Getting to Know… Linnea’s Garden | Interview

In the 507^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from the Boston-based punk rock band Linnea’s Garden. 

And there you have it! Discussing their evolution, guitarist and lead vocalist, Dr. Linnea Herzog, states, “We’ve evolved from livestreams to playing local Boston clubs to touring nationally, from simple chords and lyrical ideas to more complex riffs and finding ways to convey my unique perspective on a shared theme.” Herzog provides the inside scoop on the band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into Getting to Know… Linnea’s Garden: Interview No. 507!

---

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Dr. Linnea Herzog: Linnea’s Garden plays punk rock you can dance to.

---

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Linnea’s Garden form, and what were some of your goals or visions early?

Dr. Herzog: Originally from the Twin Cities, I came to Boston to study neuroscience and played in many bands before forming my own in 2020. The current lineup of Linnea’s Garden came together when our previous bands, PowerSlut and Corner Soul, were competing finalists in Boston’s famed Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble. I was so inspired by their rhythm section that I knew I had to play music with them.

---

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or perspectives changed since you first started? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Dr. Herzog: We’ve evolved from livestreams to playing local Boston clubs to touring nationally, from simple chords and lyrical ideas to more complex riffs and finding ways to convey my unique perspective on a shared theme. We’re always working, whether it’s writing, rehearsing, booking, or making the music video for “Stop Codon” that’ll be released soon. The goal is and has always been elevation.

---

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences, and how are they influential?

Dr. Herzog: My biggest musical inspirations are artists like David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, and Debbie Harry, who kept evolving while staying true to themselves. The non-musical influences behind “Stop Codon” include a fascination with dystopian fiction like 1984 and Brave New World, sci-fi movies like The Matrix and Minority Report, queer glam rock films like Velvet Goldmine and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and scientific advances like gene editing and brain plasticity.

---

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Dr. Herzog: On the second-to-last date of our second Midwest tour, we woke up in Youngstown, Ohio, and drove to Ridgewood, NY, to finish basic tracks for our EP that night. We spent the next four days recording and playing a gig at The Broadway. It was an absolute blast.

---

To this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Dr. Herzog: “Pathological Liar.” Every time we play, it is cathartic. It’s an example of how art can take the worst and make it the best.

---

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left-of-center we should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

Dr. Herzog: In my other job as a scientist, I’m working on treatments for hearing loss.

---

What is Linnea’s Garden currently working on or promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about (“Stop Codon”)? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

Dr. Herzog: Stop Codon is like an off switch for your DNA. In the song, “Stop Codon” is a metaphor for cutting off bad habits, toxic thought patterns, and exercising free will. We’re making our SXSW debut, followed by a Southwest tour in promotion of “Stop Codon”:

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

---

Getting to Know… Linnea’s Garden: Interview No. 507 [📷: Linnea’s Garden]

---