AMERICAN TELEVISION - Unite Now ! (Usa - Punk-Rock/Pop-Punk - Interview with Steve).
Hello ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music?
Hi, I'm Steve. I sing and play guitar in American Television. While I was a sponge for 70's rock and 80's pop blaring from my mom's car stereo, I don't think I realized I wanted to create music till I heard Weezer and Green Day. The songs were simple and pulled together pop and rock into something loud and brash. Soon after that, I discovered my local punk rock scene and realized there was a community of people who were playing music and spreading a message. I wanted to be part of that. (The BEST thing to do - Ed.)
Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
American Television was started in 2013 when I had moved down to the D.C. area from a life in NY. While the early lineup are still friends, we really didn't find our sound till Bryan (drums), Edwin (bass), and I came together in 2015 through some Craigslist magic. We've had a few lead guitarists over the years, but our current guitarist, Chris, joined us in 2023.
This band exists for us first. It's creative, cathartic, and a weekly social outlet – that's why we need it. With the work we've put in over a decade together, we've been able to play with heros and achieve some of our biggest goals like playing 9:30 Club, FEST and Warped Tour, traveling to play around the US and Canada, and pressing multiple records to vinyl. It's become a way for us to spend time together while sharing our music with the community we came up in.
Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost?
American Television is best described as gritty pop-punk. We leave the typical pop-punk love songs at the door and cook up 3-minute songs with melody and angst. People have said that our emotions behind the song are visible on stage, and it's transferred to the audience.
Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences ? How important are the lyrics for you ? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics ?
Bands like AVAIL, Bad Religion, and Face to Face are inspirational to our lyric writing - we try to share a message of unity, and against the bullshit of the world. We also just want to remind our community how resilient we can be when we come together. (Guess you need that, more than ever right now with all the bullshits happening in the US... Ed.)
About the band's discography... Imagine someone who doesn't know your band at all and wants to get interested in.. Which release would you recommend to start with, and why?
"You Are Not Alone" is our latest EP and represents where we are now with Chris on guitar. I also think this EP has some of our strongest songwriting. Each track has a hook and the album feels cohesive, end-to-end. Overall it's quite uplifting even on darker songs like "Witches" or "This is Hell".
About your latest release ?
"You Are Not Alone" was recorded with Pedro Aida at Audio Verite in Richmond, VA – Pedro is a friend from the scene. His familiarity with our music and our love for his many bands including The Iron Roses, Fire Sale, Shotclock, and Ann Beretta made it easy for us to land on working with him over a few weekends to record this EP. The tracks were then mastered by Mass Giorgini.
Artwork was knocked out of the park by Sebas Theriault (@steriodesign) and is available on vinyl via our Smartpunk Shop and streaming. We've also got some rad merch over there as well.
Future plans?
We're working with a friend to document this full year through photographs. We've also been very lucky to sell out a couple shows this year already and have some regional festivals on the horizon. We want to share the songs off the new EP far and wide and hope to play some shows in the Northeast by the end of the year.
Your most insane dream with the band would be?
Probably playing a festival + a short tour in Europe on some else's dime! Haha. It would be sweet if Millencolin, The Hives, and Beatsteaks were there since I'm thinking European. I'm sure the other guys in the band would add some other bands to that list.
Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ?
Best would be opening for Pietasters at 9:30 club – this was a bucket list since day 1 of the band, so for us to attain that and play to a packed house and see that room from the stage was a dream come true. Worst might have been a show we played where there were two people there not in a band. The bartender and a writer who came to check out the show – we still talk to that writer and we both agree; that show sucked. (Indeed.. shit happened ! Ed.)
Next live-appearance(s) ?
3.20.26 – Alexandria, VA @ Galactic Panther
3.21.26 - Fredericksburg, VA @ Original Grinds
4.10.26 - Martinsburg, WV @ Bad Habits - Punk in the Panhandle Fest
4.18.26 Towson, MD @ The Recher - Never Early Fest
Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ?
The DC and Baltimore scene lift each other - we're two small cities with lots of great bands – Sick Move, Over Our Eyes, Curse Words, Truth or Dare, Panic Problem, Fond, and Thirteen Towers are some active bands we love and recommend checking out.
Last word is yours..
Nerd Clusters are the best candy going right now. (I take note of that ! Ed.)
Credits :
Live photos 1 & 2 : JEOPhotos
Live photo 3 : 3Bearsandacat
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