Well it's time to find
more about another band who will be performing at 2016 Borderland
Fuzz Fiesta in Tuscon, Az. Previously I interviewed Mike from Big
Mean. Now it's time to interview Roger Williams, bassist from Psych
Rockers Dead Canyon and Progressive Sludge/Post-Metallers – Sorxe.
Though Roger will be
performing with Dead Canyon at Borderland Fuzz Fiesta. Wayne
Ruddell asked myself to interview Roger to see what people can expect
from Dead Canyon when they perform at the festival and what the
future holds for both Dead Canyon and Sorxe.
So let's get started...
Hi
Roger. How are things with you today. Thanks for doing this
interview.
Thanks
for the time. Things are getting better everyday. I am actually
recovering from a serious auto accident (Broken Jaw, Ribs, etc.). The
band is just now getting back together after 2 months. We actually
just played with Nik Turner's Hawkwind last night.
How
Dead Canyon get together? And why did you choose the name?
Frank
& Josh actually formed the band as a 2 piece, coming out of their
previous band Black Hell. I heard them at a party and instantly knew
that I wanted to be a part of it. After much coercing, I was finally
able to convince them that they were missing an integral piece to the
equation. I was coming out of playing in Graves At Sea, so most
people only knew me for playing "Doom" bass. As for the
name, It was already decided by the time I joined. What a relief.
It's a cool name
How
would you describe your music?
That's
such a tricky question. Perhaps, Desert rock with a groovy feel.
Queens of the Stone Age, Black Keys, ZZ Top, Thin Lizzy. although,
for some reason, I get a lot of Black Sabbath comparisons, which
seems weird to me.
Your
scheduled to play Borderland Fuzz Fiesta in February 2016. How did
you get involved in that festival?
I
saw that it happened last year. In it's first year, there was great
quality bands that I wanted to see. Unfortunately, prior plans
stopped me from going. Being from Phoenix, it is only an hour drive,
or so, to get to Tucson. We played a few shows with Wayne and he
reached out to me about playing it this year. I immediately said yes
and now we are looking forward to the day.
What
can people expect from your set at Borderland Fuzz Fiesta.
Loud
Party Rocking
Which
bands are you looking forward in seeing at the festival.
Really
looking forward to Dead Meadow. I still haven't seen them. Blaak Heat
is a band that I have been hearing the name for awhile and have still
net heard them. Elder will be awesome. Plus, all the new bands that I
will get turned onto from the festival.
Will
you be performing any warm-up gigs before the festival.
As
far as touring, no. We will be doing a local warm-up show with the
Bay area band Owl, February 18th at the Time Out Lounge.
Have
you played in festivals before or is Borderland Fuzz Fiesta your
first one.
This
will be the first festival that we have played together. I've done
festivals with Sorxe and Graves At Sea. Frank and Josh, have done so,
with Black Hell and Carol Ann.
How
hard is it being a band in today's world. What are the most difficult
aspects in being in a band.
Probably
the double edged sword, which is, social media. You can find
anything that you want, you can get exposed to all forms of bands
that you previously wouldn't have been able to, endless promotion.
The other side, anyone band can put music online, you get inundated
with different stimuli, thus over-saturation.
What
inspired you to become a musician. Any particular album, band or
life-changing event that told you – Yeah, that's what I want to
do....
I
have always really gotten into and felt, music. Very open to all
forms. A love for the heavier stuff, but always space for
exploration. I played various instruments growing up. It wasn't
until I starting playing bass that I really found home.
What
is the song-writing dynamic in the band. Is it a group collective or
down to one individual.
Frank
usually comes in with a song structures that he's been working on,
then Jokey and myself with add our flavour to the mix, then we all
solidify it.
Will
Dead Canyon be releasing any new music in 2016 as it's a been a long
time since you guys released anything.
That
is definitely the plan. We are working on new material now. After the
songs are done it will be time to record them. We write a little
slower. It's difficult to not write a song fast and complicated
Also,we plan to get out to some other places and spread the desert
groove.
What
most people don't know is that you play Bass in Sludge/Post-Metal
band – Sorxe – who released a great album last year with
Surrounded by Shadows. I was surprised you're involved with that band
as it's so different to Dead Canyon. Are you still involved with
Sorxe and how are things with the band going.
Things
are moving along with Sorxe. We are in the process of demoing the new
songs for a, yet untitled, full length. We'll send that out and see
what kind of interest we will get. If nothing seems right, we will
release it ourselves. As for playing in both bands, they are both
styles that I love and wanted to explore and I didn't feel that just
one band would be able to encapsulate that.
Were
you happy with responses that Sorxe's debut album got from people.
And looking back would you change anything about that album.
All
of the positive response from the album was great. We spent a lot of
time on it and released it ourselves. It is nice to know that people
are responding, and getting into, something that we created. I would
have loved to have released it on vinyl. Hopefully, we still can.
OK
if you had the chance to put on a festival. Which bands would you put
on. It can be any bands from any era of music.
It
would be a summer of debauchery camp-out with all the festivals
combined Woodstocks, Hellfests, Roadburns, Wackens, Maryland Death
fests, lollapaloozas, etc.. That's crazy to even think about. I don't
get paid enough money to go crazy on the thought.
Before
you go, do you have anything to say to your fans.
Most
certainly. Just want to thank everyone for all the support. For
everyone that comes to the shows. We appreciate it. This is why we go
through all of the hassles. That it the reward. Also, the promoters,
and people behind the scenes, who believe in us and keep inviting us
to play on such awesome gigs. See you soon.
Words by Steve Howe
and Roger Williams
Thanks to Roger for
doing this interview. Thanks to Wayne Ruddell for arranging this
interview.
Dead
Canyon Links
Sorxe
Links
Borderland
Fuzz Festival Links
Tickets
Early Bird Two Day Pass: BFFEarlybird.brownpapertickets.com
Dead Meadow Single Day: BFFDeadmeadow.brownpapertickets.com
Elder Single Day: BFFElder.brownpapertickets.com
Early Bird Two Day Pass: BFFEarlybird.brownpapertickets.com
Dead Meadow Single Day: BFFDeadmeadow.brownpapertickets.com
Elder Single Day: BFFElder.brownpapertickets.com
