Interview: The Interrupters on Fight the Good Fight, working with Tim Armstrong, and playing ’77 Montreal

In just a few short years, California’s The Interrupters have quickly established themselves as one of the most recognizable names in the ska-punk world. Drawing inspiration from So Cal punk rock and the UK Twin/Tone ska era, the band — made up of Aimee Interrupter on vocals, and brothers Kevin Bivona on guitar, Justin Bivona on bass, and Jesse Bivona on drums — have toured relentlessly since forming in 2011, including high-profile opening slots for Green Day and Rancid, and are currently out on the road as part of the final run of The Vans Warped Tour.

With the recent release of their third LP, Fight the Good Fight, on Tim Armstrong’s Hellcat Records, we caught up with guitarist Kevin Bivona to discuss Tim Armstrong’s status as the band’s 5th member, the different approach they took to recording the new LP, and the deep connection the band has with their fans.

The Interrupters play ’77 Montreal on Friday, July 27th at Parc Jean-Drapeau alongside Rise Against, AFI, L7, Anti-Flag, Sick of it All, Suicidal Tendencies, and many more. Admission is free for children under 10. For tickets and the complete lineup visit the festival’s official site.

How are you enjoying the final Warped Tour? Was that tour important to you growing up?

We love Warped Tour! It’s very bittersweet that this is the last cross-country run but we are so honoured to be a part of it! We all grew up going to Warped and loving all the bands that would play every summer. We just feel super grateful to have been alive during the Warped era and have these memories because we know people will be talking about it years and years from now. We don’t take it for granted at all!

Was there anything you wanted to approach differently with Fight the Good Fight? 

The approach of all of us getting in a studio with Tim Armstrong was the same but this time we recorded our main music takes live to a 2 inch tape machine instead of digitally. Most of our favourite albums were recorded to tape and there is a certain sound you get that compliments our style of music very well. The process also was new to us which created an excitement that we definitely put into our performances on this album!

I read you had over 30+ songs written for this album — what went into whittling that number down?

Yes we had a lot to sort through! Before recording the album we got together and went through all our ideas and recorded demos for them. From these demos we chose 18 of the strongest songs to record to tape. Once all the recording was done we decided on the final 12 because they all felt like they belonged to the album musically and lyrically. It was hard to cut certain songs but we felt like only the strongest survived!

What was it like having every member of Rancid contribute to “Got Each Other?”

It was a dream come true for all of us. Aside from Tim being our producer, label, and the 5th Interrupter he is also a musical hero of ours and Rancid is a HUGE influence on us and shaped who we are as musicians and songwriters. Once we heard the final version with all the members singing on it we got choked up. Was definitely a bucket list moment!

What did Tim Armstrong bring to the record as a producer?

Tim is great at getting the best out of us because he gets us out of our heads. If we get stuck on a lyric or we are overthinking something he is always there to offer his perspective and we always end up agreeing in the end. He really is like the 5th band member and it definitely helps us as songwriters to be collaborating with one of our favourite songwriters of all time!

The band really seems to have a strong connection to their fans — was that something you tried to cultivate early on? Was building that sort of community important to you?

We are all huge music fans as well so to us there is no difference between us and the fans. Music has helped get us through everything in our lives. If our music does the same for someone else, it is the best feeling in the world and we don’t take it for granted AT ALL. If someone takes time out of their day to listen to a song of ours or come to our show, it really means the world to us. It really is a family!

Have you found yourselves still having to defend ska over the years? Montreal has always had a thriving ska scene, but that might not be the case all over the world. What is it about that style & sound that motivates the band?

Everywhere we go we find that ska is alive and well! Anyone who thinks differently should come to one of our shows! I guarantee by the end of the night you will be smiling and dancing; and THAT is why we love playing this kind of music!

Does the band have any guilty pleasures on the road? Any bad movies or chain restaurants a constant for you on the road?

No guilty pleasures but we do like to go bowing together. One time we went and Aimee got like 5 strikes in a row! We were with Green Day in Norway and they were very impressed!

What do you hope fans take away from seeing The Interrupters live?

We just hope that anyone can come to a show, escape any of the craziness of the outside world, and for that one night, celebrate together. “If you are alone tonight you can come with us, if you don’t have friends or family or people that you trust, we will be your confidants, your sisters and your brothers, we don’t have much but we got each other!” And we really mean it!

You’ve been to Montreal a few times over the years, does anything stand out to you about playing here?

We always look forward to playing Montréal! There is a real unique passion and intensity we feel every time we play there! It is a necessary stop for us any time we are touring up in that region!

Are there any bands you’re especially looking forward to seeing at ’77 Montreal?

Of course! The whole up is great! We are really looking forward to seeing L7, AFI, and Rise Against. We have never played with any of them. And of course, our friends in Sick Of It All, Anti-Flag, and Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies! It’s going to be so fun!

What’s coming up next for the band? Any plans you can let us in on?

We are working on it right now! But lots and lots of touring!

The Interrupters play ’77 Montreal on Friday, July 27th at Parc Jean-Drapeau alongside Rise Against, AFI, L7, Anti-Flag, Sick of it All, Suicidal Tendencies, and many more. Admission is free for children under 10. For tickets and the complete lineup visit the festival’s official site.