the
Promise
Ting
Sure, they may be ten years too late-as their captive,
heartfelt brand of emo-rock would've been a natural for
the Pretty In Pink soundtrack but, late or not, The Promise
Ring are punching back with songs that seesaw between
spare, gaunt melodies and easily digestible rock jingles.
Guitarist Jason Gnewikow, bassist Scott Beschta, and
drummer Daniel Didier sat down to tell us what up.
The Promise Ring is so far from punk, it isn't even an
emo-band like Still Life really. How did you guys start?
Jason: We all came from various other local
Madison/Milwaukee punk/bardcore bands. But our music, or our
attitude, focuses strictly on the hardcore scene. But obviously that
is where we come from, so there is something to be said for that.
Scott: We just also happen to be a teen dance sensation.
Then where do you fit in the hardcore scene?
Scott: When you look at some hardcore kids' CDs, we will fit
right next to their Supertouch record. Punk kids go to the punk
shows, but they listen to everything. In this band, we aren't
afraid to say we listen to everything too like the Pet Shop Boys
and Patsy Cline,
Jason: We fit anywhere we really want to. We are not a metal
band, that is pretty evident, but between the punk and indie
scene, we are walking that fine line. We can go either way and are
supported by both
78
FULL TIME STUDENT
FULL TIME RIPPER
92 THE
What are your thoughts on the new
EP, The Horse Latitudes?
Dan: We're excited about it. It gives
people an opportunity to get our first
record that didn't get good distribution.
Plus, it has a collection of everything that
was on vinyl that people can now buy on
CD. We just wanted to do two new tracks.
Scott: The new EP has fucking horns on
it. If you would've told me that we would
have horns on our record two years ago, I
wouldn't have believed it.
So, what's next?
Jason: Another record. We toured non-
stop last spring and summer and had time
off to write this fall. Right now, we have
about half of the new record written.
We're shooting for late September or
October. It'll be a back to school record.
The Falsetto Keeps Time 7" is very
definitive, while 30' Everywhere
shows a lot of different styles. What
will this new record be about?
Jason: It'll be more poppy, more mature.
Scott: More rock. We don't have "A
Heart of a Broken Story" or "Sea of
Cortez yet, but we have a quirky song
called "Make Me a Chevy." which is kind
of like U2 meets Bela Fleck.
-Joseph Epstein
torque.
BRIAN
C HUN G
1141 EUCLID AVENUE ATLANTA, GA 30307
PHONE (404) 688-0309 CALL NOW!
PHOTOS AND DESIGN
BY SEAN DOLINSKY