This fall, Cobra Skulls released their debut album for Fat Wreck Chords, titled Agitations. The band hails from Reno, Nevada and plays a unique brand of rockabilly-infused punk. Agitations is an urgent and well-rounded record, and certainly the most impressive effort thus far from Cobra Skulls. We spoke with singer/bassist Devin Peralta and discussed how the album was written and recorded, what some of its songs are about, touring and more.

Bill – Tell me about the writing process for Agitations and how you sequestered yourself inside a motel room in Reno for several weeks to write all the songs.

Devin – We toured in January and February last year with NOFX and The Bouncing Souls, and had scheduled time in March to record, but we had to push it back because we weren’t expecting to do that tour. The tour was great and after it finished, we were all living in different areas. I had a bunch of ideas for songs, but I just wanted to really write as much as possible since we didn’t have much time before recording. I just wrote and wrote for several weeks. We finally got together and rehearsed for like eight days before going in the studio. We spent three weeks in the studio, which is more than we’ve ever had before to record an album. Every song that made the album, I brought to the band to rehearse. We recorded every song and then every song went on the album. I don’t know if that’s standard process these days, but I feel like maybe that’s how some bands used to do it.

Bill – Very cool. That approach definitely seems efficient. What was it like recording at Motor Studios in San Francisco?

Devin – It was good. Motor Studios is great and the environment there is really easygoing. It’s in a cool location in San Francisco. You don’t feel like you’re cooped up and stuck in some remote location. Luke finished drums in three days and then we went on to do everything else after that. The process was pretty detailed compared to what we’ve done on the last two full-lengths. We recorded and mixed our first album in five and a half days, and we had over three weeks just to record this album. We spent a lot of time on guitar and bass tones and we used different microphones for me to sing into, things like that. Overall, it turned out really good and we’re happy with it.

Bill – That’s great. Like a lot of your previous songs, the lyrics on Agitations are pretty pissed off. What were some things that inspired your songwriting this time around?

Devin – I think each song kind of speaks for itself. What inspires me for each song varies. I’ve always been interested in religion and politics, but I don’t want to speak about those things on a broad scope. I touch on more environmental issues on this album and ecological concerns, as far as how humans live. We’re kind of engulfed in technology and our perspective on life has changed over the last ten years because of it. Economics and healthcare are touched on too. There are also some personal songs about relationships. It’s really whatever I’m inspired by and each song kind of reflects what I was feeling at the time. 

Bill – That makes sense. What’s the meaning behind the record’s title?

Devin – Like you said, I guess some of the things sound like I’m pissed off, so things that bother me or agitate me, (laughs). The title could also apply to things like the whole Occupy Wall Street movement that’s going on right now. That’s an agitation to the system that we live in. It’s kind of a vague title, but I like it because it can be interpreted in different ways like that. 

Bill – The song “On and On” talks about economic struggles and the strain that they can put on relationships. What motivated you to write its words?

Devin – Yeah, that song was almost on our last EP. I didn’t get around to showing it to the guys in time, but it was a good thing because it definitely evolved into a much better song. It’s more of a personal, relationship-type song. It’s not so much political or anything like that. I guess it’s more of an intimate song. However people want to interpret the song is totally cool with me. 

Bill – Tell me about the song “Solastalgia,” which addresses both consumerism and environmental issues.

Devin – Exactly. There are some terms in there like “eco-paralysis” and “global dread.” Those are terms that come from ecopsychology, which was started in the ‘70s. Ecopsychology is about how our state of mind is both directly and indirectly affected by how we live and how we relate to nature. That song is definitely influenced by ecopsychology. Solastalgia is this nostalgic feeling where people feel like they want to change things and use “green” products, and recycle, use public transportation and lessen their carbon footprint. At the same time, there are billions of people who don’t even care or don’t even know that they should care, so it’s almost like this eco-paralysis. It’s like you try to do good, but what’s the point? I’m not saying there’s no point in trying, but I’m saying that I understand the feeling. I think there are many, many people who have this feeling, whether they’re aware of the term or not. I think more and more people are feeling this way in societies like Europe and the United States where we kind of have this guilt for all that we have. It’s like how do we continue to eat and travel and do what we do without destroying the earth at the same time? Solastalgia is that feeling of hopelessness, but still wanting to do something positive. That’s what that song’s about.

Bill – That’s really interesting and definitely topical. Tell me about the mural that prompted the record’s artwork.

Devin – That’s a mural in Balmy Alley in San Francisco. It’s called Desaparecidos Pero No Olvidados and it’s by a Peruvian artist who made the mural in I think 1989. It’s still there on the fence in this alley. The images on the mural are depictions from struggles and revolutions in his home country. I photographed the mural because I felt like it reflected the agitations of Peru and meshed well with the theme of the album.

Bill – Absolutely. How was your recent tour with Nothington?

Devin – It was good, it was about six weeks long. We’ve known Nothington for a while and we’re good friends with them, so it was awesome to tour with a band that we’re already comfortable with. They have a couple new members, but they were awesome guys too. It was really great to tour with them because sometimes you kind of want to go and hang out with other people that aren’t in your band and that you’re not stuck in a van with all the time. It’s good to have other people that you’re already friends with on tour. They’re an awesome band too. Their new album is amazing and definitely one of my favorites of 2011.

Bill – Of all the places you guys have played shows, is there a city in particular that’s surprised you in terms of the response you’ve gotten or maybe somewhere that you’ve really enjoyed playing that you didn’t think you would?

 Devin – When we first played Toronto, I was surprised by the response we got and actually Vancouver too. Canada has been great to us. Ottawa was great on this recent tour also. When we first played Ithaca, New York we didn’t know what to expect and there’s this little scene in Ithaca, which is great. The kids there are totally into it and there’s a great promoter who puts everything into putting on a good show.

Bill – How would you describe your hometown of Reno and the music scene there to someone who’s never been?

Devin – I’d say Reno is where the Midwest meets the West Coast. It’s ten minutes from the border of California. It’s in the shadow of Vegas, but it’s not even close to Las Vegas, it’s eight hours away. It’s two hours from Sacramento and three and a half hours from San Francisco, so to me it’s practically California. It’s inundated with rednecks, but otherwise it’s a pretty cool town. It’s called “The Biggest Little City in the World” and it has a bit of a small town vibe to it. There’s lots of entertainment always going on because of the gambling and people coming over from California on buses. It’s overrun with tourists, but at the same time it isn’t at all as crazy as Vegas. The university is there and it’s really close to downtown. You can walk everywhere in Reno, which is great. I like Reno. It’s a high desert town and it’s pretty cool.

Bill – Bands on Fat Wreck Chords often talk about the sense of family that comes with being a part of the label. Since joining their roster, is there a band in particular that you’ve bonded the most with? 

Devin – We’re good friends with Teenage Bottlerocket and Dead To Me. Those bands are really good friends of ours. We’ve gotten to know Banner Pilot pretty well and those guys are awesome. I feel like every band on Fat Wreck Chords that we know is really cool. All the bands that I’ve met and toured with and played shows with have been really down to earth and really friendly. We toured with The Loved Ones and they’re awesome. The Mad Caddies were great too.

Bill – What do Cobra Skulls have planned for 2012?

Devin – We’re taking a break right now, but we’re confirmed for Groezrock in Belgium in April and there might be something happening with Australia. That would be in March. We’re just taking the winter off to work our odd jobs while at home and hang out with our families and girlfriends. We’re going to take a quick breather and then get ready for spring and whatever comes along after that.