When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens,
Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkel, the first time I ever heard Kiss's
"Detroit Rock City,"
it was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and
mean. It changed the way I listened to music. I've had a few minor epiphany's
since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and
revolutionary to your ears.
What have been your musical epiphany moments?
BF: Oh yeah, I grew up in household with soft rock radio in
rural, coastal Maine. My brother and I know the lyrics to so many
shitty songs. My first musical epiphany
was hearing the the full version “Suzy Q” by Credence Clearwater Revival. I was a boy riding in my parents car. My Mom had it on cassette. I didn't know that songs were longer than 3
minutes. They do this long guitar solo
and then jam out for another 5 minutes.
I was mesmerized. I remember
thinking, “I didn't know you could do that.” So that's what I do now.
Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What
comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?
BF: Generally our
songs start with a riff. I spend a long
time working on riffs and progressions that 1) sound cool 2) don't remind me of
any guitarist or band in particular 3) I can sing and play at the same
time. The next step is playing the music
with the band, whether I brought in the idea or not. We all need to get behind it. We listen for space to have lyrics. Start working out changes. I then take the music home and start singing
over it my car. Working on lyrics and
melodies. I'd prefer to write music
AFTER a song/melody. But usually it
starts with a riff.
Who has influenced you the most?
BF: Oh wow. A lot of
people. It has changed through the
years. When I was 8, Guns 'N Roses
“Appetite for Destruction” came out and
I played that over and over. It was a
great introduction to attitude and rock and roll. I haven't listened to them for probably 20 years,
but I recently heard that album and it is still killer.
In terms of playing guitar, Josh Homme from Kyuss and QOTSA
has been a huge inspiration and influence to me. Also, Brant Bjork (Kyuss, Vista Chino, solo
stuff). He is an underrated guitarist
and wrote some killer Kyuss riffs and songs.
Tony Iommi is a massive influence for riffs. David Gilmore for solos. I'm not a shredder. I prefer slower, psychedelic and melodic
solo.
For singing, I love a lot people. Singing got me into playing guitar so I could
use it as a tool for songwriting. I try
to not sound like anyone, and just focus on my own voice.
Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new
motivation?
BF: Whatever is going
on in my life and around me at the moment.
But try I focus on frustrations, sadness, anger, and desires to give
them a release so I don't carry around a lot of negativity. Music is a release. There is a lot of suffering in life. Music helps me deal with it. That way I can evolve and be a positive and
good human being.
We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the
band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?
BF: The band's
hometown is Albuquerque, New Mexico.
We are certainly inspired by the high desert, with its great big blue
sky and mountains. New Mexico has a cool laid back feel to it.
We try to get in a heavy groove and pretend we are outside playing under a
desert sunset. Duane Gasper our drummer,
and Shawn Wright our bass player are both New Mexico natives. They really embody the spirit.
Where'd the band name come from?
BF: Band names are
harder to come up with than songs. I
believe it was a suggestion from an old friend
and guitarist we used to jam with before this band came to fruition in
its current line-up as a power trio.
Shawn reminded us of the band name and it fit the best. We wanted a band name that represented the
high desert environment of New Mexico.
Tell us about witchcraft, what it means to you and your
life?
BF: I don't know a damn
thing about witchcraft. I am, however, a
spiritual non-religious person. I have
spent a lot of my life exploring nature and natural environments. I believe you can benefit from some good
things from getting outside and away from people. I feel its important to find a quiet
space. To get away from everything. There's a lot of wisdom life and nature can
teach you. There is a lot of wisdom your
mind, body, and soul can teach you. It's
important to open up and listen to that.
You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the
soundtrack for?
BF: I like movies
that travel to beautiful landscapes. If
I had the opportunity to write a soundtrack that played off a movie about a
hitchhiker or a backpacker traveling through epic landscapes, I'd be down.
You now write for a music publication (The Ripple Effect?).
You're going to write a 1,000 word essay on one song. Which would it be and
why?
BF: “Space Cadet” by
Kyuss. When I first heard that song, it
blew my fucking mind. I had always wanted
to listen to something like that, but I had no idea where to find it. I remember listening to it while on the bus
in Seattle. When that song came on, I got off the bus and
just stood on the street. I couldn't
move. I just stood there, and thought, “holy
shit, this is fucking incredible.”
What is you musical intention? What are you trying to
express or get your audience to feel?
BF: I want people to
feel......... SOMETHING. I intend for it
to be a positive, powerful something.
And I want them to listen to the songs as a whole. Not just a beat to dance to or some
entertainer to watch. For me, that's not
what turned me on to music. It was
killer songs and albums. I think in the
underground rock community, the focus is on a quality product.
The most important message I'm trying to send out is to be a
cognitive human being. Live life with an
open mind, question any bullshit, be a great and wonderful human being. And rock the fuck out.
Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap,
rock and roll moments?
BF: I played an open
mic at Pappy and Harriet's in Joshua Tree, CA. Which was super rad to play
there even though it was an open mic.
Maybe one day we'll play a show there....! But around 7pm, the local crowd all sits down
and has dinner. I decided to try out
some new material. I get up on stage and
say, “You guys ready to fucking rock?!”
And start playing real loud and I look up and the entire bar is having
dinner and chewing food. And I was
playing some aggressive music. It
totally didn't fit. I felt that I was
yelling directly at them while they were eating dinner. I finish the first song and no one makes any
noise. No one claps. They just sit there eating. And I think, “Oh fuck, this is so awkward,
I'm playing to an entire dinner crowd.”
I think I played a few mellow songs on an acoustic and then got the hell
off stage. Embarrasing.
Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you
and for your fans?
BF: I love playing
live. We focus on making sure the
overall tone and sound for playing live is really unique and balanced. We take pride in having great tone. We play
very loud. We want the instruments to
really stand out, but sound great as a whole.
We have been getting excellent feedback from our fans and from people
who have just seen us for the first time.
It feels great to hear people tell us we have great tone. Also, it is
very humbling to play live. At least it
is for me. I feel very humbled and grateful to play music live. It is communication and expression on a
different level.
What makes a great song?
BF: A great song, you
feel it in your soul. It just
completely speaks to you and envelops you.
Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?
BF: I think it would
be a song called “Gold Rush” It's
basically a country song on acoustic.
Hillbilly jam. For me it is some
form of rock and roll. I've never
recorded it, maybe I should.
What piece of your music are particularly proud of?
BF: Well, we finished
recording our EP for Ripple Music. It
will come out on the Second Coming of Heavy vinyl compilation. We are very excited about the songs on the
EP. It's gonna kick ass. Due out December 2016. Get yourself a copy!
Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?
BF: The album that
kicked my ass in 2015 was Wino and Conny Ochs acoustic album “Freedom
Conspiracy.” It has incredible songs,
beautiful melodies and hooks. Is very
sad, yet gorgeous. It really hit me in
my heart and my soul.
Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
BF: For convenience,
its digital. For sound quality its, CD
and vinyl. And for the experience,
definitely vinyl. Nothing like dropping
the needle down.
Whiskey or beer? And defend your choice
BF: Whiskey, hands
down. I fucking love whiskey. Beer is fine, but its heavy and makes you
slow. You gotta consume a lot of volume
to achieve the type of buzz I like. I'm
not a heavy drinker. But I drink
daily. When I'm relaxing, its beer. When it's time to perform, or go out for the
night, it's whiskey. It gets me fired
up.
We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new
music. What's your home town, and when we get there, what's the best record
store to lose ourselves in?
BF: Charlies 33's and
CD's is really the only record store left in Albuquerque.
Cool old school record store.
Vintage and new vinyl.
What's next for the band?
BF: Our EP on the
Second Coming of Heavy compilation will come out in 2016 on Ripple Music. Be sure to grab a copy! I believe we are on Volume 4. In the meantime, we are slowly working on new
music for a second full-length album.
Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our
readers, the waveriders?
BF: We truly appreciate
everyone who seeks out and supports underground music. There is so much incredible music being made
these days, especially in heavy rock/metal.
And it's not easy to find. We are
being spoon-fed so much crap these days.
It's impossible to hear great music on the radio or on TV or on any
popular, multi-mass media. You gotta
work for today. It's sad. But there is a movement of people around the
world that know good music is out there and they are finding it. So, thank you.
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