Photo Credit: Analisa Hartlaub
PUNK GLOBE:
You guys produce quite a huge sound for a duo. Tell us who plays what.
Emmett:
I play drums, and do vocals. My brother plays organ, and does vocals.
Cullen:
I'm laying down bass tones with my left hand to give a foundation while I hammer on the keyboard with my right..
Photo Credit: JFOTOMAN
PUNK GLOBE:
Tell us about your name? Are you big All In The Family, Archie Bunker's Place or the late Carroll O'Connor fans?
Emmett:
We love the show, and Carroll O'Connor.
Cullen:
Our last name is O'Connor. Coincidence?
PUNK GLOBE:
Were you Maude fans? Rest in Peace Bea Arthur!
Emmett:
Never a Maude fan. The show has its moments, but it can't touch All in the Family.
Cullen:
I actually suggested Maude And The Findlays before we agreed on the name Archie And The Bunkers.
Photo Credit: Analisa Hartlaub
PUNK GLOBE:
Good boy Cullen... Maude was far more of an icon.. How long have you been playing together?
Emmett:
We've been playing together in some way or another pretty much all our lives. Music has always been really important to us.
Cullen:
When we were toddlers our dad would bring home big coffee cans from work and give us drumsticks.
Photo Credit: JFOTOMAN
PUNK GLOBE:
Did Archie and The Bunkers ever have more band members?
Emmett:
It's always just been us. In the beginning, we looked for other members, but nothing ever worked out. A guitar player or bassist would come over once and never come back.
Cullen:
No, Archie And The Bunkers have always, and will always remain a duo. Something about working closely with one individual is much easier than working with a larger group.
PUNK GLOBE:
Who are some of your influences?
Emmett:
We have lots of influences. The Doors, The Screamers, The Electric Eels to name a few. We're into all different styles of music, so sometimes it's hard to pinpoint just a couple.
Cullen:
I have a wide range of influences from the melodic sounds of jazz organ extraordinaire Jimmy Smith to the raw, pulsing beat of The Cramps.
PUNK GLOBE:
Have your vocals ever been compared to Jim Morrison? I hear a bit of a tinge to the late Jim Morrison coming out of Zac Efron's Doppler.
Emmett:
I have been from time to time. It's an honor to hear people to say that. Jim Morrison and The Doors have always been a favorite of mine.
Cullen:
Who's Zac Efron?
PUNK GLOBE:
Cullen, there goes 5 of the 10 points you earned for Maude! Do you have any releases out? You must because you have official video's out on YouTube.
Emmett:
Our debut self titled record just came out in November (October for Europe). We've done a few basement demos, but this is the first official release.
Cullen:
Yes, we have our debut album "Archie And The Bunkers" out now on Dirty Water Records. We also released two demos which date mid 2013 and late 2014.
PUNK GLOBE:
So you are signed to a label. Tell us about Dirty Water Records?
Emmett:
Yes! Dirty Water Records in London put out the LP. Really great guys, and a pleasure to work with. They know how to get it done!
Cullen:
The guys at DWR have been great to work with.
PUNK GLOBE:
Have you toured?
Emmett:
Not yet, but we are putting together a European tour for May.
Cullen:
We've got a few dates in Las Vegas in February. The Europe in the spring. There's a possibility of something in the fall.
Emmett:
School is getting in the way of doing this full-time.
Photo Credit: Analisa Hartlaub
PUNK GLOBE:
Tell us about some of your stand out shows?
Emmett:
A few of my favorite band's we've played with are Oblivians, The Sonics, The Woggles, and King Kahn and the BBQ Show. We love playing out, so it's hard to pick just a couple shows. We try and play our hardest at every show.
Cullen:
Our show with The Rezillos was a real fun experience. I was extremely impressed with the energy and performance they put on. Cheetah Chrome was great, and a super nice guy. Also, he's an O'Connor. Coincidence?
PUNK GLOBE:
Favorite venues to play?
Emmett:
The scene in Cleveland has been very good to us.The crew at The Beachland is super cool. The folks at the Happy Dog are great too. The Grog Shop gave us our first break.
Cullen:
The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern has definitely provided me with some of my fondest gigging memories. The people there are like family.
PUNK GLOBE:
Tell us about the music scene in Cleveland?
Emmett:
Some great stuff happening. Obnox releases new stuff all the time, and Quality Time Records is a great record label based here. We've also have Gotta Groove, one of the United States's best pressing plants.
Cullen:
Cleveland and northeast Ohio have a pretty amazing rock lineage (Pere Ubu, Devo, Electric Eels, The Cramps, The Dead Boys, The Pagans, et al.) The soil here is fertile.
PUNK GLOBE:
Any Internet addresses you would like to share with the readers?
ArchieAndTheBunkers.com
Dirty Water Records/ Archie
Archie and The Bunkers Facebook
Archie and The Bunkers Twitter
PUNK GLOBE:
Describe yourself in three words?
Emmett:
The band? Rock and Roll. Me? I don't know.
Cullen:
Hifi Organ Punk
PUNK GLOBE:
Tell us what is in store for you in 2016?
Emmett:
European tour, and a new record!
Cullen:
We're going into the studio this weekend.
PUNK GLOBE:
Will you be playing on New Year's Eve?
Emmett:
No. We'll be taking a break from playing in-town shows until after our tour.
Cullen:
Yes. We're going to be doing a 2-set show in our basement. Sorry folks, it's sold out.
PUNK GLOBE:
Any last words of wisdom for the Punk Globe readers?
Emmett:
Cool it with boom booms, and stay sick.
Cullen:
Buy our album!