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?
Many listening moments give me this euphoric head tingly
excitement. As a kid me and my brother called it the "learning
feeling."
I got it when I was 3 listening to the vinyl of the Star
Wars soundtrack.
I got it listening to my Dad sing.
The first time I heard the ending of "Black
Sabbath" by Black Sabbath I got it.
Most recently the music of Russian composer Alfred Schnittke
does this. I brainwashed myself to his piano Quintet.
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?
Story comes first. Data collection, distillation, and various
tests run to check purity.
Each song I honestly approach like a wild animal, its a little
different each time. But if you are to capture it you have to be cautious and
careful.
Who has influenced
you the most?
People I've known. My
fellow musicians. My brother Adam is a
huge influence and I think he'd say the same for me. I feel like truly influencing means you share
something. I feel like musically me and
him have shared the most, and he's a classical pianist. In terms of general influences... Kurt Vonnegut
comes to mind, also various scientists, Robert Sopalsky. The guy lived with baboons
for 17 years or so. That influences
me.
Where do you look for
continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
Everywhere. But you
have to look close and be quiet to notice it.
We're all a product
of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in
the music?
Galveston
is an odd little ghost town by the sea with a history of natural disasters and
outlaws. It is haunted as hell and the
characters you will run into if you are more than a tourist are remarkable
cartoons. The feel of the dingy spooky
yet festive Island is inexorably linked to how I see Darwin's Finches. I feel indebted to some of these characters
because they are part of Darwin's
finches. Such as my old friend Trinity
the critter. An old bluesman who was a
streetcorner philosopher about the concept of originality. I think bands and artists, and people for that
matter should always embrace the genesis points of things. It makes things make more sense.
Where'd the band name
come from?
I am a biologist by trade so during my studies I wrote down
a list of names from the glossary of several biology books, and let the two
fellows I played with, banana Brad Stevenson and Jared choose. They chose Darwin's Finches.
You have one chance,
what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?
A documentary about Tardigrades narrated by of course Sir
David Attenbourrogh.
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?
Otis Redding-
These Arms of Mine
Shall I begin....
To put in a mere 1000 words the beauty of ....
Come on, share with
us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?
Threw a guitar into the Gulf of Mexico
from the now destroyed balanises room, then swam out later, found it and fixed
it.
Played in the ruble of Galveston
after Hurricane Ike and had people dress as zombies and kill the guitar resident
evil style.
Smashed a watermelon with a Hitler face with my head, instigated
a fruitfight with durians.
Had audience shave my head on stage then ran into jock bars
with the crowd singing Surfin Bird.
Unraveled all the toilet paper at a venue and wrapped me and
the band up in it.
Threw a giant yarn amoeba on a crowd.
It goes on and on man.... every kind of Fruit has be ceremoniously
smashed.
Tell us about playing
live and the live experience for you and for your fans?
Must be present 110 %.
I like to create chaotic fun moments.
What makes a great
song?
Authenticity & Intentions
Tell us about the first
song you ever wrote?
Its called ditty, and its an instrumental. It is a sad little finger picking ditty I
wrote after my Grandpa died.
Now my mom might say my first song was a song called “If I Had
A Wish”... I sang about the world being nice and cheez its. I was in kindergarten.
What piece of your
music are you particularly proud of?
The album Lacrimosa. I
am surprised we finished, I was in the midst of becoming a dad,
and our latest release I really spent a good two years on
some of those tunes.
Who today, writes
great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?
Strange question…
I am a huge fan of local Houston Rapper/Rocker B L A C K I E. He
is brutally intimate. He kicks everyones
ass with love.
Musically, I am going to say Portishead, because Beth Gibbions
writes some great vocal melodies. Sad
the band is super tight organism that I admire but would never encounter in my
ecosystem.
You know I just appreciate honesty, a homeless man singing Elvis
christmas songs could kick my ass if he sang it with soul.
Vinyl, CD, or digital?
What's your format of choice?
All.
Whiskey or beer? And defend your choice
I usually drink beer if I'm feeling reckless, but I don’t like
drinking. I just got tired of killing
myself everyday. Caffeine only my friend. Yaupon tea.
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?
Go to Vynil Edge or Black Dog or Cactus.
What's next for the
band?
We are going to hwy 787 to film a real ghost. Its going to be featured in the music video
coming hopefully in Feb. The Bragg light.
Songs called hwy 787.
Any final comments or
thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?
Go visit your local wildlife sanctuaries. You will find more lessons in the woods than
in books. Trees and Stones can teach you
what you cannot learn from masters.
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