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?
Many listening moments give me this euphoric head tingly excitement. As a kid me and my brother called it the "learning feeling."
I got it when I was 3 listening to the vinyl of the Star Wars soundtrack.
I got it listening to my Dad sing.
The first time I heard the ending of "Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath I got it.
Most recently the music of Russian composer Alfred Schnittke does this. I brainwashed myself to his piano Quintet.
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?
Story comes first. Data collection, distillation, and various tests run to check purity.
Each song I honestly approach like a wild animal, its a little different each time. But if you are to capture it you have to be cautious and careful.
Who has influenced you the most?
People I've known. My fellow musicians. My brother Adam is a huge influence and I think he'd say the same for me. I feel like truly influencing means you share something. I feel like musically me and him have shared the most, and he's a classical pianist. In terms of general influences... Kurt Vonnegut comes to mind, also various scientists, Robert Sopalsky. The guy lived with baboons for 17 years or so. That influences me.
Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
Everywhere. But you have to look close and be quiet to notice it.
We're all a product
of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in
the music?
Galveston is an odd little ghost town by the sea with a history of natural disasters and outlaws. It is haunted as hell and the characters you will run into if you are more than a tourist are remarkable cartoons. The feel of the dingy spooky yet festive Island is inexorably linked to how I see Darwin's Finches. I feel indebted to some of these characters because they are part of Darwin's finches. Such as my old friend Trinity the critter. An old bluesman who was a streetcorner philosopher about the concept of originality. I think bands and artists, and people for that matter should always embrace the genesis points of things. It makes things make more sense.
Where'd the band name come from?
I am a biologist by trade so during my studies I wrote down a list of names from the glossary of several biology books, and let the two fellows I played with, banana Brad Stevenson and Jared choose. They chose Darwin's Finches.
You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?
A documentary about Tardigrades narrated by of course Sir David Attenbourrogh.
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?
Otis Redding- These Arms of Mine
Shall I begin.... To put in a mere 1000 words the beauty of ....
Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?
Threw a guitar into the Gulf of Mexico from the now destroyed balanises room, then swam out later, found it and fixed it.
Played in the ruble of Galveston after Hurricane Ike and had people dress as zombies and kill the guitar resident evil style.
Smashed a watermelon with a Hitler face with my head, instigated a fruitfight with durians.
Had audience shave my head on stage then ran into jock bars with the crowd singing Surfin Bird.
Unraveled all the toilet paper at a venue and wrapped me and the band up in it.
Threw a giant yarn amoeba on a crowd.
It goes on and on man.... every kind of Fruit has be ceremoniously smashed.
Tell us about playing
live and the live experience for you and for your fans?
Must be present 110 %. I like to create chaotic fun moments.
What makes a great song?
Authenticity & Intentions
Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?
Its called ditty, and its an instrumental. It is a sad little finger picking ditty I wrote after my Grandpa died.
Now my mom might say my first song was a song called “If I Had A Wish”... I sang about the world being nice and cheez its. I was in kindergarten.
What piece of your music are you particularly proud of?
The album Lacrimosa. I am surprised we finished, I was in the midst of becoming a dad, and our latest release I really spent a good two years on some of those tunes.
Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?
Strange question…
I am a huge fan of local Houston Rapper/Rocker B L A C K I E. He is brutally intimate. He kicks everyones ass with love.
Musically, I am going to say Portishead, because Beth Gibbions writes some great vocal melodies. Sad the band is super tight organism that I admire but would never encounter in my ecosystem.
You know I just appreciate honesty, a homeless man singing Elvis christmas songs could kick my ass if he sang it with soul.
Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
All.
Whiskey or beer? And defend your choice
I usually drink beer if I'm feeling reckless, but I don’t like drinking. I just got tired of killing myself everyday. Caffeine only my friend. Yaupon tea.
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?
Go to Vynil Edge or Black Dog or Cactus.
What's next for the band?
We are going to hwy 787 to film a real ghost. Its going to be featured in the music video coming hopefully in Feb. The Bragg light. Songs called hwy 787.
Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?
Go visit your local wildlife sanctuaries.You will find more lessons in the woods than in books.Trees and Stones can teach you what you cannot learn from masters.
