagree with that statement, or any other absolutist maxim that purports to define what rules art “should” follow. The only strictures binding a true artist are a rigorous dedication to perfecting his craft and the willingness to follow his muse wherever it may lead. That being said, I must admit I’m a little confused as to why you are asking a pop group about painting and sculpture.

GORDIE: It depends on what you mean by “pushing boundaries and questioning authority.” If you mean breaking the law and nicking a pair of 517’s from Jean Junction, then we’re against it. On the other hand, if you’re talking about staying out past curfew to come see Cozy when we perform at your local auditorium, then we wholeheartedly approve.

Your music is very up-beat and puts a smile on my face no matter what kind of mood I’m in. Is it sometimes hard to play a show if you’re in a bad or sad mood, has there ever been a time when you don’t feel like going out and being cheery?

BONKERS: First of all, thank you very much for saying that. It means a lot to know our music has the power to put smiles on our fans’ faces when they are feeling down. We have the best fans in the world and we’re so blessed to be able to perform for them. To be honest, we feed off the energy of the crowd. It would be impossible not to be excited when we’re shown such love from so many beautiful and special people night in and night out!

BAZ: BAZ HATES PANTS!!!!

What is the one record in your collections that you think a lot of Cozy fans might be surprised you own?

GORDIE: Grame Grace’s "Hail Me."

BONKERS: I have a personal assistant who travels with us on tour and often picks up the latest records for me at local shops. Sometimes he chooses some really far out albums that can be a bit too heavy for me, but occasionally I really dig them. One obscure record he picked up for me recently is “Loaded” from a group called The Velvet Underground. It came out a few years back and didn't really make the charts or anything, but there are some really catchy songs on it.

BAZ: After my mid morning nap, and often after my early afternoon snooze, I'll have Rita put on the record that goes: “Win wam zoozle zam bamma lamma loo, bim bam wamma lam what about you? Wozzle dozzle loop de loo looping up and down, womble cromble every time beep nap noun.” You may not have heard it because I may have recorded it myself. One can never be sure...

SWIZ: A few years ago I picked up a record by a band called MC5. I really love their hard hitting drum lines! I just wish the singer had a little more of an English melodic sense and made use of harmonies the way bands back home do.

What will the rest of 2014 bring for us, the Cozy fans?

BONKERS: Well, we’ve finally wrapped up the first leg of our world tour in support of our new album “Button By Button,” which came out this past summer on HoZac Records and has already gone gold. So far the response to the album has been universally positive, which has us feeling duly humbled, but not entirely unlike a bunch of proud papas. From our early days as Silas Cozy to the release of “Button By Button,” it was a long, hard, road to get to the top of the international pop mountain. Now that we’re here, we’re going to keep working hard to entertain our fans and hopefully secure our place as one of the greatest bands in rock history. As I mentioned earlier, we have another single in the can, which should see the light of day sometime early next year. Other than that, our plan for the rest of the year is to take a break from our relentless touring schedule in order to work on material for our follow up album, tentatively set to be a two-album set entitled “Double Denim.” Hopefully we can convince Edwin to let us write more of the songs on this one.

BAZ: Please check out our new line of Cozy brake pads as well as Baz Bozworthy's Baz Brand Butt Butter for all your butt moisturizing needs!!!

BONKERS: Before we go, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the fans for letting us into their lives. Each time you play a Cozy record or come to one of our concerts it’s like giving all of us a giant hug. Believe me when I say there’s nothing we love more than hugging you back.

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Faz Waltz

     Somewhere in Italy, there is a group that eats and breathes T. Rex records while watching endless reruns of Marc. One of these disciples is Faz Waltz, one of two major glam punk bands originating from Italy. Faz Waltz plays the style of glam, punk, Rock N’ Roll that T. Rex, Sweet and Slade played before they musical term was coined. Just because the 20^th Century is gone doesn’t mean there are those that forgotten the influence of “20^th Century Boy.” It is only fitting Faz Waltz comes from Italy, a country shaped like a boot, and is the heir apparent to wear the same silver glam boots that Slade wore. 

Interview by Ed Stuart

Who’s answering the questions?

Hi, I’m Faz La Rocca.

Where is the band from?

Como, Italy.

Who is in the band and what instruments do they play?

Faz La Rocca: Vocals, Guitar

Diego Angelini: Bass

Marco Galimberti: Drums

How did the band start?

I have played in a band since 1998 and after some experiences with punk rock; I started to write material for a new project, Faz Waltz in 2006. I just wanted to have some fun with the roots of punk and try to stand out from all the other bands around.

What is it about glam music that is so endearing? At first, glam music was, arguably, thought of a passing fad, but it has been very influential especially in the last few years considering bands like Giuda and Faz Waltz are heavily influenced by glam. Any thoughts on why that is?

Well, glam rock has never been taken too seriously, it has been seen as a kind of joke. At the beginning, it was the same for Rock N’ Roll in the fifties. In 1970, the rock scene was founded on the magniloquence and the virtuosity, with a serious approach to the lyrics and the technical skills; glam rock wasn’t anything like that. Simple, easy, and fun just like Rock N’ Roll. Punk was coming.

What is the music scene like in your hometown?

We’ve got plenty of punk bands, some are very good, The Leeches for example, but apart from Faz Waltz and Giuda, there isn’t really a glam rock scene in Italy nowadays. That’s why in the beginning it wasn’t so easy to get gigs.

Do you feel being in a glam band gives you more songwriting freedom? On Back to Mondo, the band has melodic ballads like “King of Nowhere” and classic glam stompers like “I Wanna Find My Place.”  If Faz Waltz was a punk band do you think you would have the same songwriting freedom?

I’ve never thought about it. I just write songs, the way I like, the way they come, and it doesn’t matter. If a song is good, it’s good, sometimes it depends on who is listening I think. I know punks that love the ballads more than the glam stompers.

Do you think music can still be a vital force in such a disposable age?

For sure. music is what I breathe from the time I open my eyes in the morning till I go to bed, the way the music make you feel is irreplaceable.

Five essential glam records you feel everyone should own.

It’s not easy to choose just 5 records. I’ll name the most popular and easy to find records, in case you’re new to the genre:

-Slade “Slayed” LP 1972

-T.Rex “Electric Warrior” LP 1971

                   -David Bowie “The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars” LP 1972

-Gary Glitter  “Glitter” LP 1972

-T.Rex “The Slider” LP 1972

If you had the opportunity to have Marc Bolan or Mick Ronson in Faz Waltz whom would you pick? Or if neither of these guys, whom would you pick? Why?

Bolan was the head behind T.Rex, so I don’t think it would work very well; too many cooks spoil the broth. Mick Ronson did a perfect job with Bowie. He’s the perfect right-hand man.

50 years ago people used to buy music and get their water for free, now people pay for water and get their music for free. How do you think this affects music in any way?

Well, you know, being a musician should be a job, exactly like being a plumber. If you didn’t get paid for your work and your effort it would be very difficult to keep afloat, and it is. Fortunately, for the moment, we all also have a “real job,” like someone use to say.

In a Global Texan Chronicles article, they stated, “Faz Waltz isn't necessarily a straight forward nostalgia band simply re-working bygone sounds in an effort to emulate their sonic heroes. More of a band who understands the importance of an era in music that most have decided to leave to history.”  Do you feel this is an accurate of the band?

We just do our best to make good music in the most genuine way, we don’t try to be spontaneously nostalgic or original, but I don’t think there is another band just like Faz Waltz at the moment.

The band is diehard analog fans. Why do you think recording analog is so important as opposed to recording digital?

It could seem obvious, but I think it’s a just a matter of sound, and what you want to achieve.

Analog recording could work for some bands and not for others … it isn’t a magic formula, for the way we want to sound, it’s perfect, for example.

Where can people hear the band?

You can listen to our music on records and live first then Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, YouTube and on our official site www.fazwaltz.com , where you can find all the links to the social networks too.

What’s next for Faz Waltz?

We’re working on the new album; we’ll be in the studio this summer. Some new songs we’re playing now…

-Kids Are All Wild

-Makin’ Noise

-Hot Class (Working Class Teacher)

-Back In Town

-Crazy Little fun

-Telepath Baby

-Ready To Go

-Let’s Get Around

-Move over

-We’re All We Got

-Change

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Giuda

     In 2009, Giuda went into the studio to record a bombshell by the name of Racey Roller. One year later this megaton glam/punk debut was unleashed on the world and the fans, press and everyone else in between ate it up. And then nothing, nothing was heard from the Giuda front until last year’s Let’s Do It Again. Instead of glam/punk follow-up, Giuda went straight for the ‘70’s glam era throat by recalling the days of T. Rex, Slade and Sweet and laying that sweet sound on analog tape capturing the pre-punk sounds of both yesteryear and for today.

Interview by Ed Stuart

Who’s answering the questions?

Lorenzo Moretti (Guitar)

Where is the band from?

Roma, Italy

Who is in the band and what instrument do they play?

Lorenzo Moretti (Guitar / Vocals ), Ntandarere Djodji Damas (Vocals), Daniele Tarea (Drums), Michele Malagnini (Guitar), Danilo Valerii (Bass)

How did the band start?

Tenda (vocals), Danilo (bass) and I played together for many years in a band called Taxi, but we broke up in 2007 after releasing our second album, following the sudden passing of our drummer Francesco. Later that year we reformed as Giuda, and went through a couple of lineup changes after that, which is when Michele (guitar) and Daniele (drums) joined our ranks. Our first album, Racey Roller was recorded in 2009 and it came out one year later.

Giuda has really nailed the glam/glitter sound. It’s not just the songwriting, but the instrument sound and tone as well. I had read the Racey Roller was “recorded with vintage all-analog studio.” Was Let’s Do It Again recorded in the same fashion? Can you guys elaborate on how long it took to nail this sound?

In our records the production is fundamental and the analog recording sounds much better than digital. We tried plenty of amplifiers before we decided to use our French ‘60’s guitar amps and we spend long time to find the right outboard gear to record or mix our songs. Recording our first album Racey Roller was difficult because we had no idea how to obtain that powerful drum sound. Let’s Do It Again recording sessions were easier because our ideas were much more clear. We spent six months to making it.

We really have to thank our sound engineer and producer, Danilo Silvestri, for his competence.

I noticed Let’s Do It Again went straight for glam rock gusto. Was there a conscious decision when writing the songs to drop some of the punk influence?

As Taxi, we played punk rock for years and I have to admit that while we were working on Racey Roller we wondered if our audience would have understood and appreciated the style changes, so probably unconsciously we did not have overplayed and denaturalized our old sound. The success that he had with Racey Roller has led us to be more daring, so Let's Do It Again is a bit less tied to our old period, and is undoubtedly more “pop”.

Both Let’s Do It Again and Racey Roller have soccer themed songs, “Get That Goal” and “Number 10,” how excited is the band for the World Cup this summer?

Well, I have to say that I’ll watch the World Cup, but its not my favourite soccer competition. I prefer much more to watch the Serie A and the European Championships to follow the only team I really like which is AS Roma.

What is the punk scene like in Rome? Is there a bovver/glam/glitter scene in Italy?

Actually I don’t think that there is a glam rock scene in any part of the world.

However here in Italy there is another cool glam rock influenced band called Faz Waltz, we shared the stage some times, they are really good. About the punk rock scene or the underground scene in general, it was better about ten years ago, when the gigs were always pretty crowded and lots of international bands came to play here, anyway in Italy there is a good hardcore/punk rock tradition, so there are many bands that are still going on with that stuff.

Do you think music can still be a vital force in such a disposable age?

Music is all about emotion; there will be always a place for that in such a disposable age.

How was the US tour Giuda did last year? Any shows on the tour that was the band’s favorite or stood out in anyway?

The tour was very good, we played about ten gigs in the Midwest and the East Coast so we spent most of the time in the van and we didn't have many chance to hang around and visit the cities. Some of the gigs were great, I remember the first show in Chicago, the venue was sold out and the crowd loved the show: they were singing to all of our songs, it was amazing.

50 years ago people used to buy music and get their water for free, now people pay for water and get their music for free. How do you think this affects music in any way?

Well, we’re all in this. Less money for the bands, promoters, producers, labels, no more free records for the music journalists. We need to sell to live our lives but to release better albums too, to produce the album that we would like to produce we need the money, of course. This affects us directly.

I think the form we were used to imagine the music business when we use to buy records when we were kids practically disappeared in the last fifteen years. Now is slowly coming back because the people out there just realize that there is no future in selling digital only.

Classic Rock Magazine, listed Giuda a one of fifteen bands to watch for 2014. How do you feel about that?

Of course it’s a pleasure also because is not very common for an Italian band to get attention and good reviews from the international press. I have to say that we were a bit surprised to read articles and reviews on The Guardian, Mojo, NME, Q and other stuff like that. This kind of things gave us more credibility in Italy too.

The band’s popularity is on the rise. This summer Giuda is playing the FM4 Frequency Festival in Austria with Queens of The Stone Age, Blink 182 and other giant bands. How did this happen? What has been the bands reaction? What has the fans reaction?

It happens because things are growing, we got enthusiastic reviews from the international press and this has helped to broaden our audience. Of course we also have to thank our agent, Marco Ercolani, who does its job very well. Sincerely when we started to play I couldn’t imagine that we would share the stage with Placebo, Queens Of The Stone Age or Franz Ferdinand and played in giant stages. In such kind of festivals we’re always the “weird” band and it’s fun! I think that our fans are happy to see that things are going better and better and also to see that a Rock N’ Roll band as we are is getting all this attention.

I had read in a previous interview that you run the Proudfoot Sound blog. How has this influenced the band in anyway? Must be inspiring to find some old glam/bovver gem and post it.

Yes, I did Proudfoot Sound blog but in the last months I have a little neglected, because I have been a bit busy with the band. Of course a lot of the bands on the blog were part of our influences and inspiration.

What’s next for Giuda and where can people hear the band?

We will tour all Europe until this summer and then we will fly again to the United States. Come to visit. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for any Giuda’s next move.