Band Interview : A Wilhelm Scream

	photo: ruby de doncker

"Each record will be better than the last, or it will be our last," states Trevor, the man behind one of the voices and guitarist of the progressive punk/hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream. Coming correct on musical technicalities and mind-blowing riffs and rhythms, you would be crazy not to give your ears the pleasure of hearing their creation. If this isn't enough, then the fact that they share brothers with TSOL, Enemy You, and some of the most amazing punk rock bands ever on Nitro Records should be.

Lurk what you will:
www.awilhelmscream.com
www.myspace.com/awilhelmscream

the lineup:
trevor - guitar/vox
nuno - vox
chris - guitar/vox
bri - secret weapon, bassist/vox
nick - drums

	photo: alex wenten

Veronica: Once I was driving with a friend, and we were listening to you guys. I asked who it was, and he told me. I remembered him stating you were a band more for other bands to be blown away by. He said it was because of all the changes, technical phenemenons, etc. Nowadays, genre is such a bitch to declare, and it somewhat becomes a label of things other than music. What'd you say if I asked you to describe your music to me?

Trevor: Ha ha, your friend has a point, alot of people that come up to us to talk about our music are dudes in bands. I find it flattering since when I was starting out I was very critical of the bands I listened to, specifically the technicality and arrangement of the songs, not how the dudes looked, ya know? I'm glad we have fans with that kind of progressive musical taste but also like speed and melody. I dunno, throw some of those words together and maybe that describes us? Put down satan worship and debt in there too, though.

Veronica: You've stated your influences as "A selection of writers, artists and bands that aren't completely full of shit. There aren't many, but they're out there." Care to tell us who you stand by in this statement?

Trevor: Well, when I listen to the song Sea Anemonea I truly believe that Blake Schwarzenbach is at the end of his rope, that his sadness isn't some sort of device to play on the heartstrings of some fan so he could fuck her after the show. I truly feel he is making music for himself when I hear his work. He's not fronting with some bullshit lines with blood and guts and stabbing chicks to get on myspace pages of kids dressed like vampires. Lyrically, he's an example of a great American writer that doesn't rely on gimmicks. He's consistent. Musically, Propagandhi, there is no better example. Their records keep getting faster angrier and more amazing, and they don't play the industry shuffle. Those 2 come to mind at the moment. Oh, and Brendan Kelly too, of the Lawrence Arms. The real deal right there. He lives the life found in his songs.

Veronica: I fucking LOVE the Lawrence Arms. Oi Vey.

Veronica: "We try to respond to most messages, but it's hard to do when you're stoned, drinking blueberry beer, listening to RKL. We do read every one of them though. Honest. Thanks for your kind words, it makes us smile." So I lurked your myspace. Sue me! Tell me about the value and importance of your fans.

Trevor: They're the reason why we get to tour nine months out of the year. Many have seen us like eight times in two years and that blows me away. It's very humbling to get the kind of support these friends give us and we will never let them down for that reason. Each record will be better than the last or it will be our last. That's how much pressure we put on ourselves and it's the least we can do.

Veronica: You guys have played support for a lot of bands. What headlining bands made you feel priveldged to play the show? What bands that have supported you might you find underrated?

Trevor: Lagwagon has to be the nicest and fairest band to take us out, it's been an honor touring with them. They do things the right way. Pennywise, too. To gain respect from those two bands has been an honor since we've always looked up to them and still do. Wow, thinking about it now, all of the bands that have taken us out this year have been great to us. I don't wanna leave dudes out, but I also don't wanna name drop mad bands and feel like a tool. But yes, it feels good when a band wants to share their stage and audience with us, so cheers! Ya'll know who ya are. As for newer bands, Blackout Pact and No Trigger are awesome. Much the Same are rad. I see great things for all those guys as long as they keep working hard. Check all those bands out, you won't regret it. Dr. Hourai too! They're bad ass.

	photo: alex wenten

Veronica: How long has A Wilhelm Scream been going strong? Are you further than you'd thought you'd be?

Trevor: Well, we've been touring full time for probably three years, part-time since 2001. Every year gets better and better, we're stoked. I never put any expectations out there, as long as we're having fun and we're still good and progressing musically we'll be here.

Veronica: What is the nail that hold you guys together?

Trevor: The kind of rusty nails they use to make bleu cheese.

Veronica: Gross.

Veronica: Nitro Records. How does it feel to be a part of this label?

Trevor: They stepped up and took us on when nobody gave a shit about us, so they have a special place in our hearts. They've been a huge support every step of the way.

Veronica: Tell me the most awesome show you've ever played. In detail!! HAHAH!!

Trevor: Groezrock festival in Belgium. We flew in the day before, we're still on Boston time, cracked out, smoking joints all morning. We go on at 11:30am, not expecting much, greeted with seven-thousand screaming maniacs - losing their minds the whole set. I almost shit myself. We're done for the day before lunchtime, go by the merch tent, and our man Ray is flooded with people all day buying shit, he's on cloud nine. We ran out of almost everything we brought for the whole tour on that first day. Then the rest of the day we got to watch Bad Religion, Lawrence Arms, Less than Jake, Dropkick Murphys... on the same stage we played on. Fucking crazy, all stoned out of our trees.

Veronica: That fucking rules! Now give me the worst.

Trevor: Bad shows I always forget about, but I remember playing a reservation in a small shack the size of a closet. They ran power from a nearby trailer. Actually, fuck that. That show wasn't all that bad. There was a fucked up dog with his pink thing all oily and hard walking around, and plants that shot out prickers into your legs. Crazy.

Veronica: Umm, haha! Well then... favorite venue to play?

Trevor: I love the Triple Rock in Minneapolis. Great shows and great food, too.

Veronica: How about a little sneak peek, and some secrets no one knows about the new record that you're working on.

Trevor: Well the sneak peak is that it's gonna be mostly fast. The secret weapon is our new bassist, Bri, who is ridiculous on that thing. He's like Karl Alvarez meets Billy Sheehan. So expect us to exploit the shit out of his talents, that's one way we'll step up the musicality on the new one, I can't wait.

Veronica: Want to ask me anything?

Trevor: Yeah, what's the password to this site? We wanna see nudity for fuck's sakes! For reals, though.

Veronica: You'll get your password. (They alwaaaaays do.) Thanks a lot, man! you rule!

Trevor: Thank you, Veronica. Peace out.

ps - check out the photos. submitted by one of our very generous members! =)