OMC: What does the future have in store for the band?

Clem: It depends on which band member you ask. I'm always keeping our ultimate goals in mind. I think the future of the record and radio industries will have a lot to do with that. If record companies would get their heads out of their asses and sign bands that have talent and then actually promote them, we might stand a chance at surviving. The radio stations would also need to move their heads and start taking chances by playing different music, as opposed to what their research groups tell them about what the people want to hear. I'm not blaming our lack of not reaching our ultimate goals on these industries. I'm just saying they don't help at all. Maybe mp3's and the Internet will somehow play a bigger role for independent bands in the future, but I can't imagine record companies letting that happen because they'd lose money. I despise record company weasels. I pity the fool that actually tries to someday offer us a sub-par deal. Sorry for the mini-rant.

Micah: Clem, I didn't know you had that in you. My guess is that we'll eat good food, find fun, and make music. What else is there?

OMC: What are your favorite things to do in Milwaukee? What do you do for fun around here?

Clem: My friends, this band, Summerfest, the East Side, Harley-Davidson, and the Packers. Define fun? I enjoy hanging out with friends. We eat, drink, see bands, and ride Micah's jet ski.

Steve: I've been in Milwaukee for 11 years and I love it. I love to travel, but I always love coming back to Milwaukee. It's not the best place to be an aspiring musician. It's hard to get noticed here, but it's a great place to grow unaffected as an artist.

For fun I eat, drink and shop. I love Soup Brothers. It's right near our rehearsal space, and they have amazing food and play cool music. I'm heavily biased, but I love Harry's and The Knick. They both have great menus, they’re open late and the people are very friendly. I love to shop at Detour on Brady St., Phase II on Farwell Ave. and Value Village on MLK Dr. and North Ave.

OMC: Good music seems to be hard to find these days. Who are you guys into now?

Clem: I disagree. There is good music everywhere. You have to know where to find it. In my opinion, it's not on the radio. I'm fortunate enough to have a group of friends and band mates that have a wide scope of musical tastes. We recommend music to each other and feed off it. For example a couple years ago Steve introduced me to (the band) Travis. I can't thank him enough. It's all I listened to this summer.

Steve: I like The Strokes record and the new Ben Folds solo record. The new Ryan Adams is also pretty impressive. I'm a huge Guided By Voices fan. Weezer, Travis and Radiohead are three bands who have achieved the ultimate creative and critical success combined with big time record sales. I'm not a true indie guy. My dream is to turn on KISS FM and hear Built to Spill, Elliot Smith, Wilco, you get what I'm saying. I don't want to keep the best music underground. I want to run crappy bands like Three Doors Down and matchbox twenty out of town and rid the planet of mediocre music.

OMC: What kind of response have you gotten on a nationwide level?

Steve: It has been very positive. Everyone who hears the record loves it. It's just a matter of getting it to more people and timing. Most record company people have been playing it safe, trying to find the next Creed or Limp Bizkit. That's nothing new. We will just keep doing our thing, and maybe our time will come. If it doesn't, oh well. We'll always have our songs. That is the most important thing.

OMC: Any shows scheduled in the near future?

Micah: We'll be at The Globe on Thurs., Dec. 14. After that, check out our web site, www.petengine.com. I know we'll be rehearsing every week down on S. 1st St. Stop by if you want.