If you’re into your Fat Wreck/ Epitaph skate punk bands then The Bombpops are one that you definitely need to check out. Claire caught up with Jen and Poli for a chat about what they’re up to.
How are things going for The Bombpops at the moment?
Jen: Things are going great! Thanks for asking!
Poli: Fantastic!!
Can you tell us what you’ve been up to over the last couple of years and since the release of Stole The TV?
Jen: Our last release seems like a forever ago and a lot has happened. Most importantly Poli is now the proud mama to a baby boy! It doesn’t really get more exciting than that!
We’ve also had the pleasure of sharing the stage with some of our idols including NOFX, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, No Use for a Name (RIP Tony Sly), Pulley and Good Riddance since the last release.
In most recent months we’ve been doing a lot of writing for some long awaited new Bombpops songs. Been demoing and just started a studio session for a short teaser.
Poli: Yep! I def had a baby! He rules! And we have had lots of time to write and figure out our next moves as a band.
How did you all get together as a band? Were you friends first?
Jen: Poli and I became friends through a local music studio in our home town. Neil and Josh have been friends since they were really little and have played in bands over the years together. After several unsuccessful bass players, Neil joined the band and shortly after we brought Josh on board as our drummer.
We’ve heard you described as skate/pop punk. How would you yourselves describe your sound to someone who hadn’t heard you?
Jen: Yea we definitely have skate and pop punk roots. We would probably describe ourselves as being reminiscent of 90’s Epitaph and Fat Wreck bands.
What kind of things inspire your songs and what do you write about? Are there any specific themes?
Jen: I’m mostly inspired to write songs about people and situations close to me.
Poli: Usually I have to be sad or mad. What a shame right? I try to write a song when everything is great and dandy but then I just criticize myself and think it’s cheesy. Maybe I enjoy misery occasionally, but I do find that’s when writing is most satisfying. We do write a lot about what is really going on around us!
How do you go about writing music; do you do it all together or separately?
Jen: For the most part Poli and I write separately and then we collaborate to finish up certain aspects of each song. When we have enough to go off of we bring the songs to Neil and Josh and that’s where there really start to become full on Bombpops songs.
If you had to choose your favourite tour story, what would it be?
Jen: Nothing tops the feeling of when we first opened for NOFX in the middle of our last US tour!
Poli: I may have to agree with that! That was our first big show on any tour ever. Not gonna lie, I was so anxious and nervous, more excited kind of nervous. We had to drive through the night to get to that show and I just remember laying in the back of the van with butterflies all up in my tummy tums, being like “holy shit.” Then literal pre show shits. Then we played and it ruled and we got to sing with NOFX too!
If you could play with any band or artist in the history of music, which would you choose?
Jen: Probably Green Day.
Poli: Duh ^^^ I’m copying you
What’s the punk scene like in Oceanside where you’re from? Do you find a lot of people still come out to independent shows?
Jen:Oceanside definitely still has a local music scene. San Diego in general has a great local music scene with people in bands all supporting each other. There is a great label based out of San Diego called La Escalera and they do A LOT for local and touring bands. They pretty much keep it alive down there.
But since the last release we now all reside in Los Angeles. LA has one of the best DIY punk scenes believe it or not. We’ve experience amazing camaraderie and genuine friendships through being a part of the LA scene. Not to mention there are so many great LA bands with ladies!
We’re an independent fanzine mainly selling copies online and at shows. Do you think there is still a place for such publications in the punk scene?
Jen: I would hope so! Fanzines have always existed because of people’s love for music. As long as people are passionate about music there will always be people dedicated to writing and reading fanzines.
Do you have any plans to come to the UK at all?
Jen: If hoping to come to the UK soon counts as a plan than yes!
Poli: Yes! It’s a definite goal for us. Really can’t wait! I’ll probably cry.
Have you heard any cool bands recently that you would like to recommend to us?
Jen: So many good bands to recommend! Well you probably already know about Bad Cop/Bad Cop by now as they just signed to FAT. They are the ultimate fellow lady punks. Jabber from SF rules too. You should definitely check out our LA buddies in Murderland and French Exit, our Seattle friends in Success! And while we’re on the topic of San Diego bands you must check out Caskit and Western Settings!
Finally, what are your plans for 2014?
Jen: Writing and recording!!! Hopefully a release.
Poli: Also, a few tours here and there! Our main focus is writing but we wanna get out there a few times this year. Recording a couple songs now, so stay tuned for that and possible out of town shows coming up!
Interview by Claire (May 2014)
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