A Fistful Of Questions With Medicine Horse

        Ladies and gents!  This edition of Fistful of Questions goes out to Tulsa, Oklahoma’s very own Medicine Horse.

 

What is your full name?

 

Nico Williams - Vocals

Kyle Williams hut’don’ga (Big voice)- Guitar

Garrett Heck - Drums

Travis Rowe - Guitar

Chris West - Bass

 

Do you have any aliases?

 

Nope..

 

If you had an alias what might it be?

 

Kyle - Kwillz Jenkins

 

Chris - West Machine

 

What bands are you actively involved with?

 

Nico - Medicine Horse

 

Kyle - Medicine Horse

 

Garrett - Medicine Horse, Brujo Roots, + Many others

 

Travis - Medicine Horse, + some blues and americana here and there

 

Chris - Medicine Horse

 

What was the first instrument that you played?

 

Kyle - Guitar

 

Travis - Guitar

 

Chris - Fender Telecaster

 

Tell me about one of your first musical memories?

 

Nico - my dad always played guitar and sang to me at bedtime when I was little


Kyle - listening to my brothers n sisters vinyls/tapes mid 80s I was like 6 or something like that.

 

Travis - Jamming my dads Appetite for Destruction tape through his headphones because I don't think my mom wanted me listening to that

 

What was the name of the first band you were in?

 

Nico - She, the Serpent

 

Kyle - a blues band called Red Sun. I have recordings some place, I was 16 playing bass.

 

Travis - Sixes

 

Chris - Face

 

Tell me about the genesis of Medicine Horse. 

 

The short of it is… during the pandemic Nico, Kyle, and Garrett were jamming around and wrote “Turning Tide” and it had a great vibe. They decided to keep at it and wanted to fill the band out. Travis came in and we started to gel and kick out some tunes. Then we got Chris in the mix to bring the thunder and we were off to the races.

 

What inspired the name Medicine Horse?

 

Medicine Horse is the name of guitarist Kyle 3x great grandfather Shoⁿge Moⁿkoⁿ (Ponca) or Ma’kaⁿ Suⁿje (Otoe). He was a warrior who fought for the survival of the Otoe-Missouria people, and Medicine Horse is an inspiration to us to continue to fight for our people, our family, friends and community.

 

How long did it take you to write and record your s/t full-length?

 

Tough to say really, it was kind of piecemeal because we just wanted to get some tunes recorded at first. But once we started playing shows, we started meeting some really cool people and started to have some opportunities to do some stuff, so we pulled it all together to try and make an LP. Overall it was probably just like a day or so spent on each major part of it.

 

If you could insert yourself into any one band what band would it be and why?

 

Nico - Devotchka, I love the drama of their music and how unique their sound is

 

Kyle - the roots-culture

 

Travis - Booker T. & The MG’s …  for the education and the groove

 

Have you ever heard a song and immediately wished you had written it?  If so… What was the song and artist?

 

Kyle - roots bloody roots!! Fuck I love that song you just lose your mind every time!

 

Travis - Keep it between the lines - Sturgill Simpson

 

Do you have any non-metal musical inspirations?

 

Nico - Almost all of mine are nonmetal haha


Kyle - yes, currently listening to Francisco Tarrega

 

Travis - A lot of blues, soul, and country, and anything with a powerful groove

 

Chris - Rebirth Brass band or any brass bands out of Nola.

 

What’s a non-metal song that you'd like to do a cover of?

 

We’re all about the idea, but still looking for the song.

 

What band have you played with that has really impressed you with their live show?

 

Nico - Slumbering Sun (Austin)

 

Kyle - Flesh Hoarder tx

 

Travis - There are tons of great bands, but the one that comes to mind most recently is Blind Oath, who are also from Tulsa. Last time I saw them they just about brought the building down.

 

Chris - Dustlord for me… those guys are the kings of riff.

 

Do you have a favorite venue to play at?

 

Kyle - Cain's ballroom, I'd love to get booked at the Tulsa Theatre (Brady Theatre) all downtown Tulsa venues but man yeah anyone of em that'll have us.

 

Travis - I have great appreciation for playing in historic venues, but I find I have the most fun in the small joints. Whittier Bar in Tulsa is one of those types of venues and they bring great acts almost every night of the week.

 

Chris - Whittier bar is home for me but I’d love the opportunity to play to a packed  Cain’s Ballroom

 

Do you have a pre-show ritual?

 

Nico - Ibuprofen


Kyle - A Smoke Offering.

 

Chris - I snort Cajun seasoning.

 

What is your favorite thing about touring?

 

Kyle - Hanging with your friends bbqing at a truck stop in BFE

 

What is your least favorite thing about touring?

 

Nico: Missing my dogs

 

Is there a city that you love to hit while on tour?

 

ATX

Nola 💯

 

What’s the weirdest experience you’ve had on the road?

 

Nico - Not that weird, but funny: I was traveling and got mistaken for Amy Lee from Evanescence, while waiting on a switch at the Greyhound station in Albuquerque. This was in 2003 when that first record was HUGE and she would obviously not be alone at a nasty Greyhound station in the desert, plus I had really short hair at the time. Bewildering. I signed the kids Greyhound ticket with her name so kid if by some chance you're reading this, I'm sorry that piece of memorabilia is not authentic.

 

The year is 2008.  Where are you at and what are you listening to? 

 

Nico - line cooking to Rage Against the Machine

 

Kyle - Arborist trimming trees listening to Despised Icon Day of Mourning album (another band I was in WSTGTO opened up for em during this record we actually got there last US tour date here in Tulsa,ok before their hiatus)

 

Travis - Stillwater, OK working in a BBQ joint, Gojira’s “The Way of All Flesh” album

 

Chris - Trombone Shorty

 

What advice would you give young musicians that are just starting out in the music business?

 

Honestly we probably need advice from them! HA, social media seems to rule the roost for connecting with fans any more.

 

What is an absolute band killer?

 

Nico - I think Travis read “killer band” which is way more positive so let's go with his answers, all killer bands


Kyle - ZULU, Blackbraid

 

Travis - Messa, Black Breath, Mystick Krewe of Clearlight

 

If you were to start your own music festival what would be the name of that festival and who would be the three headlining bands?

 

Kyle - CowboySnNDNZfest nothing but Mike Patton bands SJR Jimi hendrix

 

Travis - Another Uncomfortable Festival…. Judas Priest, Gojira, YOB

 

Chris - Swamp Fest… Acid Bath, Crowbar & Down.

 

What’s the longest time you’ve gone without bathing?

 

We’re probably all in the same boat, but who needs the specifics?

 

What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

 

Kyle - I have African American heritage in my bloodline and I'm damn proud of it.

 

Chris - I’m a Birder (bird watcher). I have my feeders registered and participate in annual bird counts. 🐦

 

Is the Fistful of DOOM show in the top 10 of your favorite music podcasts?

 

Absolutely!! I saw the name and knew this is something I gotta check out.

 

Do unicorns sleep standing up?

 

Horses do, so I imagine their mystical cousins do too.


Give me three albums that I should listen to immediately, if not sooner.

 

Nico - Slumbering Sun - The Ever-Living Fire

 

Kyle - Black Sabbath- Dehumanizer

        -The Organization - S/T (ex Death Angel)

        -Samothrace- Life's Trade

 

Travis - Sisyphean - Colours of Faith

 

Chris -  Alter by Lustmord

 

You’re driving cross-country and you can only listen to one album the whole time.  What album will it be?

 

Travis - Probably just drive in silence because I'd be paralyzed by the decision.

 

Kyle - Pink Floyd Atom Heart Mother

 

You are writing a book about your life thus far.  What is the title of that book?

 

“What the fuck happened!? - A Memoir”

 

AyeChina! Frog Legs!! Copyright2023

 

What is your favorite song by Taylor Swift?

 

Travis - I don't know if I have actually heard a Taylor Swift song.

 

Chris - Slut is an absolute banger.

 

Kyle - Trailer Swift

 

Motorhead or Black Sabbath (if you had to choose)?

 

Travis - Absolutely love both, but Sabbath had a much bigger impact on me

 

Kyle - sabbath was first then I listened to motorhead

 

Waffles or Pancakes (if you had to pick one)?

 

Nico - Pancakes

 

Kyle - Pancakes

 

Travis - Waffle

 

Chris - I hate sweet breakfast


Star Wars or Star Trek (if you had to choose)?

 

Nico - Star Wars

 

Kyle - Star wars

 

Travis - Star Wars

 

Chris - Star Wars

 

Favorite band t-shirt you own?

 

Travis - That's like picking a favorite child…

 

Nico - my Brujeria shirt

 

Kyle - Gravehuffer t shirt

 

Favorite meal?

 

Nico - my dad's chicken stew

 

Kyle - corn soup frybread

 

Travis - Nacho’s

 

Chris - Gumbo

 

Favorite book?

 

Kyle - I can't read

 

Travis - Books… Lord of the Rings

 

Chris - Hell House

 

Favorite movie?

 

Kyle - Young Guns 1&2… Blood in Blood Out….  Do The Right Thang

 

Travis - Westerns

 

Chris - The Exorcist


Favorite album?

 

Kyle - right now Jimi Hendrix blues album…  Mastodon hushed n grim

 

Chris - In Utero

 

Favorite video game?

 

Kyle - Pinball or Twisted Metal

 

Travis - not a gamer

 

Chris - Age of Empires

 

Favorite Professional Wrestler?

 

Kyle - the ultimate warrior the rock the undertaker

 

Travis - Macho Man

 

Chris - Hogan (He’s a bass player) 

 

 

     Massive thank you to Nico, Kyle, Travis, Garrett and Chris for taking the time to answer my questions.  I appreciate you all.  The rest of you should click on the link so generously provided below and wrap your ears around Medicine Horse’s self-titled debut.  What you are sure to discover is that this is one of the best releases in a year full of stellar releases.  You can thank me later.  Or, just buy the album and that will be thanks enough!

 

~El Pedo Caliente

 

https://hortonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/medicine-horse


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