Published: December 13, 2009 9:19 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight December 2009 Edition
Acid Westerns
Rock Artist/Band of the Week December 13, 2009 - December 19, 2009
Acid Westerns
Acid Westerns are casting a spell of magical excitement with their style of music. Being a huge fan of such musical acts as Jimi Hendrix it is nice to know that this style of music is living through Acid Westerns. But, do not peg them as a carbon copy; their original style of music is just adding to the wonderful list of others in the Psychedelic hard rock genre. If you are looking for a band that knows how to kick it hard, then Acid Westerns are going to be a crowd pleaser. Check them out in this recent spotlight with our Webzine.
Isaac: What's the name of your band? What's the origin of that name? Have you changed the bands name before?
Fordy: We are called Acid Westerns. The name originates from a term coined by Jonathan Rosenbaum in a review of the film Dead Man. He refers to the film as a surreal revisionist western tracing the primitive nature of early American culture, which basically describes our persona in a nutshell.
Stu: This is our third name since we started playing together.
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Stu: Id say were Psychedelic hard rock. I love Jimi Hendrix, Smashing Pumpkins, Black Francis, Dinosaur Jr., Buddy Guy and Neil Young.
Fordy: Anything with grit and soul in it. Horror movies, too.
Isaac: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Stu: We've known each other for over four years now, with a yearlong hiatus. I met Fordy in the fall of 2006 at Sarah Lawrence College through mutual friends.
Fordy: Stu was in an acapella group with some of my best friends. We also lived in the same dorm and I would often come over to play Sega or borrow Stu's Mr. Show boxed set (one of our favorite shows).
Isaac: When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Fordy: It wasn't until a little bit later that year when we formed the band. Both of us were disenchanted with the music scene of Sarah Lawrence, which was shifting from primarily dance-pop to indie-folk without a whole lot of variation in between.
Stu: We had a mutual love of blues, heavy metal and 80s college rock that brought us together.
Isaac: Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
Fordy: Were not part of a record label. In the wake of the major record company, artists have all the resources they need to successfully function on their own. We don't see the point of hopping on a sinking ship.
Stu: The Feed Stuart foundation is the only organization I'm a part of.
Isaac: What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
Stu: I like Gibson's. I'm a big subscriber of the philosophy that you don't pick your instrument your instrument picks you. I've found the mechanics of the guitar conducive to the strange way my brain operates.
Fordy: Were rather particular about our gear. I play a Gibson EB3, as well as a discontinued hollow-bodied Jay Turser model. Since I tend to use distortion on my bass, I usually go for Gallien Krueger heads through a Fender Bassman cabinet Stu has.
Isaac: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Stu: We play in people's basements, attics and bars, mainly. As far as New York venues go, I like Trash Bar, Connolly's Klub 45, Pianos and Galapagos.
Fordy: There's nothing like a great grassroots party. We just played a show in our current engineer's home studio, which was the most ambient place we've ever played. The architecture is gothic 19th century stonemason. Plus, all our equipment was already in house from having recorded there.
Isaac: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
Fordy: Were big fans of the bar napkin at the last minute ethos but we always try to keep Headcase and Bitter Taste of Sweet Revenge on the list as they seem to be audience favorites.
Stu: As far as covers go, I like playing Time (Pink Floyd), Midnight Radio (Hedwig & the Angry Inch), The Chain (Fleetwood Mac) and Dirty Black Summer (Danzig).
Isaac: Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Stu: We tend to focus on life, death, pathos, psychedelia, literature and history as subjects.
Fordy: Yeah, for non-Christians, we do seem to love the themes of repentance and redemption an awful lot. Strangely, were actually quite lighthearted. I guess the heavy themes kind of come with the territory.
Isaac: Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Stu: We enclose ourselves in a room and throw ideas at each other. Sometimes they miss and sometimes they stick.
Fordy: It's a painstaking process, usually; one that, depending on the song, can take months. We simply try to write songs that we would listen to if we were outsiders. Being as discerning as we are about music in general, it keeps us plowing towards perfection. Like Stu said, sticky ideas are best.
Isaac: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Stu: When were not having personnel issues, we like to keep to three hours a week at minimum. Depending on time and whatever we happen to consume, our practices can be much more freeform.
Fordy: When were writing, Fordy and I go into the studio as often as four days a week. Other than that, rehearsals are often to keep the threads tight for a gig.
Isaac: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Stu: Over the years, we've found a musical aesthetic and some common themes that we identify with. We've grown into ourselves as individuals and musicians.
Fordy: We've definitely begun to incorporate more of our rootsy influences into the music.
Isaac: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Stu: Drummers are fickle mistresses. We've been through three drummers and a few hired guns since we started over three years ago. Our current drummer Ryan is in Thailand as we speak.
Isaac: I hear that from many bands about drummers.
Fordy: Well, we've dealt with car crashes, equipment theft, unemployment, band hiatuses, break-ups and general peer indifference. I've got to agree with Stu though; personnel loss is the most debilitating challenge. We maintain a stubborn Darwinist view of our professional goal, which helps keep us moving through any setback.
Isaac: What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Stu: Were seeking fiscal consistency in doing what we love, in whatever form that takes, probably comfortable indie relevance.
Fordy: All I want is a porch I can sit and smoke on as an old man. I don't need a solid gold toilet in my car or anything; though a car in general would be nice.
Isaac: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Stu: Be stubborn and persistent. Being endorsed by Vitamin Water is not the endgame for the modern musician.
Fordy: Try to incorporate elements of anything you like into a unique end product. Whatever you do, don't try to be LIKE another band. Otherwise you'll just be Jet.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Stu: Were in the process of mixing and mastering our new album set for release February 2010. Well be gigging relentlessly around the Northeast in 2010 to support it.
Fordy: When the album comes out, it will be available through ITunes, Rhapsody, Napster, mail-order and old fashioned shows. Were in the process of putting up a website. For right now though, were pretty active on Facebook and MySpace.
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Stu: Our friends, family and great engineers.
Fordy: My family has been the foundation for this whole endeavor.
