They may call themselves "Somehow Hollow" but musically, however these Canadian rockers are anything but. This band is super tight with solid rhythms and musical arrangements that far precede what's going on in current day emo/pop-punk.

Somehow Hollow (Mike Casarin; Kent Abbott; Brad Casarin and Drew Clark) are a seasoned punk act who earned their stripes and a legion of cult followers under their former moniker "Grade" where they toured the world with their take-no-prisoners brand of hardcore. Now, the boys began a new band with more pop appeal and developed a kinder, gentler sound yet somehow managed to keep their hard edge.

Their Victory Records debut, "Busted Wings and Rusted Halos," which was released January 28th, stands a testament to the band's hard work ethic as they began recording in September 2002 with a release date of January 2003. With only 4 months to produce, record and mix the band didn't have any time to screw around, it was all business and this album will not disappoint. With metalesque guitars, harmonized vocals and a solid mixture of emo; metal and pop punk Somehow Hollow fills the void between the mall and the streets.

I spoke with drummer Drew Clark recently about the upcoming record as well as a few unordinary things.

If I were an A&R how would you pitch your band to me?

CLARK: Uhhh.. Man, I don't know.. We like to have a lot of fun.. Ahhh.. We like to party, we like to play music really good, we love being on stage.. Look, whatever we play comes from the heart, we play what we like to play and we don't really like to pitch like this. We're like, "you give what you get" you know? We're not image orientated in any way; we dress how we want to dress and stuff like that. I don't really know how to pitch, man.. I guess we come across as SoCal, emo, edgy rock.. That's what we like to play; we're kinda poppy but with an edge and that's about it.

Who is the chick on the cover of the new record? (Busted Wings & Rusted Halos), What's her deal? She looks like a young Mariah Carey strung out on prozak or something.

CLARK: (laughs). Oh man.. That's one of our friends, Chanelle.. That whole thing began as just an idea and they all rolled with it. Chanelle is a good looking cool chick and she wanted to do some modeling and stuff. So, we really didn't know what we wanted to do but we thought it would be a good idea to have her there with black wings and stuff to get peoples attention..

I want to give you my personal "Behind The Music quiz."

CLARK: Sure, go ahead.

Cool.. Are you currently doing any drugs?

CLARK: (Laughs) Damn.. No..

When was the last time you had a fist-fight?

CLARK: I'm a lover not a fighter, man.. When was the last time you drove drunk? CLARK: I don't drive drunk.. I don't drink actually..

Really? You don't drink?

I've been a bartender for the last six years and I like to have a few beers here and there but as far as getting drunk, either I'll pass out or I puke.

When was the last time you performed a show drunk or stoned?

CLARK: I mean, we always like to have a beer at the club. But, we like to be able to play well. We like to get drunk after. That is if we have the opportunity and have someone sober to drive us after the party's over.

When was the last time you beat down a band mate?

CLARK: Beat up a band mate? (laughs) If it ever even came down to a fight-fight or that sort of thing, someone would be killed. (laughs) It never gets like that for us, verbal abuse maybe..

Have you ever slept with a band mates girlfriend?

CLARK: No, man.. We're all pretty respectful to our girls. All the guys in this band have healthy boyfriend/girlfriend relationships.

Roughly, how many groupies have you slept with?

CLARK: Me? None.. I've had a girlfriend for two years now.

Do you bring your girlfriend on tour with you?

CLARK: No, no, no.. We wouldn't be going out with them if they went on tour with us.

Have you ever served any jail time?

CLARK: Hell no, man. If I did jail time I wouldn't be able to do play music and I would never be able to make it over into your country.

Any finally, have you ever done a Pete Townshend?

CLARK: What do you mean? Throw shit around on stage?

No, Pete Townhsend of The Who recently was arrested for owning child pornography.

CLARK; (long pause) That's weird..

I know, I hope its not true..

CLARK: Damn, that sucks.. But, no.. We've never pulled a Pete Townshend. (laughs)

www.somehowhollow.com

© 1998-2003 Sinbad Productions / BallBusterHardMusic.com
No Material, Written, May Be Reproduced Without Permission From SinBad
Prods/Communciations and or the Recording Artist and Their
Representation