What/where is your hometown? Do the people back at home support you?

The band started out in Queens New York where Rick and I are originally from. After we moved to Huntsville we kind let the band and playing music in general go. Rick met Art through a mutual friend here in Huntsville. It was Art's enthusiasm that got us to stop being a few guys playing music to resurrecting The Bragabouts and being a band again. After deciding on wanting a second guitarist this time around and a exhaustive search, I found Alan through a local musicians ad. Huntsville is not really a hotbed for musicians who are into our style of music. It's taking a long time to put the band back together and get into gear. Us being lazy, a bad recording experience that cost us a shitload of time and money to having personal obligations all contributing to the slow revival of the band. We've been concentrating on writing and recording more than playing live right now. So it's still to be seen what type of local support we'll actually have.

What are your songs about?

Like everyone else I'm influenced by everything I see and hear but, I'm just not good at writing about anything other than personal experiences. I'm not one who can watch something on the television or read a book or a news article and write about it. No matter how much it affects me, in a good or bad way, I just feel like I'm rewriting someone else's story. When I write it has to be about something I've personally been a part of. I seem to take whatever the situation is and narrow it down to the most basic emotion. Love, hate, anger and build the song from there. Nine out of ten times I'll write a song in one sitting and it's almost always melody first. I prefer to keep it simple. I tend to stay away from religion and politics in my lyrics. There are too many bands that have and are doing that whole thing already. Some really well and others not so well. If you're repeating the same old story and telling everyone what they want to hear it's really not all that interesting. I don't want the government telling me what music I can or should listen to and luckily that's one area we still have the freedom to make a choice. By the same token I don't feel the need to give advice on politics or who to vote for. That's a subject I encourage people to do their own research and make a decision for themselves. Besides if you haven't noticed musicians are not the most reliable individuals.

Do you guys have any other hobbies besides, obviously, making music?

I enjoy creating whether it's music, art, cooking. I like the anticipation of not knowing exactly where it's all going and how it will turn out. I have a comic book collection that lays dormant in a closet.

I'm quite possibly the biggest nerd anyone in the band has ever known. From spending time playing video games, to being able to tell you which Batman/Superman crossover writer is active this week. I've got a fairly sizable electronic collection of comic books and, unlike Chris, mine see the light of day.

I don't see how that's considered a collection.

I enjoy reading and studying scripture and surfing Youtube from the comfort of my couch.

I also love anything to do with art, I love to create. I'm a very active person, I have been riding motocross since I was about 12 years old. I have plenty of scars and metal left in me from not being the best at it.

Who handles your daily business activities? (Bookings, promotions etc.)

Unfortunately it's me. I've been trying to get my band mates involved but have gotten pretty shitty results. They say because I'm a control freak I say because they're lazy and incompetent. I absolutely hate computers and I have a 2 year old's understanding and a child-like ability to use them. This obviously puts me at a great disadvantage in today's world. I do enjoy Twitter but, that's because it's simple to use. I find Facebook really irritating with all it's apps and bullshit. I never know where to find messages, how to get to our band page it's annoying just like fucking computers in general. I get pissed just thinking about it.

I generally try to help Chris with most of the computer stuff. Being a child of the internet age, I'm not even sure what not using one would be like. And as he said, it's a combination of me being lazy and him having final say on everything.

What dreams and goals does the band have?

Unlike the old days where my answer would be get drunk play music, and not give a fuck. Starting a family has changed all that. When you get married and have children your world pretty much get's turned upside down. I take my family into consideration every time I make a decision. It doesn't make all my decisions good ones but, I do try a lot harder now. Today my one goal is to play music and still support my family. Not a very rock-n-roll answer but then again what's more rock-n-roll than that.

In addition to that, I'll go out on a limb and say I would love to see our music so well received by our listeners and the music community that it spawns an accidental revitalization of the mainstream punk band. But that's just if I'm being lofty about it.

My biggest goal personally, is to somehow make music my livelihood, because really isn't that what the dream is?

Will we see you on tour in the near future?

We have nothing planned as of yet, but I guess anything is possible. Our intention is to finish up our new recording and take it from there.

I heard you have some new music coming out can you tell us a little about your release?

We've been working on getting new songs recorded and out there for the better part of four years. After the miserable and expensive recording experience that left us broke with thirteen unusable tracks last time, it was critical we did it right this time. We decided on FAME in Muscle Shoals Alabama. It also happens to be where we are answering these interview questions and finishing up final mixes as we speak. It's turning out to be a band rejuvenating and great recording experience. I was talking with John our engineer earlier tonight about some of the misconceptions I had before coming to FAME. My biggest fear was while being a well known recording studio, they're most well known for their Motown hits. More recently it seems R and B and Country but, definitely not anything like the music we play. All my worries have now been now put to rest. We're finishing up six songs that we hope to put out as an EP, if that's still a thing, ASAP.

Have you recorded any previous CD's or posted any audio files on the Internet?

We have our four song EP Underachiever. All the songs can be downloaded free at our website. We've talked about prettying it up and eventually re-releasing it but, as of now it's no longer available.

What type of recording process did you use? Who produced your recording?

By what type of recording process did we use if you mean analog or digital, all digital. If the question is what is the step by step process, it's pretty typical. We all go in and play the songs, recording everything and everyone in hope we can keep some if not all of it. The main focus at this point though is getting a solid drum track. After a couple of listens we figure out what if anything else is salvageable.

Then we usually record everything else if it's not salvageable, and keep going from there until it's done or one of us starts throwing something at one of the others haha.

What venues have you played? Any favorites or least favorites?

For me it was playing CBGB's. Every time I stepped on that stage I couldn't help thinking about all the incredible musicians that stood in the same spot I was standing.

How do you balance your music with other obligations ?

I'm a firm believer in it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

I find it's difficult to try to balance playing on a regular and recording without the people who don't understand how important it is getting mad at you.(i.e. bosses, family, etc.) But I do know that if Chris has three kids, a wife, and all the other responsibilities, then I can certainly get my lazy ass off the couch for a few hours every week.

I like to burn the candle at both ends, it helps me feel normal. If there isn't chaos then I'm depressed.

By telling my band mates they're wrong about rehearsal dates and there is no practice tonight so I can rest.

Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

When my parents divorced I lived with my grandparents for a couple of years. My grandfather was an alcoholic and a bit of a tyrant. He really wasn't interested or concerned with anyone else's opinion. From the time I was three till I was about five it was strictly Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Lawrence Welk. I knew other music existed but, I would catch only fleeting snippets while I was out of the grandparents place. When my mother and I moved out and into our own apartment a whole new musical universe opened up. She would listen to a lot of early Beatles, Linda Ronstadt and, pop music. When I started visiting my father on weekends it was Jethro Tull, ELO and Meatloaf "Bat Out of Hell." I assume I acquired my love of melody from my mother and the sound of distorted guitars from my dad.

My first real influence was when I was 11. I was sitting there listening to whatever poppy thing was big at the time, I believe it was something by Enrique Iglesias or something like that. Anyway, my older sister came in the room, mad that I was listening to it so loudly and looked at me and said, "If you're going to listen to music loudly, make sure it's good music." And she promptly threw on 'Rocket to Russia' by The Ramones. And I remember it was almost like something out of a movie how drastically changed I felt in that moment, it still influences my life, especially now that I play that music loudly instead of just listening to it.

I'm influenced by anything I can get my hands on really. I hate when people say that they are not into mainstream music. To me, it doesn't matter if it's mainstream or not, if it has got a good melody and makes me move, than fuck it, it's going in my collection. I don't let people's opinions influence my music. Blues, Rock, Punk, Metal...Love it all!

How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

Kind of like you farted in public. I just look around in disgust and blame the other guys.

Kind of like tripping when all you're doing is walking, act like nothing happened and if anyone notices tell them to shut up.

It's hard to make mistakes when you play only 3 chords.

Describe your family member's musical interests and abilities.

My mother played violin poorly. My step father plays bass and guitar and is why I went from listening to playing music.

My family actually has no inherent musical talent, music's always been big to my sister and I, but never to my mother or father, and while my sister loves music she's never played it.

No one in my family can play an instrument, and they all hate punk rock therefore they have no taste in music.

No one in my family has even touched a musical instrument, my wife on the other hand is a great piano player.

How do you rate your live performance ability?

I'm probably the worst choice for a front man imaginable. I'm not really into having the spotlight and attention on me. I loved just being a guitar player but, singers are hard to find and someone had to do it. You'll definitely never hear my yelling "how y'all doing out there tonight" or corny shit like that.

I'd be good if I could remember to look like I'm actually having as much fun as I am. That, and if I could get over being nervous when I'm the only one on the mic. Because as it stands I sound something like Mickey Mouse with laryngitis when I'm not singing.

What do you like most about being in a band?

I love the guys in my band. They all have individual qualities that I find amazing and make them special to me. They're like brothers to me. Also, when I get tired of being bullied and abused by the wife and kids I have someone to take it out on.

Like Chris I also love all the guys in the band, but I think my favorite thing about it, is when we all get on the same page at the same time when we're playing, and it comes together so fluidly. I just love that moment because everyone's having a good time, and everything works, and no one thinks about the hum drum bullshit of day to day life right then.

I just love to play music. I always have, ever since I was a kid. It's a way to vent frustration for me.

Well with me it's great to be able to play music with a bunch of misfits like myself. We all are a little fucked up but at least we understand each other. I can talk to these guys about anything and they will find a way to make fun of it. But I truly love these guys.

Where can we find more info about you and your music?

You can always find more about us all over Twitter: @TheBragabouts, Facebook: facebook.com/thebragabouts, or the best place to find news about us, more info on the songs, or even the songs themselves is going to be on our website: www.thebragabouts.com

Any shout outs you would like to make?

All our family, friends, and, anyone and everyone who has given us a chance for putting up with our bullshit. John and the many interns at FAME studios for really coming through on our latest recording. Ginger Coyote, Punk Globe, and yourself, Lisa Both for giving a fuck and taking the time to do this interview. Thank you.

My cousin Ray Ray.

Family, friends and the asshole in high school for not letting me touch his piece of shit guitar, that inspired me to buy my own and make noise with it.

Thanks for the interview and I cant wait to rock those new tunes on Whatever68 Radio!