Interviews

Garrison

Interview with Joseph on Nov 30, 1999 by Archive Bot

I'd like to thank Ghazal at Revelation and Joseph Grillo of Garrison for making this interview happen. You can check out Garrison at www.garrisonkills.com and go out and buy their new album "Be A Criminal" today. Timmy likes it! 

PB: I am very picky with the music I like and music I choose to listen to, but when I first listened to your disk something caught my attention. Your new album "Be A Criminal" fits into the category of albums that can't be categorized. This is your second full-length so I was wondering what some of your goals were heading into the studio? Are you happy with the result and response?
GR: Yeah I am super excited about the way it came out. I think Ed and I (the other singer guitar player) made an effort to really try and streamline our writing so it would be a little more focused than our previous efforts. This allowed us to really get into what we were writing about and expand upon it.

PB: Do you have experience in "being a criminal", and if not how did the name of the album come about? What's the criminal history of the band look like?
GR: Funny you should ask that, suffice to say that everyone in the band has been arrested at some point or another, some of us did a little time (the dumb ones got caught) while others were just detained briefly. But on a different note the record more deals with trying to come to terms with the fact that your moral values may or may not be inline with the laws and social morals of your community, and looking at that dicotomy from a political and personal stand point. 

PB: Garrison seems like one of those bands that would get a phenominal response if more people knew of you. For those hearing about Garrison for the first time, what are some qualities of the band that one can expect from you at a show or on the album?
GR: We put everything into our live show! I think the album speaks for itself, but we spend loads of time practicing and making sure that we can hopefully create some sort of experience that can transend just another show in the live setting. Thank you by the way for the compliment.

PB: You not only recorded with the great talent of J. Robbins (Burning Airlines/Jawbox) but also with the new talent of J. Morrissette (the bands new drummer). What impact did the combination of the two J's play in the outcome of "Be A Criminal"?
GR: Immense. J. is a very talented drummer and he was really ready to put the adreneline behind the music that we have been writing. Mr. Robbins is excellent as well, he allowed us to really express the ideas that were in our heads. Can't say enough good things about that man, on both a personal and creative level. 

PB: One of the most unqiue aspects of the album is the bands ability to go from dark lyrics to vocals that are upbeat and soothing. How hard is it to manage the emotions and make them all make sense when they come out as music?
GR: Well it isn't so much of a concious decision for us, it is the music we do and it just comes naturallly, lyrics are so very important to me as a listener but I also like to retain that feeling that you get from good rock music, you just want to hit things, so they seem to go pretty hand in hand to me.

PB: You guys have basically toured non-stop in support of your newest album. What can Garrison fans expect from you in 2002?
GR: We'll be doing a full 2 month tour in Europe this winter and loads more in the states when we return, www.garrison-kills.com should always have up to date info.

PB: Lastly, thanks a lot for taking the time to talk to punkbands.com and for making such amazing music. In this time of fear and terror throughout the world, I was wondering how you as people and as a band have been moved by the events of the past few months. Have they changed you, and if so in what way?
GR: Well, I was in lower Manhattan on Sept 11 and the week following, It has drastically changed my life and how I see the world but I don't think I am really at a point that I can quantify or express that change properly. Thank you very much for the interview.