Hailing from Appleton, WI, Choose Your Poison is a thrashtastic band made up of some of the most awesome people you'll ever meet. Personally, I've played my fair share of shows and done a good deal of partying with them, always a blast. No strangers to the scene, Shane (drums/vocals) runs the ever more famous Poison Estate in Appleton, and Toban (guitar/vocals) and Liz (bass) are both in Wartorn.

To start with, let's do the history lesson. How long have you been around? How has the lineup changed over the years?
Toban: Shane, Toeknee and I started jamming in fall of 2003. In july of 06', toeknee moved to minneapolis and thats when Lizard joined.
SHANE: My life has been on a downward spiral ever since we started this band.

I've heard you guys numerous times and detect elements of hardcore, crust, thrash, and straight up punk. If you had to, where would you put yourselves?
Toban: Were probably best described as melodic electronica math indie death core.
Shane: ...with a hint of lime.
Elizabeth: well in all seriousness, i detect elements of hardcore, crust, thrash and straight up punk.

On that note, what are your major influences?
Toban: Im all about crossover/thrash, Bands like DRI, The Accused, Suicidal Tendencies, stuff like that. I like alot of stoner metal, some crust, 80's hc and hip hop too.
Elizabeth: One cup of motorhead, 2 tablespoons of suicidal tendencies--(the first record only), a teaspoon anthrax, and a dash of toni basil.
SHANE: We never set out to sound like any one band or genre. Were a thrash band, but it also happens that we all are into metal and crust, so thiose couple of things just weasel their way in. Personally Im big into shit like Damge Deposit, Crucial Unit, Initial State, Asschapel, His Hero is Gone.

For those who have not been graced by your presence, what's the mentality behind Choose Your Poison?
Shane: We want to make millions. Whatever it takes to get that stretch Hummer w/ a hot tub in the rear.
Toban: We like to party and thrash it up. Meeting people/bands from all over is cool too.
Elizabeth: And touring the West Coast this summer will be a blast...what better way to play with other bands and party with different people!

You recently released a seven inch and subsequently ended up getting signed. How's that going and what are your plans from here?
Toban: Bacon Towne Records has been super awesome to us, there putting out our second ep "Party Zone", then were going to tour to the west coast. Were totally stoked with them as our label.
Shane: Everything we have put out has been on our own personal expense, so having Bacon Towne to back our ass up helps alot.



You've toured in the past; give us the craziest experience/show from that.
Elizabeth: I played a show once and this kid named Bones was there once! What a fuckin wreck!
TOBAN: Bowl Bash at Skatopia was nuts! Its 80+ acres of complete anarchy, 500+ drunk people everywhere. There was a ton of bands with no set time slot so we had to fight our spot wich ended up being 3 in the morning. Shane broke his hand. At the end of our set, some one jumped into shanes drum set and another gave me a choke hold and poured beer on my head as i was playing. Crazy shit, but a good time.
Shane: We got kinda fucked on BOWL BASH too, not only did I get my hand broken on the second day of tour, but they donot pay bands or even make it possible for them to put up merch. In all honesty I think that merch and gas money was the last thing on our minds w/ being in a crossfire of 10 roman candle wars. There was absolutely no fuckin structure to anything, it was straight up chaos. For a while I thought we went to thrash heaven.

What describes your ideal show?
TOBAN: Beer, Weed, and Circle Pits.
Elizabeth: beer and a fully packed basement show with everyone rockin out
Shane: Whiskey, whammy dives and PIZZA! ALL AT ONCE!!

Wisconsin has a weird scene that isn't real centralized. I find myself frequently driving across the whole damn state for shows. How is the scene in Appleton?
Elizabeth: For me, coming originally from Chicago, I was quite surprised at how awesome the scene is in Appleton. Its a lot bigger than I thought it would be for the size of the city and its a pretty diverse scene ranging from some street punks--thrashers---crusties---etc. Everyone gets along well too so the shows are always a blast.
TOBAN: Appleton is awesome, its not incredibly big. The people who hang out and come to shows are awesome. We try our best to take care of bands that come through, unless there dicks wich isnt reall often. I recomend any touring band to come through and check it out.
Shane: This city is cool. Its not very big, but because of that there arent enough people to really segragate us from ourselves. Almost everyone one at least knows each other for the better. We dont all sing the same song, but no punk community does.
We dont have to always have to lock our doors, cars or bikes and that fuckin rules.
Running the Poison Estate becomes hard though. I feel there is alot expected of us and being one of the only house venues, it becomes stressful knowing that if I cant hook this band up, they might not even get a show. Sometimes the best I can do is drop some contacts to the band to sister cities like Madison, Milwaukee or even Eau Claire. I would like to see someone else pick up the torch and rock that shit w/ us.


Toban, Liz: both of you are also acting members of Wartorn. How does this work for you? Does one band have priority over the other? I know that Wartorn practices at the Poison Estate, so do just have a joint band practice? How the hell do you manage to stay afloat in light of all the touring going on? More specifically, what happens to Choose Your Poison while Wartorn is in Europe?
Toban: Sometimes I stretch myself a little thin, but overall it works out. Choose Your Poison and Wartorn usually practice on the same day for about an hour each, so that works out all right. As far as priority goes, I really dig what we do in each band. I get a little more pull in choose your poison because i been in this band couple years longer but both bands balance out fine. When one band tours, the other one just waits a little bit, its no big deal.
Liz: Luckily since it is almost a 45 minute drive each way for me from green bay to appleton we do get to have a joint practice---works out really nice, yet it does make for a long day after a full time job to throw in the mix. Both bands are important--they have to be, otherwise it wouldn't be worth playing in one if you're not set 100% into it. Things work out well for touring, we're only going to be gone for about 3 weeks for Wartorn in Europe, which will be a nice little break from recording the new 7" for Choose Your Poison and setting up the CYP July tour
What's your favorite beer?
Elizabeth: hmmm, miller light....gotta keep the bod lookin good with low carbs---its a good diet drink!
Shane: Im really workin on my downward spiral, so I stick it to whiskey.
TOBAN: Pabst, or becks when im feeling classy

Do you guys do a lot of skateboarding on tour? What's your favorite skatespot, local or national?
TOBAN: I dont skateboard as much as i should on tour. Im not reall good, but I have fun with it. We have hit up some awesome parks on the way, like FDR Park in Philly and Louisville skate park.
Shane: Toeknee made up for a lot of our lack of balance when it came to skatin. I dont think ANY of us are good at it, but we have fun and thats all that matters.

Who has the highest bowling average out of CYP/the Appleton area crew? Who is the best at Guitar Hero?
TOBAN: Toeknee was the highest bowler, Im prolly second to him. I rule at Guitar Hero, period.
SHANE: Excuse Toban for sounding so cocky. Its all fun and games until you start playing w/ the big dawgs on HARD.

Last words/shout outs?
TOBAN: Hi Mom.
Elizabeth: the 7" is almost finished...yeah, baby, yeah!
Shane: My mom is too wasted to read. Thanks to Heather and MArk @Bacon Towne. Well see the rest of you on Tour this Summer. STAY CHUFF