The Methadones

Questioning The Methadones

By: Jason Duarte

Posted: 9/18/06

Chicago's finest current punk rock band, The Methadones, have just released their fourth studio album entitled, "21st Century Power Pop Riot" released on Red Scare Records.

Unlike their first three albums, this new one is comprised entirely of power pop cover songs. Some bands covered are Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello, The Jags, The Pointed Sticks, Gary Glitter, Joe Jackson and more.

Best seen at small venues in or around Chicago, The Methadones are punk rock veterans.

Formerly of Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, The Mopes and Sludgeworth, lead vocalist/guitarist, Danny Vapid leads the way with guitarist, Mike Byrne, formerly of The Vindictives. On drums is Mike Soucy, and on bass is Pete Mittler.

Released on 6/6/06, "21st Century Power Pop Riot" is a collection of songs that the band decided on covering, from the very bands that influenced them as musicians.

Guitarist, and known jokester of the band, Mike Byrne was kind enough to take some time and answer some questions about their new CD.

You play guitar for the Methadones, and your latest release, 21st Century Power Pop Riot is a full CD covering songs that inspired you along with the rest of the band. What other bands or events inspired you to play like you do?

"I have been recently inspired by the rash of highway shootings in Indiana. Actually we've had the idea of doing the power pop record when we were recording our 2nd album. Dan and I sat down and made out a list of songs, it was a pretty long list and it was hard to choose which songs to cover and ones not too. But we didn't start learning a lot of the songs until a few months before we actually recorded the record. Dan and I were familiar with all the songs and Pete was on most of them. Soucy was familiar with at least half the record. We chose a few very scarce songs; one of them never was released. "Full Moon" was originally done by an old Chicago band called d'Thumbs. They morphed into "Legendary in my mind" Off Broadway and they did a different version, which was released. I got a hold of the original demo from a friend who knew those guys back then."

I always notice you play some wood grain looking guitar on stage, what kinds of guitars are your favorites to work with?

"I'm not really a tech kinda guitar guy, I know nothing about them I just know how to plug it in (Sometimes that is even difficult) and attempt to play heavily under the influence. I really like the guitar I have now, my last one got stolen on tour (I have officially ruled Dan out, I assumed it had to be an inside job)."

What was your first female musician crush?

"That girl from the X-Ray-Spex with the braces, talk about a pecker wrecker. I can't think of my first female musician crush. There are cute girls in punk bands but it seems like the real cute girls are in real lame bands."

What would you say that your biggest influence is, living or dead?

"I would say the entire Cobra Kai dojo in the all time greatest movie Karate Kid but that's a whole other thing. There are certain bands that influence me. The biggest being Cheap Trick, Off Broadway, The Beatles and bands like that but as musicians and song writers I would say Rick Nielson from Cheap Trick and Cliff Johnson from Off Broadway."

"Sorry it took so long to get back to you, I have been shopping for socks all week."

You can check out The Methadones online at www.myspace.com/themethadones, and take a listen for yourself. The Methadones will be opening for the Lawrence Arms tonight at the Creepy Crawl in St. Louis.

The Creepy Crawl is located at 3524 Washington Street in St. Louis.

They will be playing Thursday, October 19th for Red Scare Fest '06 at the Metro in Chicago as well, supporting fellow recording artists, The Falcon and Teenage Bottlerocket.

The Metro is located at 3730 N. Clark Street in Chicago.