Joanne: Who are you and what do you do?
Mike: I'm Mike PosterChild, I like to strum the guitar in this here band.

Joanne: Well, all the kids in this here band are still in school, correct? What's it like trying to juggle school/the band/touring?
Mike: Yes correct. We are all still in school all seniors, its kind of rough juggling all that but school is a good place to promote too. Of course it has a huge impact on when we can tour and it limits us alot.

Joanne: What would you say makes for a good atmosphere at a show? What makes a show great in your opinion?
Mike: Hmmm good question.I think its all about the crowd, if everyone is there to have a good time it makes for a great show because when everyone is just rocking to the same thing and having a good time I think that's what makes a good atmosphere

Joanne: If you could describe your live show in three words, what would they be?
Mike: Hmmmmmm. Energetic, wild, sexy. For the record every time I say hmmmmm, I'm putting my hand to my chin and thinking harder than any man has ever thought in his life.
Joanne: Haha, good to know.

Joanne: What bands have influenced you?
Mike: Ow, wow, that's the big question.
Joanne: Oh yeah.
Mike: I would say Saves The Day is huge for us along with Thursday, Brand New, Beloved, Fenix TX, New Found Glory, RX Bandits, The Movielife, Allister, Fall Out Boy, Count The Stars, Life In Your Way, Story Of The Year. God, there are so many bands that we love. Our drummer is kind of weird, his favorite band is Cradle Of Filth but we love him anyway. For All Its Worth, Statement Of Purpose, and Slim Pickins are some locals that have influenced us in some way or another. Most of those bands have moved on though.

Joanne: The Movielife =(. So, what's going on with recording and such?
Mike: R.I.P. The Movielife, CTS, Fenix Tx, Statement of Purpose, Slim Pickins. On to recording. Recording is a rough department for us, we are actually heading into a studio over winter break to lay down a song or two to send out so we can set up upcoming tours. We are really trying to get back into the studio to record our new stuff but money is tight. We are a very poor band.

Joanne: How did you end up getting sponsored by Reject Clothing?
Mike: Well we actually got involved with them in an odd sort of way, a venue in Danbury,CT called The Empress Ballroom supports us alot and we love the place and everyone there. I was hanging out in the office one night with the owner when Dickie, the guy who runs Reject came down to talk to the owner of Empress about setting up a table at shows and stuff, so thats how I met Dickie. I kept in touch with him and he eventually came to check us out live and a few days later said we had a sponsorship. Good people, good clothing, check it out www.rejectclothing.com.

Joanne: How would you convince me to come to one of your shows? What sets you apart from other bands?
Mike: I would offer you my body first off and if that didn't work, I would say hey, we are one of the most energetic bands you'll be able to see. I think we have very impressive vocals, our bassist Jay PosterChild is an amazing songwriter. Good looking guy too. We just love to have fun and we love interacting with the crowd. I think that's why everyone in the entire world should come to our shows.

Joanne: What has been your favorite place to play?
Mike: Hmm. I would say I LOVE to play 3 places: The Empress Ballroom in Danbury,CT because its our home; The Outback Teen Center in New Cannan,CT AWESOME place, and out of state I would say by far The Sad Cafe in NH. They have the nicest people in the entire world running the place and NH kids are awesome and they say wicked and are super cool.
Joanne: They say wicked? Since when?
Mike: Yeah they are like "That's wicked cool!" or "Yeah, that's wicked good". I know it started in Mass but it spread that way too. I was like WHOA you say wicked too!? I wish people in CT said wicked, it would make the state 10 times cooler and I think it would decrease pollution.
Joanne: I cannot go a day without saying that word about a million times. Mike: It is a great word.

Joanne: What are some of your favorite bands to play with?
Mike: Hmmmmmmm.
Joanne: Don't hurt yourself now.
Mike: Haha, I'll try not to. I do have a small brain, so I'll try not to explode it.
Joanne: Yeah, that would be bad.
Mike: I think it would be wicked bad! Haha. My favorite shows have been every time we've played with our friends Fall Out Boy, when we played with Allister, and Matchbook Romance, and Boys Night Out, those were all amazing shows but I also love playing with our friends in Decoy just because they are a great band and great guys and you put us together in a room its an instant mad house.

Joanne: What is the one band you want to play with the most?
Mike: Hmmmmm.
Joanne: Oh boy.
Mike: God I don't know. That's a RALLY tough question. I think for me personally it would be Thursday, Fall Out Boy, and Brand New, and we have played with Fall Out Boy. I just wanna play every show we ever play with them because its that much fun. I can't really speak for the other guys but for me that's who I would want to play with the most. Oh and Story Of The Year, best live band EVER! Hey, I just realized I can't spell and I apologize for the fact that I have a 3rd grade reading level.

Joanne: Okay. What three CDs are in your CD player right now?
Mike: I was just listening to their CD and if you don't have it BUY IT AND YOU'LL BE AMAZED. Yeah and if any of you guys from SOTY read this, I want love for plugging you this much, you crazy bastards. Story of the Year - "Page Avenue", Thursday - "War All The Time", Fall Out Boy - "Take This To Your Grave". I've been rotating between the three forever they are all amazing.
Joanne: SOTY, oh man. I saw them a couple months ago...it was fucking nuts there was like 100 kids there.
Mike: Yeah let me just say they are crazy bastards but super awesome guys

Joanne: What are your plans for 2004? Bandwise that is.
Mike: Hmmm. We wanna get back into the studio and get a new CD out. We plan on heading up to Canada and rocking those crazy Canadians over spring break, and we plan on doing a bunch of small tours throughout the year. Keep your eyes peeled for a huge summer tour and also I'm waiting on confirmation for some dates with a great band that is listed above in the influences but shhhhhh I can't really talk about it so if I tell you anymore I would have to kill you. And nobody wants that.
Joanne: No that would be bad. But I think off the record you should tell me, you can't torture me like that.
Mike: Well maybe I'll tell you later when the interview is done! MAYBE.

Joanne: Deal. What inspired you to join a band?
Mike: Oh wow, I'd say it was pretty much my love for music and just going to concerts and seeing these bands and I was like I NEED TO DO THAT, so I did. Performing is my favorite thing in the entire world.

Joanne: Where did the band name come from? I have to ask this before you get sick of it.
Mike: Haha, well sadly there is no cool story behind the name, like I wish there was. Its pretty much we sat down and were like we need a name and its actually a tribute to a friend of ours, he is the posterchild for greatness so we figured, hey, that's a good name and its stuck.. I could make up a cool story if you want?
Joanne: Yes, I think you need a cool story behind it. You have one minute. GO!
*one minute passes*
Joanne: Time is up.
Mike: Ok crap, I got nothing. Its too late.
Joanne: You're a horrible story teller.
Mike: I think my brain exploded. I AM NOT!
Joanne: Yes, I think it did, and prove me wrong.
Mike: I am a great story teller, its just too late to make one up. Jay is the creative genius of the band, I am nothing compared to him.
Joanne: Okay ill give you another chance. Tell away, Mr. Storyteller.
Mike: So this one time we were all sitting there right and all of a sudden there was this pick gnome, you know, the little gnomes that steal your guitar picks when you're not looking, and ryan grabbed him and we were like you little bastard give us back our guitar picks and he was like NOOO WAY MAN I GIVE THEM TO MY KING. So we were like fine, show us your king. And we all went on this magical journey to a far away land, somewhere in the sands of time, we rode llamas there of course and when we got there we went swimming in giant pools of guitar picks. Then the king yelled at us for skinny dipping and said for the rest of our lives we had to be The PosterChild because we all have small wangs. Ok, FINE I SUCK I ADMIT IT! I SUCK! You made me cry look at that.I think you destroy the dreams of young children.
Joanne: That is the best story I have ever heard. I do not destroy the dreams of young children, that's your own doing.

Mike: Hey, I have a question for you!
Joanne: Ohhhhh, here we go. Yes?
Mike: Michael Jackson: guilty or not?
Joanne: Ohhhh man, guilty.

Mike: And have you ever seen a pick gnome?
Joanne: I can't say that I have...although my guitar picks have mysteriously disappeared.
Mike: Yeah, you'll find him one day and when you do torture him.
Joanne: I will, don't worry. He's probably hiding in my closet.
Mike: Ok, I'm done you can proceed with your questioning.

Joanne: What color is your toothbrush (WITHOUT LOOKING)?
Mike: White and light blue.

Joanne: Pick one. Stripes or checkers?
Mike: Stripes.
Joanne: Black or white?
Mike: Black
Joanne: Is the glass half-full or half-empty?
Mike: Half-full, but I drank the other half.

Joanne: Okay last one. Any shout outs/plugs/last words?
Mike: Oh man. Check out the empress ballroom. JD started the band but he is no longer in it but we love him. I give it up for my little brother, our merch man. A HUGE thank you to anyone who has come to see us and SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SCENE! SUPPORT IT LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! And I love anyone who has ever supported us in any way shape or form. www.theposterchild.cjb.net COME TO OUR SHOWS BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU!
Joanne: Done?
Mike: I think that's it.
Joanne: Okay.
Mike: I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you very much. Now I need a cigarette, cause it was better than sex. If only I smoked.

For More Information:
• Official Site: www.theposterchild.cjb.net

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