Author: Jeff Ayers

Interview: Unearth talks of new tour, new record, and new friends

Unearth, hailing from Eastern Massachusetts, are primed to hit the road on tour in support of their new album, Watchers of Rule, from eOne Entertainment on Oct. 27. A week before the tour started, I got the chance to sit down with the singer and guitarist, Trevor Phipps and Buz McGrath respectively, to have a fun chat about what was in store for the tour and the album.

Tour starts October 13.

Jeff Ayers: So your tour starts in a week, are you guys pumped?

Trevor Phipps: Yea super pumped.

Buz McGrath: Fully pumped, i mean, we got Darkest Hour, the realist motherfuckers in the game –

TP: Carnifex, Origin, it is going to be a hot bill.

JA: Yea, can you guys speak a little bit about how this tour lineup came to be? It seems really well put together.

BG: We went through a hundred lineup changes, and everyone canceled on us, so Darkest Hour, we suckered them into it.

TP: [laughs]

BG: Then they agreed, and it was supposed to be a month, but they [could only do] twelve shows. But everyone on this tour is awesome.

JA: I actually got the opportunity to talk with Jason Keyser, the singer of Origin on their last tour, and he said he was excited to hit the road with these bands, being such a different kind of lineup.

BG: His last name is Keyser?

JA: Yea, Jason.

BG: Oh I can’t wait to meet him, I am just gonna call him KEYSER all day.

JA: [laughs] He will probably love it.

BG: Yeah, we never met them, but we are hoping to make some new friends there.

JA: I bet you will, they are great dudes. This tour is going to end with the Housecore Horror Film Festival. Were you guys on that last year, and what is that going to be like?

TP: No, this is our first time. Horror movies and heavy metal! How can you go wrong?

JA: So let’s talk a little bit about Watchers of Rule. Where did the name come from?

BG: It was originally called Breakdown Lane, but we changed it to something more epic. [laugh] But [Trevor] Phipps is going to tell you more about that.

TP: Yeah, Watchers of Rule came from the entire record being about personal experiences and current events, not politics. Watchers of Rule to me means those that have the power to watch over us, are actually the ones with the power.

JA: Very cool. I love the album artwork as well, who was the artist?

TP: That’s Richey Beckett, he is from the U.K., he did the album artwork for a band on my label IronClad Recordings, called Armed for Apocalypse, and the album was The Road Will End. It was killer cover, and everyone in Unearth liked what he had to offer, and it turned out he was a fan of the band as well, so he drew up a cover for our record.

JA: Awesome, it totally fits the sound. I listened to the whole record, and I thought you guys brought a solid full album experience on this. What is your writing process? Do you hit the studio with a ton of ideas or does it take shape in the recording process?

BG: We have a lot of it down before we hit the studio, but a lot of the ‘detail’ stuff happens in the studio while you are doing it. But ninety percent of the music is there before we get into the studio.

JA: Lyrically speaking too, do you go into an album with an overall idea lyrically? Or does that kind of morph as the music is being written?

TP: It kind of morphs as the music evolves. It is a mood a might feel with a specific song. Also though, it does reflect the past year or two before the record was written. On tour, if I come across something that inspires me, I’ll just jot down a note that might impact me at that time, and I will go back and revisit that and if it matches up how I feel about a certain song, I’ll jot down some lyrics to it.

JA: So I am sure you have been playing some of this new material out, and getting the crowd feel for it. My favorite track on the record is “Guards of Contagion”, I think that you guys bring everything that Unearth is about with that track. Is there any track you guys are excited to start working into sets?

BG: Yeah that is one of them!

TP: That is the second single that is coming out, in a month or two.

JA: Awesome!

BG: We haven’t played that one live yet, we are playing it on this upcoming tour, and it should be fun.

JA: Speaking of this tour, what’s next for you guys after this wraps up?

BG: I don’t know, do you know any bands that need someone to tour with them?

JA: [laughs] I could put the word out!

BG: Tell em Unearth is looking for gigs!

TP: We don’t have anything solid, but we will be touring on this record, so keep an eye out.

Unearth in South Africa

JA: You guys are usually busy, touring and playing as much as you can. Do you have any favorite places to play?

BG: I like Los Angeles. Just because it’s kind of shitty, and Hollywood. It’s fun to visit once a year, and be a “hollywood” band.

TP: I also like Japan. It’s like a different country there. Most countries around the world are either very American or very European, and there is something different about Japan, unique from the rest of the world.

BG: Keith Buckley put it best. When we toured with Every Time I Die in Japan, Keith said ‘If you gave a five year old girl ecstasy, and then constructed everything she rambled on about, you would have Japan.’

JA: [laughs] Wow. I love that!

BG: It’s perfect.

JA: Final question. Are there any bands that are currently in constant rotation on your IPod or whatever?

TP: The band I discovered [recently], our merch guy showed us the band Nails, and I know they have a few records out now, and they are ridiculously heavy. Very much enjoying them right now.

BG: Solid band, that is. Let me tell you about another band, called Nails. [laughs] They are so heavy. [laughs]

TP: What about the new Body Count?

BG: Yeah, that is hot. You want to hate on it? You are hustling in reverse.

TP: What about a band you want to champion? Who are you listening to?

JA: Me? Well I can’t get enough of the new Black Crown Initiate album, and I know they are going on tour with you guys.

TP: Right on!

JA: Also, I consider myself lucky to be in this area, because there is always a budding metal scene in Albany and the surrounding areas, so I get to see a lot of great, talented bands.

BG: Do you know Ted E. Toll?

JA: Oh yeah!

BG: Good ol’ Teddy. [in a Ted impression] Hot Shit!

JA: Ha! [my impression] Have ya met my dog?

BG: Everyone has an impression of that guy! He was one of the first guys that brought us out there. I remember we showed up to Albany, and the first time I’ve been there, and he shows up with an envelope of money, to give us to play, and then gave us beer –

TP: And Oreo cookies!

BG: Yeah! Before we even played. I was like this is great!

JA: What was the venue?

BG: Valentines. We got to thank Ted for doing that for us and other bands, great guy. Great area to play.

October 16, 2014
Unearth Brings Metal Mastery with ‘Watchers of Rule’

Unearth has remained present in the metal landscape for over fifteen years. This has everything to do with their work ethic, constant touring, and producing quality albums for that entire time. Their newest record, Watchers of Rule, is another incredible heavy masterpiece from this band that has consistently kept metalcore music heavy as ever.

The forty-second intro works as a bridge, dragging the listener to the top of the mountain to prepare them for the first single from the album, “The Swarm”. This track launches itself from high above the already lofty expectations from such a talented band. Incredible double guitar attacks revel in their technical prowess, but never get lost; the beautiful chaos bleeds seamlessly into crushing breakdowns with unwavering double bass drum beats. Metal at it’s best keeps the listener entertained, and Unearth does that to perfection on this record.

There are also more straightforward genre songs. “Lifetime in Ruins” is a great example of a well-worn groove with an unshakeable rhythm section, but it delivers exactly what it sets out to achieve. The nice thing about a record like this, is that you go into it believing you will get a specific type of heavy metal, and Unearth never deviates from that plan. They sing about the oncoming assault of Hell with dragons and demons laying waste to kings and their kingdoms, heavy with metaphors on life and personal experience. Their music reflects those sentiments as well, never falling away from the metalcore ethos they have carved out throughout their career. This record is a culmination of everything they have achieved thus far, and where they plan to go.

With Mark Lewis at the helm, producing and engineering this project, it has the polished feel of a well crafted record. He has worked with DevilDriver, Whitechapel, Deicide and many more, most recently producing Cannibal Corpse’s new record, A Skeletal Domain. (check out our review of that record here.) The vocals, done by up to three other members with Trevor Phipps taking lead, sit perfectly in the middle of the audio onslaught. Heavy music of this calibre is so vital in the metal scene because poorly produced metal albums lose so much of what was put into them. This record shines through and gives the listener a true representation of everything that happens between the five musicians. It will be interesting to see these songs performed live as the band prepares to embark on their next tour.

Tour starts October 13.

“Guards of Contagion” is a track that allows the whole band to bring all their tricks to the table, with unstoppable guitars blending into a heavy, sludge-riddled low-end, and vocals that eat at your core. The title track is the bookend to a record that doesn’t pull punches, and remains true to its core from the first song to the last. Just when you think you are sufficiently destroyed by all this record has to offer, “Watchers of Rule” brings everything even higher.

“They aim to save the world” the song explains, and Unearth just might achieve that with such a generous offering of brutally infectious metal. The intense precision permeates each song, but many tracks are rooted in heavy groove metal, making it impossible to keep still while listening. This record should come with a disclaimer: Listen at your own risk, for your body will not be able to stop moving. You will sing along, you will bang your head, and if you listen to this in your car, you will speed.

Key tracks: The Swarm, Guards of Contagion, Burial Lines, Never Cease

Watchers of Rule will be available from eOne Music on Oct. 27. You can pre-order the album and special merchandise here.

If you’re in the Upstate area and looking to catch these guys live, the band will be playing a show at Montage Music Hall in Rochester on Friday, Oct. 17. Opening the night will be Darkest Hour, Carnifex, Origin, I, The Breather, Black Crown Initiate, and local support from Order of the Dead. Tickets can be purchased here for $22 and the show starts at 7pm.

October 14, 2014
Interview: Hellyeah! Vinnie Paul talks about touring, Blood for Blood, and the story behind Rebel Meets Rebel

In the world of hard rock and heavy metal, there are drummers, and then there is Vinnie Paul. Starting up his first project in 1981, which would soon become the game-changing metal band Pantera, Vinnie has been delivering crushing drum beats for three solid decades. When tragedy struck in 2004 while playing with Damageplan, it was unclear if Vinnie would ever play drums again. But you can’t take the music out of the man, and soon Hellyeah, a veritable metal supergroup, was formed in 2006 with Vinnie once again behind the kit. interview

On the recent Five Finger Death Punch and Volbeat tour, Hellyeah brought their incredible sound and heavy presence in support every night. When the tour came to The Times Union Center in Albany New York, I was lucky and honored to be able to talk with Vinnie about the road, the band’s newest record, and the future. Because of a scheduling error, Jim Gilbert and myself were rushed into a small back room with a broken cooler and a chair, and were warmly welcomed by rock royalty.

Vinnie Paul (Hellyeah, Damageplan, Pantera) and Jeff Ayers (NYSMusic)

Jeff Ayers: So how has this tour been going? I’ve been following you on social media, it looks great.

Vinnie Paul: Absolutely awesome. One of the favorite tours I have ever been a part of. Every band is different from each other, and unique from each other. It’s been sold out, or nearly sold out every night, and it’s a great opportunity for us to play to a lot of people that have never seen us, and to play to people who have seen us before. It’s just been awesome man. Five Finger and Volbeat have been treating us great, and we are all really good friends, everybody gets along, so everybody’s having a great time.

JA: That’s great. Speaking of social media, you really do a lot on the internet.

VP: I try to keep the fans informed as much as I can.

JA: You definitely do, and speaking from people who came up in the music business before all that, was that easy for you to pick up, or did it take some getting used to?

VP: You just have to catch up, you know? Back in the day it was word of mouth. “You gotta check this band out”. This guy went and told this guy, and that guy went and told these girls, and those girls went and told their friends. Five people told ten people, and that is how it spread. Nowadays you can touch so many people with just a touch of the button, it’s incredible.

JA: Recently in the press, Gene Simmons said Rock is Dead. Your band, and this tour, is direct opposition to that statement. In your own opinion, what do you believe is the current state of rock music?

VP: I think Gene was speaking from a different perspective. We are talking about, if you wanna look at the bands that are still headlining huge festivals and stuff, it’s still KISS, it’s still Motley Crue, it’s still Metallica. It’s the same bands that were doing it fifteen or twenty years ago. There hasn’t been any bands that have stepped to the forefront to be as big as those bands. So that’s where his perspective is coming from. But as far as rock and metal being dead, there is no way it will ever die. It is the greatest form of music there ever was, people love it and still support it. Sometimes it goes through phases of more popularity or less popularity, unfortunately with all the downloading that goes on it is harder and harder for artists to tour, especially young bands that are just coming up. But there are still people who are out there fighting, we are here, Five Finger is here, Volbeat is here, there are a lot of great bands out there doing this. I’m not going away from it. It has changed a ton from when you would buy Pantera albums, and not CD’s and all that, but you either get in line with or you fucking fall by the wayside.

Album Cover

JA: Very true. As a drummer, and from maybe a non-metal area, what are some of your lesser known influences? Maybe something that drives you from the beginning of your career, or music that you have found as your career has taken you places?

VP: I’m a fan of any kind of music except hip-hop. Hip-hop just doesn’t do anything for me. I grew up listening to a lot of country and western, a lot of David Allan Co e, Waylon Jennings, and stuff like that. And, you know, all the bands from Texas; Kings X, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Edie Brickell and The New Bohemians, all that stuff was really influential and good to go watch at an early age. I don’t think there are any big ‘secrets’ as to something in my [music] vault that you don’t know anything about. I love female singers. I like Christina Aguilera, and I like the Heart sisters. Lzzy Hale, from Halestorm is an amazing vocalist, Pat Benetar, so maybe that’s something people didn’t really know.

JA: Lots of great music. Pat Benetar is actually going to be [in Albany] very soon. So this just hit me, because you mentioned David Allan Coe, how did the album that you guys did [Vinnie, his brother Dimebag Darryl and Rex Brown from Pantera] with David Allan Coe come about? What’s the story behind Rebel Meets Rebel?

VP: Well it’s really crazy. Like I said, my brother and I used to hear him [a lot], he was one of my mom’s favorite country artists back in the day. My brother went over in 1999 to see David Allan Coe play at a place called Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, Texas. So, you know, we always would take our Pantera CD’s and DVD’s with us to pass them off to people, and Dime actually stood in line, the meet and greet line, for David Allan, and he stood there with like a hundred people and he was at the end of the line. So when he got up to David he said “Hey man, I know you don’t know who I am or anything, but I play in this band Pantera and I love your music, and I wanna give you a DVD, and maybe we can get together and write some songs sometime.” So Dime gave him his phone number, and the next day about eight o’clock in the morning, Dime said his phone rang, and he said there was this country dude on the phone and [laughs, in his best David Allan impression] “Hey man, this David Allan Coe” and Dime was like David Allan Coe? At eight o’clock in the morning? What’s going on?

Jim Gilbert: I would not think he would be up at eight in the morning.

VP: Yeah, right? [laughs] But he was like, “I just watched this DVD you gave me man, and you guys are like the fucking Beatles of fucking 1999 man! When are we gonna get together and start writing some songs?” That is basically how it happened. So he came into town, and everytime he would come to town after that we would write a few songs with him. This happened like four times and by that point we had enough stuff for a record, and we finished it. At that time, we were doing Damageplan, and the fans were really confused as to what had happened with Pantera, and we didn’t want to confuse them further, so we put it on the shelf. Then, after the horrible thing that happened with my brother, it took me about eight months to get my life together, and the first thing that came to me was man, Dime was really proud of that album, and I gotta get it out for him, you know? It was really important to me, so I started my own label and put it out, and it did really well.

JA: Yea, I love that record.

VP: Thank you. Honestly, it was the first true collaboration between a heavy metal outlaw band and a country outlaw together. Some people had done it with a single or something, but that was the first full length record.

JG: Also, country music influencing metal right now, is so popular, there is such a blend.

VP: Yeah there is a great crossover there, for sure.

JA: So back to Hellyeah. Blood for Blood, marks in my opinion, the best, most coherent version of the band to date.

VP: Thanks man.

JA: Did you guys go into the studio with that mindset, or was that born from the recording process?

VP: Well, we felt like we got back on track with what we wanted to do, and what the fans wanted us to do, being a metal band. The first two records were really experimentally, doing things outside of what we had done with Nothing Face, Mudvayne and Pantera, and songs like “Alcohaulin’ Ass” and “Hell of a Time” were songs that wouldn’t work in those bands. So once we got that out of our system, we got back to doing what are roots are, which is metal, with Band of Brothers. Once we finished the Gigantour last year with Megadeth and Black Label Society, we felt like we pulled the heavy fans back in. We wanted to get in the studio and make the best record of our careers. At that time, that is when we realised that Greg [Tribbett] and Bob[Zilla] didn’t have the same vision or focus, and they both had serious personal issues that were taking away from the band, so we parted company. So myself, Tom [Maxwell] and Chad [Gray] wrote the entire record with a brand new producer [for us] Kevin Churko, and he really understood the vision we had and we made the best record we ever made, so we are really proud of it.

JA: You should be, it is a really great record. You said that the track “Say When” is the first time you have written a drum part that extreme since the Far Beyond Driven days. Do see more parts like that in the future?

VP: Yeah man, especially with the direction we are going, it allows for more drumming, and heavier stuff. Like I said, the other records, the earlier Hellyeah was more rock and roll influenced, so it required me to be more of a back beat on things. Going back in the metal direction, it gives me more freedom as a drummer to tear it up and do more.

JA: Awesome! What’s next for Hellyeah after this tour?

VP: Well we have a long tour to go, this is only the tenth show! [laughs]. So this goes until November, then we will be off until New Years Eve, with a show I can’t talk about yet, and then next year is a whole year of touring. Definitely a tour of the U.S., Europe again in the spring, we will be going to South America, Japan, all that and non-stop touring until probably October next year, then back to the studio and do it all over again!

JA: That is the dream.

VP: Hellyeah!

October 9, 2014
Five Finger Death Punch and Volbeat Deliver a Solid Rock Outing at Times Union Center

Rock music was alive and well at the Times Union Center on Saturday, Sept. 27. Two of the most popular heavy rock bands in the mainstream radio today, Volbeat and Five Finger Death Punch, brought the noise and the fun to a semi packed house of screaming fans. As the crowd waited patiently outside for doors to open, they were treated to choice rock and heavy metal covers by a group of young kids named Time Machine.

Promptly at 6:05, Nothing More from Texas and New Orleans took the stage. The crowd was sparse due to this early start time, but the ones that were there were ready for a whole night of rock. The four piece came right out of the gate with a lot of energy, lead vocalist Johnny Hawkins belting out his songs shirtless and shoeless. The second song of the night was started with a mouth-picked guitar solo, and the gimmicks didn’t stop there. They brought out a massive installation that housed a bass guitar, and the guitarist, bassist and eventually Johnny as well all percussively played the instrument to a crescendo. The final song started with a prerecorded bass line and ended with a weak drum circle. These antics probably do wonders in smaller clubs, but were somewhat lost on the arena audience.

Vinnie Paul of Hellyeah came out first, taking his throne upon his drum riser to monstrous applause. With the rest of the band in tow, Chad Gray, the vocalist (also of Mudvayne) whipped the crowd immediately into a frenzy, getting everyone to get on their feet for their title track off the new Hellyeah record, Blood for Blood. Chad really worked the crowd, using the whole stage and jumping up on the banks of PA’s to make his own catwalk to the audience. The new addition of Kyle Sanders on bass, formerly of Bloodsimple, was a great fit, and his bass work along with Vinnie Paul’s stellar drumming kept the whole set nailed to the floor. At one point, Chad told the audience that one thing he loves about New York is the mosh-pits, and we are all brothers and sisters, so if someone goes down, you help them up. This was an accidental foreshadowing of the end of the night.

Just the dropping of Volbeat’s backdrop as the crew set up the stage gained a massive response from the crowd. Fans were evenly split throughout the venue, half wearing Volbeat shirts, and half wearing Five Finger Death Punch shirts. With a slightly different sound than the rest of the acts, Volbeat came out to a rolling banjo track laden with guitars. The style of rockabilly mixed with hard rock is what makes this band so interesting, and also what makes the crowds just want to move and dance along to the music. Singer Michael Poulsen traded his time between three different mics set up on stage, and the rest of the band interweaved with him, all having a good time up there. New guitarist Rob Caggiano, of Anthrax fame, seemed right at home with this four piece band from Denmark, and was in a very unique position, playing these songs live and also producing them on their newest album, Outlaw Gentlemen and Shady Ladies. Micheal explained to the crowd that he was influenced heavily by Johnny Cash and Elvis, and it showed with his vocal capabilities, and his style, sporting a slick back hairdo and a badge on his guitar strap. They had an impressive light show to couple with their infectious party anthem rock and roll, and no one was in their seats by the time they welcomed a special guest to the stage. Jerry Only, from the legendary Misfits, walked out in full Misfits regalia, and the band went into a great rendition of AngelFuck.

By 9:30, the crowd was sufficiently amped up to welcome Five Finger Death Punch to the stage. A deafening bass drone ushered the band to the stage, and singer Moody growled at the audience while brandishing a bat. Jeremy Spencer, the drummer, was in full costume of a skeleton with LED lights throughout him and his drum set. The stage setup was simple, with light rigs behind brushed steel arches, but everything was used to it’s fullest, creating an immersive experience both visually and sonically. This five piece is much more aggressive than the previous bands on tour, with gigantic double guitar attacks and bottoming out low-end bass drops. The sound on the night was full of slight mishaps, with feedback being rampant through the other bands sets, and 5FDP having trouble keeping the ear-splitting double bass drum sounds from taking over the show. A very crowd friendly band, at one point they called out all the people in the audience who have served in the military, and then dedicated their cover of Bad Company to them all. They also brought on stage a bunch of children from the audience for a chance to spotlight the “next generation of metal”.

Mid-set, the band decided to take a completely different turn, first with a drum solo that bordered on electronic dance music, and then into two acoustic guitar ballads, bringing the mood of the show down considerably. But, this didn’t quell the raucous energy they had already instilled in the crowd, and by the time they launched into their first encore song of the night, the floor erupted again into a writhing pit. Moody stopped the song abruptly, seeing one of the fans being really hurt in the pit. He called out the audience member who he saw do the deed, and told the crowd that he would personally kick his ass, and would not finish the show until he apologized to the injured man, stating that this is what makes heavy metal look bad. “Where are the days of Pantera,” Moody scolded the audience, “when people would take care of one another.”

This one incident was not the face of the entire night though, by a long shot. Young and old were all in attendance having a great time, and the crowd seemed generally pleased with each performance. Other than this one bad moment, the show was met with consideration and a party-like atmosphere, truly showing what heavy music can do for people, as they use it for an escape or metal therapy to ‘get their aggression out’ through music.

October 2, 2014
The End Men get the tour send off they need from The Low Beat in Albany

For a thursday night in Albany, New York, there sure was a good amount of rock and roll to be had. On Central Avenue in particular, where four small bands from New York state converged to bring a huge night of music. The End Men, from Brooklyn, kicked off their tour at their second home in Albany, before hitting the road for two solid weeks up and down the east coast.

The Low Beat has been bringing quality shows since it opened in February of this year. In the wake of Valentines closing, a staple venue in the Albany music scene, The Low Beat has filled that void, with the same ‘No Pepper’ adorning the stage and great beers and grub from the bar. (Check out our article on the iconic club closing it’s doors.)

Henry’s Rifle kicked off the night, with his one man talent barrage. John Pipino normally goes at it alone, with his trusty banjo and tambourine/stompbox suitcase combo bringing down and dirty roots rock to the stage. He was in good form, telling the crowd he was digging into some songs he normally doesn’t like to play, but was enjoying them anyway. A master at creating a singular atmosphere when he plays, it’s no wonder his new album (which will be released on Halloween of this year) is called “Barroom Weather”. With his huge, crooning voice sailing over the crowd, and his fast paced banjo strumming and later guitar picking, the show was given a proper send up from an act that needs to be experienced to be believed. Look for news on his CD release soon.

Next up was Charmboy, also from Albany. Both Henry’s Rifle and Charmboy are part of the ever growing Built4BBQ musician collective in Albany, which also includes The End Men as well. The traditional three piece of guitar, bass and drums is anything but, delivering high energy old school rock and roll in large helpings. They started their set with a massive psychedelic build up, which was kind of surprising considering the immediate rock set that followed. Easy parallels can be made to Elvis Costello and Television, but these guys bring some new vigor to that tried and true sound. Great sound from the board helped the crowd pick out the nuances like precision shuffle beat drums over screaming guitars, and a three part vocal attack. No nonsense rock and roll, as showcased by their originals and a great cover of “Heaven and Hell” by The Who.

The End Men played the third spot on the bill, and the bar was almost packed full at this point. When these guys come to town, the crowds continually get bigger and bigger, and soon we might not be seeing this band in the smaller clubs in the area. The awesome power of the sound this band produces is even more incredible when you realize they are, inherently, a two piece band. Matt Hendershot holds down a gritty blues rock guitar with searing, gravel dream vocals, while Livia Ranalli plays the meanest drums and percussion you have ever seen. Filling out the lineup for this tour is Matt Elia on tenor saxaphone, which brings an added warmth to the gritty rock and roll coming from the stage. At first listen, visions of Tom Waits, Jack White or Mark Lanegan might fill your mind, but The End Men deliver all that and more with their incredible vaudevillian, psycho circus rock and roll. Matt is engaging as frontman to this rag tag outfit, and definitely seems at home in front of a microphone. The vocal melodies between Matt and Liv resonate to your very depths, and draw you closer to the stage to sop up every last bit of musical juice they provide. This is what bands on the cusp of breaking into the big time look and feel like, so next time they come to this area, or an area near you, do not miss the chance to witness their raucous good time. They ended their set with a song called “The Wolves”, having epic trade offs between guitar and sax with the percussion keeping everything nailed to the floor.

Last of the night was Sun Voyager from NYC, and they put the perfect capstone on an already incredible rock show. Psychedelic with a hint of crazy riff rock, it was a little like watching the british invasion all over again. If you happened to walk into The Low Beat not knowing what you were in for, Sun Voyager would have convinced you that you were witnessing something prolific. Hints of The Black Angels and The 13th Floor Elevators permeate their sound, and their big sound washes over you with reckless abandon, showing the versatile sound that this club can handle. Another three piece band that blows you away with their talent and musicianship.

A final note: Touring is a tough business, and that statement hit harder than most for The End Men that night. Their tour vehicle lost it’s transmission two blocks from The Low Beat, right before the show. But because of Albany’s incredible music scene that boasts a true sense of comradery, this little band from Brooklyn was in good hands. The bartender got a mechanic on the phone immediately, friends and bandmates helped push their vehicle to the club. Our own Jim Gilbert offered up his van so that they could continue on their tour. Music isn’t just about the sounds that you create, it’s about the friendships and connections you make as well. No better place to experience that first hand then supporting your local music scene, and becoming part of that awesome collective yourself.

September 22, 2014
Rob Caggiano of Volbeat talks tour with Five Finger Death Punch and coming back to Upstate New York

The massive success of Volbeat and Five Finger Death Punch in the last year has led to a co-headlining tour that is built on epic proportions. The lineup is filled out by rockers Hellyeah and Nothing More, and will wind up playing two shows in the Upstate area. I got the chance to talk with Rob Caggiano, the new guitarist of Volbeat, as well as alumni of the bands Anthrax and The Damned Things. We talked about what it’s like to be in Volbeat, and what this tour has in store for the fans.

Photo by Amy Harris from thefirst3songs.com

Jeff Ayers: So the tour started last night Sept. 16, in Salt Lake City, how did it go? How was the first show?

Rob Caggiano: The first show went great, really good. As to be expected though, with any ‘first show’ on a tour like this, there are some kinks that need to be worked out, some technical stuff, but overall it was killer, and a great crowd.

JA: Yea I saw pictures online, that crowd looked insane! This tour is being heralded by the press as the two hottest rock bands co headlining a U.S. tour. Rightfully so, with both bands increasing successes. The response from the fans when you announced this tour must have been incredible.

RC: Yeah, there was a lot of excitement about this lineup, and it feels really good. We are very excited to be on this run, and all shows coming up.

JA: Awesome. Speaking on that a little, Volbeat and Five Finger Death Punch both have been doing great things for rock, and heavy rock, on the charts and off. Do you have any thoughts on Gene Simmons recent comments about how rock is dead?

RC: He’s been making a lot of comments lately, about [all kinds of] stuff. [laughs]. I don’t know where he was going with that. I saw something on twitter about that, but obviously, rock is not dead.

JA: You guys are a testament that it is not!

RC: I mean, the music business is very different these days, than it was even five years ago. So it’s changing rapidly, and things are different. Record sales aren’t even what they used to be, it’s a totally different landscape right now. That might be what Gene Simmons was referring to, but I don’t know. It is certainly not dead.

JA: Most definitely. So the most recent Volbeat album, Outlaw Gentlemen and Shady Ladies, which by the way, is an awesome title —

RC: [laughs] Yeah!

JA: [The album] has done really well since it’s release. You helped produce that album, how was that experience?

RC: It was great. We were in Denmark, on the countryside at a place called Randers, and it was cool. We were isolated in the studio, and totally focused on the record. We had a great team too, Jacob Hansen was also there, and has been Volbeat’s long time producer. I had one of my engineers out there too, Brian Russell, and it all came together. I am really proud of this record.

JA: Cool. You joined up with Volbeat in the midst of recording the album, correct?

RC: Yes.

JA: How did that come about, you guys all just hit it off in the studio?

RC: I have been friends with the guys for a few years, before I got that call to produce the record, so we get along great. I‘ve known them since about 2010 when they took The Damned Things on tour, and we would hang out every night on that tour. But I got [to produce the record] and we started going over the pre-production, to figure out what was going to be on the record. There were a few songs that were unfinished, and Michael and I started collaborating on few things. The chemistry was really great, and from that first pre-production meeting, it kind of set the tone for everything. A couple of weeks later they asked me to be a part of the band.

JA: That’s awesome. Before you joined up with Volbeat, you pretty much exclusively behind the soundboard for a little bit. Were you actively looking for projects at that time, or did this kind of fall in your lap?

RC: I think people misunderstood what I said in my press release when I quit Anthrax. It was never about not wanting to tour anymore, or not play guitar anymore. It was just about wanting a change, and I just wanted to produce some records while I figured out what I wanted to do next with my career as an artist, as a guitarist. When the Volbeat record came across my table as a production gig, I was like “Wow this is perfect!” I love the band, and always thought we could make a great record together. It was something we talked about on The Damned Things tour, years ago. Everything just happened at once! [laughs] I ended up producing a record and joining the band.

JA: You can’t beat pure serendipity like that though!

RC: Yes! Yeah, totally.

JA: Volbeat as a band is always so busy, since you joined, how many tours have you played with them?

RC: Wow. That’s a good question. Not sure I know that myself. [laughs]

JA: Yeah, I was trying to look online, and it just seems that Volbeat is constantly on tour.

RC: Yeah we are. I haven’t been home at all, it’s crazy. We have been all over the world a couple of times now, and honestly I don’t know the exact number.

JA: That is totally fine! [laughs] It’s great work if you can’t even count all the jobs. Speaking of circling the world though, with all the times you have with Volbeat, and also with Anthrax especially playing on The Big 4 tour, personally speaking, do you have a favorite place to play or return to?

RC: Oh, I have so many favorite places to play. In America, I love playing New York, I love playing Chicago, Los Angeles, I love Europe as well though. Scandinavia is great, and I love Germany. One of my favorite places in the world is Australia, because it’s so beautiful. I love going over there.

JA: Being an American in a Danish band, is there any culture shock?

RC: I don’t know if you would call it culture shock. It’s a little different for me, coming from New York, everything with me is fast paced, because of New York.

JA: Hell yeah!

RC: So I am always in that mode, where as these guys are little more laid back, which is great. We get along great, it’s really cool.

tour flyer

JA: So for this tour, with Five Finger Death Punch, Hellyeah and Nothing More, what can fans expect, are there any surprises in store from Volbeat?

RC: Well if we did have any surprises, I wouldn’t tell you!

JA: Good answer!

RC: [laughs] It is just going to be a great all around rock and roll show. I think the fans are going to be in for a real treat.

JA: Well the tour is going to be making a few stops in Upstate New York, one at the OnCenter in Syracuse on September 23rd, and then at the Times Union Center on the 27th. You being from the Bronx, and being in multiple bands, you have played this area a bunch. Do you like playing around here, any thoughts on Upstate NY?

RC: I always loved Upstate New York. To me, it’s so crazy. You know, coming from the city, there are so many amazing, beautiful places in New York, if you are a city person, you don’t even realize they are there. The crowds are always great up there though. Joey Belladonna from Anthrax, he’s from up there. [Oswego]. It’s cool, I love it up there.

JA: Cool. What’s next for Volbeat after this tour? Another tour? [laughs] Or are you guys going to take a break and write material, or what?

RC: After this tour, we are actually going back to the U.K. That will be the last thing we do for this year. Then we are going to lay low, the holidays will be coming up, and then we will get into creative mode basically.

JA: This tour ends in Vegas, what are your experiences playing there?

RC: Vegas is cool. For me, I have a three-day limit on Vegas. In three days I have to get out of there, because it is crazy. [laughs] But the crowds are really good, and Five Finger Death Punch is from Vegas, so that final show should be completely off the wall.

September 22, 2014
Dan Maines, bassist of Clutch, talks Upstate NY, a new record, and The Walking Dead

When Clutch came to Upstate Concert Hall in September, I was lucky enough to sit down with the bassist, Dan Maines. The lineup of the band has added members to it’s roster over the years, but the core lineup of Dan, Neil Fallon, Jean-Paul Gaster and Tim Sult has remained the constant for over twenty years. Clutch has been a staple to the Upstate New York music scene for most of their career, and it was great to talk about the area, the band and the process with Dan. Also, for the first time, we brought along a local musician, Dustin Alexander, who plays in the band Jesus Christ and the Hallucinogenic Allstars to ask a few questions, bassist to bassist.

Dustin Alexander (JCHA), Dan Maines (Clutch) and Jeff Ayers (NYS Music) backstage of Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, NY. Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert / JTGphoto.com

Jeff Ayers: In your personal opinion, how has playing in the heavy rock scene changed in the last two decades? Do you still feel like it’s an uphill battle?

Dan Maines: I don’t know, that’s kind of a hard question to answer. We are not in the position to really know what it’s like for a band starting out now. It might be a little more difficult for them now, as opposed to when we started. We were coming up at a point in time when a whole new genre of music was moving into the mainstream. Bands that we were listening to for years, that we were looking at as influences, they were suddenly becoming major label bands. That happened for us as well, and we got swept up in that frenzy, to jump on that bandwagon. What people were calling alternative, or grunge rock, and some bands that didn’t even fit into that category were swept up too, for better or worse. Talking with the band we are on tour with now, Lionize, they are in a better position nowadays. Hearing the things they pick up on [coming up in the industry.] Now, it seems like it’s not even mandatory to be a legitimate band anymore.

JA: Yeah, I see that too.

DM: Bands that play along to recorded tracks, that isn’t really being in a band. The whole thing for us is playing a live show, to be entertaining for us and the live audience.

JA: You guys do that very well, I have to say.

DM: Thank you. I mean if you can’t do that as a band, without the use of computers or backtracks, you should probably rethink your approach.

JA: I totally agree. You talked about being swept up by the major label race in the 90’s to sign a bunch of bands. You guys started on Atlantic or Columbia Records right?

DM: We started on East West. Which was part of that Atlantic family, and that was in 1992, when we signed, and the record (Transnational Speedway League) didn’t come out until 93. We actually released an EP on Earache Records before that. (Passive Restraints).

JA: Then in 2008, you started WeatherMaker Records. How was that process, being in the business for a while at that point then starting your own label? Was it tough?

DM: Yeah, it definitely was. We were on East West, then moved to Columbia, and then Atlantic. We just got fed up with the game. It’s a weird business, so many personal changes happen on the fly, on a weekly basis sometimes. We felt like there wasn’t any real direction, and nobody knew what the hell to do with us. We signed with an independent label, DRT, and put out three records with them. But that was the slow decline with our relationship with labels. We had to go to court, and winning that decision bolstered our resolve to just say, “Let’s do it ourselves”. At that point, we were in the right position, we had already put out records on our own. We put out Jam Room on Riverroad Records, which was basically selling records out the backdoor of the van. So we had been doing it already to a point, and the only thing we didn’t have was distribution. So we had to find a couple of really good people in that field to work for us in an unconventional label.

JA: Speaking a little about Upstate NY, you guys have been coming to this area for a long time. I can’t even count the amount of times I have seen you play this area. Do you enjoy Upstate NY? Are you happy with the response you get from this area?

DM: Definitely. That is kinda how we started out. Being from Baltimore, we would play up to Boston, and then head to Detroit, and then play our way back home. So this became our spot, or one of them.

Dan Maines (Clutch) at Upstate Concert Hall. Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert / JTGphoto.com

JA: Do you remember Saratoga Winners?

DM: Absolutely. I mean they were one of the earliest supporters of us, even more so than our hometown. This has always been a really great place for us to play.

JA: We have a great metal scene in this area, but also a great jam scene. You guys fit into so many pieces of that puzzle.

DM: Yeah that’s good. Man, I’ve never even thought about that. Makes sense.

JA: Personally speaking, I started listening to you guys in the mid nineties because a local radio station was playing you (Z-Rock), and then you guys started playing up here. Not only a fan of you guys, but through the times I have seen you tour, I have found favorite bands because the were your openers. Like The Sword, and Mastodon. Do you hand-pick your tour mates?

DM: We get a lot of help from our booking agency, when we are planning on touring, they also have bands on their roster that they suggest to us. Also, bands that we might not know exist, but want to tour with us, submit themselves through our booking agency. We are with The Agency Group. That’s how we found out about American Sharks, when we were touring with The Sword. Kyle (Shutt) suggested that we play with them, and I am really glad he did, because they are great.

JA: You guys have been really lucky to have your music attached to other aspects in the media. You have your songs used in sports games and broadcasts, and video games like Tony Hawk, and also television. Do you see a big help from that stuff? More recent example was when “Regulator” was used in a 2012 episode of The Walking Dead.

DM: That was huge for us!

Dustin Alexander: Are you a Walking Dead fan?

DM: Absolutely! I lost my mind when I got that email.

DA: I got the chills when that song came on.

JA: Dustin and I were watching that episode together, and we jumped off the couch when that scene happened, screaming “Clutch is on the Walking Dead!”

DM: That was amazing. It definitely helped us reach new people, too. Before that episode came out, we keep track of what songs and albums are doing the best on iTunes for example. After that episode aired, there was a huge spike in interest in that song. Same thing goes for like hockey or baseball teams that will sometimes use one of our tunes. I think the Vancouver Canucks, they were using ‘Electric Worry’ as their goal song.

JA: So cool!

DM: Yeah, it’s a hockey stadium, so I guarantee you that more than half the people in that place have never heard of us before. They get that [song] in their heads, and they go ask their friends, or they go look it up. It all helps.

JA: Because I am a giant nerd, I have to ask you this question. On the new record, “Earth Rocker”, the song ‘Unto the Breech’ has a lot of Doctor Who references. Who is the fan in the band?

DM: Neil! To be honest, I didn’t know about half the shit he was talking about.

JA: Ha! But whatever works for the song I guess?

DM: Oh yeah.

JA: I’m going to turn this over to Dustin Alexander, who is a local musician playing in the same genre as you guys, to ask a few more questions:

DA: My biggest concern, as far as touring, is how do you keep healthy? You guys play hard and long, and are playing huge sets night after night. How do you maintain yourselves?

DM: I drink a lot more water than I ever did. That is the biggest thing. Because, you are not gonna stop drinking beer, that just isn’t gonna happen. You are not gonna stop eating pizza. You can eat less pizza, but just drink as much water as you can. I wish I knew that fifteen years ago. It catches up to you. Don’t eat McDonalds.

DA: Since you guys have been together for so long, how do you get everybody to be on the same frequency and the same mindset? How has that worked out for you in Clutch, creating records?

DM: You kinda just have to be honest about it. It’s a weird thing for us. As long as it doesn’t remind us of something we have already done, or another band entirely, we are always down to try something a little different. At the same time, there is never any spoken direction. We don’t even know what the hell we are doing sometimes. We are writing a new record right now, and the only goal posts we have is to write. The more open you are to musical ideas, the easier it is to write songs, because you aren’t pigeon holed into a specific sound. There are instances where individual instruments can throw something new into a song that the other members won’t pick up on[right away]. Like, Jean-Paul could do some kind of a New Orleans shuffle kind of beat in a song, and that song could have nothing to do with funk whatsoever, but it fits that groove.

DA: Sometimes you are in the studio and laying down stuff, and you pick up on things you didn’t even know were part of the song.

DM: That’s what makes it interesting, especially in this band.

DA: What’s next after the tour, are you planning on going back in the studio?

DM: This tour is the last “Earth Rocker” tour that we will do. We are going to take three months off, and write and finish the material for this new record, and hopefully go into the studio as soon as we can next year and get something out.

DA: Do you guys have a method you follow each year, time to tour, time to get in the studio kind of thing?

DM: Yeah we have to plan it out quite a bit, because we don’t really write on the road. It’s hard to set aside a big chunk of time at home to write. So when we are home, we get together as often as we can at our studio and record every single idea we have. Whether it is a single riff, or a whole song, we get it down on tape and move on. Then a few months later we go back to it, and listen to everything we have and try to see what we can piece together into a song or an album. Sometimes it comes together in the matter of an hour, sometimes it takes weeks.

DA: Do you feel like after you write the riffs and give it that break, it helps?

DM: Sure, it does.

DA: As a bassist, I have to ask, your rig set-up is pretty rad. Are you using the Orange Tiny Terror?

DM: Yeah, I got the terror running through the Orange fifteen, and the SVT through the other cab.

DA: Is that the 1000 watt head or the 500?

DM: I’m not sure. I have both, and one is set up for the European tours, and the other is for the U.S.

DA: I have the 500 watt and i’ve been so happy with it.

DM: Yeah, they are awesome.

DA: Your rig sounds powerful up there. Do you use a pedal rig at all?

DM: No, I used to try and mess around with a wah pedal, and I liked the stuff I used it for on the records, but it’s kind of a trap for me I think. So I took it out of the mix completely, to force myself to think of something to play, rather than rely on the crutch of a pedal.

DA: I noticed that your lines are sturdy, and hold the floor down, and not too intricate. Do you notice yourself pulling back a bit to keep it a little less complicated?

DM: Yeah. That is the kind of playing a like in a bass player anyway, for the most part. The Band of Gypsys is my epitome of perfect music. Billy Cox is solid as a rock, and I use that as a starting point to my approach to playing. When I feel like I can elaborate a little, and do a “Look what I can do” riff, then I’ll do it. It’s not like, “Where can I do something sick in this song?” That’s not what it is about for me. You can find the balance though.

DA: Well that is why I like your playing because of how sturdy you keep it.

DM: Well, I get to play with Jean-Paul, so I’m lucky.

September 20, 2014
GWAR just unveiled new Front Woman!

Gwar continues to keep things interesting. After the sudden passing of Oderous Urungus (Dave Brockie) this year, the band has been a little quiet about who would fill in. They have went on record saying that they asked many older characters from Gwar’s extensive former members list to help fill out the tour. But now, a new player emerges, and as a front woman, she is a force to be reckoned with.

Photo from Vulvatron’s Facebook Page

Vulvatron made her front woman debut at Riot Fest on September 12th, and the crowd response was altogether positive. From a recent press release from Wondering Sound:

“Vulvatron is not dancing, or breathing fire, or keeping the slaves in line (though one assumes she’ll be adept at all three). For the first time since the departure of dancer and backing singer Slymenstra Hymen (Danielle Stampe) in 2000, GWAR has a female member, and she’s the front woman.

To split hairs, she’s actually GWAR’s new co-frontperson, joining reinstated vocalist Blothar (Mike Bishop) whose Beefcake the Mighty character was introduced in 1988.”

Photo from Vulvatron’s Facebook Page

This promises to be an incredible addition to the line-up, so don’t miss out on your chance to witness Gwar History (Gwarstory?) this winter when the band embarks on the Gwar Eternal Tour 2014. The tour will make a stop in Upstate New York at Upstate Concert Hall on December 11th, with American Sharks and Corrosion of Conformity. Check out Vulvatron’s facebook page here.

September 19, 2014
Black Crown Initiate and Rivers of Nihil set to bring explosive energy to Bogies in Albany

No stranger to bringing quality music to the area, Bogies in Albany is at it again on Sunday, September 21st. A co-headlining onslaught of heavy music in Rivers of Nihil and Black Crown Initiate, with some great local openers to round out the bill.

Rivers of Nihil and Black Crown Initiate at Bogies Albany

Forest of Remorse is a newly reformed project from Lyme, NY. Promising heavy riffs and brutal slam beats, it will be one of those rare times to see a show with a budding band, that could surprise you and blow up in the near future. King Pariah from Argyle, NY is another up and coming metal band, who have already shared the stage with some big names. They helped open the Summer Slaughter tour at The Palladium in Worcester, MA with Morbid Angel and Dying Fetus.

Troy locals The Final Sleep are playing just in their backyard and bring a progressive metal edge to the stage, and have just welcomed their new drummer, Mike VanDyne of Arsis. With a technical barrage of three guitars, this is an act not to be missed. Black Crown Initiate is just about to release their brand new record, The Wreckage of Stars, dropping September 30th. So you can expect them to bring all of their intricate epic metal to this show in support of that record. Making waves in the metal scene as of late, these guys might not be playing small clubs like Bogies for too much longer. Check out my review of their new album here.

Rivers of Nihil also comes from Reading, PA like Black Crown Initiate, and they also have a new record, The Conscious Seed of Light. After signing with Metal Blade Records in 2013, this is their debut album on that label, after a few years of hard work and relentless touring. The double bill of these two bands will be an incredible sight to see and an awesome show to hear. For any fan of death metal, hard, fast and heavy metal, this show is one of the few that has it all and is making it’s stop in Upstate NY.

Check out the details at the Facebook event here.

September 19, 2014
American Sharks talk Touring and Having a Great Time at Upstate Concert Hall

Good bands and fun times seem to come out of Texas a lot these days. American Sharks are a prime example of the type of music and tour ethos that can be attributed to bands like The Sword and The Black Angels.

After their head-turning set at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, NY opening up for Clutch, I got to sit down with Mike Hardin (bass/vocals) and Will Ellis (guitar) to talk about touring, the fast pace the band has been coming up in the music scene, and what it means to have a good time. This was also the second interview I got to do with local musician Dustin Alexander from Jesus Christ and the Hallucinogenic Allstars(JCHA), bringing a “in the trenches” point of view to this article. We hope to include more local musicians talking to touring musicians in subsequent articles at .

Interview with American Sharks. Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert.

Jeff Ayers: So when did the band start? Where did the band come from?

Mike Hardin: Will and I started the band a while back in Houston, Texas.

JA: Are you originally from Houston?

MH: Sort of. We are kind of from a mish-mash of place, but we are all from Texas. The band kinda started when we were living in downtown Houston. Then we moved to Austin and that’s where we met Nick [Cornetti] our drummer. After that we went through a change and became a three piece, and that would be the actual beginning of the band. From then on we changed a lot.

JA: When was this?

Will Ellis: 2009

JA: How about musical influences? What influenced you to start this project?

WE: Roky Erickson, ELO

MH: I listen to David Bowie. Only David Bowie. [laughs]. But, I’d say Roky Erickson was a huge influence. Roky Erickson and the Aliens, specifically, was a big influence on this band.

JA: Cool. First time I heard you guys, I thought I was listening to Motorhead and Red Fang fighting. I was instantly hooked.

WE: Awesome!

JA: You guys are already making waves. Speaking of Red Fang, you have done some tours with them, and you’ve played with The Sword, and now Clutch. How has the response for you on these tours been?

WE: Yeah, very positive. It’s been really awesome man. It’s slowly getting better and better, where we show up in cities we have never played before and people are there wearing out shirts and stuff.

MH: We were touring for a few years by ourselves, and you go to cities and no one knows who you are. Now we can come to cities and there are people coming out to see us play.

JA: Well that is the name of the game right? Specifically with this tour with Clutch, I think you guys are a great fit. How did that come about, for you guys to get on this tour?

MH: We toured with Clutch and The Sword last year. Basically, we are friends with The Sword, and Kyle[Shutt] is our manager, and he was trying for us.

WE: We asked him to nudge [Clutch] a bit, asked him to give them our music. He told them they needed to see us play, so when they came through Houston, they had us play one show with them. Next thing we knew we were going out on tour with them.

Jim Gilbert: Actually, the room we are in, The Sword once set off all the fire alarms and they claimed they were only using a vaporizer.

MH: [laughs] This has happened a couple of times being on tour with The Sword actually. Once, on tour with Clutch and The Sword, Clutch was playing and the fire alarms started going off–

WE: Yeah, that place was in Athens, Georgia (The Georgia Theatre), and it had burned down years before, so everyone in the place was freaking out thinking it was burning down again

JA: Thats hilarious, I’ve met those guys and they seem like fun dudes. Speaking of the future, you guys are coming back to Upstate Concert Hall opening up for GWAR. It’s the first tour without Dave [Brockie] too. How did that tour come about?

WE: I don’t really know! Our booking agent submitted us, and it just happened.

JA: Well that is going to be an awesome tour, and I’ll be back to see you guys then.

MH: Yeah, we can’t wait.

JA: So, right before this, you wrapped up a tour with The Whores, and now Clutch, and then GWAR. How many shows a year do you think you play?

WE: Probably over 200.

JA: That is living the dream. Are you predominantly touring the U.S.?

WE: Yes, just U.S. so far.

JA: Is there anything on the horizon for other countries?

MH: Nothing set in stone. We have things we are working on, but nothing we can talk about yet.

JA: What’s next for you guys after the GWAR tour?

WE: Take a nap. [laughs] We are going to start working on our next record. It’s tough touring in the winter, so we want to hunker down and start pushing through our second record.

American Sharks. Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert / JTGphoto.com

JG: [speaking of Nick the drummer] I got to ask, what is like being onstage with Animal from The Muppets?

MH: Ha! No one has ever called him that before! Animal! [laughs] He does do the drums like that. That is so hilarious. I’m going to tell him that for sure.

JG: I had to look quick a couple times to see if he was using a stick or a hammer.

JA: You guys have a great stage presence.

WE: I think Animal might be his favorite drummer actually.

MH: Oh dude! I didn’t know that!

JA: Well it shows [laughs] I ask this of a lot of bands, are there any bands you just can’t stop listening to at this moment?

WE: I’ve been listening to a lot of Roedelius, Arthur Verocai, and a lot of different chill stuff. Helps keep everything nice and calm.

JA: So when you get on stage you can rage it!

MH: I almost exclusively listen to David Bowie all the time

JA: I have to ask the obligatory question: pre-Ziggy [Stardust], Ziggy, or post Ziggy?

MH: All of it. Well like late 80’s through the 90’s, there is some really terrible shit in there [laughs]. But also, there is this band called Midnight, which is a newish band and they shred. If you like Motorhead, they are like an even crazier Motorhead. They played in Austin the day we left for this tour and I was so pissed I had to miss them.

JG: Be honest, have you[Will] ever walked in on Mike in the bathroom painting a Bowie lightning bolt on his face?

MH: [laughs] Yea and we lock eyes in the mirror

WE: [laughs] No I haven’t!

JA: I am now going to throw the questions to Dusitn, a local musician from this area

Dustin Alexander: The first thing that always comes to mind is how do you toe the line between partying and having fun on tour, and feeling better the next day? Having to play night after night, how do you maintain that?

WE: I just smoke weed most of the time.

MH: Yeah. But also, to be honest, partying and playing can spiral out of control really fucking fast. People say that, and you go “Haha, VH1 Behind the Music”. It doesn’t seem real to you until you are in it, and you can see the effects [this lifestyle] can have on you. Personally, I had some very negative experiences with alcohol. Be responsible. All of the sudden you can realize that you haven’t been sober in a year, and that is not good. I feel like I’m going to die. Not in a “I’m tired” way, but in a real, I am dependent on getting drunk when I wake up until I fall asleep. That is now O.K. That happens and that’s real, and you don’t think about that [when you are starting out].

WE: You get on each other’s nerves and stuff, you are on edge because you are hungover, and you are cooped up with everyone. It’s best to choose your party nights wisely, and I mostly drink maybe a couple beers a night, and just smoke a lot of weed.

DA: I feel marijuana is almost a performance enhancing drug for touring anyways. I mean sore muscles, can’t get sleep, a little nervous? That will take care of it!

MH: [laughs] Yeah, yeah.

DA: You have pretty aggressive vocals, and to do that night after night, is there something you do to prep, or cool down?

MH: I try to drink at least a gallon of water a day. More if I can, but I am a notorious voice loser. Also, I need to get sleep. If I don’t get enough sleep, I’ll lose my voice, and that sucks. Sleep is probably the most important thing in my opinion.

DA: How do you deal with that, when your voice kicks out and you are on tour?

MH: You get pissed off. It can be pretty embarrassing when you are playing in front of a packed house and you can’t sing. It can be a little frustrating.

WE: Usually whenever his voice does give out, we get to a place so he can get some sleep, and then it can come right back.

MH: I think people don’t put enough thought behind getting sleep. If I get a full night’s rest, I’m great. I normally do, I try for a full eight hours a night. I think it works wonders, because I rarely get sick.

JG: Where do you guys get sleep on tour? Do you get hotels, or the van?

WE: It depends on the tour usually. We try to get hotels, because when we crash at people’s houses, a lot of people want to hang out and talk to you all night. We might have an eight hour drive the next morning and we won’t get enough sleep. So we have to drop a little money [for a hotel] to make sure we get our rest.

MH: When you are on tour with a band like Clutch, they have a bus. So they route the tour based on that. All of us would rather spend money on a hotel than laying in a ditch because we flipped our van because we were so tired. It’s not worth it.

DA: A question about your bass rig. Are you running through and overdrive pedal or anything?

MH: Oh yeah! I use a pedal called the assmaster. [laughs]. It’s like B: assmaster. It’s made by Malekko. It’s 250 dollars, so it’s a little pricey, but it’s totally worth it. It’s the best thing I’ve found.

DA: Yeah it sounds thick, and you weren’t losing anything in the mix. It sounded gnarly.

MH: It has a really great bass boost on it, and you can make a lot of adjustments on it too.

DA: I play bass and sing at the same time like yourself. Do you find that singing sometimes gets in your way, because you might want to play a heavier bass line, but you have to worry about singing too?

MH: Oh for sure. But most of the time, the way we try and write music, it by simplifying and making it a little more accessible. Especially being a three piece, I don’t have to be [so busy]. As long as the bass is driving and thick, I can leave the other stuff to Will, because he has magic fingers. But I know what you mean, because sometimes there is a part in my head that I want to play, but I can’t because I’m doing a lot of singing there as well.

JG: Where did the idea for short songs come about, most of your songs top out around two or three minutes.

MH: The thoughts complete at that point. We don’t have to keep dragging on.

WE: We try to cut all the bullshit out of the writing.

MH: The Beatles, they were writing two minute songs, and they were great. The Ramones as well. Why should we try for more if we can get out what we want in that timeframe.

American Sharks at Upstate Concert Hall. Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert / JTGphoto.com

JG: You guys are on tour 200+ days a year, can you give us one hilarious story from the road?

MH: We were on tour with The Sword one time, and we were going through Albuquerque, but we weren’t playing there, so we all stayed there for the night. I don’t know if you have ever been there, but it is a crazy kind of city, there is definitely something in the air or the water. We get a hotel and all get rooms on the same floor right next to each other, and we are going to party all night. So we go to this strip club, and get kicked out. [laughs]. Well first Kyle from The Sword gets kicked out of a bar, in the beginning of the night. We were already loaded and they wouldn’t serve him and they are like “Get out of here!” So we show up and Kyle is in the streets so mad, screaming “Let me back in” and another dude from the bar is apologizing profusely because he knows he is in The Sword. So we go down to this strip club, and we are hanging out, doing strip club stuff, you know, and how does the rest of this go?

WE: We had a guy on tour, our camera guy, and I was gone at another bar when they first got to the strip club. When I showed up, there was this woman trying to stab our camera guy with her stiletto, and everybody’s holding her back and she’s screaming about money. Apparently he got one dance, and she said it was like five dance, and the bouncers are telling everyone to get out. So I acted like I wasn’t friends with any of them, and sat down at this other chair and finished my drink.

MH: So we were pretty wasted and we met all these people from Albuquerque and we all went back to our rooms on the top floor and had a raging party. All the classics that you would do if you were, say Van Halen, we did all of those things. I literally fell to the carpet at one point and passed out.

JG: That was not a night you got good sleep.

MH: [laughs] No way! But it was fun.

September 18, 2014