Interview With Rev from Underride Part One
About two weeks ago I had a phone interview with my favorite collection of degenerates, Underride. I had about a 30 minute conversation with Rev about throwing up, Lady Gaga, and rock n' roll. What you are about to read is only part one of two. I had to break the interview up into two parts because Rev loves talking. I hope you enjoy.
BnR: Hey Rev how the hell are you?
Rev: I am great now that I am talking to my favorite blogger in the whole worldwide interweb.
BnR: That's very nice of you to say and thanks for lying.
Rev: Well I am good at that. I am a professional liar and a pole smoker as well as my guitarist is making the pole smoking sign. That's ok I blew a big nasty fart in his direction. How have you been man?
BnR: I have been good. You guys have been on a roll.
Rev: We are we are doing it baby; you know melting faces in the rock n' roll scene. It's been pretty good so far. We have had some good shows and some shows that have been "eh." But some of the better shows, like the one in West Virginia at Yellow Beards, was just over the top. Probably 200-300 kids there and everyone was just going bannanas. They really dig the rock down there.
BnR: Did the parole officer have to work out a deal with Princess with all the kids in the audience?
Rev: Yea, he has a bracelet on now. It makes it tough for some of the shows because he can't go within 500 yards of the kids.
BnR: Being from the state of Pennsylvannia, I know all about that.
Rev: Actually, he is Sandusky's nephew.
BnR: What brought about the change in players from One of Us to Distorted Nation?
Rev: That's a real simple story. We were pretty happy with that last record, One of Us, and we wanted to take it out of Seattle and get out on the road and play around. The other two guys playing guitar did not want to tour and were in to staying around the area. That is when we brought in Princess and Suzuki. When we brought them in that gave us an opportunity to tweak the sound and update it a little bit.
BnR: I am glad you used the word tweak because I was going to ask, how did you decide which songs from One of Us you were going to tweak and add to Distorted Nation?
Rev: We did a small deal with a company in the Seattle area and they really liked Road to Nowhere and Candy Girl. They wanted to include those songs on Distorted Nation. We wanted to move past it, but they asked nicely enough and we put them on there. That was a little release they did. We did redo all the guitar work on them and updated them a bit to give them a fresher spin. Then I remixed them in the Underride studios. The actual release that is out now, that the band released, doesn't have those songs on it.
BnR: Then I guess I received the smaller Seattle label release.
Rev: You did. We released One of Us in July and the other two guys were gone by December so we really didn't tour behind it and it's a really solid record. I know that is the one you stumbled upon when you were out this way right?
BnR: Yea I was out that way for a writer's conference. I like to go to the local show areas and see what stickers hit my face. Most of it is semen, but some stickers do stand out. Your sticker popped out and I wrote a bunch of bands down and came back to the hotel because I was bored of masturbating in the hotel. That is when I started listening to your stuff. It was exactly what I was looking for. That is when I downloaded One of Us and it was my soundtrack for Seattle. I heard the cover of Papparazzi, your cover of Lady Gaga's song BEFORE I heard her version and you know, I like your version better.
Rev: Well thanks, we still have to give her nine cents for every copy. But hey what the hell?
BnR: Hopefully it will go to a nose job for her.
Rev: I don't think she needs any money now though.
BnR: Are you signed with Silent Majority Group?
Rev: No, what makes you ask that?
BnR: I think you are using New Ocean Media as your publicst company and they almost exclusively work with Silent Majority Group.
Rev: Oh yea, we are working with a guy named Steve Walker out in Spokane, who also heard Paparazzi and really dug it. He has been helping us out and introducing us to people. He introduced us to the guys over at New Ocean. They had worked with a few bands that we are friends with out of Seattle, Temperedcast, Candlebox, and bands like that. I have been talking to David Gibson over there and Steve said that we really needed to work with New Ocean to get our name out there. We brought them on board for this tour and they have been great. They have been getting us lots of really great exposure. I am working with a guy named Doug Weber out of New Jersey, who is the best. He sends me emails everyday and updates me about what is going on. As far as I know, it has nothing to do with Silent Majority Group, but hey if you are out there and you want a straight up hard rock band that works harder than any band in town....call the Rev at 1800-Spank-Me.
BnR: We have worked with Doug a lot over the years and he's great. He really digs a good live show though.
Rev: Oh then he would really dig Underride live because we bring it and leave it all on stage when we play.
BnR: Can you describe in one word your live show? You have one word describe your onstage performance...what is it? Besides pedophilia.
Rev: Energetic. Most people say it is engaging. We are interactive, but that sounds cyber gay. There are a lot of tiny jokes that are dropped throughout the set. At first people don't get it and then they warm up and we play Paparazzi. I think people are so drenched with metal and serious heavy brutal music that when something comes along that's light we catach them off gaurd. But in the end we always win them over.
BnR: You are so right. It's either hardcore/mallcore or dance pop on the radio now.
Rev: Right there is this whole open area. "Man can't we just play straight up rock songs that aren't about death and destruction, but maybe something you want to party to?" We are finding that there are a lot of people who like to party in the midwest.There is a lot of alcohol to be had out in these parts and we have been taking our share.
BnR: I know some of your influences are the Seattle sound and I can hear some Velvet Revolver, but what might be the strangest influence on your music? I am thinking Creed or Streisand.
Rev: I think some of the pop stuff. We dig Lady Gaga. We are fans. I went to her show in Tachoma and it was one of the best rock shows I have seen in years. I mean that, ROCK SHOW. Fucking fire, giant tornados coming out of her piano and the band was on fire. We like those two and half to three minute pop rock songs that have that really strong chorus and then put that in the Underride blender and cook it up that way.
BnR: Were there a lot of screaming girls at the show?
Rev: The show I was at had tons of women. What was cool about it was it was an event. So everyone was dressed up and they had cool outfits on, some had Gaga makeup on. It was more fun than going to some rock shows, like the bland one. This show had a vibe and an energy that made it fun.
BnR: That's a great point. I love the Rolling Stones and have been to their shows, but their crowd is the biggest stuck up, stiff suits. Anyway, are you guys touring around in an El Camino?
Rev: It's not the best, but it's not the worst either. We got Vana White. We are riding around in a white van. Our first gig was in St. Petersburg, Florida. If you look at a map, Seattle and St. Petersburg are the two furthest points in the contiental US. I think the furthest place we could have played were the Keys; they were only 40 miles away. We did 3600 miles in 71 hours and we didn't stop to bathe once. Right around the Florida panhandle is when we started smelling the devil. The devil didn't go to Georgia; he was in my pants. The last eight hours were tough, but me and the Walrus loaded up on hardcore coffee and drove all the way through talking about rock n' roll.
BnR: Hey Rev how the hell are you?
Rev: I am great now that I am talking to my favorite blogger in the whole worldwide interweb.
BnR: That's very nice of you to say and thanks for lying.
Rev: Well I am good at that. I am a professional liar and a pole smoker as well as my guitarist is making the pole smoking sign. That's ok I blew a big nasty fart in his direction. How have you been man?
BnR: I have been good. You guys have been on a roll.
Rev: We are we are doing it baby; you know melting faces in the rock n' roll scene. It's been pretty good so far. We have had some good shows and some shows that have been "eh." But some of the better shows, like the one in West Virginia at Yellow Beards, was just over the top. Probably 200-300 kids there and everyone was just going bannanas. They really dig the rock down there.
BnR: Did the parole officer have to work out a deal with Princess with all the kids in the audience?
Rev: Yea, he has a bracelet on now. It makes it tough for some of the shows because he can't go within 500 yards of the kids.
BnR: Being from the state of Pennsylvannia, I know all about that.
Rev: Actually, he is Sandusky's nephew.
BnR: What brought about the change in players from One of Us to Distorted Nation?
Rev: That's a real simple story. We were pretty happy with that last record, One of Us, and we wanted to take it out of Seattle and get out on the road and play around. The other two guys playing guitar did not want to tour and were in to staying around the area. That is when we brought in Princess and Suzuki. When we brought them in that gave us an opportunity to tweak the sound and update it a little bit.
BnR: I am glad you used the word tweak because I was going to ask, how did you decide which songs from One of Us you were going to tweak and add to Distorted Nation?
Rev: We did a small deal with a company in the Seattle area and they really liked Road to Nowhere and Candy Girl. They wanted to include those songs on Distorted Nation. We wanted to move past it, but they asked nicely enough and we put them on there. That was a little release they did. We did redo all the guitar work on them and updated them a bit to give them a fresher spin. Then I remixed them in the Underride studios. The actual release that is out now, that the band released, doesn't have those songs on it.
BnR: Then I guess I received the smaller Seattle label release.
Rev: You did. We released One of Us in July and the other two guys were gone by December so we really didn't tour behind it and it's a really solid record. I know that is the one you stumbled upon when you were out this way right?
BnR: Yea I was out that way for a writer's conference. I like to go to the local show areas and see what stickers hit my face. Most of it is semen, but some stickers do stand out. Your sticker popped out and I wrote a bunch of bands down and came back to the hotel because I was bored of masturbating in the hotel. That is when I started listening to your stuff. It was exactly what I was looking for. That is when I downloaded One of Us and it was my soundtrack for Seattle. I heard the cover of Papparazzi, your cover of Lady Gaga's song BEFORE I heard her version and you know, I like your version better.
Rev: Well thanks, we still have to give her nine cents for every copy. But hey what the hell?
BnR: Hopefully it will go to a nose job for her.
Rev: I don't think she needs any money now though.
BnR: Are you signed with Silent Majority Group?
Rev: No, what makes you ask that?
BnR: I think you are using New Ocean Media as your publicst company and they almost exclusively work with Silent Majority Group.
Rev: Oh yea, we are working with a guy named Steve Walker out in Spokane, who also heard Paparazzi and really dug it. He has been helping us out and introducing us to people. He introduced us to the guys over at New Ocean. They had worked with a few bands that we are friends with out of Seattle, Temperedcast, Candlebox, and bands like that. I have been talking to David Gibson over there and Steve said that we really needed to work with New Ocean to get our name out there. We brought them on board for this tour and they have been great. They have been getting us lots of really great exposure. I am working with a guy named Doug Weber out of New Jersey, who is the best. He sends me emails everyday and updates me about what is going on. As far as I know, it has nothing to do with Silent Majority Group, but hey if you are out there and you want a straight up hard rock band that works harder than any band in town....call the Rev at 1800-Spank-Me.
BnR: We have worked with Doug a lot over the years and he's great. He really digs a good live show though.
Rev: Oh then he would really dig Underride live because we bring it and leave it all on stage when we play.
BnR: Can you describe in one word your live show? You have one word describe your onstage performance...what is it? Besides pedophilia.
Rev: Energetic. Most people say it is engaging. We are interactive, but that sounds cyber gay. There are a lot of tiny jokes that are dropped throughout the set. At first people don't get it and then they warm up and we play Paparazzi. I think people are so drenched with metal and serious heavy brutal music that when something comes along that's light we catach them off gaurd. But in the end we always win them over.
BnR: You are so right. It's either hardcore/mallcore or dance pop on the radio now.
Rev: Right there is this whole open area. "Man can't we just play straight up rock songs that aren't about death and destruction, but maybe something you want to party to?" We are finding that there are a lot of people who like to party in the midwest.There is a lot of alcohol to be had out in these parts and we have been taking our share.
BnR: I know some of your influences are the Seattle sound and I can hear some Velvet Revolver, but what might be the strangest influence on your music? I am thinking Creed or Streisand.
Rev: I think some of the pop stuff. We dig Lady Gaga. We are fans. I went to her show in Tachoma and it was one of the best rock shows I have seen in years. I mean that, ROCK SHOW. Fucking fire, giant tornados coming out of her piano and the band was on fire. We like those two and half to three minute pop rock songs that have that really strong chorus and then put that in the Underride blender and cook it up that way.
BnR: Were there a lot of screaming girls at the show?
Rev: The show I was at had tons of women. What was cool about it was it was an event. So everyone was dressed up and they had cool outfits on, some had Gaga makeup on. It was more fun than going to some rock shows, like the bland one. This show had a vibe and an energy that made it fun.
BnR: That's a great point. I love the Rolling Stones and have been to their shows, but their crowd is the biggest stuck up, stiff suits. Anyway, are you guys touring around in an El Camino?
Rev: It's not the best, but it's not the worst either. We got Vana White. We are riding around in a white van. Our first gig was in St. Petersburg, Florida. If you look at a map, Seattle and St. Petersburg are the two furthest points in the contiental US. I think the furthest place we could have played were the Keys; they were only 40 miles away. We did 3600 miles in 71 hours and we didn't stop to bathe once. Right around the Florida panhandle is when we started smelling the devil. The devil didn't go to Georgia; he was in my pants. The last eight hours were tough, but me and the Walrus loaded up on hardcore coffee and drove all the way through talking about rock n' roll.
In part two of the interview, we discuss what songs we had our first sexual experience to, nose barfing, and how Underride writes a song. I will have the interview up tomorrow, but in the meantime check out Underride's official site for 2012 tour dates.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Part two can be found here.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Part two can be found here.
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