Saturday, February 20, 2021

Mobdividual Interview



Over the past 10 years, I have watched mobdividual grow as an artist and it's been a fun journey. Brian has evolved his live show and recordings into an amazing and intriguing body of work. He's recorded several albums, EPs and other projects and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. The music of mobdividual is meditative at times and thunderous noise at other times; mostly done on guitar and effects. Brian writes intricate music and I know this as I have had the pleasure of collaborating with him on several occasions now; including an infamous live show at an art gallery years ago in Manitou, Colorado. Brian also does an amazing amount of work supporting the art and music conmmunity here in Colorado Springs. Here's the man himself.......


1. We interviewed you years ago for this blog and you are still doing mobdividual. Talk about how this musical project has evolved over the years.


Not much has really changed in the grand scheme. as a concept it was fully formed more or less when i started - but it took me two or three years to figure out the arrangement of effects, amps and write songs that would work - emotional noisey abstract music with ebbs and flows of guitar and noise - i had a cellist for a short time who was really great. i recorded an album with a drummer and that was fun. ive provided background sounds for numerous art exhibits around town and a few in denver - really unique things too, like a guy who casts iron live so there's fire and smoke and melted steel everywhere, or that time a guy exhibited carnivorous plants he cultivates and sells, or that giant art thing that Itchy-O busted in on secretly at the end of my set - and my own "bring your own amp and effects" was super fun but probably needs its own question; i wanted to be the go-to for sounds you didnt know you needed, hehe

2. You seem to be doing lots of conceptual work with music/video. Tell the people about this process.

this is probably one of my favorite things to do. i have an old iphone 5s that still works and a macro lens for it. My family and i live in an old house in a historic neighborhood, so our yard is really old and really wild with plants and critters. i use my 5s and a macro lens to film critters and plants around the yard - using the slo mo setting - i record sound however i record sound - lately on my zoom 16-track - i upload all the videos and recordings to the cloud and combine them using my latest iphone in imovie and garagband (ive done this for a couple of iphone versions) in march of 2018 i had the chance to perform this as a live installation at the machine shop in colorado springs. there i used (3) projectors total and projected the films across the room so they were huge, like 8 feet wide and 3 or 4 feet tall and played music to them live - so i assembled 3hrs of 1-7 minute videos. i didnt want any repeats in footage over an hour performance - then i was able to do it again at cottonwood center for the arts where i used four projectors and was able to get them even larger, like 12-14 feet wide and 7 or 8 feet tall; using three walls and performed music live. again with no footage repeats (so four hours of footage, one hour per projector) - i call the footage/music combo STILL MOVING SOUND mostly when i perform it, cos its like silent movies with live music and slow moving still life photography all at once

3. With mobdividual, you are able to perform at many different types of venues beyond traditional rock-type places. What are some of your favorites?

generally the DIY spots are my favorite - I like playing art shows/galleries because there's a lot less pressure on me as "a performer" - cos people are there for the art or artist usually, and im just background. i can be more free and experimental and talk with friends as they come and go. i like playing bars too because there may be people there who dont go to DIY spots, but in bars, people often want music they can recognize immediately as "music". but the DIY spot / basement is what mobdiviual was created for. i can be as loud as i want, play really short sets (like 30mins) take ten or twelve minutes to build something up and tear it down, and everyone who is there is only there to see the music that nite; so its a more comfortable atmosphere for me. i generally get terrible stage fright. i dont know why. 

4. Have you been creative during these tumultuous times?

i have. its kind of the only thing i can really count on these days; the only thing i have control over, and the only thing i dont have to worry about - recording sounds. my live set uses a specific setup - and id perform two or three times a month so it was kind of pain to change my setup too much - but without the pressure of performing ive completely broken down everything and reassembled it in several different ways by now. 6 of my 7 EPs were all recorded at home, but over the years my equipment has crapped out in one way or another. so in april 2020 I finally found an affordable recorder that met my extremely specific needs for how i like to assemble sounds; seems to be very productive and inspiring for me. Ive aquired a few new pedals during pandemic so im trying to use new sounds in new ways, at least for me.

5. Do you enjoy recording at home? Do you prefer this or a studio?

I certainly prefer at home; my process is so time consuming (cos i experiment and search a lot) and very irregular (cos of my work:life schedule). when i was in bands with other people I mostly preferred studios. mobdividual recorded an album in a studio once - and it was a blast! but it also served as a reminder as to why i record at home - time and expense. i also had a drummer on that one (UNTITLED MONOLITH), so that would have been difficult at home. my work/life schedule is so crazy; i'll record 7 or 8 days in a row, then wont touch anything for two weeks, then do rough mixes of like 12 recordings on a weekend, then not touch anything for several days; so its tough to involve other people.

6. What are you listening to these days?

the same ol stuff i always listen to (mostly 90s rock - smashing pumpkins, nine inch nails,etc..), im not too focused on listening or finding anything these days im recording a lot and trying to get better at guitar, so im trying to learn a variety of songs and song parts and so that already takes my head away from finding new stuff. several months ago, and for several months i was looking for what ive categorized as "post-r&b" - i heard solange's "a seat at the table" when it came out and realized r&b had crossed over into a "post" world of r&b that simply would not have existed when i was a kid in the 80s or 90s. so i searched around and found all sorts of things like fka twigs, king (album: we are king), willow, alexandria, janelle monae (her three album series is the most cinematic r&b i think ive heard), how to dress well, abra, banks, lizzo 

7. Have you thought about putting out a box set of all mobdividual releases so far?

i think about this from time to time, but i dont know i have the fanbase to support the amount of effort id want to put into something like this. would be super cool though. id want to do something crazy like release all the EP's on 10" (most of my albums are formatted for 2X10LP - which his my favorite format, not too big / not too small - and then id have some noise re-releases (music ive made in collaboration with visual artists for various exhibits) on micro cassette and it would come with a micro cassette player - haha that would be nuts - and expensive! 

8. Favorite live venues to see shows and/or perform at?

my favorite venues are of course DIY places which are usually just no frills rooms or basements. but besides those i really like the smaller old school theaters like the bluebird or ogden (in denver); places like that - not a lot of people, and the people who are there are generally fans. I really like dcing background music for art exhibits, especially if its in collaboration with the artists or curator. sitting in the corner for three or four hours making noise is a lot of fun.

9. Once we get back to live performances in general, what will it look like?

no idea, really. i hope to get asked to play here and there. but im really not too sure what i would do... probably some of these new experiments ive been working on, but who knows. ive been enjoying the break from everything, quite frankly. im so much more of a hermit than i ever really thought i was. Id probably try to ease into it playing art exhibits. im going to be weary of traditional venues and crowds for quite some time.

10. Best Mexican food in Colorado Springs?

well, i love salsa latina downtown and rancho alegre on south nevada. i lived a block from salsa latina so id walk over all the time. and the other was by my daughters school, so id sometimes grab some tacos before i picked her up from school. 

11. Who are some local artists/bands you admire?

right now my favorite artist in colorado springs is Su Kaiden Cho. They do these very personal but abstract sculpture based, found object-esque installations. i've happened to perform at two different of their exhibits at two different galleries, and both exhibits have stayed with me.

12. Do you have any new releases planned for the near future?

i do. no release dates for anything yet. but im wanting to do a series of noisy cassettes based on an art project i did a few years ago - a short series of three tapes that has no indication of the beginning nor the end -  I'm hoping to finish our (with you, Glen) split or EP in 2021. and i'll keep kicking out some demos and nature films along the way.

13. What can people do to make the world a better place?

be more understanding to what someone might be going through and be more intentional about communicating with people. if what you are about to say has the sole purpose of making someone angry or frustrated or feel demeaned, dont say it; and you probably need to check yourself for even thinking it, haha

14. The mobdividual show works great with live visuals as well, any plans to do more of this in the future?

always, and i love doing it - there's only two things stopping me - one having my own projector (and the time to set it up along with all of my stuff) and the second (going back to when i started) was what type of visuals? its seems like every band has a wash of screensaver abstract visuals and they dont ever make sense - darsombra really blew that door open by having their music timed to visuals - but i didnt want to do that either. i want them to be more free from the music but still entertaining or engaging in and of themselves; but not anything with a specific narrative - like, my music has no narrative - so i got super excited when i discovered macro photography and slo-mo film. its the perfect abstract intensity i was looking for.

15. If you could meet any musician living or dead, who would it be?

Syd Barrett, the original founder of The Pink Floyd; John Cage, the Indeterminacy guy; and Duke Ellington, the Jazz great

16. What genre does your music fit into? And you know I hate labels such as genres for music. This is a question to describe your music to someone who has never heard it before. 

to answer the question directly cos i'm going to ramble afterwards, i finally thought of a way to describe my music - meditative music for sonic youth fans - one of my other favorite descriptors is "solo ambient doom" - i dont really hate labels for music. i dont mind labels, i say embrace the label and embody it to its fullest! I actually wish others were more into labels. ive been led down so many wrong paths via recommendations that were not at all what I expected from the labels i was given. i knew i wanted to make "emotional experimental post rock" but i didnt want to be any of the bands i liked. i wanted to find this average of slint, godspeed and mogwai - those are my personal defining post-rock bands - highly structured, predictably repeatable and powerfully emotional, but kind of rambly and unpredictable - i knew i wanted to make abstract music, but not so abstract that someone could think 'oh i could do that' - but i also didnt want it to be full of sonic guitar 'tricks' either - i wanted the power to come from the arrangements, the compositions, ideas that sound just as good acoustically. i also didnt want the music to indicate how to feel about it. 'oh this is a sad song, this is a happy song because the lyrics say so' - and is why i dont have any breaks between songs and you'll never hear me describe what a song is about from the stage - they arent about anything - im trying to channel raw emotions thru a noisey sonic experience. so i subtracted all these things i didnt want to be, added all the things i loved or hadnt experienced enough of, and am striving for somewhere in the middle. if it feels good, it probably is good.

17. Mobdividual music is unique, have you heard any other artists/bands that sound similar?

There's one person who is very similar, Labradford on Kranky Records - especially my earlier recordings. i had forgotten about him until someone at a show long ago dropped his name and our similarities. i dont think that cat has made records for years. i have a couple of his from before i started playing music (his 93 album and his 96 album, i didnt start doing music until i was about 21 in 97ish) and when I listened back, i can hear it. but when i play live, i really hope youve experienced nothing like it. i dont think i have. 
 
18. What does the future of experimental music look like?
 
it will continue to get more and more popular and we will see it in more and more places. even with my stuff, in the proper context my music is perfectly acceptable and pushes zero boundaries - but i guess thats the thing, i suppose. art is often less about pushing boundaries and more about making emotional connections. my main goal is to connect sonically with people in ways theyve never connected with sound before. thats kind of why i dont put pressure on myself to have always visuals or a speech or something extra as 'entertaining'. i dont really "perform" in the traditional sense. i want people to arrive at enjoying this music or experience for their own sake. the last STILL MOVING SOUND i did i had people almost twice my age and people almost half my age come away with the exact amount of emotional recharge i was hoping they would. my favorite thing to hear after a set is "man, i didnt even know i needed that, thank you" comments like that help confirm im doing what i'm supposed to be doing.

19. Any last thoughts or messages to your fans?

thank you. if youve ever seen me perform or listen to my music on your own time. there are so many hundreds of thousands of records to listen to and you listening to mine is just amazing to me.

www.mobdividual.bandcamp.com

Saturday, January 30, 2021

The Upper Middle Interview


 

The Upper Middle make creative, interesting music and i'm not just saying that because a few of the members are friends of mine. Their big rock sound is unique so you should listen and decide for yourself. The beauty of music/songs is it means something different to everyone. This Tennessee-based group has multiple songwriters aboard and an array of multi-instrumentalist skills. They sing harmonies and write really good songs. Just off the heels of releasing their second album, THE UPPER MIDDLE; here's the band you've been waiting to hear about!


1. Where does the name the Upper Middle come from?


Scott: Shea, you got this? Upper Middle Tennessee? 


Brian:  was it a reaction against the amusing “self blue-collarization” of artists (especially typical of the ‘americana’ ilk) like The Boss, The Coug, The Ryan Adams, The Vanilla Ice’s of the world? A brutal, misguided honesty revealing our artistically unfashionable socioeconomic upbringing?


Kris : Yes


Shea :  My original intent when I came up with the name was the allusion to the sonic sweet spot...at the brink of distortion. Marriage of power and tension. The others took it and ran with it in a more social commentary-related angle. Par for the course. 

(just kidding...I'm just the drummer...no idea).

 


2. The new record sounds great, how long did it take to record? Where did you record it?


Scott : Kris lorded over the final result which was tracked initially in two batches: Brown Owl (fall ’18) and Blackbird Studios (spring ’19), both in Nashville’s Berry Hill neighborhood. It was especially satisfying in that these were all new songs that came together like fresh fish tacos in San Felipe: hooked, cleaned up, lightly seasoned, ready for consumption. Our previous release was more drawn out, like a 10 year Reposado, still needs a little ageing.


Brian :  3 different studios within a 2 mile radius… and Hansa, East Berlin

Kris : Hey, thanks Greno. 1980s Sovtek tube technology paired with late-1990s Apple technology. Started at Brown Owl with Russ Long, spring 2019 at Blackbird Studios, then leisurely shaken and stirred at the Crab Shack. Finished just in time for the pandemic.



3. What are your individual roles in the band?


Scott : basses, steel guitar, mellotrons, vocals

Brian Tobias :  questioning, nagging, periscoping

Kardinal Woolsey : bass guitar, other guitar, ‘singing’, wisdom-less age, standard tuning

Shea : Drums. Alpha-Dog, but used sparingly to increase impact. 



4. Any particular studio(s) you really enjoy working at?


Scott : Lately, Olive (Brian’s new set up)

Brian : Young Ave., Memphis… Sputnik Sound, Nazzville

Shea : Always dig Brown Owl. 



5. The Upper Middle has multiple songwriters, how do you juggle it all for set lists/releases?

Scott: for releases, generally whomever most wrote it, sings it. For set lists, we try to minimise the swapping of bass guitar and alt-tunings, though we’d prefer to not have that as a consideration, our songs are all over the place.

Kris : Once he’s vaccinated, we’re considering hiring Sebastian Bach as a lead singer, so the live sets have more focus


6. How have you guys been holding up during the pandemic of 2020?


Scott : Mostly depressed, angry, bored, sick, tired: all stemming from picking up golf again. Otherwise, fine.


Brian : It’s been a good opportunity to focus on family and self-loathing


Kris : Experimenting with small-batch tequilas (The Brothers started it) has kept the boredom at bay


Shea : Hanging in. It has spawned the birth of a sound-proof drum shed being built on my property, taking isolation to new heights.



7. As brothers playing together in a band, have you ever had a fight on stage?


Scott : We’ve staged a few pantomime brawls, but nothing like Blues x Five glory days with Duncan taking serious beatings from his brother Alistair, including one in front of Betty Broderick at a house party in La Jolla.


Brian : Once Scott helped himself to an obnoxiously gratuitous guitar solo, so i altered his uplighting to a rather unflattering amber hue.


Kris : Oof



8. What are some record stores you like in Memphis/Nashville?


Hylbert Bros : Goner in Midtown Memphis, Grimey’s in East Nashville. 


Shea : Shangri-La Records in Memphis



9. After all these years, are you guys still San Diego Padre fans?


Scott : Can you say, Kurt Bevaqua?


Brian : We still have hopes of playing Tim’s “Flan Appreciation Night” one of these years



10. Best Mexican Food close to you?


Scott : Food truck at service station on Kirkwood


Brian : Burritos La Mina (Chile Relleno)

Kris : Not that close, but Carniceria San Luis on Harding has an amazing family combo, smoke clouds pouring out of oil drum bbq’s all day and all of the night


Shea : Mean tortas at Tortas Ahogadas at Plaza Mariachi. 



11. Favorite Big Star bootleg song/album?


Scott : Elliott Smith's take on Thirteen 


Brian : Sister Lovers (album)

Kris : Brian’s version of ‘India Song’



12. Are you guys currently writing any new material?


Scott : Brian is



13. Favorite San Diego bands, past, present and future?


Scott : Great memories of Blues by Five playing on large bills with The Town Criers, Outrage, Manual Scan, and house parties in Point Loma with Shades of Blue and Jamaica Court with Fish and the Seaweeds. Dream gig in 2021 The Upper Middle with The Loons and Nephews and a Niece!


Brian : Billy Midnite, Convoy, Ratt, Jewell


Kris : Iron Butterfly



14. If you could have a jam session with any rhythm section(alive or dead), who would it be?


Scott : Swampers, Funk Brothers, or the Wrecking Crew


Brian : The Sales Bros., Mitch Mitchell & Noel Redding


Kris: That dream came true – jammed with Chris Frantz & Tina Weymouth (they were more drunk, but more tighter) at a wedding reception


Shea : Zigaboo Modeliste/George Porter, Jr., Billy Martin/Chris Wood



15. Any "Brother Rock" bands who've inspired you guys in some way?


Scott : Gibbs w/ Kardinal Woolsey as Barry. 


Brian : Kinks, Beech Boyz, Ramones, Go-Go’s?


Kris : Isleys, Devo, Everlys


Shea : Allman Bros during the literal bros years 



16. Blackjack or Poker?


Scott : Hearts


Brian : B-52 pickup



17. What was the first music video you remember seeing on t.v.?


Scott : Haircut 100


Brian : Herbie Hancock’s bizarre robot thingy


Kris : Maybe ‘Tusk’


Shea : I was not allowed cable growing up. I think it was "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" over at my friends house, though. 



18. Favorite S.E. Hinton Book/Movie?


Scott : She write Rumble Fish?


Brian : Blade Runner



19. I heard something about an Ik Ben reunion? With Danny Bonaduce on bass?


Scott : The invitation is always open for Danny. And that’s surprising after what happened in Geisenkirchen, Brian can elaborate . . . 


Brian : Joey Bagadonuts has first chair bass, but Danny boy is a solid maybe for baritone guitar



20. Five Desert Island Discs (go!)


Scott : Loaded, Trace, Rastaman Vibration or Equal Rights, Aftermath or Let it Bleed


Brian : The first 5 Camper albums


Kris :  ‘Seven Seas’, ‘Oceans Apart’, ’Sea Change’, ’Tales from Topographic Oceans’, ‘Ik Ben Red’



21. What are your musical plans for 2021? Any new releases?


Scott : Compiling a Greatest Hits Vol.1 package for my career spanning side alias, The Golden Mean. 


Brian : We’re composing the seminal arena rock anthem for Nashville’s new sports team, tentatively titled “SPORTS!”



22. If you could have dinner with one Rolling Stone(alive or not), who would it be?

 

Scott : Ian Stewart


Brian : Bianca Jagger


Kris : Loog Oldham


Shea : Mick Avory 



23. Who is your favorite athlete from the San Diego/Poway/RB Golden era?


Scott : Scott Gilliam PHS first base 


Brian : Hiro Suzuki… or Kevin O’neill, who layed out a catcher coming home in 4th grade



24. Tell the people how they can buy/listen to your music?


Scott : The new one is soon to be on all the streaming services. I know there’s an artist/creator backlash against Spotify but we really need the money $00.0000046 per spin!


Brian : use the force, young jedi's




THE UPPER MIDDLE

www.ikben.bandcamp.com

Sunday, January 3, 2021

C.J. Hackett Interview


C.J. has been a friend of mine for years now. I have always admired his songwriting ability and musical chops. He has fronted local favs A BAD NIGHT FOR A HERO for years. Also, he records solo material under the names YETI and PREFAB SOUL. A few years back, C.J. and I held down the rhythm section in a local project called THURSTON RENALDO with Marc Raab, Collin Estes and Bryan Ostrow. He does a lot for the Colorado Springs local music community by organizing events/shows, ran Local FM, fundraisers and more. Here's an inside look at a talented and humble man.

1. Tell us about your new project Prefab Soul?
A. Prefab Soul is my new electronica-based project. I'm trying to explore different genres of electronic music including vaporwave, lofi hip hop, and anything that makes people move.

2. How often are you writing music these days?
A. I try to write daily when possible, whether it's something electronic or a Yeti track. 

3. Have you put out any new music lately?
A. I recently put out an EP under Prefab Soul "Outside Dreamland" and I'm working on a new vaporwave EP.

4. The Prefab Soul project is a vast departure from your work at the Yeti? Was this conscious?
A. Very much so. I really want to improve as a producer, so I started Prefab Soul as a way to challenge myself while exploring different styles. Hopefully that will also reflect in my music as The Yeti

5. What are you listening to these days?
A. I've been listening to a lot of vaporwave and indie rock artists, but also revisiting some old faves. Some faves being: Freddie Dredd, The Futureheads, Negative Gemini, and Memorex Memories. 

6. How are you staying creative in these times of a pandemic?
A. I've been trying to spend at least an hour a day just working on music, trying to learn theory, production, and working on better songwriting. I've also been trying to put out more B.S. covers on Youtube.

7. What is your favorite instrument to play and why?
A. That's a tricky question. I wanna say guitars, but playing the bass is always fun. I love the way it feels to let your fingers glide over the strings and play some odd melodies.

8. Talk about some of the local bands you admire.
A. There's been a lot of locals I've taken influence from, but Knight In Colors quickly comes to mind along with Had I Known

9. When live music venues open back up in the Springs, what do you think it will be like?
A. Honestly, I have no clue. I know some people have already returned to venues, but it feels like there's gonna be a big adjustment period making sure people are safe and comfortable. Considering the pandemic has shut down a lot of venues, it feels like the musical landscape might be somewhat unrecognizable. Either way, I'll be excited to play again.

10. Best Mexican food in Colorado Springs?
A. I'm a sucker for Taco Star's grilled chicken tacos

11. Name 3 of your favorite comic book characters and why?
A. Spider-man - He's just always inspired me since I was a kid. The idea that if you have the power to do good, means you have a responsibility to use it has always resonated with me. Invincible - Just a great comic hero in general, he's got a dark side, but he learns from his mistakes and strives to do better. Marcus Lopez (Deadly Class) - Not a superhero, but a super relatable character to me. Not the best person by any means, but I can definitely relate to some of his struggles with depression. 

12. What is this Thurston Renaldo super group thing you were a part of?
A. Thurston Renaldo was a super awesome project. I wish we got a chance to play out more. It's always nice to play some groovy jams

13. Are there any future plans for A Bad Night For A Hero?
A. That's a little tricky to answer, but ideally we'll be releasing one more album, beyond that it's kind of up in the air, but we've got a lot of material to work with.

14. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring 5 records with you, what would they be?
1. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
2. Los Campesinos - Romance is Boring
3. Childish Gambino - Because The Internet
4.  Beach Fossils - Clash The Truth 
5. Tyler the Creator - Scumfuck Flowerboy

15. What do you hope for 2021?
A. That we're still in one piece.

Find Yeti/Prefab Soul @ tracks