When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkel, the first time I ever heard Kiss's "Detroit Rock City," it was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and mean. It changed the way I listened to Music. I've had a few minor epiphany's since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and revolutionary to your ears.
What have been your musical epiphany moments?
I have had a few, but I think the most pivotal moment for me was hearing Waylon Jennings for the first time. There's a feeling there, a vibe of legit toughness that is so honest, it was hard for me to not feel something. He's one of a few artists that have always worked well for me since I was a kid. When I was in grade school, my grandpa would load the grand kids up and drive to this country bar in Harshaw, WI called the Ten Point. He and Grandma would get their drink on and give us kids a pocket full of quarters to play video games, pool and the jukebox. This particular jukebox had almost exclusively old school country and so songs like "Elvira" by the Oak Ridge Boys and specifically, "Ramblin' Man" by Waylon Jennings got played alot. Grandpa had three 8 tracks in his truck that I recall, a Disney Christmas Carol, Hank Williams Sr's greatest hits and Waylon Jennings' greatest hits.
The other moment that sticks out is the first time I heard Prince on the radio. I was staying with my grandmother and she turned on the radio so I could sleep. "When doves cry" came on. That opening guitar riff made me shiver it was so expressive and different. That moment I knew I wanted to try and make that noise!
Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?
It's really different every time honestly. For me, songwriting is an abstract process and I try to let it happen organically. Throw the paint on the canvas and see where it lies. Most times it'll start with a riff, but sometimes it starts with an idea. Something I need to say, a piece of me I need to get out. Demons tend to work their way out of us and its better if i put them to paper than let them out in other ways :-)
Who has influenced you the most?
Hard to say, musically I am very influenced by old blues music like Muddy Waters, RL Burnside, Howlin' Wolf, Bukka White, Son House, etc. But I also love Motorhead, Prince and Tom Waits. For me Im as much influenced by my music idols as I am by role models, like my grandmother Geraldine. Without her influence on my life, I don't know that I would have an interest in Music and art in general. She was a huge supporter of what I do and still is. She painted and sketched, So art was always an important aspect for me.
Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
Odd places honestly! I find inspiration for the music I write, in genres that I don't play. I think pop music has a lot to offer in the form of song structure and hooks. I also think visual art and musical art have alot in common and can inspire each other. Visual arts like film, paintings, etc. inspire me.
We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?
Oddly this band shares little with my hometown of Wausau, WI. I was born in a small town and my parents insisted on being active in the small church we went to often. Small town blues played a part but staying in the south much of my time molded me a bit more. I clicked with southern music and life and spent a lot of time in Tupelo MS, and Waycross GA. people and culture from my time in the south influenced me heavily as well.
Where'd the band name come from?
That's a long story, here goes....
So originally we were a side project. We were both in another band, and had no intention of touring. We were called the Goddamns, and when we got a booking agent asking to put us on tour, we decided we had to take it more seriously. We discovered a lesser known band with the same name and on the advice of our entertainment lawyer, We tried to trademark it. Alas, at the time we were told we could not trademark a curse word or anything offensive, especially in religious nature. Our booking agent was also having a rough time booking us at some places too. We decided to change the name but had no clue what to call ourselves so we went to the internet to ask our fans for help. We started a contest for the name and told people the name we picked would award $100 in merch. 20 Watt Tombstone was one of the suggestions and it worked with our branding and sounded cool. The rest, is History as they say.
You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?
That's a tough one, I would love for us to be featured in a series of some kind. Anything with a swampy, southern vibe, always goes well. Otherwise horror of any kind would be amazing too.
You now write for a music publication (The Ripple Effect?). You're going to write a 1,000 word essay on one song. Which would it be and why?
If it's one song off of this album, I'd have to say the title track "The Chosen Few". However, like a lot of this Record, I prefer not to go into what this song means to me. I've always thought that songs are more meaningful when you throw the paint at the canvas and let people see or feel what THEY get out of it on their own.
Tom Waits said songs are like riddles, and I agree. I think if you steer people toward your meaning you're forcing them to see how you feel and not allowing them to feel based on their own experience. However, I will say this. As a kid I grew up feeling like an outcast and like i didn't fit in, I think the idea of fitting in is something we all strive for. I found acceptance through music, and skateboarding culture. I was able to find other misfits like me who were also not accepted by most. That premise plays heavily throughout this album.
Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?
Hahaha... We don't have any very "Spinal Tap" moments, but I'll share one that has stood out. When we Went to Europe in 2018, We didn't know what to expect at all. We had been asked to play a festival called Raut Oak in Germany and built a tour around that for two weeks. When we got to the festival we were treated like royalty. It was amazing and the people were so receptive to us and our music. When we played we could hear people singing the words to our songs so loudly that it was almost distracting. Very humbling and a huge honor for us. One of those experiences that has stayed with us.
Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans?
We have always been and will always be a live band. For us, the live show IS the product. The merch, the music, all of it is just a way of guiding people to the real product: the live show. We try to keep the show energy high, and when i say that I don't mean jumping off stage or doing scissor kicks into the crowd :-)
What I mean is having that energy and emotion and connect in an almost spiritual way as much as an emotional one. We usually don't have a set list either. Most of the time we read the crowd and play what we feel. There is some formula to it to a degree...like the tour I am on right now, we are pushing the new album hard so all those songs get played. However there is still an element of looseness that we prefer to have night to night. I feel like that makes each experience a little different.
What makes a great song?
That's a tough one, and I think it is different for everyone. My opinion has always been that we as artists try to make a song, and its this piece of us that we mold and forge into this object that we then offer to people in the hopes that it connects in some way, either emotionally or on a physical or even spiritual level. If it doesn't, we move on to the next song and make another one, another piece of us to expose to the world. It can be very vulnerable to put yourself out there like that BUT, I truly believe that as long as you are making art from your heart and soul, its never bad. The idea that a song is bad because someone else doesn't like it goes against what art is. Its expression, and as long as you are expressing yourself and creating art from the soul and your truth. It cannot be bad. It can however not land with the audience, and this happens, but when we cease creating art for ourselves, and make it for someone else, it ceases being art and becomes something made for someone other than you.
Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?
I honestly couldn't even tell you! I've been writing songs for 31 years, and I have definitely written more bad songs than good! In the early days a lot of them got thrown away and discarded because I was self conscious of my writing skills. It's probably a really bad song that got thrown away though!
What piece of your music are particularly proud of?
Definitely this record. We feel like this is the best music we have ever produced. I was having a hell of a writer's block issue a few years back when Covid hit. My buddy from Louisiana Dege Legg (Also known as Brother Dege), and I were talking one day and he started giving me advice and helped write lyrics to two songs on this record. He's a Grammy nominated songwriter and also a touring guy my age, so we click pretty well and with his help we were able to make a record unlike anything we had ever done. I think the songwriting is the best to date and the music is as well. We took some risks on this album and I think they paid off.
Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?
There are so many great songwriters currently its very hard to pick, but a few that I really think are among the best are Shawn James, Amigo the Devil, Brother Dege, Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, and Cody Jinks. I am also a sucker for Tom Waits, who still writes great songs and tells amazing stories.
Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
Vinyl. I think digital is great but it's far too easy to use it and let music play while doing other things. With vinyl, you’re tied to your turntable to a degree and it forces you to give it your undivided attention. We are allowing people who pre order this new album to get physical copies a week earlier, because we want people to hear this record the way we intended it and really listen like we used to before streaming came along. I feel like as a kid, I listened way more deeply when i had to focus on the record. You could lie down on your bed, put headphones on and pull out those lyrics and dive in. Fully. That's how I prefer to listen and I hope people will do that with this record.
Whiskey or beer? And defend your choice
Neither, quit drinking three years ago. Did my fair share of it on the road for years and it did nothing positive for the music or me personally. No judgements to anyone that does, but it doesn't work for me anymore and I am happier and healthier without it. The music and touring are also much better since.
We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your home town, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?
We live in Northern Wisconsin, in a town called Wausau. The only record store I will recommend is Inner Sleeve. Mike has been a staple in the music scene here for many years. He’s an absolute sweetheart and his store is great. It would be a mandatory stop for anyone I am showing around.
What's next for the band?
The focus for now, is this new album. Get it in people's hands and push it hard. Another music video is in the works too. Touring more again now is also a high priority. The musical landscape changed a bit since Covid, and we are currently on our first tour back since Covid hit in 2020. Get out there and connect with fans and play music on the road where we have always been most at home, doing what we love.
Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?
Just thank you for giving us the opportunity here. Appreciate you!
