Rocky Gray and the "Ghost Thief"

     I have always been a fan of the band Living Sacrifice. As a teen I was a huge fan of the album "The Hammering Process", it was one of the first metal records I got into after growing up mostly on country music. It was also nice knowing that a band could make it out of the region that I grew up in. So when I got the chance to interview Rocky Gray the guitar player for Living Sacrifice I jumped at the chance. Rocky also has spent time as the drummer for Evanescence, Machina, and We Are the Fallen. I think he is one of the best musicians out there right now. As always I want to genuinely thank Rocky for taking time to answer a few questions.

Patrick (P)--First of all thank you so much for the interview. 

Rocky Gray (RG)--No problem at all. Thank YOU. 
 
P-- The new "Living Sacrifice" album is incredible, honestly one of the best albums of the year. How long did you guy's take to write and record this album? 

RG--Thanks, we love how the record came out. I think we worked on this one off and on for 2 years.
 
P--You have been very busy since you left Evanescence, playing in Machina, We Are the Fallen, as well as Living Sacrifice. Are you able to balance time between family and music pretty well? 

RG--I can usually balance it all out fairly well since none of the bands are full time, so while one is taking a break I have another one to work with. It's really the only way Ive been able to stay doing music full time. I was working on the Soul Embraced album Dead Alive while I was on tour with Evanescence and after my last tour with Ev we went right into the studio and put out Dead Alive and did some shows then I started working with Machina and We Are The Fallen. It's a pretty constant cycle of projects. Sometimes it gets overwhelming if things get too close together but it all works out eventually.
 
P--You honestly are a fantastic guitar player and drummer. Which do you like to do more? I'm sure being able to play both is a big help when writing songs. 

RG--In writing songs its great to have a good sense of melody and rhythm and I have those both in the toolbox so it helps in that area. Im a better drummer than guitarist for sure. Im much more confident in the rhythmic department. I can do riffs and melody its just not my strongest asset.

 
P--Rocky, is there any song you have worked on that makes you look back and just say wow I created that piece of art? 

RG--You almost never create something all on your own in music. Someone helped out somewhere along the line. The Soul Embraced song Tourniquet that was covered by Evanescence is definitely a high point in my career.
 
P--I am a total gear head, what kind of guitar rig and guitars do you use with "Living Sacrifice"? I am also curious what in your opinion is the best live drum kit? 

RG--For guitar I use 2 Basson 4x12 cabinets with a Line 6 Spider III head and a First Act Custom Explorer with EMG H4 pickups and D'Addario strings. For pedals I use a Bad Horsey Wha, Boss Tuner, Boss Noise Suppressor and a Boss Super Shifter with a Line 6 FBV Shortboard. Sometimes I'll use my Audio Technica wireless but mostly stick to my Planet Waves cables. In Tune Guitar Picks.
LOVE my Crush Drums! Ive played pretty much every major kit on the market and Crush beats them all. I don't have a single complaint live or in the studio. You can hear my Crush kit on the Soul Embraced album Mythos.
 
P--Honestly, thank you so much for the interview Rocky, can't wait to catch you our on the road playing with "Living Sacrifice". 

RG--Thanks! i appreciate the interview Patrick. R

Here is a video to Living Sacrifice "Ghost Thief" off their new record.

For more information of tour dates and whats is going on with Living Sacrifice go to:
https://www.facebook.com/livingsacrifice. Also go buy their new record "Ghost Thief" in stores now it's definitely one of the best records of the year, in my opinion.

Father John Misty

    

     I ran across an artist about a month ago that I honestly can't get enough of, Josh Tillman or now better known as Father John Misty. His 2013 album release entitled "Fear Fun" is a masterpiece in my opinion. The album has so many different elements from folk to psych. He not only wrote a record but also a novel to go along with the album. According to Father John Misty inspiration was found through this method he described with this simple statement:
    
     "I got into my van with enough mushrooms to choke a horse and started driving down the coast with nowhere to go. After a few weeks, I was writing a novel, which is where I finally found my narrative voice…. It was a while before that voice started manifesting in a musical way, but once I settled in the Laurel Canyon spider-shack where I’m living now, I spent months demoing all these weird-ass songs about weird-ass experiences almost in real-time, and kind of had this musical ‘Oh-there-I-am’ moment, identical to how I felt when I was writing the book."
    

     If you are looking for a guy writing incredible songs and truly conveying his emotion Father John Misty is definitely worth checking out. He is a talent everyone should know about. 

Here is a live video of Father John Misty performing "I'm writing a novel" ........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNu_GJ_PSZY

Also check his website out at:

http://www.fatherjohnmisty.net/

There is something to be said about the Spirit in the Room

     Interviewing Dennis Sanders was an absolute pleasure for me. He is an influence on the bass playing with Black Light Burns as well as writing some of the coolest music in the last 10 years with his band Spirit in the Room. This guy is the real deal and when I met him a few years ago you could tell he was a stand up genuine guy, which I very much respect and appreciate. ---Patrick Houtz

     Patrick (P)-- First of all thank you so much for being willing to do this interview for me. It's greatly appreciated.

     Dennis Sanders (DS)-- no prob. thanx for the interest, its greatly appreciated!
  
     P-- I know watching the Black Light Burns DVD that you were the tech for awhile before the first bass player left. You then starting playing bass for Black Light Burns and were one of the best live bass players, I have ever had the pleasure to see. How did you meet Wes Borland?

     D-- i met wes through a friend of mine in louisiana that happened to be working as a drum tech for him at the time. i was standing in line back in broussard, Lousiana, at an albertsons, paying for a salad* when my friend called and asked if could fly to LA the next day for a job as a guitar tech which i knew nothing about. i knew how to play one but i can't fix one for shit. i can barely change strings properly. but i wasn't doing anything else worth a fuck so i jumped at the opportunity.

     P-- When and how did you start up in the music business? Were you mostly always playing for bands or did you do a lot of tech work in the industry?

     D--  i did stage hand work from time to time for arena and casino acts but I'd been playing music and in bands since i was 12 or 13. always singing. my dad taught me how to play guitar and some drums when i was really young, so i knew how to do that bit, but id never played an instrument in a band until BLB.

     P-- What is the plans for Black Light Burns in the near future? I know Wes is touring with Limp Bizkit at the moment.

     D-- . i don't have any plans with blb anymore. I'm out. all gravy though. i love those guys.

     P-- How did the idea for doing Spirit in the room come up and what musical influences directly impacted that current project?

     D--  for as long and far back as i can remember, i've always wanted to have my own band and write all the music etc. with that being said, it didn't really start to take shape until 2009. i figured out how to use garageband and started from there. i don't really remember if there were specific bands that inspired this project but i knew i wanted it to be bass driven, moody, and experimental.

     P-- I noticed watching the Children of Bodom dvd that Alexi Laiho was wearing a Spirit in the Room T-shirt. The next thing I remember hearing after that was the song he played on for you. How did that come about? Have you guys been friends for awhile?

     D--  Alexi is awesome. i love that dude. we met about 5 years ago in SF (he doesn't remember this) but we started swapping scar stories like pirates or sum shit haha. he's always at the crib when he's in town for some fajitas and a jam sesh. great person. i love his lady as well. solid people

     P-- Spirit in the Room is fantastic in my opinion. How many songs to you guys have written and any release date yet for the record?

     D--  i have a lot of music written for this project. music that touches on all sorts of styles as well. this first record is special because its the first (obviously) but it was a long terrible process making it. everything was done the wrong way haha. i don't mean musically either i just meaning the process of making it was fucking tedious. and as soon as its out, i'll be able to breathe again. theres all sorts of shit that will follow. I'm very excited about it, man.

     P-- What personal music influences do you have? I figure they have to be pretty widespread from just the music I have heard from Spirit in the Room. I know I listen to everything from Nick Cave to Eyehategod myself, so I am just curious.

     D-- i like all sorts of stuff.. really love instrumental stuff, hip hop, jazz etc everything influences me. too many to name without feeling cheated haha

     P-- So one last question that I really am interested in personally. What was it like playing live with the Deftones for a song in Hawaii? Those guys are one of my favorite bands ever. Have you known them for awhile?

     D--  playing with the deftones was pretty untouchable for me. very much a dream come true. they've been one of my favs for a long ass time. the mora-morenos are like a second family as well. can't say enough cool shit about those people. great band, great crew too.

 Once again I would really like to thank Dennis for this opportunity and can't want to hear more from his band. To check out Spirit in the Room just click the link below:

https://soundcloud.com/spirit-in-the-room or visit--

https://www.facebook.com/spiritintheroomsounds for to keep up on what is going on with the band.

Introducing "The Bangkok Fives" guitar player Justin Sweeney.

     Let me say that  doing this interview was a true honor. I have been a fan of the band The Bangkok Five for 6 years or so now. They are an incredible Rock & Roll band from Los Angeles and have always put out records that I feel are quality. and inspirational. I had the chance to talk with Justin Sweeney the guitar player from The Bangkok Five last night. I have to say I have met him several times and he has always been a dude of great character.  If you read this Justin I really want thank you for taking time out to do this interview. It's an interesting interview and we cover some amazing topics, here it goes.

     Patrick (P) --So your band The Bangkok Five is honestly one of my favorite bands ever. You guys are such a talented rock and roll band. I would seriously put "Who's Gonna Take Us Alive" in my favorite 10 albums ever.You and Bobby are fantastic guitar players, Ray is a great drummer, and Nik is everything you could want in a true front man. In my opinion you should be a household name at this point. What is going on with you guys currently and what are the future plans?

     Justin Sweeney (JS) --Thanx Patrick! Haha Top 10.. That's All? Blah Jk!

     P- LOL

     JS--There's a lot going actually! Niks new band Breaking Arrows has been playing festivals in Japan! Ray's opening a recording studio in Brentwood! I foresee us writing some really gnarly shit once that place is up and running. I have a studio band called The Elevator Music Band. I write 99% of the music and Nik Frost sings. Jc Gariano (tb5 white witch producer) is about to start working on the record. We already tracked our single "The Saddest Music In The World." With Chris & Jesse from Hoobastank:)

     P--Awesome glad you guys are staying busy. I personally can't wait for new material. Breaking Arrows is so good. I have honestly listened to them a lot since they released that record.

     P--Last time I saw you was with Bullets and Octane

     
     JS--Those guys are cool dudes! Where? With Unwritten Law?

   
     P--Kansas City and yes

     
     JS--That was a fun tour. That was the first tour after Bobby joined out band playing guitar..

     
     P-- Yep, I remember that! What was the other guitar players name? He was with you when I saw you opening for Buckcherry

 

    JS--Yeh Brian Murphy! I just saw him a week ago for the first time in a few long years.. It was really Awesome to see em and see how happy he is!

     
     P- I hung out with him for a while at that show. He was a killer dude!

I remember being on the RV you had.

     
     JS-- Yeh he's cool for sure! True artist type.Haha Nice! That thing was badass! I fuckin lived out of that thing like a gypsy for a long time. Too long. Six months straight at one point in the beginning.

     P-- LOL

     JS-- I wouldn't mind lighting that thing on fire! Lolz

     P-- You are a huge Mike Patton fan if i remember right?

     JS-- Fuck Yeh! I'v been all Patton obsessed forever. It's annoying because everyone else in my band all thinks his music is just weird.. Like they don't get it. But my friends and I are All about it.

     

     P--He is awesome

     JS-- All my brother Johnny and I listened to growing up was Mr. Bungle and Ween!

     JS-- I have a funny Patton story..

     P--Do tell.....

     
     JS--Well my buddy John and I went to see Fantomas at the Troubadour right when their first record came out..

I was standing out front before the show started and John was laughing goin so who's this Mile Patton guy anyway.. and he kept saying it all laughing..

I said Mike Patton's some fucking Asshole that thinks he can sing!

John pointed next to me and Patton was standing right behind me staring a hole in my head.. Ha!

  
     P-- LoL that is incredible

     JS-- So weird dude haha

    
      P--I have never seen him live, bums be out. Patton and The Melvins I need to still see both

     
     JS- The Melvin's are hands down my favorite band! Seen em a few times here in Los Angeles.

     
     P--They are in my top 5 honestly, I listen to them daily. I just got the new cd, its awesome! 

    

      P-- Buzz is such a badass!

     
     JS-- How is it?

    
      P-- Dale may be the most underrated drummer ever. Its really good honestly, I like it. Different.

     
     JS-- Cool. That's what I love about the Melvin's is that you never really know what your gonna get inside a record. Just because it might have nine tracks doesn't mean there's isn't nineteen pieces of music in there!

   

 

    P-- How was touring with the cult?

    JS-- The Cult was opening for Metallica and the following year The Bangkok Five was opening for The Cult! So, it was Huge! For Me it was the first time I'd ever shared a stage let alone a dinner table with musicians that were already legends! I didn't really start throwing my picking hand up- way up above my head playing through songs until after I'd toured with The Cult. Billy Duffy's a rock God!

    P-- What was Ian like? He is a great front man. 

    JS-- Ian's like being around an old Indian that just wants to take in and reflect on all the beauty inside the forest but if you cross him he will tear your fucking head off.. 

    P-- That is exactly what my vision of him was to be honest. He is a amazing and I have always loved The Cult.

   JS-- Haha Yeh he has this Power in his voice.. There's no one else like him. He's like if David Bowie had teeth and claws like a Bear.

    P-- Well final questions.

    Favorite song by these artist-

     Melvins?

     JS-- Amazon! From the Maggot record. It's the heaviest shit I'v ever heard in my life haha...

     P-- Good choice! Favorite Mike Patton project?

     JS-- Adult Themes For Voice.

     P-- Right on! Favorite Bangkok Five song?

     JS-- Dead Lights.

     P-- That is one of my favorite as well. Well thanks so much for your time. Hopefully we can do another interview at some point in the future!

     JS-- Nice! All Good Patrick! Thank You for being so interested in my band! It's Rad that you dig all the good shit too like the Melvin's..

   

Check out The Bangkok Five at https://www.facebook.com/thebangkokfive.

Also check out their music on ITUNES today. You won't regret it.

Danko Jones and Pete Stahl

      I just really wanted to share one of the greatest interviews I have heard on my many podcast I listen to. This interview was done by Danko Jones who interviewed Pete Stahl who is famous for being in the dessert band Earthlings!, live stint in Queens of the Stone Age, and last but not least his incredible band Screem. This interview contains lots of great rock stories and is an interview as a fan you kind of dream of, so check out Danko's interview here: https://soundcloud.com/dankojones/episode-61-scott-middleton.

Also check Danko Jones out on tour or for all his podcast go to

www.soundcloud.com/dankojones

From Kyuss to Vista Chino

    

     When I think of great music and inspiration it's hard to look past the dessert rock scene in my opinion. This scene had such an incredible pool of talent, from John Garcia to Josh Homme. So many band's that I love come from this region of the United States. It has produced such bands as Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator, House of Broken Promises, Earthlings!, Eagles of Death Metal, Unida, and all mighty Kyuss. Even though the original band disbanded in 1995 this band has continued to grow in popularity and legend. In 2010 Kyuss reformed under the name Kyuss Lives! They also reformed without original guitar player and Queens of the Stone Age founder Josh Homme. However the new lineup still featured Kyuss members Brant Bjork, John Garcia, and Nick Oliveri. They toured the world giving every Kyuss fan a chance to see the band and songs they loved so much live once again. In 2012 Kyuss Lives! decided to write new material but due to a lawsuit involving Josh Homme, Kyuss Lives! was forced to change their name to continue. At the end of 2012 Kyuss Lives! now known as Vista Chino announced plans for a new record that would debut in 2013.
     Finally on Sept. 3rd 2013 they dropped one of my favorite albums that has come out this year. Vista Chino "Peace" is a fantastic piece of work. Holding true with the lots of elements of the original Kyuss sound this album with leave you wanting to do more drugs than watching Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas. Every track from "Good Morning Wasteland" to "Mas Vino" rips and basically takes me mentally to driving a 1969 Camaro 90 miles an hour will doing blow down the long dessert highway. This album is worth checking out without a doubt for any Kyuss fan. Vista Chino really proves that they belong in today's music landscape by putting out batter material than almost any current band could dream of. Check them out on tour as well as to buy the record visit www.vistachinomusic.com

 

The Setup

First off I would like to thank you for visiting my blog and welcome. These writing are going to be strictly dedicated to music, art, and literature that I enjoy. I will also use this an open space to promote any music, art, and literature that I think deserves attention, whether it's old or new. I hope everyone enjoys my post. Strap in the car and get ready for a ride.