RC: On your European tour, you're playing a lot of countries that seem "less traditional" for an American band to hit (Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia). Why did you guys select them?
Barb: We left the booking up to the booker. We said to him, "we want to go all over and experience a lot of scenes." I have no idea what to expect from all these countries, but we are very excited to see how everything turns out.
RC: What's it like being a women in a hardcore band? Do you feel like it's more difficult, that hardcore is a "boy's club?" Do you feel like you get taken less seriously as a hardcore band because you're a women?
Barb: I feel pretty lucky that I have not had to deal with sexism within the DIY scene. If anything, being a woman fronting a band who is vocal grabs people's attention more so than a male sometimes, and I use that factor to my advantage to speak my mind.
Sexism is still prevalent in punk and the only way to cut it out of our lives is to address issues and comments when they happen and say we don't stand for that in our scene. Being an active aggressive member of our scene as a female hopefully inspires other girls to get involved and brings the issue to light that girls play instruments, write zines, put on shows, etc.
RC: What can we expect in the future from I Object?
Barb: We have a lot coming up throughout this year as far as touring is concerned. We hope to start touring more outside the USA and experiencing other scenes and cultures.
RC: Any closing thoughts?
Barb: We are always looking for new places to play. E-mail us at rockwellrenaissance@hotmail.com.
