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" 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 epiphanies 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?
“Well, there’s two examples I can think of off the top of my head.
I remember the time I was around 17 and a co-worker turned me on to “Faith” by The Cure. Up until that point, I was a fairly strict metal head. I mean, I had dabbled with modern rock/alternative music growing up. I had the “Cars/Metal” 45 by Gary Numan. I liked early U2 and “Ghost in the Machine” era Police. The Cure, though? I had really only heard their poppy radio-friendly stuff up until that point.
“Faith”, however, turned me on to their darker side, and I loved it! It’s still up there as one of my all time favorite records. It, alone, started my lifelong love affair with alternative music. I never looked back.
I guess the second epiphany is something that happens still, from time to time.
You know, you’ve heard a song or album a bunch, and you like it ok but you’re not totally behind it... then there’s that moment! When you realize, Fuck! This song/record is amazing! I can’t live without it!”
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?
“There are a couple of approaches I take. I either start with a single idea and just sit there until I have a basic arrangement (my preferred method). That’s followed by the demo process wherein I create the secondary guitar parts or orchestrations, as I like to call them.
Vocal melodies are next. Lyrics come last.
The other approach is to pick from the hundreds of song ideas I have and arrange them into something cohesive. Considering I literally have about 700 ideas recorded, it’s not the ideal route. Too much to pick from. They’re there if I ever run into writer’s block, I guess.
I have, in the past, written songs collaboratively. Someone brings in an idea or two to set the stage and go from there. That’s not really how I like to do it these days though.”
Who has influenced you the most?
“The most? Hmm...I guess I will go in chronological order from the beginning: Kiss started my love affair with rock and roll. I think that deserves a mention. I have a photo floating around somewhere of me as a 5 year old sporting a Kiss shirt. After that comes my all time favorite band and, easily the most influential, Rush.
The next would not be a band but an individual, Randy Rhoades. To this day, hands down, my all time favorite guitarist.
Metallica came next. I’d never heard anyone play leads like Kirk Hammett. All that fast picking!
Subhumans came next. Dave Ed from Neurosis turned me on to them in the 80s. “From the Cradle to the Grave” is nothing short of amazing! Definitely in my top 10 favorite records.
The Cure came next. That love affair has lasted for many years. Super influential on my songwriting.
Another band I got heavily into at around the time I got into The Cure was Tears for Fears. Roland is one of my all time favorite singers/songwriters.
After that, it was two bands from the SF sadcore scene, Red House Painters and American Music Club.
Other influences have been Pat Metheny Group, Cocteau Twins, The Smiths and The Sundays.
The whole shoegaze thing as well: My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, The Daysleepers and Airiel. I’m also into the whole post punk vibe.
These days I’m into bands like Grizzly Bear, Mew, The Boxer Rebellion, Hundred Waters and Softkill. On the metal side of things I like Meshuggah, VOLA and Katatonia.
All of the above bands seep in on some level and leave their mark.”
Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
“New music/bands for the overall vibe. Lyrically, it’s a bit tougher. For that, I look to current events typically. Occasionally, I’ll delve into more personal subject matter.”
We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?
“I guess the fact that I grew up in Berkeley has affected me in the sense that I’ve been around all walks of life since day one. I’ve been exposed to it all. Culturally, artistically and musically.
I was also lucky enough to grow up during the heyday of Bay Area metal and punk rock. Obviously, that’s as much a part of who I am as anything. I am definitely a product of that environment.”
Where'd the band name come from?
“I lived next to a house in the Berkeley hills. It used to be owned by the Hearst family, I think. I knew this guy who lived there. One night, he saw a glowing orb floating down the staircase before disappearing. It was the ghost next door!”
You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?
“The next Mad Max movie, should it ever get made.”
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?
“This is starting to sound like homework! “Electric Counterpoint” by Steve Reich and performed by Pat Metheny. It’s just a one of a kind piece of music. Never heard anything like it before or since. Interesting, for sure. Simple yet quite complex. The “Slow” movement is my favorite.”
Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?
“The only one I can think of actually occurred off stage. My first band Sacrilege BC was touring in Canada. We had two vans and a personal mechanic we brought with us because we were always breaking down.
So, we’re driving along and one of the vans catches on fire! And what does the driver do? He pulls into a GAS STATION! The clerk comes frantically running out armed with a fire extinguisher. He’s yelling at the driver, we’re yelling at the driver. It was chaos. He managed to put the fire out, but the van was toast.”
Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans?
“Playing live is a double edged sword for me. On one hand I love the social aspect of it. It can be magical up there. But, on the other hand, I’m a perfectionist. There are so many variables and so much can, and does, go wrong. I have trouble staying in the moment sometimes.”
What makes a great song?
“I really couldn’t say. You could have all the right ingredients and the song can still fall flat. It needs something special, something otherworldly to add that bit of magic.”
Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?
“It was a metal/punk crossover type number called “Judge Death.” I didn’t write the lyrics, just the music. It’s on the first Sacrilege BC album.”
What piece of your music are particularly proud of?
“I just wrote a string section for a new song. My first attempt at one. I love it! You’ll have to wait for the next album for that, though. I also like the acoustic interlude on the song “Doubt” a lot.”
Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?
“I absolutely love the album “Communicating” by Hundred Waters. I like all their stuff actually. They write fantastic material. Very unique, very interesting with lots of hooks. Mew writes some amazing songs as well.
The stuff I like isn’t so much a certain sound or genre. I like bands that are one of a kind.”
Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
“Digital, for convenience.”
Whiskey or beer? And defend your choice
“Beer, always beer. IPAs are my favorite. I don’t like whiskey much. No need to defend my choice. I like what I like.”
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?
“Amoeba”
What's next for the band?
I am, also currently demoing songs for albums number 3 and 4. I have 16 written so far.”
Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?
“Be kind to animals!”
