Dan Auerbach - "Keep it Hid"

Hey, everybody! Check out my review of Dan Auerbach's debut solo album "Keep it Hid" at: http://www.kreetik.com/blog.html

Kreetik is my new site where I will now be reviewing albums and posting new interviews. You can buy any album I review straght from Kreetik, too!

I would like to know what ya'll think of the new site, so please send me an email at kreetik@live.com

New Blog!

I've started a new blog!

Check out my new site at www.kreetik.com

And read the new blog at http://www.kreetik.com/blog.html

Interview With John Ziegler of Brimstone Howl

KF: What are the orgins of Brimstone Howl?

JZ: Calvin and I were in high school and started a band during my last year at Palmer High School. That was almost eight years ago. We were not very good. Then we found Nicky, who was also from out west. Our first bass player as Brimstone Howl was Jeff Ankenbauer, who's now in the Dinks and the Shanks. We just played local shows until we started doing seven inch records on Speed! and Boomchick records. We are the first post-Crypt records garage rock band from Grand Island, probably forever, and our formation and continued existance are both statistical aberrations.

KF: Your record Guts of Steel was produced by Dan Auerbach. What was it like working with him?

JZ: It was difficult recording in that abandonded pie factory, because it was so cold we could see our breath, but working with the man himself was fun, and I consider it a privilege still, and a really great memory. Guts of Steel is sortave like our first real attempt and chance at reaching a big audience. Apparently, that album got panned by the inner-sanctum of the garage rock community, like Terminal Boredom and whoever and whatnot... but we've reviewed the album again recently and have found claims that the album is not good to be entirely baseless, not to mention skewed by changing garage web-board politics, and faddish looking-over-your-shoulder hyper-awareness that pretty much obviates the purpose of rock'n'roll in the first place.

KF: We Came In Peace is constantly spinning on my record player. Can you describe the writing process that took place for the songs on the album?

JZ: We recorded demos on a four-track cassette recorder and taught them to our bass player for that album, Chauncey Patton, my best friend in high school, not to mention our guitarist before Nicky, like right when Calvin and I started. Like all our albums, we have to demo it out and then listen to it on our own to basically memorize it, without vocals yet because I'm writing those on the van ride to the studio. We can't practice every day, because we need jobs to supplement the pittance that America has decided to compensate us for our talents, and we live scattered across the state of Nebraska.

KF: The cover of We Came In Peace is one of my all time favorites. Who is responsible for it?

JZ: Well, I just kindave mocked up some images from an old book by the same title that my dad owned as a kid. So the artists who put that together in the 1960's and the persons who photographed Mars and Earth (separately) are responsible.

KF: Who are your major musical influences?

JZ: The Gories, Oblivians, Radio Birdman, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Gun Club, Cramps, Roy Orbison, and the Scientists. And CCR and Neil Young, and Ramones.

KF: What does the future hold for Brimstone Howl?

JZ: We got a new album coming out recorded by Mike McHugh called "Big Deal. What's He Done Lately?" coming out later in 2009, and we are recording another record with Jim Diamond here in September, and we have songs for a possible release with Rob's Haus Records in Atlanta, Georgia, but that's still in the makings. These will all be full-lengths of whatever quality you have come to expect from us. Then we're going to record an entirely blown-out 4-track 8 song EP in Nicky's basement and call it just whatever the hell we want and release it on our own with minimal cost on a one sided LP, if, and only if, we have enough money. Otherwise, someone else will release it.

KF: Where can we go online to learn more about ya'll?

JZ: www.myspace.com/brimstonehowl and the Alive Records website

Interview With Bob Welch of Fleetwood Mac

I got the chance to interview Bob Welch, former member of Fleetwood Mac and successful solo artist. Enjoy:

KF: You and Christine McVie are often credited with helping to transform Fleetwood Mac from a blues-rock outfit into the more melodic style that they are now famous for. What is it like knowing that you were such an influential member of one of the most popular bands of the 20th century?

BW: Who knew ;-) Seriously,none of us, certainly not me, had any idea that Fleetwood Mac would have the success it did.I became a professional musician almost by accident, because 1. I loved the music, and playing, and 2. it gave me a chance to travel...and meet girls ;-)In hindsight, it was really all luck and being in the right place at the right time....and being prepared (being able to play) when the opportunities came along.

KF: Your solo album "French Kiss" is one my my favorite albums from the 70s. What was the writing process for the album like? How did you come up with so many catchy tunes?

BW: I had just finished touring with my band "Paris", and during a long break , I put together a lot of bits and pieces of song ideas on my (primitive!) TEAC 4 track tape recorder. When I played some of it for my Capitol a&r guy(John Carter) he said "they're all hits,let's do this with just you and a drummer"(Alvin Taylor). That we re-recorded "Sentimental Lady" with the Fleetwood Mac rhythm section, with Lindsey Bucingham producing helped too. Fleetwood Mac had a # 1 album at the time, and I sort of rode on the crest of their wave...........

KF: Who was the woman on the cover of "French Kiss?"

BW: Answer' "Ellie Seibert" who was the (then) wife of Capitol records southwest promotion man Michael Seibert. She was a Neiman-Marcus model.

KF: What kind of music do you like to listen to? Who are your major influences?

BW: Answer; These days, I mostly like jazz (John McLaughlin) and classical. I'm kind of burned out on "pop" music. My influences: the Beach Boys , Ray Charles , James Brown, Stevie Wonder. (I played in a"soul" band before Fleetwood Mac)

KF: You were the host of "Hollywood Heartbeat." What was that show all about? Are there any surviving recordings of the show?

BW: "Heartbeat" was MTV 2 years before MTV started..The idea was to go to clubs and feature up and coming new bands. I have most of the tapes of the show...but I don't own the copyrights so I can't use 'em.

KF: What are you up to these days?

BW: Still writing (mostly eclectic experimental stuff)and doing UFO research.

KF: Where can we go online to learn more about you?

BW: Answer; www.bobwelch.com....LOT'S of content up there!

Interview with Andrew Gabbard of Buffalo Killers

I got a chance to interview Andrew Gabbard of the band Buffalo Killers. Really nice guy and great band. I hope ya'll enjoy it:

KF: I noticed that there are "organic t-shirts made with water based ink" available for sale on your myspace page. How important is taking care of the environment to ya'll?

AG: It's very important to us, actually. There is really only so much you can do now-a-days to do your part and we try and do what we can, as a band, to do our part. Gotta take care of our Mama Earth!

KF: I also noticed that these t-shirts have a pretty bad ass looking pipe on them. Is that another thing that is important to ya'll?

AG: Haha. Well, I wouldn't say that it's "important" to us... but we can definitely dig in many ways. Including the fact that it is a great drawing by our good friend Amy Jo.

KF: Dan Auerbach produced your CD "Let It Ride." How was that experiance?

AG: Oh man, it was great. Very home-y and natural. Dan really understands us and where we're coming from so it was a very laid-back and easy. We would just stay up late playing and talking about music with Dan and Bob (Cesare) until we couldn't anymore, then wake up early the next day and start over again. It was a truly amazing experience and we're very pleased with how the record turned out.

KF: What is it like touring with The Black Crowes?

AG: Basically like living out a pipe dream. Playing with the Crowes IS playing with the best. True players. Great people. So inspiring to play with such a tight, fresh live band. Hard to not feel spoiled after touring with them for a month or two. Even after playing with them last night, it's hard to leave.

KF: What type of music do the Buffalo Killers listen to? Where do ya'll draw your inspiration from?

AG: We listen to everything, man. Lots of old stuff. We grew up listening to Neil Young, Allman Brothers, Beatles. Lots of rock n roll and country music. There is so much great new music too... Black Crowes, Dungen, Wilco, Vetiver, Black Keys, bands from here at home like Moon High and The Esther Caulfield Orchestra. So much music, new and old, out there we've never heard! Always on the prowl for that new thing.

KF: Where can we go on the internet to learn more about ya'll?

AG: BUFFALO KILLERS.com also Alive Records website (alivenergy.com) we're on myspace/facebook all that jazz! Look us up!

The Black Angels - "Passover"

The Black Angels are the most promising psychedelic band to pop up over the past couple of years. They've got two amazing albums under their belt, "Passover" and "Directions to See a Ghost." Today I'm going to be focusing on "Passover," but both CDs are must-haves.


I remember my first time hearing The Black Angels. I was riding shotgun in my old buddy's truck, cruising the Texas hill country with nowhere to go and nothing to do. The best thing about exploring those back roads is the scenery, especially in the middle of summer. The grass is golden and overgrown, the cacti are bright green, and the sky is almost always completely clear. While soaking in the incredible view we were listening to my buddy's iPod. I had completely given up on modern music at the time so I had my doubts when my friend told me to play "Bloodhounds on My Trail" by this new band The Black Angels. I reluctantly started the song, but immediately I was blown away. The sound was so powerful that I couldn't resist bobbing my head slightly. Neither of us spoke the entire song. I was surprised. The next day I bought the whole CD. I was delighted to hear that all the other songs on "Passover" were just as compelling as "Bloodhounds on My Trail."

The Black Angels have a very distinctive vibe. They sound like The Velvet Underground's evil twin. They bridge the gap between being celestial and being haunting. It's very heavy music, but you can sing along with it, too. That's the great thing about "Passover." There's definitely more than one song that will get stuck in your head.

The first track, "Young Men Dead," will immediately have you hooked. The riff is very powerful and the drums are almost Bonham-esque, but there is also that secret-ingredient that makes it very psychedelic and unique. Number three on the CD is called "The Sniper at the Gates of Heaven." I always get the image of Vic Marrow in "The Twilight Zone Movie" hiding in the dark jungles of Vietnam when I hear this song. Other good tracks include "Black Grease" and "Manipulation." But my favorite will always be "Bloodhounds on My Trail." It will always remind me of the beauty of the hill country.


I got the chance to ask Christian Bland, a member of the band, some questions about The Black Angels:
　
KF: My first question is about the orgins of The Black Angels. How did ya'll meet? Where do The Black Angels come from?

CB: We come from Texas. Alex and i have been friends since 1994. we went to junior high and high school together in Houston, TX. The Black Angels formed 10 years later in Austin, TX after Alex and i had been looking for band members since November 2002. In may 2004, we met Stephanie after having parted with our previous drummer, Sabbath White, and The Black Angels were born. We played as a 4 piece for a while, then we played with 8 members, then we went back to 4 when we added Jennifer Raines as our 'dronist' in the summer of 2004. Then in early 2005 Nate joined as our bassist, and we played as 5 for a couple of US tours, then we recorded Passover, and we needed a sixth member so we could play all the parts we recorded, so we added Kyle Hunt. We played as a 6 piece until January 2008 when we parted ways with Jennifer. Now we're a group of 5.

KF: "Passover" is such a powerful album, musically as well as lyrically. What was the inspiration for this? What kind of music were ya'll listening to at the time?

CB: The inspiration came from The Beatles. The music I was listening to at the time is the same as I always ..mainly oldies, some new futuristic stuff, and the Beatles.

KF: Can you briefly describe how the music writing process went for the album?

CB: Most of the songs were written by Alex and I together just from our experiences in this life and beyond. Nate helped write some of the lyrics on "Prodigal Son".

KF: How did your music end up on the soundtrack for the movie "Death Sentence?"

CB: I'm not really sure. I haven't seen the movie yet.

KF: What is The Black Angel's connection with the 13th Floor Elevators? How did you meet Roky Erikson, and what was it like playing with such a legend?

CB: They're the reason i came to Austin in 2002, with their message of 'open up your mind, and let everything come thru' . We met Roky in august 2008 for practice for our upcoming West Coast Fall tour. It was surreal playing with Roky Erickson. He and the 13th Floor Elevators are why we do what we do, so words in this day and age can't explain the experience.

KF: I read that ya'll are working on a third album. What kinds of things can we look forward to hearing?

CB: The 3rd album is a blend of the first 2 albums. The songs are a but more structured than the jams on 'Directions To See A Ghost' . There's a more Beatles meets Black Angels vibe on this album.

Interview With James Lowe & Mark Tulin Of The Electric Prunes

Today I have a special treat for ya'll. I got a chance to interview James Lowe and Mark Tulin, two of the founding members of The Electric Prunes, one of the most famous psychedelic bands of the 1960s. Enjoy.

KF: I read somewhere that before ya'll were The Electric Prunes ya'll played with Kenny Loggins. Is that true?

James Lowe: In 1968 after I left the band during a tour; when they came home they auditioned players to try and reform for more live touring. Kenny was chosen as a guitar player. I was not around so Mark can tell you more about that.

Mark Tulin: Actually Kenny played in the band for what turned out to be The Electric Prunes’ final tour in the ‘60s. James had left the band and we attempted to go out with just Ken and I from the original group along with a new line-up and new songs. Kenny was part of the band and contributed some very cool material. He was much more of a rock ‘n roll kind of guy than the "smooth" musician everyone associates him with now. The tour itself was a complete and total disaster. Unfortunately we never got to record anything with Kenny as The Electric Prunes.

　
KF: The Electric Prunes is one of my all time favorite band names. Right up there with the Strawberry Alarm Clock. How did the name come about?

James Lowe: We had a weekend to select a name for a our first single called: Ain't It Hard. Warner Bros wanted the name for the record pressing. We were rehearsing all weekend in our garage and decided we couldn't leave till we had a name. When you really try to come up with a name it often gets rather silly and we went through about 6 hours and anything that came up became the new choice. Mark told a joke during all this to break the tension. The joke was: What is purple and goes buzz buzz? answer an electric prune. Well, we were pretty tired but the name just grabbed me because it was just what we were looking for. "Electric" was the sound part to me and "Prunes" was an absurdity. The thing was just so memorable we put it at the top of the list. When we sent 3 names into Warner Bros. I told them we only wanted the first one. Warner Bros. loved the name.

As a side note: Moby Grape got their name later from a variation of this very same joke: What's purple and lives in the sea? Moby Grape. Both jokes were purple.
　
KF: The soundtrack to Easy Rider includes two of The Electric Prunes' songs. How does it feel being such a major part of one the most defining movies of that era?

James Lowe: Often the group does not even know when these things happen. I didn't know about it till I saw the movie and heard the song in there. I had left the group to produce and engineer records so I was even more unattached to it. Looking back it was as important and being included in the first Nuggets collection by Lenny Kaye. It sort of carried our message further than the 60's had and let people know we had landed at one time.

Mark Tulin: It was and is an honor to be included in what turned out to be a seminal motion picture. I didn’t know until I saw the movie that our songs (actually Dave Axelrod songs – they come off our "Mass in F Minor" album) were a part of the film. If one is going to be in a film I guess a brothel is as good as place as any to make an appearance.
　
KF: "Underground" is one of those essential psychedelic albums that any fan of the genre has to own. What was your inspiration for the dark and foreboding atmosphere that is present throughout the album?

James Lowe: Probably our dissatisfaction with our relationship with the producer. After Too Much To Dream came out Dave Hassinger was offered other albums to do and he sort of just let us go in the studio and do what we wanted. If he came in he laid on the floor and read the newspaper. This was the real first chance we had at trying our own material the way we wanted. If we wanted it moody and depressing there was no one there to tell us it was too morose. We were not looking to be a Bubblegum group as we had our sights set on loosening up some of the bolts on the musical frame. Hassinger hated the album and it did not sell very well because it didn't have a hit single in there. We liked it because it was about what was going on at the time. A hit single was about the only way at that time to really sell any albums.

Mark Tulin: I never thought of it as dark and foreboding but maybe you’re right. Recording is as much a statement of mood as it is performance so if that feeling is there it is probably because that was the environment in the studio during most of the making of "Underground". Inner band battles, artistic differences and continual problems with one’s producer can do that to you.
　
KF: What are The Electric Prunes up to these days?

James Lowe: We are just getting ready to go on a tour of the eastern US called, California 66. The idea was to have 3 LA bands from 1966 play the music as it was then. We chose Love, Sky "Sunlight" Saxon of the Seeds and Electric Prunes. Unfortunately, SKy Saxon died a few weeks ago and we are reforming our idea a bit. We will be joined by guitarist Jerry Miller of Moby Grape and the Blues Magoos for one of the dates. We have put out 3 albums, er excuse me, CD's, since reforming. Artifact, our reunion album, California, a look back at the mood of the 60's, and Feedback, our latest bundle of noise that reflects ... feedback, I guess? We have been inspired to make new music because we still play it as we did in the 60's. We may have one more ... CD in us?

Mark Tulin: We continue to perform live – going out in August for a few weeks as part of the "California 66" tour to the East Coast and parts of the Midwest. The band actually sounds better now than it ever did Also looking at going back into the studio in September to cut some new material.


KF: Where can we go on the internet to learn more about "The Electric Prunes?"

the past: electricprunes.com
the present: electricprunes.net
the band: myspace.com/prunetwang