TORCHE:
Stoner pop? Beach Boys-like doom? Whatever

COBALT:
I don't really consider us black metal in any sense of what black metal is.

DODSFERD:
Motivated by desolation,
despair, hate, irony, death,
loss, betrayal, etc

PYGMYLUSH:
Between the delicacy of
gorgeous acoustics & the
ugliness of noise rock.

TRACTOR SEX FATALITY:
The most active defunct garage band in Seattle answers our questions.

MERCILESS DEATH:
Thrash metal revivalists  
speak out against false metal

JONAH JENKINS:
The man behind the voice of some of the most underrated underground American bands. 

THE PAX CECILIA:
Giving their music away for free. And it's damn good too.  

WORLD COLLAPSE:
Hardcore has always been about self-expression and
that's exactly what we do. 

U.S. CHRISTMAS:
North Carolina psychedelic hard-rockers acquire
'band to watch' status..

INTRONAUT:
The best self-indulgent odd metered prog metal band around.   

GENTLE VEINCUT:
German angular punk rock/post-hardcore for lack of a better term. 

THE INTELLECTUALS:
Italian garage rock you must know. 

NACHTMYSTIUM:
Spearheading a new wave of  extreme American music.  

MORE INTERVIEWS

A few months back, eclectic hard music label Robotic Empire put a record called Bitter River by a band called Pygmylush. Instantly, I was intrigued by their moniker (still not sure if it's one or two words) and when I checked the record I was even more intrigued by the music. Bitter River is an even split between gentle, fragile and pretty acoustic songs and ugly and brazing noise punk songs.  To find out, I decided to contact the band for an interview. To this day, I know very little about them.  Pygmylush has a new record coming out soon on Lovitt records, be aware. Read on and spread the word.

- Bitter River is great. There are two different vibes going on. Both are pretty fucking different.  My first question is, is the mellow stuff written by different members than the noisier material?

No. same guys write for everything.

- The band hails from Sterling, VA. Which is an unincorporated Washington, D.C. suburb, northwest of Herndon, east of Ashburn, and west of Reston, close to Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County. Is there anything there that ties your life in Sterling to your music?

Our area is really far from unincorporated. We got all kinds of players. From the CIA and Lockheed Martin to Bennigan’s. And all the sprawling retail stuff you could ever want. But we're not far from the country and I guess all of us kinda like living between the two. All of us have grown up in Sterling so I guess it’s a big part of our music but couldn’t really say how. It did used to be better here. We agree on that. So some kind of loss there.

- There are six people in the band, which in a perfect world would mean that everyone contributes equally and that there is harmony all around. How close is Pygmy Lush to that? What integrates every member to the band?

Pygmy Lush is pretty close to that. We all do what we can to keep the band together and be good to each other. The music comes easily then.

- What was the idea behind Bitter River? Was it a scattered record?

No real plan I don’t think. We just had the songs eventually and decided to put it all out together, even though it’s all over the place in mood. Maybe like a mix tape kinda thing.

- I love the cover. It’s pretty bare, and it sort of ties in with the most mellow stuff, which by the way I love because it makes me feel melancholic. What is it?

It's a picture of the Potomac river, which runs through our area. One of our guys took way back when. Just seemed to fit. Thanks for the love.

- Why are you influenced by Brazil, Mexico and Argentina? (listed as an ‘influence in the band’s MySpace page)

Siestas and family and soul.

- What’s the saddest thing you’ve ever seen?

Hmmm. Pale mornings baby.

- ‘Uninformed and ignorant political conversations’. To me, it seems like I hear some of that every time journalists seek political opinions from musicians? Would you agree?

Sure, but there's so much illusion in that topic anyway. Sometimes an artist can be outside enough to really cut to the truth of it I think. Whatever in hell it may be. Like "people get ready" or "none of us are free." Things can seem real complicated but I don’t think you need today’s paper to know when things are wrong.

- How cool is David Yow?

Very cool

- Your album is out on Robotic Empire. An eclectic label that is mostly known for being a metal label. How did you land there? How happy are you with the work they’ve done for Pygmy Lush?

We've known Andy for about 10 years now. He is a kind soul and we're lucky to have him on our side. We're happier that Bing Crosby tap dancing with Danny fucking Kaye.

- I believe you guys just recorded a new album? From what I hear is mostly on the quiet side? Please update us as far as the recording process, producer, tentative release date, etc. Do you consider it superior to Bitter River?

We did just do a record at God City in Salem, New England. It’s more of a mellow thing, and it should be out in the spring. You know, it’s a different record, I wouldn't say superior.

- What would cause you to split up the band because you have literally accomplished everything you set out to do with it?

Shit. We're really just trying to keep this thing together.

- I am always seeking for great albums I’ve never heard. Please list albums you like a lot or consider influential.

For me personally, id say: The Basement Recordings by Dylan and The Band, Swordfishtrombones especially but all Tom Waits,all Norman Blake and Doc Watson, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Django Rheinhart and any good old jazz in the rain at night in a car, Darkness On the Edge of Town by the boss, Don’t Give Up On Me by Solomon Burke, the song 'aguas de marzo' by Elis Regina...

Read our review of Bitter River.
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