TX Punk

  • Home
  • Shows
  • Photo Gallery
  • Show Reviews
  • Articles
  • Interviews
  • Compilations
  • Video Gallery
  • Product Reviews
  • Contests
  • FAQ
  • Street Team
  • Store
  • Sponsors & Sites
  • Contact Us

Interview with Mike Palm of Agent Orange July 2-3 2009

7/4/2009

6 Comments

 
We're huge fans of Agent Orange here at TX Punk, I have personally seen them 3 times over the past 3 years. This August will be the 4th(and the 2nd time this year). Still, every time I leave one of their shows I can't wait for another one.

With 4 stops in Texas on the So-cal Invasion tour(San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and El Paso) we thought it would be the perfect time to talk to Punk Legend Mike Palm.

Mike Palm Singer/Guitarist/Songwriter of Agent Orange. (Pictures from November 9th at The Meridian Houston TX)
Picture

TX Punk: So you got back from an international tour not too long ago. How did it feel to play for people almost halfway around the world?

Mike: Yeah well, we have been touring outside the U.S. for many years, so we've met alot of cool people along the way. It's good to have friends all over the world. Touring in Europe is very different from the U.S. but it doesn't usually feel any different onstage. It seems like it could be any show. More Europeans can speak perfect English than you would expect. Everyone knows all the words and they sing along real loud, so It's easy to forget you are in a foreign country.

TX Punk: What is your favorite Punk album?

Mike: Oooo, that's a tough question. How punk does it have to be to qualify? I guess I would have to pick something classic instead of something new. Even though I love all the first wave New York and UK punk bands, I would have to go with something closer to home: The Germs GI. Darby had an original vocal style that was punk to the bone, and I'm still amazed that he wrote all those incredible lyrics. The band was/is so amazing. They always sounded like they were about to implode at any moment. Brilliant. Sick. Unbelieveable.

TX Punk: What is your favorite song to play live?

Mike: El Dorado. It's the shortest, fastest song in the set. OK, I always say that, and it's not really true. I really like doing Wouldn't Last a Day, even though it's not that easy to sing. I also like Bloodstains. How can you not like a song that everyone absolutely demands to hear every single night?

TX Punk: How did you pick the name "Agent Orange"?

Mike: I was looking for something that says where we are from, and we had the surf/spy thing going on from the beginning. We had heard the phrase used in news reports and things at the time, but we weren't really aware of what was going on. Punk bands have had a history of coming up with shocking names, but that's not really what we were going for. I think it suits us.

Picture
TX Punk: In the radio Interview at the end of "Living In Darkness" you mentioned how "The Beatles came up with stuff like She Love You" and that you wanted to write songs like "She Doesn't Love You". Have you ever written (or tried to write) a song called "She Doesn't Love You"?

Mike: Yeah, it's called "No Such Thing"! That was actually the drummer who said that in the interview, and he never wrote a single word. Typical.

TX Punk: What do you think about all the electronic artists that keep showing up on various online music stores that use the same name as Punk bands(there is one for Flipper, Fear, X, and there is even one called Agent Orange).

Mike: I think it shows a frightening lack of knowledge regarding musical history, especially since it's so easy to do research about anything online now. Get a clue you kooks. I'm hoping one of them will sell a shitload of records so I can sue the crap out of them. 

TX Punk: You were in that Surf band The Deoras right? Are The Deoras still together? 

Mike: We have a recording that is about 1/2 finished, but I've been so busy touring with Agent Orange that I haven't had any time for the Deoras. We havent played together for almost two years now, but it's a great band, and I am hoping we will play sometime this summer.

TX Punk: (This one was a request)
"Who is the coolest person you have Surfed or Skated with?" 

Mike: I usually surf alone, but I once surfed Malibu with Christian and Herbie Fletcher. Christian was in full punk mode at the time, and just his presence was pissing off the locals. Herbie is a legend, and he just dominated the lineup. The coolest person I have skated with is probably Duane Peters. I skated a backyard pool with him years ago, then again when we toured Europe together. I was there the first time Tony Alva and Tony Hawk sessioned, but I was one of the only other people there, so I stayed in the shadows.

TX Punk: You've played at a few Skate parks over the years. Have you thought about doing a Skate park tour, or maybe a stop at one in Texas? 

Mike: We talked about getting some battery powered amps and just barging different parks. We usually check out parks on the road, but I mostly skate them after the show when no one's around. I don't wanna skate a park in Texas, there are too many good ditches there!
Picture
TX Punk: You've played shows with a lot of famous Punk bands. Which is your favorite(or favorites)?

Mike: The Ramones were great. Green Day. The Weirdos. Hmmmm, I can't think of many others that we actually played with! I guess I would have to admit that I am not necessarily a big fan of many of them. I'm not gonna name names, but lots of `em just plain sucked live. It's usually the unknown band that's low on the bill that somehow grabs my attention.

TX Punk: When do you think the Punk scene was strongest, now, or back in the day?

Mike: Well, there is certainly a bigger army now than in the beginning, so if strength in numbers is a factor than I would have to say that punk is now stronger than ever. When you tour as much as we have, you get to see a broad overview of the scene on an international level. Even in small, out of the way places, we can still draw a significant crowd. It took years for the punk world to take root beyond the major cities, but now alot of times we like playing places where most touring bands won't stop.

TX Punk: So what lies ahead for Agent Orange? Any new recordings?

Mike: The last two years have been our busiest by far, and the opportunities keep pouring in. We need to take a break from the road to get some recording done. It's hard to stay home long enough to dedicate the time it takes, but that's now the plan. Stay tuned.                                              

TX Punk: Thanks for your time.                                                                        
Mike: No problemo. L8R! ~Mike Palm
6 Comments
mike
7/16/2009 12:27:34 pm

yo it would be sweet if you didnt do the same boring interview with evry band.

Reply
Tx Punk link
7/16/2009 01:28:19 pm

The video Interviews were really limited on time. Duane and Animal both had to pack up equipment, so it was a bit last minute.

Besides I had more questions to ask but they had longer answers than I thought they would.

Just out of curiosity what would you ask? I'm open to Ideas.

P.S. The interview thing is more of a bonus... I just post Show dates, and pictures of whatever shows I do go to... So far no one has pointed out any dates I have missed. lol.

Reply
Ray Ban Sunglasses link
6/14/2012 10:52:04 am

I find that blog of new functions. I really love to read some articles that have great positive impacts on its reader and benefit by reading such article.See your post. Thanks to admire.

Reply
Tiffany and Co Outlet link
6/14/2012 10:55:32 am

This passage is so neat. So I want to make sure that this convenient knowledge and additional information.I admire these writers in sharing their views and or opinions that can enlighten the mind of the readers.

Reply
fitflop sale in singapore link
7/16/2012 05:14:25 pm

e of a little sick of the smelly liquid,suddenly dropped her voice,I suddenly thought of a thing,have you ever think these days you said these days???????The sound pressure to l

Reply
офицер запаса кгб помощь в трудоустройстве link
5/14/2014 09:45:51 am

Pretty section of content material. I just stumbled upon your internet site and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account your weblog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quick.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2013
    August 2012
    July 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    May 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    August 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009

    Help keep the site running by donating! Any amount helps, and we try to reward our donators however we can!
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.