StevieB
10-14-2010, 02:19 PM
http://www.sentimentalistmag.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/bouncingsoulsa1.jpg
One of the highlights of Riot Fest 2010 and a guaranteed must-see act were New Jersey’s own Bouncing Souls. For many fans the world over, they are inarguably among the masters of anthemic, sing-along punk rock. The Bouncing Souls have played Riot Fest before and have long-standing ties to the Chicago music scene. Their former PR firm was Chicago’s own Riot Act Media, formerly based in Wicker Park. Even though lead singer Greg Attonito has never been to a Cubs game, he still loves the city and is always looking for a good place to get Chicago-style pizza. The band’s appearance at Riot Fest 2010 was the second show on their most recent tour with Bad Religion and Off With Their Heads. Prior to the Riot Fest whirlwind, Attonito had recently broken his toe after dropping a glass table top on it, but still made the time and effort to stroll the streets of Chicago and warmly chat about the current state of music, punk and what’s in store for Riot Fest and the rest of the Bouncing Souls tour. We met on the side of the Congress Theater and began our journey. Almost 45 minutes later, we wrapped an interview that was more like catching up with an old friend than interviewing the lead singer of one of my favorite bands.
This is the second show of your tour with Bad Religion and Off With Their Heads. How has it been so far?
Really interesting. What’s really different about it for us is [that] we realized we haven’t done a support club tour in more than 10 years. So it’s actually kinda weird. Last night, we were like, wow, we just go up and play a 45-minute set and then we’re just hanging around the show’s not over yet! It’s been so long. It’s one of those little things that has been refreshing, and it’s nice. I’ll be perfectly honest… it’s nice to not have all of the pressure of being the headliner. Just the idea of playing and touring with Bad Religion after all these years. It’s a pretty cool combo… besides my broken toe. [Laughs]
You guys just celebrated 20 years as a band and a lot of people look at you guys as the, I hate to say it, original “indie” band. I know that term is rather trite. More like… DIY.
Well, that’s all relative also. Doing it yourself is just not really a truth, you know? We’ve got some great people to help us since being on Epitaph. We started off doing everything ourselves, but once we got kinda big, we really needed the help to get us to the next level. I always have to mention Kate [Hiltz] –our manager and she runs Chunksaah Records — when this subject arises ‘cause she really makes it possible. Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. read more (http://www.sentimentalistmag.com/2010/10/14/live-from-riot-fest-2010-greg-attonito-of-the-bouncing-souls/)
One of the highlights of Riot Fest 2010 and a guaranteed must-see act were New Jersey’s own Bouncing Souls. For many fans the world over, they are inarguably among the masters of anthemic, sing-along punk rock. The Bouncing Souls have played Riot Fest before and have long-standing ties to the Chicago music scene. Their former PR firm was Chicago’s own Riot Act Media, formerly based in Wicker Park. Even though lead singer Greg Attonito has never been to a Cubs game, he still loves the city and is always looking for a good place to get Chicago-style pizza. The band’s appearance at Riot Fest 2010 was the second show on their most recent tour with Bad Religion and Off With Their Heads. Prior to the Riot Fest whirlwind, Attonito had recently broken his toe after dropping a glass table top on it, but still made the time and effort to stroll the streets of Chicago and warmly chat about the current state of music, punk and what’s in store for Riot Fest and the rest of the Bouncing Souls tour. We met on the side of the Congress Theater and began our journey. Almost 45 minutes later, we wrapped an interview that was more like catching up with an old friend than interviewing the lead singer of one of my favorite bands.
This is the second show of your tour with Bad Religion and Off With Their Heads. How has it been so far?
Really interesting. What’s really different about it for us is [that] we realized we haven’t done a support club tour in more than 10 years. So it’s actually kinda weird. Last night, we were like, wow, we just go up and play a 45-minute set and then we’re just hanging around the show’s not over yet! It’s been so long. It’s one of those little things that has been refreshing, and it’s nice. I’ll be perfectly honest… it’s nice to not have all of the pressure of being the headliner. Just the idea of playing and touring with Bad Religion after all these years. It’s a pretty cool combo… besides my broken toe. [Laughs]
You guys just celebrated 20 years as a band and a lot of people look at you guys as the, I hate to say it, original “indie” band. I know that term is rather trite. More like… DIY.
Well, that’s all relative also. Doing it yourself is just not really a truth, you know? We’ve got some great people to help us since being on Epitaph. We started off doing everything ourselves, but once we got kinda big, we really needed the help to get us to the next level. I always have to mention Kate [Hiltz] –our manager and she runs Chunksaah Records — when this subject arises ‘cause she really makes it possible. Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. read more (http://www.sentimentalistmag.com/2010/10/14/live-from-riot-fest-2010-greg-attonito-of-the-bouncing-souls/)