This interview was done over e-mail, a few days before they left on their coast-to-coast tour.
Interview & photos by Heather Klinger from Operation: Restore Maximum Freedom III.
Out of Order: Los Angeles seems to be embracing young artists with venues like the Smell, and you guys are no exception. Another young band that comes to mind is Mika Miko, another favorite in this area. How do you like Los Angeles? Do you think there is a supportive scene for the kind of music you guys play right now?
Night Wounds: I think there definitely is. Visiting Los Angeles prior to moving here, everyone seemed to be very tight knit no matter what kind of music they played. It wasn't strange to see a bill with a band like us, a band like Mika Miko and a solo noise project. I think that still exists, but doesn't seem to happen as often as it used to. Regardless, everyone can be super supportive. Bands kind of have three or four cliques of people they can play to and get different reactions from all of them, so it's not like you play one show and you've been exposed to everyone. Bands have many opportunities and it's great that there is not one but several solid diy show spaces and it seems like everyone gets a chance to play if they want to. 
OOO: Who are your favorite locals to play with?
NW: Abe Vigoda and Knit Witch.
OOO: You are going to the east coast, and back. It looks like a pretty grueling tour schedule. Has anyone else in the band toured in other bands? How have you prepared for this tour?
NW: Ryan has roadied a couple times. Jamie has not explored a lot of these places so it's probably most scary/exciting to him. Our first tour was a 40 day road trip as a two piece a couple years back and we played all over, but it wasn't a solid tour. We played about... 15 shows. Preparation has been beyond frustrating. My world has kind of collapsed prior to leaving so I've been dealing with huge helpings of everyday bullshit mixed with intense drama. It'll all pay off though!
OOO: What kind of vehicle are you guys touring in? How did you acquire it?
NW: We are touring in a small SUV and will carry the drumset. Hot Girls Cool Guys are touring in a minivan with all the amps/guitars. Jamie's parents gave it to him (lucky) so we're going to bow to them! 
NW: Oh man! Ryan booked a show at his old friend's house for New Years Eve. We showed up and I could see a dude warming up on his trombone from the street. Turned out to be a straight up hippy party and I felt like I was from a different world as them. By the time we played, everyone was on the roof and we played to a mix of punk rock locals, girls in huge skirts and our two or three friends and everything broke one song in so we stopped and tried to sleep, but not for long as the hippies moved the dance party into the living room and ended up puking all over the couch I wanted to sleep on.
OOO: How did you like playing at KDVS' Operation: Restore Maximum Freedom III festival?
NW: Man that shit was a blast! I think we made a wise choice by playing where we did. Ettrick, Clip'd Beaks, Eddie the Rat, Erase Errata and pretty much everyone was awesome. I'd have to say it was firmly planted in between a great time and an experience, because it definitely was weird, but we have no regrets for going up there! Sacramento-area is always good to us.
OOO: You guys have had your music released (or being released) on a variety of medias- vinyl, CD, and even cassettes. Do you think cassettes are still viable? What is your favorite media?
NW: Cassettes are great, aesthetically. I think it's a rad medium but at the same time I think it's something most commonly thought of as a part of noise culture and not punk rock again. But there are plenty of labels making that no longer the case, suck as Fuck It Tapes. I still love cassettes I just dont know where to play them because tape decks seem like these ancient artifacts you have to search out now! That is bizarre to me, how vinyl survived decades and decades but tapes disappeared. My favorite format is the vinyl LP. 
OOO: Were there any key bands that really impacted you, and made you pick up instruments?
NW: Yes, there are so many. The Ex, DNA, Red Transistor, Swirlies, Crass, Screamers and Lydia Lunch are all immediately influences. I think those are aparent, but what also really pumps us up is DJ Screw (the late Houston DJ who slowed down rap records) and personally speaking, lately all I can listen to is the "dud" T-Rex albums like "Futuristic Dragon". That record blows my mind!
OOO: Both Davis and Sacramento have been supportive of Night Wounds, and come out for your shows. I also hear lots of people talking about you guys, too. Besides your hometown, have you found this to be true anywhere else?
NW: Another place that comes to mind is Phoenix, AZ. Sacramento and Phoenix are two cities we will probably drive to do one off shows at. That's a good sign considering they are both five or six hours away from us!
OOO: Thanks for doing the interview! Have fun on tour, be safe, and we look forward to seeing you guys on your way home at the end of July!
NW: Thanks a ton! See you soooooooon.
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myspace.com/nightwounds
Official Website
Night Wounds 2006 Summer Tour
06-20 - Tucson, AZ
06-21 - El Paso, TX @ The House of Rock N' Roll w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys
06-22 - Odessa, TX @ Einstien's Revenge w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys
06-23 - Austin, TX @ The Parlour w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Assacre
06-24 - Denton, TX
06-25 - New Orleans, LA @ Big Top w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys
06-26 - Montgomery, AL @ Picklefish w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys
06-27 - Atlanta, GA @ Lenny's w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Airoes
06-28 - Asheville, NC @ Goldwood's Nilbog w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Look Up!, Kiosk, Finally Punk
06-29 - Greensboro, NC @ Spazzatorium w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Ultra Dolphins, Order
06-30 - Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Artspace w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Human Host
07-01 - Philadelphia, PA @ Danger Danger w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys
07-02 - Brooklyn, NY @ Goodbye Blue Monday w/ Hot Girls Cool GUys
07-03 - Easthampton, MA @ The Flywheel w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Greyskull
07-04 - Portsmouth, NH @ Chutney Flatz w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys
07-05 - Providence, RI
07-06 - NYC @ The Cake Shop w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Fxxxing Lion, Kiosk, Finally Punk
07-07 - Pittsburgh, PA @ TBA w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Japanther
07-08 – Cleveland, OH @ the Church
07-09 – Buffalo, NY @ the Kitchen Distribution
07-10 - Chicago, IL @ the Ex-Nihilist Gallery
07-11 - Iowa City, IA @ Cave of Spirts w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys
07-12 - St. Louis, MO
07-13 - Columbia, MO
07-14 - Kansas City, MO @ The Pistol w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys
07-16 - Denver, CO @ Monkey Mania w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Zs, This Song is a Mess, Pretty Thigh
07-17 - Salt Lake City, UT
07-18 - Boise, ID @ Area Code w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Pretty Thigh, Pussy Gutt
07-19 - Portland, OR @ Foodhole w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, Ikebana, Archaeopteryx
07-20 - Arcata, CA @ Placebo w/ Hot Girls Cool Guys, The Paislies
07-21 - San Francisco, CA @ ATA w/ Abe Vigoda, Hot Girls Cool Guys, Shearing Pinx
07-22 - Sacramento, CA @ Mission & El Camino w/ Abe Vigoda, Hot Girls Cool Guys, Shearing Pinx
07-24 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell w/ Shearing Pinx
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