Talking About Lifesavers, The Bloody Strummers, Western Grace, Destroy Nate Allen, and the Michael Knott Ttribute…
Down the Line has been quite pleased to have Josh Lory as a contributing writer ever since we kicked off a few years ago. Josh routinely delivers excellent interviews and reviews on various albums that span the broad taste of his music knowledge. Josh has also been interviewed about his band Western Grace in an earlier issue, as well as contributing to interviews about one of the other bands he plays in, LS Underground. We thought because he has so many pans in the fire that we would again catch up with him about a bunch of stuff he is working on. There is some exciting LS Underground news soon to come, but below we cover what’s new with Western Grace, find out about his latest release as a project called The Bloody Strummers (which is awesome), the work he is doing on Destroy Nate Allen, the updates on Lifesavers (yep, he’s in that too) and a tribute album that promises to be one of the best that has ever been put together! Josh is a busy dude for sure! Catch up on all the cool stuff and help support this music! It really is top notch and great quality, it’s unique and thought provoking, and it is inexpensive and helps to continue to support independent artists!
LIFESAVERS
How is the recording shaping up and how far along do you estimate things are?
At this point in time, Knott has two songs to finish vocals on. We had a bit of a delay with Mike’s health and needing to heal, but he’s ready to go and finish it now. After that Cliffy drops his guitar parts on there then it’s off to Masaki to mix and back to Cliffy to master.
How would you describe this release musically in contrast to other Lifesavers recordings?
This album is, to me, a combo of all the Lifesavors and Lifesavers recordings. There are elements of Us Kids and Dream Life, a little of Kiss Of Life, Huntington Beach and Poplife. This new one really brings it all together.
Is there an overall theme lyrically or are things just kinda different with each song?
It’s not a concept album; it’s different for each song really. They’re either spiritual songs, about addiction, and some are just fun.
You guys used Kickstarter to fund this project, how was that experience?
Honestly a little stressful and could have gone better. I’m so grateful to all those that donated though, it couldn’t have happened without them! I’d like to try it again with more support in the promotion area, I dropped the ball not being on Facebook back then and I should have pushed harder to get Mike on board.
Who are all the players going to be on this one?
Knott on vocals, me on bass, Nick White on drums, and Cliffy on guitar! It would be a stellar live band if it happened!
What has it been like for you to be an integral part of working with Knott?
An amazing experience all around. To come from being a fan, to co-writing songs, and then being a good friend. A little bro-mantic I suppose J
Any chance/plans to play shows behind this release?
I would love it, but a promoter would need to be involved and want to show some interest. I think Lifesavers and The Altar Billies would be an amazing show, somewhere down in SoCal (hint, hint, promoters!)
THE BLOODY STRUMMERS
How long did it take for you and Matt Biggers to do this album?
Three years, way too long, but the end result was way worth it!
Who are all the players on here and where did you guys record this?
I played drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitar, percussion, and harmonica. Matt Biggers sang, played some lead guitars, and some synths. I recorded all my parts at my home studio, and Matt did some of his vocals at Nu-Tone studio in Pittsburg, Ca, and the rest of his stuff at home. We mixed and mastered it with Masaki Liu at One Way Studio in Benicia, Ca. Masaki added a lot of great stuff to the album and really brought it to the next level which he always does. Everyone involved added their own touch to it production wise.
Can you tell us who influenced you musically on this record?
My influences were a lot of garage rock and psychedelic pop, older Rolling Stones albums, The Beatles, The Kinks, Beach Boys, Chocolate Watchband, The Doors, early Starflyer 59, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, White Stripes, and The Black Keys. Matt has plenty of others I didn’t list.
Lyrically who wrote most of these songs and what do they deal with thematically?
Matt wrote the majority in the end, I sent some ideas to him for a few and he rolled with those and added his own element to it. Matt’s a good lyricist. Thematically the songs are about many aspects of life, love, looming death, spiritual and physical revolution, time passing, paranoia, mans arrogance and good and evil.
You guys have the bandcamp page, but there are plans underway for a hard copy release as well correct?
I’m hoping to release it on disc from the Down the Line Collective. (Ed. NoteJ)
This is a really solid release, any chance of shopping this around to any larger labels?
That’s a little tough to sell a band when they don’t play live. I would be stoked for someone like Velvet Blue to pick it up.
You and Matt live pretty far apart, are there plans to collaborate again in the future, or are there long term goals with Bloody Strummers?
We’ll see what the Lord has in store, if the inspiration hits I’d love to do more albums.
WESTERN GRACE
Where can people go to purchase this album?
westerngrace.bandcamp.com – Only $5! I’m getting a little self-conscious, haven’t sold 1 yet….
Western Grace is such a fun album, any plans to continue on and make another record?
I had a second album underway but decided to go with a different singer, its more Americana influenced Punk, and we plan on releasing a few 7″ records and digital EP’s hopefully this year and next. That band is called Patriots of the Wasteland. I will do another Western Grace within the next couple of years. I go back and forth on what project to put the most focus on and I’m sure it drives the people I work with crazy, but WG is the easiest thing to focus on and record with the ever changing life because it’s my thing and I get to play/record with Nick White. I’ve got my daughter, school, wife, and a new baby on the way that I give most of my time to. Collaborating with other artist seems to get tougher and tougher these days with scheduling, distance and life in general. I was going to get a live band going with the Strummers, but don’t have the time or energy to put into that, I’m not a young man anymore.
In the liner notes of the record you thank several different people, among them you thank the Gnostic scriptures…can you tell us a bit more about the Gnostic Scriptures and Gnostic Christianity?
The Gnostic Gospels are a group of ancient text that the Catholic Church didn’t find relevant for us to know about, and then the Protestant Church cut 5 books out of the Catholic Bible, so I personally find them to be a more complete book when put together. I find it odd that the Bible by many people is viewed as having one author and not many. To me the Bible is man’s words inspired by God and not God’s word period. No man should be allowed to put these limitations upon us, for we are all equal in the eyes of God. gnosticchristianity.com puts it best “Gnostic Christianity teaches a non-judgmental “process” of reasoning. This new process, is justified by a natural principle that Jesus revealed and contemporary physics demonstrates is a scientific fact. Combining non- judgmental reasoning with the current judgmental process expands our consciousness of reality. In this enlightened consciousness we are personally empowered to resolve all problems and as Paul said “live the good life as from the beginning He [God] had meant us to live it.” (Eph 2:10)”
Am I a Gnostic? Sort of but I take no claim to any religion. To quote Bono from Zooropa “And I have no religion, and I don’t know what’s what, and I don’t know the limit, the limit of what we’ve got” and The Choir “The word inside the word is Love”
The back panel picture is of you and your daughter Prudence, how has it been for you becoming a father?
The greatest thing that has ever happened to me! Being Dad is the most important thing to me, just under God that is, but it all ties in together and I’m a better person because of her.
DESTROY NATE ALLEN
Who are Destroy Nate Allen?
Destroy Nate Allen are a husband and wife band consisting of Nate and Tessa Allen and they are super awesome people! Some of the best house guests we’ve ever had. They play acoustic based Folk Punk and are very DIY.
How did you get involved working with them, and how long have you known them?
I downloaded all their albums off Bandcamp! All their releases are pay what you want, I got ‘em and became a big fan. I think Nate has something very pure in his writing, and then I wrote them and asked if they ever wanted to record with me that I would do it free of charge. They took me up on it (due to some name dropping on my part). I’ve personally known them for about 6 months give or take a little.
What exactly is your involvement and what are you doing on this release?
Well it started out that what we recorded would be their new album, then their friend’s band Gnarboots asked if they wanted to rerecord the album with a full band at a bigger studio. We had plans to add drums and bass to what we recorded anyway and that is still going to happen. Now, basically two albums will be released, the one I recorded as a more stripped down version of the other, if that makes sense. Nate could clear it up I’m sure.
Is there a working title on this upcoming album?
I’ll interview Nate for a future issue to find some of this out, as of now, I’m not sure.
Are you playing on this release as well?
I was, and then I wasn’t; now I am again… snare drum and acoustic bass, to give it that early Violent Femmes kind of vibe. I’ll be finishing that up within the next couple of months.
Did they get all the funding that they needed through Kickstarter? If not is there still a place where people can donate?
They reached their Kickstarter goal, but you can still donate at destroynateallen.com at anytime, there is a donate option to click on.
Where can we go to find out more about DNA and keep up with the progress?
Is this release going to see a digital and hardcopy release?
I’m guessing the album we did will at least be in digital form, for a time I wasn’t sure if it would see the light of day since they’re redoing a bunch of it at a bigger studio. The KickStarter page can clarify this better.
KNOTT TRIBUTE ALBUM
Can you list all the contributors?
01) Kitty – Destroy Nate Allen
02) Shine A Light or The Bomb – Zin Uru
03) It’s A Crazy Thing and I Can’t Wait – Mike Indest
04) Miss America (may change) – Western Grace
05) Blame – The Bloody Strummers
06) Am I Winning Something – The Radiant Dregs
07) Grace – Hidden From Blackout
08) I Am No Christ – Paravell
09) Not A Cuss Word – The Straighters
10) Denial – Eddie P
11) [undecided song] – Mike Roe (unconfirmed)
12) [undecided song] – Derri Daugherty
13) [undecided song] – Blaster The Rocket Man
14) Rocket and a Bomb – Joel Kircher
15) Comatose Soul (may change) – Bill Campbell
16) Never Forsaken – B-Attitudes
17) Rags Again – Erik Kyle Lyday
18) Wakin’ Up The Dead – Armchair Prophets
19) Free Her – Mikee Bridges
20) Halo or Tattoo – Dormant Ember
21) Shoe Gazer – While Rome Is Burning
22) Somewhere – A Monster Named Hugo
23) Movie Star – Thrift Store Heroes
24) John Barrymore Jr. – Jesse Sprinkle
Any specific parameters in the type of songs that are being covered?
As long as Knott wrote it, it doesn’t matter what you pick.
If people still want to get in how do they contact you?
Look me up on FB, or josh.lory@gmail.com
This is such a great idea and one that is long overdue, how did this all come together?
You sort of answered that with “long overdue”, something I’d been waiting for a long time, so I decided to get it going on my own.
This one will be digital as well as hard copy correct?
I’m hoping… it’s looking like a 2 disc hard copy thing.
What do you want people to know that we haven’t already covered here?
Ummm…worship God in your prayers, read Down The Line Zine, support the indie artist, buy my albums, love each other, forgive each other, care about the environment, sponsor a child, “am I buggin’ ya, I don’t mean to bug ya” – again with the Bono
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