Interview With Woods. Part 3

So this is the third little interview with Woods on this blog. In case you haven't read the others: we get bored at work and ask each other random questions throughout the day. Sometimes they're about favorite snacks, sometimes they're extremely personal. These are just some fairly simple music ones though y'all. 

Click the "Interviews tab on the side to pull up previous interviews!

What was the last brand new band to blow you away?
    I can’t name a brand new band that has blown me away in a while.  The last album I got really into that’s new to me was “Beautiful Reasons” by The Cry.  I first heard them years ago from the H-Street “Hokus Pokus” video.  I was probably 12 or 13 and didn’t really care, but a few months ago I heard the song “Alone” again in the new Polar video and it’s been stuck in the back of my mind since.

 Do you ever get into reissues/remastered versions of your favorite albums?

I couldn’t really care less.  Some reissues with more artwork or photos can be cool…or if it’s the first time an album is getting pressed on a specific format.  Otherwise, no, I don’t care.

 

What's the most money you'd ever pay for a ticket to a show?
If I like the band enough, money’s not much of a concern.  To have been able to see that little tour Hum and Failure did…fuck, I don’t think I could put a price on that.  I think the most I’ve paid though for a single band was sometime around 2005/2006 when I saw Dinosaur Jr for $30 bucks.

What musician would you be the most "star struck" to meet?

Maybe Matt Talbott?  I don’t know.  Nobody else really comes to mind.  Star struck isn’t the right word though…I wouldn’t be hyperventilating and fumbling over my words; he just seems like someone you would have a real, ego-less conversation with.  I probably don’t vocalize it as much as I should, but I’d really rather hear what my friends are currently doing than hearing someone I don’t know reminisce over what they’ve already done, or aren’t even doing anymore.

What would make for the most insane basement show of current bands right now?

I don’t know, I’m too out of the loop right now.

  

Have you ever thought about singing in a band?

    Yeah, sure.  I think everyone has at one point or another.  For me at least, coming up going to punk and hardcore shows, you sort of adopt a mindset early on that sticks with you that “hey, those guys aren’t any different than me, I can do this too.”  

Everybody get up, it's time to slam now. We got a real jam goin' down. 
Welcome to the Space Jam?  
 Fuck off. 



 Now go glue your favorite junk food to a strangers face. GOODBYE! 


 -Novak

6 Songs To Showcase David Bowie's Eclectic Career

Ever since his death, I feel like the world learned a little bit more about David Bowie. While 98% of the posters, murals, and postings online seem to revolve mainly around his Aladdin Sane imagery, Bowie had a plethora of dramatically unique musical variables. In case you've been living with your eyes and ears gorilla glued shut, here is a David Bowie crash course to get all caught up. 

Here are a few songs that showcase that.

Song: Loving the Alien
Album: Tonight
Year: 1984

Most of the mid to late 80's were aggressively regarded (even by Bowie himself) as a creatively stagnant period for Bowie. This album specifically is one of my least favorites, but this song is one of my favorites. It has a very synthetic, upbeat feel throughout.

If you're still bored (because holy shit you must be really desperate at this point reading this blog) after reading this, check out the live version of this song done on the reality tour here. It's just done with guitar and vocals. A much more straight forward, sad sound in my opinion.

Song: Oh you Pretty Things
Album: Hunky Dory
Year: 1971

This was actually the first vinyl of Bowie's I ever owned. It captures him in his early stages of exploring his different musical and stage personas. This is more along the lines of what most people know about Bowie. It has all the components to a classic 70's rock song, driven by piano and vocals. It's not my favorite album of his, but this era definitely needs to have some light shed on it if we're highlighting various styles. 

 Song: Warszawa
Album: Low
Year: 1977

This would probably be the album that caught most "casual" Bowie listeners by surprise. I have blabbed about this record in this blog in various ways since my first post. If we're talking Bowie eclectic changes and dramatic changes - this list can't be complete without this album. This song specifically would be a go to on this album. Instrumental, slow moving, and very haunting. It takes you to a seemingly dark, sad place - and just leaves you there without any positive hooks or jingles.

Song: The Motel
Album: Outside
Year: 1995

This would definitely be more on the abstract side of Bowie's career. An improvised, deep and jazzy track that really stands out from his 70's hits and even latest releases. The song almost sounds like an intro until around 3 minutes, when the drum machine comes in to tie the heavily processed vocals and fantastic piano playing (by Mike Garson of course) all together. If we're talking about eclectic tracks, no list would be complete without basically any track off this album.

The Outside album is perfect. It's just the right balance of abstract and catchy to easily be one of my favorite albums. The approach (with Eno) was interesting enough, let alone the music that came from it. To me, when I see people flock to the obvious Bowie songs - this is the album I always want to counter their claims with.

 Song: Station to Station
Album: Station to Station
Year: 1976

This was a transitional album from Young Americans and his beloved Berlin trilogy. It still has the "classic Bowie" elements, but this was the entrance to spacey synths and noisy guitars. The beginning track is one of my all time favorite songs. On the "Stage" album - it's fucking pure magic. These strange UFO type sounds come in, then this wall of noise from Adrian Belew builds up, the bass rumbles in, complimented by the sheer power of the drums (starting with just single floor tom slams) and builds into a beautiful, catchy tune. A crucial track to displaying his ever changing styles.

Song: Crystal Japan
Album: Scary Monsters
Year: 1980

Crystal Japan was the first Bowie song I heard that opened my eyes to him being more than "Ziggy Stardust." This instrumental, triumphant sounding track immediately seems to take me on a voyage far beyond traditional instruments and settings. It always seem to take me a fairy-tale type place, very much like a Jim Henson movie type set.

Funny enough, the only reason I really dove into this song and Bowie at first was from Nine Inch Nails. Trent basically covered this song note for note when creating "a warm place" for the Downward Spiral. That track stood out like a sore (but great) thumb on that album, and I tried to find as much information on it - and I immediately started looking into Bowie's material from there.

Song: Fascination
Album: Young Americans
Year: 1975

Last but certainly not least is this track and album. This was a period of his I wish lasted a bit longer. He was infamous for deserting previous styles and diving head first into different ones. This one in my opinion was his most fluent segue.

Fascination is a great example of what this album represents musically. It has the grooves, tones, and arrangements of deep soul music, without it seeming contrived or forced. The production on this album is spot on. Just the right mix of the horns, backup singers, and percussion. The backing band used on this album became a reoccurring lineup for him and only got tighter and smarter with age.

In closing... There have been so many artists and bands that WANT to be eclectic and unique, but no one does it like Bowie. So many people fuck it up by simply trying to do something different than their last album just to say it was different, without truly owning that unique style.  

-Novak

Albums of the Week

Just to keep the flow of these posts going, here are some albums I've been real into this week.

-Novak

Interview with Chris Bishop

Chris Bishop has been mentioned in this blog since the very first blog entries. He's a rare and outstanding breed of musician/human from Cleveland. He currently resides in Virginia which makes it hard to be hard together, but not impossible! He still comes up to visit quite often and we still get to jam. We just recently did a podcast together (my first out of state one!) and that will be uploaded soon. 

In the meantime, here's a little interview with him as some foreplay before the cum shot/podcast to be posted.

What was the first band that made you pick up a guitar?
I don't know. I remember rocking with a fake guitar when I was really young. I'm sure it was something my mom was listening to. Grateful Dead, Neil young, black crowes. Something like that. I was born with a guitar in my hand. And a huge cock.

When did you know music wasn't going to just be a hobby?  

Music is a hobby.

Who are your favorite types of musicians to play with? 

People I can communicate with without using words. If I take a left turn while we are jamming and you turn left at the same time, I love jamming with you. The He Chaw boys jam like this, Tayler and I are telepathic when we jam.

How important are lyrics to a song? 

Depends on the song. I write some songs with a purpose of saying something or telling a story and some songs are made to make far girls dance. Dress blues by Jason Isbell can make me cry and rumble by link Wray can make your dick hard and make you want to fight. (It's an instrumental)

Favorite instrumental band? 

Yelloh. The ventures. Bill dogget.

What's an album cover you stared at for hours as a kid? 

I don't know if I stared at it for hours but the molly hatchet cover for flirtin' with disaster is a standout.

Favorite bassist? 

Charles Mingus

What makes a good song? 

If you can play a song with just a voice and an acoustic guitar and it's convincing, it will be a good song. If it doesn't work solo acoustic it will never work as a band.

Do you like mashed potatoes? 

Love em. Love em more with corn and gravy.

Favorite Cleveland band? 

The exploding lies. Honest to god rock and roll played by 4 no bullshit Cleveland dudes. No gimmicks, no schtick, just rock and roll. Exactly what it should be.

Why hasn't there been any solo material from you? 

In the studio dec 3/4. Solo record out in the spring on eleventh hour records. On vinyl too!!

Does it feel good to be a gangsta? 

I see some ladies tonight that should be havin my baby. Baby.

-Novak

Coming Soon: Ambient Podcast (Get your pillows ready)

 Most people have something in their life that gives their brain a little break from the drudgery of the day. Whether it's a quick cigarette break, a special spot they visit, or even just spending time with a loved one. For me, it's music. Any second of the day that I can toss on a set of headphones or have music on in the background, I do. Showering int he morning, driving to work, sitting at work, I even bring my bluetooth speaker in with me any time I take a shit.

I've been having a lot of talks with Woods lately about how songs paint certain scenery. Some songs do it within the first note and some songs build. There are a few songs that will transport you to entirely different places within seconds. 90% of the music that does that for me is ambient music.

I have a podcast in the works not just presenting these songs, but explaining what I see and where I go. I feel like words won't come close to explaining what the music itself does, but it might be fun to try.

Besides, what else am I going to do with my time?


-Novak

Inspiring Sights

I am the king of having 423 ideas and presenting at best a handful of them. This year has been the widest range of creative attempts for me. I've branched out to making and selling bigger paintings, I started a podcast, I've stepped out from behind the drums to front my own band on guitar/vocals, constantly changing and challenging my recording techniques, and I'm contentiously making short video clips to tie all of these creative avenues together. 

As "cool" as that makes me sound - outside of recording bands, about 7% of these things will see the light of day. I still haven't escaped the whole day job thing and I have the attention span of a hotdog. So I have all of these unfinished projects that really could be something great if I just focused and did one at a time. 

The visual aspect to accompany sounds has always been of such a monumental importance to me. I have always tried to be conscious of how the room is lit, how it smells - that has a big impact on seducing the sounds out of your head for me. If done correctly, you can really immerse yourself into an entire galaxy of emotions rather than just a room of them. Now obviously not everything requires something insane to go with it. Some songs and bands don't require anything "special" to add to their intent. For 98% of the the songs and ideas in my  head - it's without question that without it, you are really only getting a glimpse of how much more I see.

In case I die before all of these ideas come out - here are some really great examples of things that inspired me in tremendous ways to do this.

 

Skinny Puppy - Live (2010)

 This band is a perfect example of doing things in a strange, but very pleasing way. I have a more in depth blog on seeing them live here.

Moment Factory 

Moment Factory is hands down the most challenging, creative, and ground breaking team of anyone doing visuals on this entire planet. They rewired my expectations for what is possible to see on stages, in public places, and even in outdoor environments forever. The best part about this mind blowing team of weirdos is that they consistently pushing brand new technology to challenge themselves and their audiences. 

Any time I think I have a room lit cool or I have an idea I think would impress people - Moment Factory comes to mind and I realize just how far off from being even remotely cool I am. They make stages look like outer space, they can make forests look like other planets, and just when you think you've seen their coolest production - two months later they come out with something even more amazing. 

Here are just a few examples of some productions that have change the way I view live shows/visuals:

 

-Novak