If you think Rock music is in a slump right now, well, you just might be right...if you just listen to the radio or what is topping the charts. But it’s your rock ‘n’ roll duty to look harder ! And if you happen to lurk into Philly’s local rock scene you will find plenty of great bands, such as Germantown’s Surgeon. This quartet, featuring Scan Boltron (Bass/Vocals), Lydia Giordano (Guitar), Chris Wilson (Rhythm Guitar) and Ari Miller (Drums) have been preaching their brand of trippy, heavy rock all over the City of Brotherly Love at well-known rock clubs such as The Fire and North Star Bar.

The band was formally known as Bumrunner, but had to change their name due to its vulgar interpretation overseas in the UK. Bumrunner had released an EP (titled Pull) which featured the song, “Surgeon,” so the band decided to use Surgeon from then on. Surgeon’s sound has hints of the glory days of rock: the early 90s, mixed with modern influences, and also prog-rock...with tricky guitar riffs and music that will keep you asking for more! We just had to find out more about this band! So here it is, the Q&A with Surgeon frontman, Scan Boltron.

CS: Do you do anything special before your shows to get ready?

Scan: We generally sacrifice a small animal like a rat, squirrel, or chicken to use for a blood ritual, where we evoke the power of dark spirits. This gives us our special power.

CS: You guys and gal have played at The Fire (which should be renamed "The Walking Fire" in my opinion), and the North Star Bar in Philly and also outside of this city - at Pianos in NYC. Does the band have a favorite venue to play here in Philly? The east coast?

Scan: Our favorite places to play are usually not venues. They are basements and D.I.Y. type shows. We actually got our start this way and when we made the transition over to venues we found ourselves a little uncomfortable, but we’ve since gotten over that.

CS: Are there any bands that Surgeon loves sharing a bill with here in Philly, or any band in general that you could see yourselves playing with?

Scan: Well, we really like playing with all our friends. There is the Victor Victor Band, the Sykes, Seizure 17, and the Murderhouse Band.

CS: How long have you been playing together as a band, and when did you meet?

Scan: The current incarnation of the band has been together for a little less than a year, but we have known each other and been playing together for years. Too many to count...since preschool.

CS: Who is the primary songwriter in the band both lyrically and musically?

Scan: Everything starts with Lydia. She gets an idea, molds it and refines it until she is happy, and then the rest of the group is included. Lyrically, though, I write the words.

CS: Bumrunner released the EP Pull, from which you guys PULLED your new name. Can we expect a Surgeon EP or, dare I say, full-length CD in the near future?

Scan: Yes we are currently working on new material, which we hope to record this winter and release by spring.

CS: Who influenced Lydia to play guitar, and who does the band as a whole collectively respect and look up to as a band and major influence?

Scan: Lydia's playing is influenced by a lot of things. Being the daughter of a jazz guitar player can be beneficial to a musician. Also, many years of playing the cello seems to have had some influence on her as well.

CS: Are there any goals Surgeon has set and hopes to accomplish, such as record contracts, touring outside of the east coast, or selling out stadiums?

Scan: Well, we always wish to be successful, but not at the cost of creativity or freedom. A lot of this band deals with self exploration as well as musical experimentation, and to put our selves in a position to compromise either based on someone holding a wad of cash at the end of the tunnel doesn’t look like our direction.

CS: Rock music seems to get progressively better and better each day with new bands coming out all the time...especially here in Philly. What do you think of the local rock scene in Philly and overall?

Scan: Overall I think Philly is a pretty cool place. It’s not the best nor worst town for rock music. I feel its gotten better over the last couple of years. There seems to be some good things on the horizon for this town and rock.

CS: Finally, PB&J or Peanut Butter and Fluff?

Scan: Neither. Turkey eggs and Duck bacon.