1. Before we begin, Mustard would like to thank you for being here. How are you doing?
Thanks for asking. We’re tired, excited and a little hungry right now.
2. Could you share with Mustard how you met? Who came up with your band name?
So I met Rosey in College and we’re married. But she didn’t join the band initially. It was Me, Chris and our two former members who started it. I didn’t know Chris until he came in to drum. Eventually Rosey joined the band a few years later when we kept writing horn parts for her to play. Our original guitar player was the one who suggested the name, but it’s actually Chris’ favorite movie so it worked out wonderfully!
3. This question is out of season, but do you consider “Die Hard” a Christmas movie?
Absolutely. The season it takes place in, the music. It’s filled with holiday cheer and a message of how important family is and the dangers of greed.
4. On your newest record, “With a Vengeance”, you let listeners know credit cards are a product of Satan. Could you elaborate further? Are there any other items that Satan controls? What can humans do to help combat predatory lenders?
Now, Satan is in control of greed related vices, Norwegian Metal and Stza from Leftover Crack. God’s in control of Joy, natural disasters and the hot era of Michael W Smith. How to properly deal with the issue of predatory lending is a difficult one that is outside my wheelhouse. I just sing about not liking it and hope someone else has the knowledge to fix it.
5. A statement is made on “Let’s Drive Everywhere”: dolphins are assholes. What can you share about dolphins others may not know? They are a social creature, should humans keep their distance?
Dolphins are highly intelligent and, as well as humans, are known to kill for sport. Honestly we definitely shouldn’t capture them and place them in the confined spaces we do, also I’m pretty damn sure they’d eat one of us if the opportunity arises.
6. Additionally, on “Let’s Drive Everywhere”, the issue of Climate Change is brought up. Mustard found this song to be satirical. Was this intentional? What actions can humans take to help curb climate change?
Let’s Drive Everywhere started as a joke song that Rosey and I sang acapella. It’s satire places the irony of being in a band, promoting & believing in being good to our environment, and proceeding to pump greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere by traveling across the nation in a non fuel efficient vehicle. Honestly, human’s need to put pressure on their governments to pass laws that force corporations and our militaries (noted by Winona LaDuke in “The Militarization of Indian Country,” the US military is the largest polluter in the world) to limit their emissions. But this doesn’t solve it all. Frankly there’s too much power/energy consumption in the western world, we all need to collectively use less. Our way of life isn’t sustainable. No amount of renewable energy is going to solve that. I think rematriation, giving land back to the care of indigenous peoples & following indigenous leaders is a start, as, among many other things, their home ranges currently shelter 80% of earth’s biodiversity.
7. How has social media played a role in your music? Why is it important to praise the algorithm?
The Almighty Algorithm, all honor and glory to thee, is a mysterious entity. Its knowledge is vast, its blessings bountiful, its wrath terrifying. Feed The Algorithm daily and you will be rewarded with the fruit of your labor. However if you ignore The Algorithm, The Algorithm ignores you. Be not forgotten by the Algorithm, for the likes, loves and laughs will then not come.
8. You will be going on tour soon. What can fans expect from a Hans Gruber and The Die Hards show? Who would Hans Gruber and The Die Hards love to tour with?
Our show’s are filled with chaos, sock puppets, conga lines, a scantily clad singer, and joyful, cathartic fun. We’d love to tour with just about anyone, but I think a run with our friends in Joytstick! or Flying Raccoon Suit would be a blast! Or big goals – a Japan tour with Maximum The Hormone!
9. Mustard interviewed Common Sense Kid, also a member of Ska Punk International. How did you and SPI come together?
We’d interacted a bit online & he also interviewed our sister band “Los Kurados” on the year anniversary of their album. Then we did “Songs for Moms” with him and so began our relationship. When the album was fully mixed I sent it to him to see what he thought. More or less, he said no matter where we decided to release, he’d want to do the cassettes for us. Eventually we decided to commit to just releasing through SPI and it was such a good choice, we probably should have made it sooner!
10. If you could create a concept album out of any conspiracy, what would it be? Why?
Maybe not the whole KGC conspiracy per se, but I’d love to do an album detailing the parts related to the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine out in Arizona. More or less there’s this guy, Jakob Waltz, who’d keep coming into town with gold he’d mine from a special place somewhere in the mountains and he never told people where he found it. The rumors get wild, lost confederate gold, Spanish conquistadors, sacred Apache land, you name it! There are stories of execution style bodies being found while looking, black helicopters, indigenous ghosts, it’s all over the place!!!
11. Do you have any exercise tips? What should humans avoid when trying to do a squat?
Exercise several times a week. If your body hurts, and it’s not in a “I’m getting stronger” way, stop. Don’t compare your progress to other people, it’s about your personal goals for yourself. Also if you need little reminders or someone to keep you accountable follow Adam from 0mnig0ne’s instagram stories.
12. Where can readers find your music?
https://fanlink.to/hans-gruber-with-a-vengeance
-Hans Gruber and the Die Hards-
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hansgruberandthediehards/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HansGruberAndTheDieHards
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1m88WUT-RiTcQ2jUPy_wA
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hansgruberandthediehards?lang=en
Music Shelf With Mustard 