What is your full name?
Dylan Foley.
Do you have any aliases?
Nope!
If you had an alias what might it be?
Jason Waterfalls.
What bands are you actively involved with?
Eight Foot Manchild - the world’s first and therefore best DOOMBRASS band [citation needed].
I am also an occasional member of several street brass bands.
What was the first instrument that you played?
Guitar, age 13.
Tell me about one of your first musical memories?
I recall being able to operate a turntable very early on. I’d play Abbey Road constantly. To this day, even if I’m listening to that album while streaming, I feel the need to get up at the end of I Want You, to flip the non-existent record.
What was the name of the first band you were in?
Depends what you mean by “band”. If you count pounding on an out of tune E chord while my younger brother plays the drumbeat for Walk This Way over and over again, that was the first, and we probably called ourselves Sick Little Monkeys or something. I’m still chasing that high.
Conventionally speaking, the first band I was in was called Captain Pablo. We played a mashup of genres - ska, punk, rock, and medleys of Disney songs and TV themes. It was where I learned how to write for horns. We released one album in 2009.
Tell me about the genesis of Eight Foot Manchild.
In 2008, I got involved with HONK!, which is a global community of street brass bands centered around the numerous HONK! festivals all over the world, the first of which was held in Somerville, MA in 2006. I’ve spent many years in that scene, and am still involved. That’s where my love of brass music traditions - from New Orleans to the Balkans - comes from.
EFM grew out of the musical friendships I made through that scene. Everyone in the band has played with - or still plays with - HONK bands. EFM is my attempt to synthesize my love of brass music, metal, funk, and prog.
What inspired the name Eight Foot Manchild?
Embarrassingly, a conversation in college that ended with the phrase “hey, that would make a great band name!”. I forget the exact context in which it was brought up, but I used it first for the name of a free-improv/noise trio, circa 2005, and again for a sort of avant-garde artrock project, circa 2010. I resurrected it for this project, because it felt appropriate.
Also, because I already had a bunch of t-shirts and stickers from the 2010 version of the band…
How long did it take you to write and record the new EP, Shrine of the Orange Sunn?
About a month to write the songs, and a weekend to record. We try to crank music out regularly.
If you could insert yourself into any one band what band would it be and why?
Fanfare Ciocarlia. My favorite band in the world, and I already have the bass drum chops to hack it with them…I like to think.
Have you ever heard a song and immediately wished you had written it? If so… What was the song and artist?
Almost every day. Most recently…I wish I wrote the Belzebong song Diabolical Dopenosis, specifically the riff that hits at the halfway point of the song.
And of course, I’d put a screamin’ bari sax solo over it.
Do you have any non-metal musical inspirations?
I dare say, though I’ve listened to metal since I was eleven or so, most of my inspirations are non-metal. Budos Band is a huge influence on me/us as a band. There is a bit of Zappa and King Crimson DNA in just about everything I write. And of course, if you’ve heard anything we’ve released so far, you’ll know our movie sampling aesthetic is stolen outright from Wu-Tang Clan.
What’s a non-metal song that you'd like to do a cover of?
I have an old arrangement of the Doctor Who theme song I’ve been meaning to adapt for this band.
(Interviewer’s note… I’m a huge Doctor Who fan and we can definitely do a premiere for that song at The Ripple Effect blog!)
What band have you played with that has really impressed you with their live show?
Our friends in Frostbite - a Christmas-themed metal band. They play once a year, in December, and it’s an unmissable tradition.
Do you have a favorite venue to play at?
Underneath the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, in Providence, RI. I hope to put on a metal and punk show there, some day.
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
No, but thanks for reminding me I need to make a habit of stretching.
What is your favorite thing about touring?
Getting in front of people who don’t know us from Adam and Eve.
What is your least favorite thing about touring?
Having venues cancel the day of the show, for no good reason. Woo hoo.
Is there a city that you love to hit while on tour?
Kigali, Rwanda. One of the most interesting places I’ve ever been to.
What’s the weirdest experience you’ve had on the road?
Our road experiences have been pleasantly dull so far. We’re ancient, by new band standards. We like it that way.
The year is 2000. Where are you at and what are you listening to?
I’m in junior college, listening to Merzbow, Naked City, and Stockhausen because I’m an edgy teen deliberately trying to weird people out.
What advice would you give young musicians that are just starting out in the music business?
Your music is not as important as how you treat other people.
What is an absolute band killer?
Democracy. I’m sure it works for some bands, but in my experience, benevolent dictatorship, coupled with clearly defined roles and tasks for each member, is the best model.
Have you ever recorded a song that you really didn’t like, but somebody else in the band really did?
Not in this band, no. I’m in charge of what gets recorded, and thankfully for the band and our billions of adoring fans, I have the best taste in music in the world.
If you were to start your own music festival what would be the name of that festival and who would be the three headlining bands?
I’d call it DOOMBRASS - “a celebration of heavy music and horns.” Headliner’s would be Pendejo, Mr Bungle featuring John Zorn, and of course, us. That goes without saying.
What’s the longest time you’ve gone without bathing?
Probably a week or so, camping.
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
I am the only person in the world who professionally hand-hammers jingles for orchestral tambourines.
Is the Fistful of DOOM show in the top 10 of your favorite music podcasts?
Verily. I’ve been mostly out of the heavy music loop for the better part of 15 years, so it’s been swell having curators to usher me back in.
Do unicorns sleep standing up?
Sure.
Give me three albums that I should listen to immediately, if not sooner.
Lost Themes - John Carpenter
Balkan Brass Battle - Fanfare Ciocarlia and The Boban Markovic Orkestar
Burnt Offering - The Budos Band
You’re driving cross-country and you can only listen to one album the whole time. What album will it be?
Probably a Prince compilation. You get like 17 genres.
You are writing a book about your life thus far. What is the title of that book?
A Series of Lateral Moves.
What is your favorite song by Taylor Swift?
Can’t say I have one, but I shook her hand once backstage, in my stagehand days. Seems to be good people.
SLEEP or Conan (if you had to choose)?
Conan…though I do love Sleep, the band AND the activity.
Doobies or Boobies (if you had to pick one)?
I don’t smoke, so…
Waffles or Pancakes (if you had to pick one)?
Waffles.
Star Wars or Star Trek (if you had to choose)?
Trek.
Favorite band t-shirt you own?
Secret Chiefs 3.
Favorite meal?
Ramen, with extra chashu.
Favorite book?
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.
Favorite movie?
The Holy Mountain.
“Zoom back camera…”
Favorite album?
Music for 18 Musicians - Steve Reich
Favorite video game?
The only video games I like are mindless button-mashing, so I’m going with the classic Simpsons arcade game.
Favorite Professional Wrestler?
Macho Man, of course. He saved us all from the rapture in 2011.
Massive horn filled thanks to Dylan for taking the time to answer my questions. You have my deepest appreciation. For the rest of you, you should click on the link so generously provided below and wrap your ears around some of the world’s finest DOOMBRASS. You won’t be disappointed. But in the event that you are.. well, get over it. Surely, it’s not the first time.
Ps- Be on the lookout for their new ep. It will be available for your listening pleasure on July 14th.
~El Pedo Caliente (aka Uncle Jameson from the Fistful of DOOM show)
https://eightfootmanchild.bandcamp.com/album/eight-foot-manchild-ep
