INTERVIEW
PROTAGONIST
by Christer Davidsson, March 2008
Posted on March 26th, 2008

Hey guys, how are you all doing?

Peter: Doing great and you?

Brian: What’s Up?

First of all, can you give us a brief history of the band?

Peter: Like most bands, Protagonist was born in our bedrooms and garages in Florida. When we started Protagonist, we set out to try to write the best punk rock songs we could.

Brian: That time was a lot different too. In 1999, there were very few punk bands in our hometown and to listen to or to be a punk rocker wasn't common or accepted.

Peter: We started booking our own shows in locals halls and clubs. We did 4 track and 8 track recordings and made demo tapes to sell at shows

Brian: I miss demo tapes

Peter: Yeah me too. Unfortunately, demo tapes seem like something of the past

Brian: When we were getting ready to put out Reasoning With Time, our boy Shawn (Stake Out Records) made promo tapes that he mailed out for free. I’m all about the demo tapes.

Peter: After booking our owns shows we started to build a reputation within the south Florida scene, which eventually led us to open for Agent Orange, AFI, and The Distillers.

Brian: My brother still has the AFI flyer on his wall

Peter: I got it somewhere in my room. It was an awesome show.

Brian: Yeah that was one of my first shows with the band.

I agree, those demo-tapes were way better than today's promo CD's. Tapes had more of a "real soul" than CD's, don't you think?

Peter: There is something about the tape that makes it better. It’s similar when comparing vinyl to CD. It comes off more legit I think.

Brian: When you hand people a promo cd it doesn’t mean as much. When we started seeing bands, we’d all pick up demo tapes. I mean, if it wasn’t for mixed tapes, I would of lost out on a lot of great bands. I still have a lot the mixes that Peter would make to listen to on our drive to and from High School.

Peter: I still have my first punk rock mixtape.

Brian: What is on it?

Peter: Minor Threat, Operation Ivy, Black Flag, The Sex Pistols, The Boils, Violent Society, and Oxymoron.

Brian: Shit, that’s a pretty legit mix tape. You should hook it up.

Peter: No problem, I just put it on cd for you(sarcastically)

Brian: Also a little fun fact. Our first demo tape was recorded by Alex Suarez who now plays bass in COBRA STARSHIP. At the time he played in the emotional hardcore band, Kite Flying Society. Still one of the best bands to ever come out of Florida.

Peter: Not too long ago, they put out their discography. Check it out on Interpunk. com

You're a pretty new band to me but you've actually been touring like maniacs for the last couple of years. Have you been getting good response from people at shows?

Brian: Since we started touring in 2001, we’ve been able to call Philadelphia, New Jersey, and parts of Texas our home away from home.

Peter: We’ve also been lucky and have shared the stage with such bands as Paint It Black, The Boils, Crime In Stereo, Evergreen Terrace, The Explosion, Death By Stereo, Youth Brigade, The Movielife, Lifelong Tragedy, Die Young, Iron Age, Tear It Up, Strung Out, The Casualties, The Unseen, and Last Target to name a few.

Brian: When we did our first tour, I had just turned 16 and the oldest member of Protagonist was 19. We took a minivan and a friend’s 1989 Toyota Camry. It was a lot of fun.

Peter: We did it all DIY. Made our own shirts, pins, patches. Booked our own shows. Even though it was 7 years ago, it was before everyone booked their tours through myspace. Our drummer Jeff contacted a lot of people through BOOK YOUR OWN FUCKING LIFE.

Brian: Does BYOFL even exist anymore?

Peter: Don’t think so.

I think Ernst who used to run BYOFL has teamed up with some other people to do a new site called earnityourself. com. Have you heard about that? I think it's kind of similar but I haven't had the time to look 'em up yet.

Peter: Thanks, I’ll have to check it out

So, apart from BYOFL, how do you feel about networking within the punk/hard core scene in the U.S. Do you get a lot of help from other bands and so on?

Peter: Networking within the punk/hardcore scene definitely helps out. Whether it’s labels, bands, studios, or just friends you meet on the road. I remember one show we played at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia. I looked around the room and I recognized more people in the room than at a hometown show.

Brian: Myspace has made networking a lot easier for bands. I’ve found a lot of good bands on there myself. I don’t think anyone flyers anymore the old fashioned way. Everyone just sends out “Invitation Requests” and “Bulletins”. Who knows how people will be promoting for shows in 5 years from now.

You've just finished the recording of your new album "The Chronicle". Are you satisfied with the way it came out?

Peter: The Chronicle is definitely our best and strongest stuff to date. We tracked the record at our friend’s studio in our hometown and then mixed it in Pennsylvania with our old friend Arik Victor. We're pleased with the way it sounds.

Brian: We’ve worked with Arik before on our first record Hope and Rage and Reasoning With Time, so we knew he’d be able to do the record justice.

Peter: Straight up, Arik knows how to make shit sound good.

I love the 7" you released last year, how would you describe the new stuff compared to that one?

Peter: The songs that appear on Reasoning With Time were originally intended to be on The Chronicle. We always imagined songs like We and Reasoning With Time to be on our second full length. When we recorded those songs, they were supposed to be on a Blackout! Records split with us and Burn What Binds (RIP), our friends from Texas. Burn What Binds ended up breaking up and Blackout! Didn’t want to release EPs, so my friend Shawn and I had talked about releasing records. Naturally, the Reasoning With Time EP was our first release. But to answer your question, the Reasoning With Time songs would fit in with the new record and vice versa.

So, Stake Out is your own label? I didn't know that. Both the 7" and the CD version of it looks and sounds fantastic. Do you like having your own label or is it more like something that has to be done in order to get your music out there. It must tae up a lot of time both having the band and the label itself on your mind.

Peter: Well I can’t take the credit at all. It was an idea that my friend Shawn and I had talked about and were able to do. Shawn was running a pretty popular distro. Through the distro he was able to fund the Reasoning With Time CD/7inch. I did my own part by making sure everything got finished. The mastering, the artwork, and of course promoting it. I put it up on Itunes, Interpunk, and called various random record stores and made sure it was available. You won’t find it in best buy, but Orange Records in Fargo North Dakota has it☺. One thing I love about vinyl is the presentation that loses value through Itunes and CDs. With vinyl sales increasing and CD sales decreasing, I know I’m not the only one. We wanted to make sure Reasoning With Time came out the way we envisioned it. We were definitely happy with the final product. I would like to put out more records, but currently do not have the funds to do so. When you have your own release on your own label (Or in my case help run one) you can avoid a lot of the bullshit that pops up.

How would you describe the sound of the band? You remind me of bands like Good Riddance sometimes. Who are some of your influences?

Peter: We basically fuse our favorite elements of hardcore and melodic punk rock together. Everything from Minor Threat to Bad Religion. I listen and read a lot of different stuff. Naturally, a lot of that influence turns up in our songs. Here's a list of what I've been listen to lately

Broadway Calls- Broadway Calls
The Boils- From the Bleachers
Crime In Stereo-Is Dead
Capital- Homefront
Desa- Routes To Rapture
The Gaslight Anthem- Senor & the Queen
Joy Division- Substance
Paint It Black- New Lexicon
Modern Life Is War- Midnight In America
The Pinkerton Thugs- End Of An Era
The Stooges- FUN HOUSE

Brian: Musically our influences vary. Our parents brought us up on classic rock bands like The Doors, Boston, Dire Straits, Blue Oyster Cult, and Sabbath. Even though it may not be obvious, this influence can be heard in a lot of our songs.

I love Dire Straits, ha ha! You guys should do a cover of "Walk of Life". Ever though about that?

Peter: Never thought about “Walk Of Life”, but would seriously consider “Sultans Of Swing”.

Brian: Of course you would.

Peter: Ha. The band always gives me a lot of shit because I want to cover every song I hear.

Brian: You probably would if you could.

Peter: If it was up to me we would release a double cover record and “Sultans Of Swing” would be on of the songs on it.

What have you been writing songs about for the new record. For example, the election is coming up in the U.S. this fall and it seems like the campaigns are going on as crazy over there. Is this something you've been writing about?

Peter: The Chronicle has many themes that are interwoven throughout the record. The record has to do a lot with growing up and transitioning from one stage in your life to another. We have titled the record THE CHRONICLE because the record deals with situations and experiences we have dealt with in our personal lives and as a band and how it shapes us as a whole. The record is really a chronicle of Protagonist.

So it's more or less about coming of age? How has the fact that you're in a band affected you guys on a personal level? Do you think it has changed you a lot?

Peter: The record is definitely about coming of age. The fact that we are in a band has affected everything. We’ve been in the band so long , its hard not to relate things to the band. I feel we are all at certain places in our lives because of the band. Like anyone who has been in a band for a long time you end up sacrificing a lot. Throughout the past 8-9 years many of our relationships have suffered either internally or with girlfriends because of the band. We are always saving up for Tour, Recording, Practice Space, and Equipment costs. Anyone in a band knows, if you take it seriously and commit, it can consume you. Don’t get me wrong though, I wouldn’t change anything and have very little regrets. The experience and growth we have gained through touring and meeting people are things that cannot be replaced.

Brian: I have been in Protagonist since I was 15 and am now almost 23. I think in that time we’ve seen over 20 different lineup changes, and have seen a lot of people come and go. It’s hard to not get jaded along the way. We’ve always tried to take the bad shit and perservere with it. You just have to carry on.

Peter: A lot of this stuff we are saying is present throughout our new record.

Do you consider Protagonist a political band?

Peter: We sing mostly about personal stuff. Even though we don't incorporate politics into our songs, we are politically minded and active. One member is getting ready to graduate from Georgetown University in Washington Dc and another is currently attending the University of Florida and is seeking a political science degree.

What about the rest of you? What do you guys do when you're not playing music?

Brian: I am currently attending the University Of Florida and am seeking a political science degree. I hope to attend law school after I am finished.

Peter: Ya never know Brian, you might end up falling in love with Japan and want to move there.

Brian: How’s Law School in Japan sound?

Peter: I graduated from college last May and recently relocated to Boston. I have been busy working on film projects. I currently have 3 documentaries lined up and some film scripts I am working on. For already completed projects check out:
http://www. youtube. com/PeterMarullo

Brian: Our guitar Player and Peter’s Brother is getting ready to graduate next month from Georgetown University in Washington Dc.




Peter: Our Bass player Hazen is currently filling in with our friends Fallen From the Sky. And our drummer relocated to Albany NY.

I heard that you guys are heading out to Japan this summer, congratulations! How come you got to go there?

Peter: Thanks. Ever since we started Protagonist, we’ve always wanted to go to Japan. A few years back we did some touring with Last Target when they came over to the states. If you haven’t heard of them, Last Target is an awesome punk band from Osaka Japan. We’ve kept in touch with them ever since and we’ve now been invited over. We can’t wait. At the end of the day, punk rock is not only about breaking boundaries, but crossing boundaries and exploring new territory. Come June, we will get to experience this first hand.

Well, I hope everything works out great for you guys over there. What else is on the Protagonist schedule for the near future?

Peter: Hopefully a June release of The Chronicle followed by our tour of Japan.

Brian: Throughout the summer and fall we’ll be doing US stuff to support the new record.

Peter: And who knows what’ll be after that. Acoustic album, Double Cover Cd, world domination, ya never know.

Brian: A Bad Religion tour would be pretty sweet. And another MutinyZine interview.