Scissors For Lefty pop quiz 2.0 interview
30 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in pop quiz interview Tags: "'Lil Airplane", "Hard Times", "I Feel It All", "Lust For Life", 1983, Album, alternative, Bryan Garza, Drugstore Perfume, Easter, Easter eggs, Feist, Girls, indie, James Krimmel, Peter Krimmel, pop, pop quiz, pop quiz interview, popolio, Robby Garza, Rough Trade Records, San Francisco, San Francisco artists, Scissors For Lefty, Scissors For Lefty Month, SFL, Steve Garza, THE REAL popolio, The Reminder, Transformers
Welcome to the LAST EVER popolio pop quiz interview at THE REAL popolio. It was nice synergy that the way the September pop quiz scheduling happened there were actually 3 and not the usual 2. Nice synergy because we’re closing our doors at 3 years and as an aside, I feel 3 (and multiples of) is my lucky number.
That said, I’m very excited that it features San Francisco-based band, Scissors For Lefty, because they were there at the very beginning. Made up of two sets of brothers and an uncle (that’s 2, 2, and 1), it’s all in the family for SFL, for what’s a fun and interesting indie pop outfit delivering the unexpected.
They were the first band (and second overall artist) to be featured with pop quizzes in the 3 year history of popolio. popolio debuted in September 2008 and SFL were featured the very next month in October.
In fact, October 2008 was officially Scissors For Lefty Month at popolio with each member of the 5-member band featured with an individual pop quiz interview every Friday of that month. It was a formula I hoped to exploit with other bands and groups, but I only ended up doing it with these guys.
Since I basically went back to the Year 1 pop quiz format for Year 3, I had the whole group do the Year 2 format that I called the 2.0 version. Since they had already been there, done that; no need to beat a dead horse.
Two of the original Year 1 SFL pop quizzes made MY TOP 30: Year 1 Posts of ALL-TIME! based on overall hits per post. Vocalist, Bryan Garza, got the Number 24 spot and his just married (about a week or so ago to be more exact) bassist brother, Steve Garza, showed up at Number 17. Nice extra treat — the first featured pic is from the wedding!
Congrats to Steve for his recent nuptials and a HUGE shout out SFL, collectively, for doing this! I appreciate you being there at the hopeful beginning and popping back up for the bitter ending. (I jest. I jest. I’m not bitter. Okay, maybe I am, but that’s not what I mean.) Seriously, guys, I won’t forget this! Enjoy their collective Year 3 pop quiz 2.0 interview below.
See the original Year 1 SFL pop quizzes:
Bryan Garza (vocals) pop quiz
Steve Garza (bass) pop quiz
Robby Garza (guitar) pop quiz
James Krimmel (drums) pop quiz
Peter Krimmel (piano) pop quiz
September 30, 2011
Name: Scissors For Lefty
Genre: Alternative/Pop
Forthcoming Release: Drugstore Perfume (TBD)
Release Date: Early 2012
This, That, or the Other
1.Straight-Up Funk or Down-and-Dirty Punk? Hmmm, more like 1983 for Rough Trade Records? Down-and-Purdy Punk?
2. Lyrics or Beats? Lyrics and Melodies
3. Fan-Favorite or Critics’ Darling? A Homemade Fan-Favorite
4. Closed Fist or Open Hand? It’ll slap you around on a few tracks…but, only, of course, if you’re into that kind of thing.
5. Wall Flower, Life of the Party, or Dancing Your @$$ off? Life of the Party with a Few Easter Eggs
Fill in the Blank
6. Music keeps me close to my pals.
7. If I wasn’t a musical artist I’d be a good-natured transient.
8. My favorite all-time music videos are “I Feel It All” by Feist and “Lust For Life” by Girls.
9. If I could have a super power it would be Band Van Transformer because apartment rent would magically appear in the band’s wallets each month.
10. Peace, Love, and Happiness should change to Get, A, and Job.
Short Answer
11. Musicianship means: On tour, it means connecting with people, whether it be against the stage, at the hotel or at the truck stop. Off tour, it means keeping vision for the darndest of rough ideas and seeing them through…
12. If I could convey one perfect thought or sentiment through one perfect song it would be: Naked Mario Party to the Death, Bring It!!!
13. If I could change one thing about myself it would be: My fear of letting other people drive the band van.
14. Wild Card! You get me all bothered, cool, then, hot, then, hotter, I’m gonna’ blow midnight screening dollars cuz it’s empty in the back row of your movie adaptation…
15. The most important thing to me RIGHT NOW is: Finishing the album and singing an Elvis cover song with my mom for my brother’s wedding.
Scissors For Lefty’s favorite all-time videos!
Since SFL is still currently working on their forthcoming release, they have no new stuff to share. They did share these, though! Not one, but two, unreleased B-Sides, “Hard Times” and “‘Lil Airplane,” to tide you over until then. Listen below and click on the pic to get to their recently created Facebook Page and ‘like’ it!
Lipstick Letters pop quiz interview – Lubbock/ATX
02 Sep 2011 1 Comment
in pop quiz interview Tags: "Thriller", acoustic rock, Austin, Austin artists, Austin PRIDE 2011, Batman, BONUS Photo Pictorial, Darwin's Pub, Jenni Lord, Lipstick Letters, Lubbock, Lubbock Artists, Michael Jackson, Out of the Blue, OUTlander Fall Festival, pic-olio, SXSW 2011, Tina Turner
Just by chance you’re getting a double dose of Lipstick Letters this week. They are both a pic-olio and pop quiz interview Artist. Their pic-olio posted on the last Tuesday of a 5-week month on August 30, 2001, as regulary scheduled. They were also set to be the focus of the first of our two monthly pop quizzes, kicking things off nicely for us in September. See the pic-olio here and read their interview below.
Lipstick Letters play the inaugural OUTlander Fall Festival during Austin PRIDE 2011 next weekend, on Saturday, September 10, 2011. Go to the OUTlander Facebook Page for deets!
Name: Lipstick Letters
Genre: Acoustic Rock
Forthcoming Debut Release: TBA (Self-Released)
Release Date: TBA
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Underground
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (OR Both)??? Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision
3. Studio OR Stage? Stage
4. Spirituality OR Hedonism? Spirituality
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? Make Love
Fill in the Blank
6.Music is my soul.
7. I’m musically inspired by life.
8. If I could have made any music video it would have been “Thriller” by Michael Jackson.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Batman (because he’s just a regular guy who kicks some a**).
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to __________________, __________________, and __________________. (OR Not)
Short Answer
11. I make music because: It’s cheaper than going to a therapist. ![]()
12. I want my fans to: Sing along to my songs.
13. If I could only share one thing about myself it would be: I tattoo my feet with symbols from places I have been. I call them my “passport” because they take me wherever I want to go. ![]()
14. Wild Card! “May what you choose always be greater than what you lose.” Jenni Lord quote.
15. I want my musical legacy to be: A songwriter who touched souls.
Watch the video Lipstick Letters wish they would have made!
Watch a video of Lipstick Letters performing their original song, ”Out of the Blue,” live at Darwin’s Pub here in the ATX. Click on the pic to go to their official site.
Chinaski pop quiz interview – ATX
19 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in pop quiz interview Tags: "Do Do Do", "I Fought the Law", "Rude Boy", Austin, Austin artists, Batman, Brazilian drum group, Chinaski, Chinaski EP, garage, glam, Martin Scorsese, pop, The Beatles, The Clash, The Hold Steady, The Last Waltz, The Rolling Stones, U2
Name: Chinaski
Genre: Garage Pop/Glam
Upcoming Debut Release:
Chinaski EP (Self-Released)
Release Date: Early October 2011
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Whatever the kids are buying.
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (OR Both)??? Integrity, definitely.
3. Studio OR Stage? Studio
4. Spirituality OR Hedonism? Spirituality sounds like a patchouli-scented, tempeh-eating dude with a wispy beard going on about “one-ness,” whilst Hedonism sounds like an oily, weasely dude with a lot of gold chains and a waterbed. So, we’re going to have to go with neither.
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? The last one.
Fill in the Blank
6. Music is my aeroplane (joke). Actually, music is the only thing that keeps us sane.
7. I’m musically inspired by we’re a band with very disparate tastes, that’s what makes us so interesting to me. I love the Clash, the Hold Steady, Springsteen (I could go on forever). Dan, our singer and main songwriter, loves the Stones. Ross, our drummer, is also in a Brazilian drum group. We bring in a lot of different influences.
8. If I could have made any music video it would have been one of those old live videos by the Clash that they cut from the movie, Rude Boy. Probably “I Fought the Law.”
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Batman. Rich, successful, and kick-ass.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to Girlfriends, Microbrew, and Day Jobs.
Short Answer
11. I make music because: Be it writing, painting, whatever your bag is, the act of creation is probably one of the most thrilling things in the world. And, where else but music can you have so much fun doing it?
12. I want my fans to: Have a damn good time. Rock and Roll is best when, on the surface it sounds dumb, but when you dive deeper there’s a lot to chew on.
13. If I could only share one thing about myself it would be: We’re having a hell of a lot of fun.
14. Wild Card! If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and go watch The Last Waltz.
15. I want my musical legacy to be: A glib answer would be something like, “I want us to be as big as the Beatles, the Stones, and U2 combined!” But, really, if twenty years from now, a couple of friends are talking and one goes, “Hey, remember that band, Chinaski?” And, the other answers, “Oh, YEAH! Those guys were pretty damn cool!” I’ll be a happy man.
Watch the video Chinaski wish they would have made!
Listen to “Do Do Do” from Chinaski’s forthcoming self-titled EP. Click on the logo to go to their Facebook Page.
Westland pop quiz interview
05 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in pop quiz interview Tags: "Dancing in the Street", Blank Man, Boston, Boston artists, David Bowie, Don't Take It Personal, kittens, Martha and the Vandellas, Mick Jagger, Motown, Motown sound, pop, pop rock, rock, underdogs, Westland
Name: Westland
Genre: Pop Rock
Debut Release: Don’t Take It Personal (Self-Released)
Release Date: June 25, 2009
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Mainstream
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (OR Both)??? I believe you can totally do both.
3. Studio OR Stage? Studio – I have always considered myself a writer more than a musician.
4. Spirituality OR Hedonism? Spirituality
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? All of the above! There’s a time and place for it all.
Fill in the Blank
6. Music is my anthem.
7. I’m musically inspired by emotion dictated by life’s every day experiences.
8. If I could have made any music video it would have been “Dancing in the Street” by David Bowie and Mick Jagger.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Blank Man.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to Determination, Selflessness, and Practice.
Short Answer
11. I make music because: It’s the best job ever.
12. I want my fans to: Spread the word about Westland.
13. If I could only share one thing about myself it would be: That I hate McDonald’s.
14. Wild Card! I love kittens.
15. I want my musical legacy to be: Known as the underdogs that worked for everything they got.
The video Westland wish they would have made!
Listen to Westland’s “Don’t Take It Personal,” the title track from their over 16K selling debut. Click on the cover to go to their Facebook Page.
Pop Pistol pop quiz interview – San Anto
22 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in pop quiz interview Tags: "Human Behavior", "Who Needs Forever", Björk, Bruce Lee, Dissapearing Edges, Dissapearing Edges EP, dream pop, Latin, pop, Pop Pistol, psychedelic, psychedelic Latin dream pop, San Antonio, San Antonio artists, Texas is Funny Records
ATX! Pop Pistol just did a show at Trophy’s last night. If you missed it and you don’t know them, read the interview below and if you like ‘em, keep an eye out for when they come back to town from good ole San Anto on August 12th.
Name: Pop Pistol
Genre: Psychedelic Latin Dream Pop
Latest Relase: Disappearing Edges EP (Texas is Funny Records)
Release Date: April 1, 2011
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Underground
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (OR Both)??? Maintain Human Integrity
3. Studio OR Stage? Stage
4. Spirituality OR Hedonism? Hedonism
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? Make Love Always
Fill in the Blank
6. Music is my way to speak to the world and Listen back in the same breath.
7. I’m musically inspired by Dreams and Hunger and Spaces and Beautiful Human Beings.
8. If I could have made any music video it would have been “Human Behavior” by Björk.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Bruce Lee.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to Sex, Freedom, and Dancing.
Short Answer
11. I make music because: It is what takes me closest to grace and animal nature in a constant dance. Nothing comes close to that.
12. I want my fans to: Share and bounce around and smile and listen and feel and sing along and close their eyes and forget about what they were thinking before and to jump into our brains and find bands that can take them to that place and support them with any kind of energy they can spare and they will get it back.
13. If I could only share one thing about myself it would be: I love to eat migas and drink coffee and smell cloves.
14. Wild Card! I hope we all think about the future at any point during the day; the future that we want to dream of besides the one that falls into us. We can Change so much of our environment just by being conscious of it. We can change how we see each other just by being conscious of each other, too.
15. I want my musical legacy to be: A reflection of the strange and normal journey we all make, rooted but reaching, always moving and building and destroying. A palimpsest of experiences and sounds and ways of being.
The video Pop Pistol wish they woud have made!

Listen to “Who Needs Forever” from their sophomore EP release, Disappearing Edges. Click on the cover to go to their official site.
Elephant Sky pop quiz interview
24 Jun 2011 1 Comment
in pop quiz interview Tags: "Good Lie", "Temazcal", Boston, Boston artists, Elephant Sky, Erin Casey, folk, Monsters of Folk, pop, Raven, Run Run, Run Run EP, Taylor Swift, Teen Titans
Name: Elephant Sky
Genre: Folk/Pop
Debut Release: Run, Run EP (Self-Released)
Release Date: September 1, 2010
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Underground
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (OR Both)??? Maintain Artistic Integrity, but be able to relate to lots of people.
3. Studio OR Stage? Ooh, both are completely different and beautiful settings. I’d say Studio if I had to cause it’s where I can disappear for hours/days.
4. Spirituality OR Hedonism? Both. It depends on the day and my current mood. I’m awful at this section, it’s not so clear cut to me. Haha!
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? BOTH! I think I’d rather have Making Love if I HAD to choose, although with the right person you could be doing both at the same time, right?
Fill in the Blank
6. Music is my safety blanket.
7. I’m musically inspired by nature.
8. If I could have made any music video it would have been “Temazcal” by Monsters of Folk.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Raven.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to _________________, ________________, and __________________. (OR Not) Stay how it is!
Short Answer
11. I make music because: I need it. Everyone needs to find that one thing or place where they can drain the world from their pores and just be still. Music is mine.
12. I want my fans to: Love the life they’re living. The music I aspire to create is music that isn’t just notes or chords, but emotions and stories. I want that to translate.
13. If I could only share one thing about myself it would be: I’m most comfortable on a huge southern porch with a few of my closest friends making music than in an overcrowded house show somewhere in the city.
14. Wild Card! I kind of have an obsession with Taylor Swift that I hate admitting, but when no one’s home, I definitely dance around to her in my undies like I’m 13 again. ![]()
15. I want my musical legacy to be: That throughout the years my music is a constant journey that fans travel with me on.
The video Elephant Sky wishes she would have made!
Listen to “Good Lie” from Elephant Sky’s debut EP, Run, Run. Click the cover to go to her official site.
Kaydean pop quiz interview
10 Jun 2011 1 Comment
in pop quiz interview Tags: "Daywalker", "Let Me Be Myself", "Tranquility", 3 Doors Down, Batman, dance, Double EP, electronica, Emerge, Emerge/Submerge, Kaydean, Submerge, Urb'l Remedy, Urban Cool Remedy, Zonisphere Media Group, Zonisphere Recordings, Zonisphere Records, Zubterrain
Editor’s Note: Kaydean is an artist signed to Zonisphere Recordings, part of Zonisphere Media Group, and I write a weekly music column, Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy, for Zubterrain, the e-zine of the the Zonisphere Media Group.
June 10, 2011
Name: Kaydean
Genre: Dance/Electronica
Latest Release: Emerge/Submerge [Double EP] (Zonisphere Recordings)
Release Date: May 17, 2011
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream?
Underground
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (OR Both)??? You can’t take the money with you when you go, but Integrity will last forever.
3. Studio OR Stage? I love both, but I’m excited by the fear of the stage. ![]()
4. Spirituality OR Hedonism? Why not Spiritual Hedonism? I believe in that.
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? LOL. Everyone knows FUCK is my favorite word.
Fill in the Blank
6. Music is my church.
7. I’m musically inspired by the love of many things.
8. If I could have made any music video it would have been “Let Me Be Myself” by 3 Doors Down.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Batman…Definitely.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to Fuck, Fuck, and Fucking Party.
Short Answer
11. I make music because: It’s the loudest voice I have.
12. I want my fans to: Learn to listen to music, again. I mean really learn to listen and love it. There’s more there than just a beat.
13. Wild Card! If music is my world then the people are notes and I imprison all of you with bars. How’s that for random?
14. If I could only share one thing about myself it would be: Don’t I share enough??
15. I want my musical legacy to be: To teach people how to love music, again. We’ve lost that. And, there is still so much creativity to fall in love with. I want to be a part of a movement that reintroduces music with substance, not just the flat 2 dimensional substitute that’s gets airplay now – but an actual movement. I want to be a fan again…a new breed of fanaticism…Not consumers procured by effective marketing, but fans cultivated out of love and admiration for the art and its message.
The video Kaydean wishes he would have made!
Listen to “Tranquility” from Emerge, the first part of Kaydean’s double EP. Click on the cover to go to his official site.
Now, listen to “Daywalker” from Submerge, the second part of Kaydean’s EP. Click on the cover to go to his Facebook Page.
FunkAttack pop quiz interview
27 May 2011 Leave a Comment
in pop quiz interview Tags: "Dani California", "Get Up", Batman, Berlin, Border Sessions, bordersessions.com, Camilo Castaldi, El Ritmo, funk, FunkAttack, George Clinton, Germany, hip hop, James Brown, rap, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Santiago, Santiago de Chile, soul, Spanish rap, Tea Time
Tea Time is one-fourth of FunkAttack and his pop quiz kicked things off for us in May. Now, we finish things out with the other three-fourths of his group.
Name: FunkAttack
Genre: Hip Hop/Funk/Soul
Debut Release: El Ritmo (www.bordersessions.com)
Release Date: June 10, 2010
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Underground
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (OR Both)??? Artistic Integrity
3. Studio OR Stage? Stage
4. Spirituality OR Hedonism? Spirituality
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*! Make Love
Fill in the Blank
6. Music is my Life.
7. I’m musically inspired by Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Brown, George Clinton.
8. If I could have made any music video it would have been “Dani California” by Red Hot Chili Peppers.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Batman.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to Music, Love, and Roll.
Short Answer
11. I make music because: Music is everything.
12. I want my fans to: Feel the love through music.
13. If I could only share one thing about myself it would be: Pass the peace…
14. Wild Card! Happy music for happy people…
15. I want my musical legacy to be: Unite the people through music.
The video FunkAttack wishes they would have made!
Listen to “Get Up” from FunkAttack’s debut release, El Ritmo. Click on the cover to go to their Facebook Page.












