Countdown to MPF: Antillectual Interview
We last welcomed Antillectual to Manchester in 2018. Their return has been long overdue. We caught up with bass player Ben to ask him mostly pointless questions in the lead up to this year’s event.
How would you introduce yourselves to a punk fan who’s not heard of you yet?
We’re a ‘nineties’ inspired skate punk, melodic hardcore band, with socially conscious and politically engaged lyrics.
Which of your songs/releases are you most proud of, and why?
The Song ‘Together’ on our latest album, which is my first release with the band. The song theme that combines DIY and Do it Together really attracts me Tell us a secret about your band. We like to wear colorful socks underneath our black punk uniform.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I guess in 1993, a Sick Of It All show in a small venue in Eindhoven… half way during the show there was an electricity failure, and the band continued unplugged for a couple of songs. Great show, hardcore moshing, my first stage diving, I was hooked to the punk-rock hardcore genre after that.
Who would be in your supergroup?
Definitely should have Scott Shiflett (Face to Face) on bass. Damm, really enjoy how he rocks his bass! And then Greg Graffin (Bad Religion) on vocals, Sean Sellers (Good Riddance) on drums, and to top it off with Chris Hannah (Propagandhi) on guitar… would be really curious to see what these guys would do in a studio together…
If you were a biscuit/cookie, what would you be and why?
Chinese fortune cookie, crunchy with some wise words inside, hahaha
Oasis or Blur?
Pfff… is there a third option?
Too much ska or too little ska?
Too much ska, although our merch guy will not agree on this 🙂
Dogs or Cats?
Love them both… but since I have 2 dogs… Dogs!
Who’s your favorite superhero?
I was a big He-Man fan as a young kid in the early 80ies…
Help us settle the age-old bread debate. What do you call a roll / cob / bap / barm / batch / muffin / other (specify)?
‘Bammetje’, (2 slices of bread) its the first thing that enters the tour van when we are hitting the road, accompanied with a big jar of peanut butter and choco-paste. I’m always amazed by Willem’s (our lead singer) appetite for ‘a bammetje’
Finally, which bands are you most excited to see at MPF2024?
Tough one, so many actually… I’ll go for New Junk City, never seen them before… and Irish Handcuffs, great band, great friends.
It’s time to buy your MPF2024 tickets here.