Since the mid 80's and excluding for various reasons, the last several years, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Cynics have been one of America's finest purveyors of fuzz infested, nitro burnin', retro 60's garage punk. The Cynics' head honcho and Get Hip Record label owner Gregg Kostelich, has guided his band through 6 albums, 20 or so singles and dozens of compilation appearances. After numerous tours of North America and jaunts to Europe, the group had developed a large following worldwide for their heavy guitar retro rock 'n' roll. There was nothing in my mind that quite compared at the time of their pinnacle album "Rock And Roll", as to the sonic pummelling and majesty that this group could put out in a live setting. Two previous visits to our hub years back, the first with The Brood at Barrymores, the second with The Monomen at the original Zaphod's left fans and new inductees to the Cynics, with new and modern rock heroes! All of a sudden a couple of years back the Cynics went into retirement as the rigors of juggling a band and running a growing record company began to take it's toll. Now it's 2001 and kerpow the Cynics are back (again!!!) in action and playing the Dominion Tavern on November 23rd. (See SHOW REVIEW from May 11th below)

The CYNICS  LIVE @ The DOMINION TAVERN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd, 2001

1.Gregg, it's been awhile... Welcome back! The Cynics have been back in action for about a year now. What prompted you to kick-start it again ? Whose in the band?

I missed the music first of all; and the requests from fans to play again were overwhelming... The current lineup includes Michael (Kastelic) and myself of course, Tom Hohn (from the Rock'n'Roll lineup) on drums, and Smith Hutchins on bass.

2. Running a record label and a "serious" band has got to be a realtime consumer. What's the balancing that you perform to make them both work?

Yes! 16 to 18 hour days, 7 days a week. A real tough juggling act.

3. For a number of years now we've been hearing that guitar oriented rock is a thing of the past (which I personally think is bunk!) any thoughts on that ?

I agree. I feel we are going through the same thing we did when disco was big or flock of seagulls... But it never killed it so same goes for today's situation.

4. You've always been a big rock 'n' roll fan and told me once, or someone did, that you have a huge collection of records. Do you still collect? What stuff do you listen to the most? What's you're all-time favorite band? At the end of a long day, do you listen to music when you get home?

Yes, I still buy records whenever I can. What I listen to depends on the mood I'm in: garage or easy listening, jazz... When I go home I sleep!

5. You have a great label and obviously you are still passionate about it shown by the releases that you put out. How do you decide on what to release, given the amount of great bands out there, both established and new?

The first thing I consider is the songwriting and the sound of the band. Second is the direction the band has and the tour support they are willing to provide to the record. In that order. But lately I've realized that tour suppport has to be the #1 factor. It is really important in order to have a successful release.

6. Any long range plans for the Cynics? Tours ? Festivals? Records?

All of the above.

7. Tell us your greatest rock 'n' roll thrill...

Seeing The Who, Rolling Stones, Blues Magoos and Paul Revere & The Raiders when I was 5 or 6 years old.

8. Who's your favorite Get Hip artist and what's your favorite Get Hip release? What upcoming releases would you tell people to watch for?

That'a a tough question to answer. I really like them all. Because of the effort involved on researching and restoring lost recordings I guess I'm especially proud of the Archive releases but the new bands we just released are really great (Mullens, Sons of Hercules, Irving Klaws, Razzels, Deep Reduction, Gore Gore Girls...). This summer We are going to release the new Kaisers album and the second Deep Reduction album featuring Deniz Tek and Rob Younger of Radio Birdman fame...

After a years worth of pestering and an absence equaling a decade, rock 'n' roll dreams were finally ended with the triumphant return of one of America's finest exponents of primordial ooze, the Cynics! Pittsburgh's favorite sons played an awe inspiring set of full boar rawk to a crowded house filled with people who in most cases had never seen the band before! From the opening crunch of "You Got The Love", through classics and fave cuts like "Now I'm Alone", "Baby What's Wrong" and Tears Are Coming" the Cynics fired on all cylinders from start to finish. Easily as great a show as I have ever seen them play it goes to prove that it just gets better with age! Anyone out there who ever has a chance to see the Cynics, must do it! The band has re-asserted themselves as one of the best rock 'n' bands in America! Welcome back and come again whenever you'd like! R.A.F.R.