Welcome to ’60 Minutes or less’ - a podcast from Birthday Cake For Breakfast - where for episode 63, it’s a thrill to feature an interview with Jim Ward of Sparta and At the Drive-In!

A native of El Paso, Texas, Ward co-founded cult American post-hardcore band At the Drive-In and during his tenure, released a trio of studio albums and several EPs to much acclaim, before the band knocked it on the head in 2001.

Moving on from the break up sharpish, Ward’s next move was to form Sparta with members of At the Drive-In. With numerous line-up changes over the lifetime of the band, the outfit have put out six studio albums across 20+ years, with their latest album - ‘Cut a Silhouette’ - arriving May 2026 via Equal Vision Records.

I caught up with Jim over Zoom the week of releasing ‘Cut a Silhouette’, where we spoke of the new record, as well as the built up mythology of At the Drive-In, drinking to cope with music industry pressures, a lifelong love of Billy Joel and the infamous At the Drive-In appearance on ‘Later... with Jools Holland’, featuring a bemused Robbie Williams.

If you like the episode, let us know - follow us on your favourite streaming platform and follow Birthday Cake For Breakfast on all the socials. Find us on the socials and everything else here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to ’60 Minutes or less’ - a podcast from Birthday Cake For Breakfast - where for episode 62, it’s a real treat to feature an interview with Evan Cartwright and Ben Stidworthy, two thirds of Canadian post-punkers COLA.

With guitarist and vocalist Tim Darcy completing the trio, COLA brings together players from Ought and U.S. Girls and they’ve got chops in abundance. The power-trio have put out three glittering full lengths in their time together, with their 2024 release ‘The Gloss’ being a personal favourite.

Their latest album ‘Cost of Living Adjustment’ arrived May 2026 via Fire Talk Records, another vibe-y collection of smart art-punk numbers. I spoke with Evan and Ben over Zoom ahead of the release of the new record, where we touched on playing with METZ in Berlin and the rumour of a trip to Berghain, as well as creativity, having your ideas pinched by The Strokes and the Manchester baggy sound. Stick around till the end too for some real choice Manchester chat.

If you like the episode, let us know - follow us on your favourite streaming platform and follow Birthday Cake For Breakfast on all the socials. Find us on the socials and everything else here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to ’60 Minutes or less’ - a podcast from Birthday Cake For Breakfast - where for episode 61, I’m tickled pink to feature an interview with Éliane Viens and Félix Bélisle of Canadian art-punks, La Sécurité!

A head-spinning art-punk collective based out of Montreal, La Sécurité first caught my attention with the release of a couple of knock out singles in 2024. Wonky bops that take in everything from egg-punk to new-wave to post-punk, their energetic concoctions are best encountered at a sweaty live show.

Following up on their 2023 released debut album ‘Stay Safe!’, their new album ‘Bingo!’ arrives June 12th 2026 via Bella Union and Mothland. The reveal of this came out during our interview as we actually spoke with La Sécurité in October 2025, not long after the quintet had rocked my world at Manchester Psych Fest.

Recorded over Zoom, we spoke of the new record, as well as signing with Bella Union and hanging out with Simon Raymonde, being “Montreal late” - owing to Éliane’s late arrival - and having a song featured in TV sensation ‘Emily In Paris’.

If you like the episode, let us know - follow us on your favourite streaming platform and follow Birthday Cake For Breakfast on all the socials. Find us on the socials and everything else here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.