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Rustic-Overtones.com interview with Paranoid Social Club, Part 1
Conducted by Norm
Prelogue:
Upon finding out that my favorite band, Maine's own Paranoid Social Club, would be touring up and down the East Coast, I contacted the band's management with what I thought was a long shot in interviewing the band for rustic-overtones.com. Management allowed it, and gave me Marc Boisvert's (drums) phone number to set up a time before the show. The only problem was that Marc and Dave Gutter (guitar, lead vocals) were up until the crack of dawn partying, and we were never able to get together before the show.
I went to Riders Lounge in Hilton Head an hour before their scheduled playing time, and to my surprise the band was mingling at the bar, dressed up in their colorful tuxedos from the Axis III/I insert. Marc and I agreed on doing the interview after the show, and when they took the stage, the experience was amazing. I was present for the Wasted video shoot months earlier, but this totally blew away my expectations. I was thrilled at hearing songs from Axis III and a couple of new songs being performed live, five feet away. And since I had come such a long way to see the guys and interview them, Dave gave me the chance to back him up on vocals for bits of Combustible and Wasted.
By the time the show was over, the band and I were quite inebriated. They played Wasted twice, so that was four beers for me right there in combination with steady sipping the whole night. But we were still able to do the interview. The only problem was I left my gear at home thinking I couldn't get a hold of the band, I was in no condition to drive to a Wal-Mart to get a tape recorder, and I wasn't about to ask the band to do that either. I scribbled everything I could in barely legible shorthand on the setlist that they let me keep. This leads to the disclaimer that I am not quoting anybody, myself or the band, completely accurately. My sense of journalistic integrity prompted me to get a second, recorded interview with Dave in the near future, but this is what went down that night in Hilton Head.
Norm from Rustic-Overtones.com: What opportunities have presented themselves as a result of the label signing?
Band (mostly Dave): It breaks the walls down that indy music faces, such as being hard to break into radio and lack of money, the amount of studio time available and the quality of the studio. We recorded all our albums so far in pretty much a closet.
N: What is your favorite Rustic Overtones memory?
Dave: Working with David Bowie.
Marc: Joining Rustic, these guys were my heroes and it was a dream come true to be around for the Viva Nueva tour.
N: What's been your favorite city to visit when on the road?
D: 930 club in DC. (see 2nd interview for elaboration)
(I forgot what question was asked here, could have been one of the many tangents we went off on) - Dave: We always try to affect many people as we can, by offering more of a perspective, and by looking at music as a means of escape much like drugs and alcohol.
N: Favorite PSC memory?
Jon Roods (bass, yes he was around just not saying much): Signing deal.
D: Making the double disc (Axis III/I). Locking ourselves in the studio all day and night, and being proud of the final product.
N: Are you guys doing the band thing full time?
D: Jon and Marc are, and I'm about to, but right now I work a little bit part-time at a butcher store. Great way to release anger.
N: Hell yeah. Word is that there's a new album in the works.
D: Yeah, it's going to be a combination of Axis III and II remixed and remastered, with maybe a few new songs, some live tracks, stuff like that.
N: Until you guys are headlining, which bands would you like to open for if given the opportunity?
D: We'd rather open up for bands that we would like to see live as opposed to bands with similar styles. When you think about it, we're so unique that finding similar bands would be difficult.
At this point, Jon and Marc drifted off to socialize, and Dave and I talked about songwriting for a little while before I became too exhausted to stay. All in all, a great night. The interview that took place on the road a few days later was a bit more coherent, but that night was still a blast.