5 Questions with Bobby from Poison Ivy League

I think it's about time I put a Plymouth band in "5 Questions," and who better to give the spotlight to than my good friend Bobby Davis. I've known Bobby literally the entire time I've been in college (we lived on the same floor in Blair many, many moons ago) and I've always liked the bands he has played in around campus. I have to say, though, that Poison Ivy League is my favorite work of Bobby's so far, and so I am glad that he obliged my mid-afternoon text to complete these questions by tonight. Poison Ivy League, as they say, "is good people" and you should look for their name on posters in the HUB, your dorm and anywhere else, really. Good stuff. Thanks Bobby!

1.) What is the writing process like for Poison Ivy League? Have you ever contemplated giving Jake's hair a writing credit?

Usually we just come up with something we like, and keep practicing it and adding parts till it's a song. Jake writes the most. Jake's hair is a huge influence on the band, almost as much as his beard.

2.) You switched from guitar over to bass for this band, have you always wanted to play bass/did you play at all before PIL?

Well, I'm not really a bassist, I just pretend I am. Haha.  I've always had a bass that I used every so often.  I used to play guitar for my old bands Way To Go! and Hung Out To Dry. One time I played bass for a pit band for High School Musical. 

3.)Do you guys have any plans of putting out music in a physical format, or just online? How do you acquire music in your personal life?

That we do. Our next EP release, entitled Dont Be Thrash will be out within the next month. It's pretty poppy, It'll be a free download on BandCamp and may be released on vinyl. It features our new drummer, Ben Theriault . I go to as many shows as I can on my free time around Portsmouth and Boston. Some cool local bands I've listening to lately are The New Warden, The Connection and Yo Ticonderoga

4.) How was you experience at Get Better Fest in Keene? I heard things got a little out of hand.

Yeah unfortunately we couldn't play. The Cootie Cave is located in a frat neighborhood. Or should I say neigh-bro-hood? Bros are the worst. Bros vs. punks makes for an interesting story, but not a fun time. Bet the rest of the weekend was fun though.

5.)Who are your biggest influences as a musician, and what bands do you find creeping into Poison Ivy League songs?

Personally my biggest influences are original pop punk bands like Screeching Weasel, The Queers, and of course The Ramones. As a band, we have an interesting combination of influences. Sometimes we add little Black Sabbath type riffs to our songs, like in "Not so Pretty," or sort of old school Weezer type melodies. But we all appreciate any good punk bands.