| Rob: What are some of your common influences among the band mates?
Mike: Black Sabbath, Hendrix, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Stones, Autopsy, Incantation, Entombed, Cathedral, Sleep, Eyehategod, Skynyrd...man, there`s so many.
Rob: How did you guys hook up with Greg Anderson?
Mike: I met Greg through the internet. I dug the stuff his label was doing, band wise, art wise, style, everything. So I got in touch with him to order some stuff, and I sent him a demo. He liked it and said to keep in touch. We sent him stuff that we did, like the 7" and he was into it. Then he heard "The Priestess" and was like "we should maybe do a record or something." We were into it, and he came out to NJ to see us live and that pretty much solidified it. Greg`s awesome to work with, because he`s in a band too, so he knows what we want out of the label. He does things real smart, not too big, but big enough. His stuff is all top quality, and he really pushes it out. It`s a perfect fit for us. So far the record is doing really well, better than we expected, so it`s cool...
Rob: You guys are going on the road with Electric Wizard soon... That has to feel pretty good eh?
Mike: Yeah, we`re totally psyched to do it. A while back when we first started tossing around the idea of touring, the Wizard were on a short list of bands we wanted to tour with. It was either them, Goatsnake or High On Fire. It took a lot of work on everyone`s part to make it happen, and now that it`s here we can`t believe it. It`s gonna be so killer. Plus, there are lots of great bands supporting the shows all over the country, so it`ll be cool to meet all the people who we`ve been in touch with over the last few years.
Rob: What are some of your goals as a band- like what do you like to come across as?
Mike: The main thing is that we try to sound genuine. We mostly want to give off a heavy vibe, a truly heavy experience when you see or hear us. Like when you see the really old footage of Sabbath back in 1970 or so. It`s sooo heavy. They were blowing minds back then, and we just want to do that.
Rob: How often do you guys practice- and how is the songwriting done...like who has more of a hand in the writing if any or all...
Mike: We usually get together at least once a week to play, and sometimes we just jam out for a while, other times we play some of the songs. Writing takes us a long time. The riffs come pretty easily, but the arrangements take some time. We all have equal input in the process, so that makes it slower.
Rob: Do you have any plans on going overseas and touring?
Mike: Yeah, we hope to do it soon. I hear so many great things about the scene over there.
Rob: What are some of your favorite bands from your area?
Mike: Well, you got 5IVE, who are by far my favorite band around here. Amazing. You also got Milligram, Scissorfight, Barbaro, RC Crimewave. Lots of good, diverse rock stuff going on. No one sounds too much like anyone else. It`s hard to pin down the "Boston sound".
Rob: Who are some of the better bands you like now a days- maybe somebody that has come through on tour you have played with or...
Mike: High On Fire for sure. They fucking crush. We were stoked to play with them a few times. I also love Nebula. They are so heavy without trying to be heavy, ya know?
Rob: Has the internet had any impact on your band? Do you care or is it lame??? Remember this is a stonerrock.com interview...hehehe...
Mike: The internet is tricky. We try to not get wrapped up in it too much. I mean, it`s cool, but it`s just a tool. It`s not the scene. Sometimes people seem to forget that. Basically, it just makes it easier to find other bands, fans, etc.
Rob: What is the heaviest metal band of all time hands down??
Mike: Are you nuts? Fucking Sabbath man!
Rob: Now here are a list of 13 stupid questions we ask all the bands that we interview.... have fun!
If you weren`t a rocker, what would you most like to be?
Mike: A film director. I think I would need an outlet, and if I couldn`t do music, film would be next.
Rob: What was your worst gig and why? What was your best gig and why?
Mike: Worst gig was a really bad show at this shithole in Revere, MA. We played to the soundman and the bartender. Most of our early shows were pretty bad, until we broke into Boston. Our best gig was probably with High On Fire and Acid King at CBGB`s. We had to go on after HoF, but people stuck around and we showed what we were all about. I think that was a big show for us in that aspect.
Rob: Top 3 movies, books and albums of all time?
Mike: Movies - Hellraiser, Alien, The Matrix (all look really cool while getting high and listening to music)
Books - The Shining, Hammer of the Gods, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Albums - Sabbath Vol 4, Led Zeppelin II, Pink Floyd Meddle
Rob: How often do you surf the net and what do you mostly do while online?
Mike: I usually check shit out while at work, but I don`t really `surf`...I just go to the sites I know and like.
Rob: What is your favourite city and venue to play, and why?
Mike: I love playing the Middle East in Boston. It`s so rock. It`s by far the coolest place to play in Boston. But, ask me that again in April and I`m sure I`ll have a different answer.
Rob: What is the most Rock `n` Roll thing you`ve ever done? What`s the most Rock `n` Roll thing you`ve seen someone else do?
Mike: Everything I do is Rock n Roll, so I really can`t distinguish anything specific, but if there was, it was probably in a strip club. As far as someone else, I wouldn`t know. If you`re totally rock, no one else matters, right?
Rob: What`s your worst "bad trip" story?
Mike: I`ve never really had a bad trip. One time we played a Halloween party and I does afterwards. I drove home listening to Incantation Onward To Golgotha, and cops blew by me with the blue lights going like three times. But the worst bad trip story happened to a friend of mine who dropped acid in school, and right when he started peakin, his mom showed up to take him to the dentist! Later that night he told me he was never so scared in his life than when he was sitting in that chair and the dentist started coming at him with the drill. He literally broke down and cried.
Rob: What`s the most painful thing you have ever witnessed at a rock show?
Mike: We played with Godsmack twice.
Rob: How old were you when you first realize you wanted to rock?
Mike: I was 8.
Rob: What`s the most embrassing job you ever had?
Mike: I`ve only had three jobs. I worked in a music store when I was 15, then I did one summer of landscaping, then I started working where I work now. They are all pretty embarassing, but they pay the bills.
Rob: What`s your favourite ice cream flavor?
Mike: It`s dumb, but I like that one with the three rows of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.
Rob: If you could date any rock star Dead or Alive in the world, who would it be? Movie star?
Mike: Rock star would have to be Gwen from No Doubt. I hate that band, but you know she`s a total piece of ass. Movie star would be Alyssa Milano. I`m one step away from stalking her as we speak.
Rob: What would be the ultimate dream gig of all time line-up be, with your band opening? Limit to 3 bands please (including your own...) and where?
Mike: WarHorse, Sabbath, Hendrix, at The Whiskey.
|
