Sceneazine Oct.- Nov. 2014 | Page 19

Sceneazine.com songwriting ability makes us stand out. I’ve caught people I work with humming some of our riffs after coming to a show. 14. Do you guys only play local or do you get to tour much? We’ve been playing across the Carolinas thus far. We’re making connections and pending scheduling you can expect to see us further up and down the east coast. 15. Do you guys have a favorite place that you like to play? What is it that makes that place your favorite? We’ve played some kickass places like when we were on the Extreme Black Death Thrash Metal Festival at The Tremont in Charlotte. Great venue, great group of bands, just an overall fantastic time. We do also love our local venues like The Maywood in Raleigh and The Cave in Chapel Hill. There’s such an awesome group of people and a feel to these places that makes us want to keep coming back and kicking more asses while we’re at it. 16. Who would you guys say was the biggest musical or non-musical influence on each of you? Brandon: Peter Tatgren. Clint Eastwood. Gene Hoglan. Joseph: Reece Scruggs of Havok, Stephen King, and Lee Marvin. Aaron: Al Cisneros. Lemmy. Josh Barnett. 17. Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there. Be there only if you’re ready to get your ass kicked. October 24th in Raleigh playing with Human Infection, Pathogenesis and RBT. 18. As a band, how often and for how long do you practice? 2-4 hours a couple of times a week. Whenever we can really. If we’re not doing that we’re probably drinking and watching other bands destroy venues in the area. 19. What advice would you give to someone putting together their first band? Would you encourage or discourage them? Go for it. Come see us and learn how to do it right. 20. As we finish this interview is there anything you would like to add? Brandon: Thanks to the 2112 percussion crew. Aaron: Come check out a show, we look better in person than we do in text. Joseph: Thanks to everyone coming to see us and supporting us, and keeping metal strong in this area. continue from page 13-Jenny Mann of BLAMESHIFT FF: We all know that no matter what happens, it’s all in how you play it off. How do you stall for time and/or keep it cool when things go wrong? JM: Well as you know from playing with us, we have a lot of equipment and a full light show so something is always going wrong. Luckily my bandmates are amazing trouble shooters and I never have to stall for too long. I remember one time we had an technical issue and I ran to the bar, got two beers and had a beer chugging contest on stage between to people in the audience. FF: What has your experience as a leading lady in a highly successful national touring band been like so far and what advice can you give? JM: I have had some of the highest highs and lowest lows since forming Blameshift. We have spent most of our time on the road and it can truly be harrowing at times, yet the rewards are unmatched. I wouldn’t trade my experiences and what I do for anything. I am very blessed and lucky that I have gotten to live this life and there is much more to come. As far as advice for other ladies in the industry I would say, stay true to yourself. I think girls in the industry feel that they need to use their sexuality in order to compete in a predominately male market. I think that those type of female artists actually take away credibility from other female artists who want to be taken seriously. If that’s who you are, then go for it...but, if you are putting on an act because you think it’s what people want to see, then you are doing a disservice. Always be you. Be honest, be vulnerable, be yourself...I think fans (especially girls) really connect with that. FF: So what’s on the horizon for Blameshift? Big tours? New album? Music videos? We want to know! JM: We leave in two days for tour dates with Saliva, Royal Bliss, Saving Abel, Screaming For Silence and more. We will be getting home right before Thanksgiving, so we are out for awhile. When we get home in December we will be writing a new album and hopefully recording it in North Hollywood at the beginning of the year. There is a lot of exciting stuff coming up so stay tuned!! continue from page 13-Bombshell Schull says allowing each member of the band, “Bombmates” as they call each other, to contribute equally is what gives Bombshell its greatest strengths. “We have, at one point, even tried a voting process, but it just became too much work,” Schull says. “We all get along so well – which I feel is very rare in bands nowadays – that we can bring up song ideas most of time with everybody keeping an open mind. “ In just a year’s time, Bombshell has become a mainstay on the Columbia, SC, club circuit. And while the band seems to stay ever-busy, Bates adds that they are looking to get even busier. “Bombshell is seeking events of all kinds,” Bates says, “including weddings that need an energetic band that plays a variety of music that reaches a wide audience base.” (Photo credits: Live shots – Billy Liner / B&W promo shot: Susan Clayton) For more: • bombshellbandsc.com • facebook.com/bombshellbandsc continue from page 17-Space Coke’s Reno Gooch is necessary to play music with me. Space Coke is like Shakespeare: we could be doing a serious performance that one would need a PhD to understand, but at the same time there are jests creat