Bearing the Smear of Madness: An Interview with Autodrone

Interviewed by Less Lee Moore

Although it’s amusing to poke fun at MySpace (and if you’re The Fresh, you can make such mockery especially hilarious) it remains fascinating and fertile ground for discovering new music.

Several months ago, Popshifter was friended on MySpace by New York’s Autodrone, a band which combines some of the best elements of psychedelia, pop, post-punk, darkwave, and Goth while still remaining distinct from all of these influences.
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Crushing the Mold: An Interview with JG Thirlwell

Interviewed by Julie Finley

Manorexia (JG Thirlwell) at Bang On A Can
Photo © 2007 Julie Finley

JG Thirlwell is a man of many different talents. You may know him as one—or possibly all—of his many guises (i.e., Jim Foetus, Foetus, Inc., or many different variations utilizing the word Foetus; Clint Ruin; Frank Want; Wiseblood; Steroid Maximus; Manorexia; Baby Zizanie;, DJ Otesfu; that guy who does the music for The Venture Bros., the remix-dude; the gruff voiceover on MTV Sports; the swank, svelte red-haired guy you’ve seen on the NYC subway who wears white shoes and big sunglasses; etc). He seems to be omnipresent whether you realize it or not, and yet he also often seems to slip under the radar. (Some of you may already keep abreast of what he’s up to; he does have a fervid and endearing fan-base, present company included.)
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Being Marginalized Is a Blessing: An Interview with Author Dan Kennedy

Interviewed by Less Lee Moore

A few weeks ago, I saw Dan Kennedy on our local morning TV show talking about his new book, Rock On: An Office Power Ballad. I’d never heard of him, but the book, detailing his 18-month tour of duty and disillusionment at a major record label, sounded amazing. And despite the fact that it was freezing outside and quite early in the morning, Dan’s great sense of humor was obvious. So I requested a copy of the book and an interview from Dan’s publicist and amazingly, it worked!
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Just Getting It Out There: An Interview with Filmmaker David Markey

Interviewed by Hanna

For Hanna’s review of The Reinactors, click here.

Cult filmmaker Dave Markey’s new movie The Reinactors premiered at the 37th Rotterdam International Film Festival in January. Detailing the complicated lives of the character impersonators that work on Hollywood Boulevard as tourist attractions, it was one of the greatest successes of the festival, with all showings sold out. It was also one of the highest rated movies in the audience polls.
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Do What You Love: An Interview with Artist Vicki Berndt

Interviewed by Less Lee Moore

I first became aware of Vicki Berndt via her Margaret Keane-inspired art for the Redd Kross Third Eye album. Then I started noticing that she was credited on photos for almost every other band I loved in the 90s.

Redd Kross, Third Eye © Vicki Berndt

She’s a devoted fan of music and pop culture, not to mention an innovative visual artist, so I was thrilled when she agreed to be interviewed for this issue of Popshifter. Her DIY attitude towards art and music is inspirational.
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Why Uncool Is Cool: An Interview with Paul Feig

Interviewed by Less Lee Moore

Paul Feig is one of my heroes. In this age of cynicism, that probably sounds corny, but it’s the truth. Paul Feig has been a stand-up comedian and an actor and is currently a writer, director, producer, and author.
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From Assault Rifles to Guns ‘N’ Roses: A Conversation with Mike Small of The Meligrove Band

By Megashaun

My introduction to The Meligrove Band came on September 28, 2000. Some friends and I decided to catch a Sloan show and they were the opening act. Unfortunately I arrived late and only caught the last two songs of their set: a rousing rendition of Elvis Costello’s “Pump it Up” and their own mini-epic rock anthem show closer (which they still play), “The Victory.”
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