On the Might of Princes are a great band from Long Island, NY. This is not cookie cutter screamo; they're songs are honest and real, and the answers of (I'm assuming but could be wrong) Chris were a lot of fun to read.

1) Describe the Long Island scene. Is their any type of heirarchy, competition, etc?

Competition exists in every scene no matter where you go. We don't partake in it anyway at all. We do our own thing and mind our own business because we don't think it's neccessary to involve ourselves in that kind of nonsense that has nothing to do with music. There are definitely heirachies though. A lot of people think their hot shit cause of who they know, what booking agency or zine they work with, how right they are about their politics, what band their in, etc. It's all bullshit though. They're all just a bunch of whiny insecure babies that feel the need to prove something for the lack of something because they can't just be content with what they do, which is the way it SHOULD be. Otherwise though, there are also tons of people that AREN'T like that which makes the Long Island scene really awesome in a lot of ways. There are some good communities of people here that ARE open minded and do something meaningful and important without intentions for competition and such. That's something that makes me proud of being from here.

2) How are the Long Island scene kids? Do they have "scene point egos" for supporting these bands before they blew up in popularity?

Hahaha. Absolutely. A lot of kids ARE like that and like to stand behind the bands on stage to be scene or brag about how they saw such and such band when no one was watching these bands. But then again, since we're all from Long Island - we were ALL around for every single band here that played to no one before they got huge.

3) How do you react when you see a scenester snub their nose at a new or young kid in the scene like a native from NYC staring at a tourist?

I think that's bullshit. We were all younger at one time before we knew about any of the stuff we know now. Any scenester that snubs someone cause they're new or young to the scene has no concept whatsoever of what punk or hardcore is supposed to be all about. FUCK THOSE ELITIST PRICKS!

4) Have you ever been one of those scene kids? If so, what made you change and look at the scene with an open mind?

I was the only one in my band that is really a hardcore kid and I am proud to say that I was never too proud to snub people and be a closed minded dick. I believe in respect and interaction. This is supposed to be a scene based around the concept of community.

5) The Long Island scene, like most other influential music scenes (i.e. Seattle, NYHC, DC, Florida, etc) fascinates me (I don't know why-I'm just weird). Feel free to add anything that you may have left out that will give people an inside scoop on the music scene, culture or what its like to live in Long Island.

a) Also, have you ever tried to figure out where The Great Gatsby would have taken place (there's a real map in the book-I think-, but the names of the places were fictional)?

Hahaha, actually the location that Great Gatsby was based on is Great Neck which is a town away from my house. Anyhow, living on Long Island and being a hardcore punk kid for the past 10 years has been a cool experience. The scene started out at places like the PWAC and the Huntington YMCA where bands used to come on tour and play to no one when they were smaller like Snapcase, Refused, GlassJAw, Boy Sets Fire, Promise Ring and tons of other bands. Of course there would be more established acts come down too like Fugazi. These venues were all operated DIY style, run by kids and for the kids. Then there was Deja One where we all saw bands like Dillinger Escape Plan, even System of a Down, Movie Life, etc. all start out. And then there was the explosion of Taking Back Sunday, From Autumn to Ashes, Brand new, etc. which blew up the scene. Before these bands, we all had local bands that were huge here that are the reasons for all of our bands existing now such as Mind Over Matter, Garden Variety, Inside, Silent Majority and Vision of Disorder. The music scene here has always been really active. Lots of shows all the time, zines, labels, kids, etc. There are definitely a lot of good reasons as to why I am happy to have lived here all my life.

6) Van accidents have a tendency to destroy some bands (and I'm sorry to hear about the one you guys were involved in). How are you going to use this experience to make the band stronger?

Thanks for the kind words. It means a lot. That car accident sucked. Our van hit a patch of black ice and then skidded out into a ditch, doing a flip. It made us tighter cause we had to stick together and get through the rough time that we're still going through now to pull it together and get back on our feet again. Emotionally, it was really shocking to say in the least. We were all lucky to be alive and we went through it together. Now we're working together to get back with a new tour van, equipment, higher spirits, etc. It bummed us out to have to cancel the rest of tour, lose a lot of money and go home. But we have to keep our enthusiasm high and keep going.

7) Tell me a little bit about the benefit shows that you're having to raise some cash to pay for the accident.

None of the shows are really official benefit shows. We're just playing a bunch of local shows at home to raise some money for us to buy new equipment, new van, etc.

8) Why do you think that some bands have crazy riders?

Depends on what you consider crazy. We all need food, gas and a place to stay on the road to survive. Anything else other than that is probably unneccesarry for us at least. Well I forgot about booze.

9) If you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend your time?

I'd spend it the same way anyone else would. I'd have as much sex as possible so I could die a happy man. Hahaha, no but really - I'd rock the fuck out one last time with the band and say goodbye to my loved ones. How's that for a serious answer?

10) Revelation Records recently lost its two biggests bands, Shai Hulud and Elliot, to breakups, leaving them with a roster full of promising young bands. How do you think the immediate future is looking for Revelation Records?

b) How about the distant future?

I think that us, Since by Man, Curl up and Die and Christiansen have a lot to offer and with the new A&R James Allen, who really has a lot of enthusiasm when it comes to putting some mroe life back into the label and signing more bands - the future of Revelation and it's roster should be looking on the upside. It's too bad they had to lose Elliott and Shai Hulud though - both great bands that will be surely missed and never forgotten.

11) Have fun with this (if you want to): say anything you want.

Screw image, fashion, labels and all that cliquey nonsense. It's all about the individuality, art, music, creativity, self expression, freedom, etc. That's what rock and roll is all about. Thank you!

Interviewed by RF

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