Punk has a voiceLivewire's Vans Warped InterviewsPhotography by Phil Bonyata & Karen Bondowski June 24 - Sept. 10, 2005 |
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 Strung Out Livewire talks with Jake Kiley and Jordan Burns First in a series |
 My Chemical Romance Livewire chats with Ray Toro & Gerard Way Second in a series |
 Dropkick Murphys Livewire bullshits with Tim Brennan Third in a series |
 Senses Fail Livewire gets serious with singer Buddy Nielsen Fourth in a series |
 No Use For a Name Livewire feels out Guitarist/singer Tony Sly Fifth in a series |
Livewire recently sat down with some major acts in music today at Vans Warped Tour's second concert date in Milwaukee. Phil Bonyata and Karen Bondowski teamed up to challenge the artists on the state of punk rock, politics, their muses and going onstage buck naked.
First up in a five part series is Southern California punkers Strung Out. The band mixes elements of by-the-basics heavy metal into their aggressive instrumental attack. Next up is New Jersey boys, My Chemical Romance, an alternative punk-pop band that was recently featured on MTV's TRL and is on the verge of superstardom. South Boston hardcore punk band Dropkick Murphys have culled heavily from the seminal Irish-punk band The Pogues. Infusing growling lyrics with speedy pop-punk rhythms the band still plants its roots deeply in the troubled brain of ex-Pogues lead singer and bard Shane MacGowan.
Continuing the series, Senses Fail's slick cocktail of post-hardcore thunder and emo heartbreak still resonated loudly in the words of singer Buddy Nielsen as he waxes rather eloquently on the state of politics and apathy among many people today. Finishing up the series will be California hardcore punks No Use for a Name. Intelligent and articulate - you'll be surprised at some of the answers!