With the release of "Zerospace" in 2002, there was no hotter industrial band than the Kidneythieves. Shortly thereafter, the two-person troupe of singer/lyricist Free Dominguez and one-man-band Bruce Somers went on hiatus. In 2007, the band announced they were back in action and furiously writing songs, which culminated in the summer of 2010's triumphant return and the powerful album "Trypt0fanatic." Now back in the studio and recording their upcoming EP "Invisible Plan," the duo is working feverishly and putting out the same hard-charging, electronically influenced music they became known for almost a decade ago. Taking a moment off from their recording, Bruce and Free were generous enough to sit down and talk about what's new with the band, what it's like to be back, and how they ended up on the soundtrack of a Final Fantasy game.
Pioneering the genre of "red dirt metal," the Texas Hippie Coalition and their new album "Rollin'" ask no names and take no prisoners. Their music is no-holds-barred, their attitude is decidedly independent, and Big Dad himself is larger than life. We sat down recently and talked about a few things.
We've all been to concerts, seen the splendor of our favorite bands, and walked home happy. Behind those pressed, clean and/or theatrical experiences, there lives an entire society of road crews, bus drivers, long hours, bad food, managers, technicians and venue staff who make all that possible. Pedro Rodriguez just got off the road, and is heading back out in November for another grueling experience. In the meantime, I got to share some words with him about touring, Dimebag Darrell, horror movies and venues across our great country.
With their surprise debut at #1 on the Billboard Independent charts, Black Veil Brides are single-handedly trying to resurrect the type of metal/glam fusion that made Motley Crue and KISS rise to stardom. Cloaked in black and layered in shadowy makeup, the band is well on their way. I had a chance to get a few minutes with bassist Ashley Purdy and get some questions answered.
Just a handful of hours before they would ravage the stage, I was invited into the private confines of the tour bus for the Australian powerhouse Sick Puppies. What I encountered was not the metal powerhouse of inexhaustible energy that the band is on stage. Rather, I was presented with three young, appreciative and thoughtful musicians who are humble about their beginnings and proud of their product. We talked conversationally about music, about how they broke it big, and of course, about horror movies. So here are Shimon Moore, Emma Anzai and Mark Goodwin
