The Local Zine: Who all is in the band, and how old are y’all?
Solemite:
Bobby - 24, Ryan - 23, Mikey - 24, Spencer - 24, AJ Riot - 24

The Local Zine: What does the name Solemite mean?
Solemite: Solemite a mineral found on only 5 mountains (only 5 of us) in the world. It has healing properties that make you happy and euphoric (like a solemite concert.)

The Local Zine: Have any of you ever been in other bands?
Solemite: One other... A ska band called Dank Man Shank. They still play. Aj Riot was in it too...we stole him.

The Local Zine: What’s spinnin in yer cd player right now?
Solemite: the Hives - vendi Vidi Vicious. Best band in the world right now (i really dig on the Briefs lately, and of course ALWAYS The Beatles.)

The Local Zine: What’s the hippest show you ever played?
Solemite: We've played some crazy ass shows. L3 @ iMusicast is always fun cuz it''s at home in Oakland and we draw big... Vacaville is always nuts for some reason too, but my favorite show to date was actually a small show...maybe 100-150 people at The Outhouse in Los Gatos with Slow Gherkin. Slow Gherkin was like my "first" band.... An honor to play with them. Plus we rocked the town proper that night.

The Local Zine: After a show, what can you be found doing?
Solemite: AFTERPARTY! We live true to our rock and roll heritage. I think we have a reputation in the East Bay as the crazy party band. I used to think that was kinda bullshit but i recently sat down and thought about it. We usually pre- AND afterparty. There is ALWYAS an afterparty after the shows. That's just how we roll... after a show you're just full of all this adrenaline you know? Like you're still on this emotional high and you just don't want it to end. Don't want the night to end so you keep the party goin.

The Local Zine: What kind and what color of underwear are you wearing right now?
Solemite: I don't wear underwear...sorry :(

The Local Zine: Are you releasing anything new (or have you lately)?
Solemite: We just released a split EP with our homies The KGB. It's got demos from our new album (still untitled) and some from their new album too. we've been giving it out at shows and such for Free. We figure we've been taking our sweet ass time recording, and our fans are just so damn cool the least we could do was crank out some new stuff and give it to em for free. We're currently at work on our debut full length LP. It's a far cry from our first album and we're really taking out time to make sure it's the best fucking album in your CD collection. We're currently looking at a Fall release...just in time to cheer you up when suck ass school starts again ;P

The Local Zine: What can we expect?
Solemite: the best album you've ever heard. This album i think will really capture both our sound (which we've only recently discovered) and our attitude. It is vital to us that when you listen you feel just as rocked as when you see us live.

The Local Zine: Any guilty pleasures?
Solemite: I love ice cream. shhhh... don't tell anyone. I hate having it around but if it is....oh boy.

The Local Zine: Are there any not recognized bands you can suggest to me or the readers?
Solemite: Slow Gherkin. The Hives. The Briefs. One Man Army. The Specials. The Police. the Cars. The Aquabats! Cee-Lo. Gosh...finally someone asks me this and i come up empty...I listen to alot of weird stuff....

The Local Zine: Who would you love to play with (dead or alive) and why? Solemite:Funny that you ask that. When we first got together as a band about 2 years ago (we were a ska band at the time) we put together a list of bands we wanted to play with. They included: the Specials, the Aquabats, Slow Gherkin, Reel Big Fish, The Slackers...and that's about it. At the time it seemed totally out of reach. This year alone we have played with all those bands except Reel Big Fish (in fact we play with the Aquabats next friday the 21st at the Gallery in San Jose) Just goes to show if you have a goal WRITE IT DOWN! It will mostivate you to succeed. So i guess it's time for a new list:

I base most of who i'd wanna play with on my influences at the time. Our first list we listened ALOT to those bands. This new list... Lately i've been (and really all of us have been) pretty heavy into classic punk and New wave shit. I think you can hear that in our new sound. Anyway...these bands are currently my hero's and they are who i'd love to share a stage with.

The Local Zine: And the most important question of them all…

Who is the pimpest mofo in all the land? Solemite: Please... Solemite as a unit is the pimpest mofo in the land.

Mel-O-dy

Check em out at: www.solemite.com