Christian punk-rocker Mike Herrera says MxPx just wants to get out there and be positive

When MxPx's Mike Herrera went looking for a recent album to hold up as a model for his group's latest CD he set his sights pretty high.

New Monsoon guitarist Jeff Miller figures his band is a little more on the rock side of the jam-band spectrum

"We're probably a little more on the rock side of [the jam-band] spectrum, but we have a touch of bluegrass in there somewhere."

For a crash course in how heavily the Atomic Bitchwax is indebted to the superstars of the '70s, check out Track 5 from the trio's new CD, 3.

"I used to listen to metal as a teenager, and I felt like revisiting it, in particular Slayer. That first Slayer record is really good."

When I call Adam Renshaw up the drummer for the Forty-Fives is cruising through Sacramento in his band's van, enjoying a game of Scrabble.

Die-hard instro-rock fans—the type who worship at the altars of Duane Eddy and the Ventures—have it pretty rough these days.

I interviewed Johnette Napolitano for the first time back in 1990, when Concrete Blonde was touring behind its third album, Bloodletting.

When I hook up with Todd Snider, he’s on a cellphone outside the Hyatt, the Hollywood hotel famous for hosting rowdy rock bands in the ’70s.

Last Wednesday I got the chance to cross singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw's name off my bucket list of interviews I've wanted to do.

"Guitar was the easiest thing, because you can travel with it, you can play on the street corner with it, and you can do auditions with it..."

I interviewed 28-year-old folk-pop sensation Jack Johnson in August of 2003, three months after the release of his second album, On and On.

"To me Blue Oyster Cult is one of the great American rock bands. I think they're flawless, and I like all their stuff."

Back in 2002 I interviewed Smash Mouth guitarist and main songwriter Greg Camp when his band was touring behind its self-titled third album.