PipemanRadio Interviews Red Fang at Welcome to Rockville 2024

Hey, you have one to censure. I'm wow, crazy young Why Become America. It's time for the Adventures of pipe Man on W four C why dot Com West Pompeas is number one Internet radio station. Here's your host, the White Man. Something thing to make real than you found. This is pipe Man here on the Adventures pipe Man W four C Y Radio and I'm here with Brian Giles of Red Fang. Thanks for having me pipe Man. Oh pleasure, great to have you here at Welcome to Rockville, man. I you know, I do so many festivals. I can't even remember after time. But have you played Rockville before? No? I don't. We haven't done Rockville, but we I want to say it's we're next week we're doing Sonic Temple. Yeah so, and we've done Sonic Temple in the past. Did you do it when it was Rock on the Range or Sonic Temple? Rock on the Range? There you go, all right, yeah, way back? Yeah, there it is. And so how does it feel to be here playing at the Daytona International Speedway? Is that or what this is? This is? This is the most famous place to take a left in the world. I think I know, right, and like it's pretty wild too, Like you drove on the raceway right when you first came to load in. Yeah, yeah, we didn't. We didn't break any any records, right, we did. We we did like a pace car kind offect. It felt good, nice, nice, Like where can you do that when you're loading in for a festival? Right? And you know what, I well it makes sense. But just looking at the wall, like you know the turns you know there, the embankments are severe. I mean it's halfway to like vertical that that wall. It's not like you see on TV, like when you see this wall face to face, right, It's like how are they riding on that? If you want to stand on the on the top end of the curve, you're gonna fall down. It's I mean, it's a it's a drop. It's crazy. I guess, uh, you know since it's like a centrifuge keeps you, keeps you on there. Yeah. Well you know what they say that you have to at least be going eighty miles per hour to not fall off the wall. Okay, well that's that's good. So there you go. Now here, I'll give you a trivia question. I've asked a lot of other artists. Do you know why the seats are all colored? Poor attendants? They want to make it look like the stands are full. Nice, That's exactly the reason is it. It's to make it look like the stands are full. Damn I'm good, I know right, I was right off the dome. Now, you know it's weird. Now if I watch it on TV, I'm gonna look for that ship. Oh yeah, it's like all that red chair is definitely wasted. Right, And so tell us what's going on that the listeners need to know anything new? Like obviously you're here at Rockville, you'll be at Sonic Temple next week. What else is going on? Well, we've just got this is if just the first shows we're doing today we played, and then we're doing We're filling the week between this and and Sonic Temple with some co ha heyline shows a Baroness And I've been Winston Salem Dance for tomorrow and then up as far as New Jersey and then back down down to Columbus. So I'm looking forward to those club dates Nice and Baroness, you know, I mean, we've played a lot of festivals and cross paths and played shows together off and on over the years, but never never did it, you know, honest to goodness. You know, well, mini tour, but a tour. So I think that's gonna be good night. And I think that young the young people will enjoy it. I don't know, you tell me. I think music, no matter what, is enjoyable. Especially I feel like our crossover, you know, it's a good crossover. I think there's some people that are big into Baroness. I don't know who the hell we are and versus Visa. So I think it'll be it'll be nice. It'll be a nice little I think it is kind of cool. And Baroness has like this cultish following, so maybe you'll get a new cultish following from that tour. Yeah, man, you never know. So you know, we're out here and I still love doing it, so so that and then well, I guess we go. We're gonna do a West Coast run and end of July into July or end of June into July, and then we'll do a European festival tour, so you know. And it was just kind of it's a pandemic. It just kind of screwed up our whole you know, our rhythm and everything. So it's just nice to be out on the road again, like everybody right, you know. And and then once you get back out on the road again, it's kind of like it's weird. You can't get used to it again, you know. After that yeah, oh yeah, I mean, well, just getting used to going to a place and talking to people. Right a second, I was like, wait a minute, small talk eh, you know, so you know, I guess I'm the I'm with small talk again, so right, And then there's the other thing, Like I remember the first show right after the pandemic. I was stand back sage looking out at this crowd down in South Florida, looking at this crowd sweating starting, and I'm like it looked like a Petri dish to me. At that point, I was still institutionalized with the COVID stuff. And then, you know, but once that comfort, I'm like, thank god, I'm back, like we're There's no better therapy than music. And I think we should have had live music during that lockdown. Why, because I think that's why everybody was so angry and pissed and depressed and everything else, because they had no outlet. Oh I agree, and you know, and a nice thing. You know. I think our first we did a we did a US Canada tour before that was our first thing. You know, we had this album come out. It was we put that off like for a year and a half because of because of the pandemic, and we're like, what do we put out a record with no tour support? Seems dumb? Right then that thing lasted so long We're like, fuck it, We're putting the record out. But and so then finally did tour, you know, twenty twenty two. I guess that was And anyway, the support was was crazy. I was, it was really it made me feel really good. And I feel like this is this is you know, not just for us, and I think just I think people were starved for it. And I think that it's something that I and I think I appreciate live music more too, because it's something that you just it's your lifestyles, you know, it's what you do, it's your you know, it's your culture or whatever. And then for it to go away, you realize how how vitally really it is important for me anyway to go see you know, to commune with other musicians and to see you know, a set happened, whether it's a disaster or you know, masterpiece, doesn't matter and care. It's just watching human beings get together and do that. And then and to share a room with other people that you know appreciate the same things you do. It's a it's a it's a beautiful thing. And so when we went out back out again, it was just crazy that the outpouring the energy that we were getting back was just insane. And so anyway that that was real helpful, and so anyway to any of you. It came out to many of our shows and showed us that kind of love. It made a difference and appreciate it, and yeah, man, I love it. And you know I've said all along, if you're gonna take a positive out of that whole lockdown for the artists, there's two sides, artist and attendee listener. For the artists, you guys were on such a hamster wheel for such a long time that like, I think it's a recharge. You know, you got to get off the hamster wheel and get creative again. It's almost like you were going through the motions leading up, not you specifically, but just in general. Because you're going stop to stop to stop, and deadlines to write these albums, and then it's like finally a time where you could sit down and really evaluate where you want your music to go, right, yeah, you know. Yeah. And I did some real crazy shit during the I mean I learned how to do home recording and I did some real crazy shit, you know. And I was like, well, this is probably not safe for human consumption, but I really enjoyed it, and it was it was a creative time for me the pandemic, you know. I mean I would have preferred to get in a room with my guys and you know, to hammer it out in person. That's the best, you know. But I was like, well, I'm gonna explode if I don't do something. So I, you know, kind of taught myself how to record, got some rudimentary recording equipment in my basement, and now I can do that. So see that worse There you go, dog new trick. That's it cool. And for the listeners, I think before the pandemic, how I describe it, but people were just whiny, like they would complain at every festival, complain at every show. This is lamb lamba, And I think it's an all new appreciation of what they miss. I fully agree with you. Yeah, you know, it's it's amazing that you know, these massive things like like today is you know that it's happening again. That's that's awesome. You know exactly knew it would, But when it was happened, when you know, in the middle of that whole pandemic, it's like, will it yeah? Is this just I am? I It's gonna be you know, he's trapped in this house forever and ever. It's kind of a points it felt like it was never gonna end, you know, and every time every time, you know, we we booked tours, and then there would be the delta variant, like Son of a Bitch is like for a while there, you know, I'd be like, well, instead of talking about oh I toured with that band, now it's like, oh, yeah, I canceled a tour with them. Oh yeah, we were. We canceled tour with them too, We're supposed to go on tour. It was crazy, the laundry list of exciting things that didn't happen because of that fucking who was the best band you had to cancel on tour with? Oh geez, I don't know. I mean, we had some really cool lineups when you put me on the spot. See that. Yeah, as soon as this interview is over, I'll have a list for you. Yeah, you'll you'll remember as soon as we shut the mic off. Yeah, that's how it goes, what Europeans. I stared in the fridge and being like, well, I knew I opened the door for some reason. Or where are my keys in your hand? Buddy? No that, or I did this early? And where's my sunglasses? Yeah, you know where they are exactly. So tell everybody how they can reach out to you guys on socials, on the web, get your merch check out all the things you got going on. Well, I think the best way to get stuff from us is probably either straight through our record label, Relapse, or our first album is on Sergeant House and you can reach out to them directly, or band camp. I'm a strong believer in band camp. I think that's the best way to support whatever, but not you know, not necessarily our band, but any band. I think that's the the best way these days to really show your support for the band directly and that it actually goes to them. You know, I'm just talking about you know, the proliferation of fake merch out there. You know these companies like Red Bubble or whatever, these things are just they're leeches, and it's like do I would just suggest that, just in general, just find out just who it is making that T shirt and if and if you see a throw pillow by some band you love, it is like, did the band really think make a throw pillow is gonna be a good idea? Right before you hit by? Just find out where it's coming from. Anyway. Yeah, we're on Instagram and fan Facebook, so if you you know, I'm a big proponent of that because it kind of passes me off. People don't realize that, especially nowadays, merch is the only way that you guys get from show to show to show. Forget making money, It's just how you get the next stunted, and tragically these days it's not even music. It's exactly what fills your gas tank is soft goods, T shirts, you know, beer, koozies, this booble bobbles, that's weird shit. That's how we fill our guesst like, that's how we live, so exactly, So buy some stupid crap right in your local rock band from the rock band, Yes, straight from the knuckleheads themselves. That's I love. What Like, I'm very outspoken. So when I leave like concerts festivals and I see those guys outside selling the fucking bootleg shirts, I give them shit. Yeah, Like they'll come to like how much are you giving to the band? And they don't know what to say at that point. We just recently played a Latin American tour and we played it where I guess it was Monterey anyway, the club, you know, just their their you know, intellectual property laws are not as hardcore as they are you know in the States or some other places, So you know, knockoffs, that's just how it goes. And so I remember being in the green room was like above the street in front, and there was like a block and a half of red fangear, and I was just like, damn, that's like a whole ecosystem of people. And I was like, well, whatever, they need to make money, I understand it. I'm not going to go down and give them any kind of shit. But what I did feel bad for it was this one gall in particular, had had bootlegged one of our shirts that sold particularly poorly. I was like, oh, you fucked up, lady should have ripped off. It never won because there had no customers. I was like, I could have told you, Oh man, that's good. So from now on, if you're a bootleg or you gotta reach out to the band, they get your research. Yeah, do your research, you know, make sure make sure you're stealing the Primo stuff right, good god? Oh man, So is there anything you want to share with the listeners we haven't covered already? No. I mean, if you're out here on the East Coast in the next week and you want to come see us in a small venue, I think those shows of barness are gonna go off. I think it's gonna be that's gonna be sweaty, real good time. So what do you like? I won't say better, because both sides are better. But what do you like about a club show versa festival or big stadium and vice versa. Well, well, I think this is not uncommon, but you know, it's a small venue. You feel more connected to the crowd, The crowd feels more connection to you, the sound is more encompassing, so you feel it's more like a full body experience, you know, yeah, you know, And then you're likely to break in an armor a little higher in the club. So that for better worse, that's true. And so and I grew up, you know, doing clubs, so that's just I feel more comfortable in a smaller venue versus one of these things. And you know, and I think, whether it's required or not, I've never been a very much of a cheerleader, you know, as far as like, hey, everybody in the lefts go yay, I'm not doing that shit. I can't be no, I won't do it. But anyway, I'm just glad that people will listen to our music anyway, you know. But it's a different skill set, I think, and I just never really learned how to do it. I'm like, well, we'll just play songs and see what happens. That's our approach. Well for me. Like the first club show I ever went to in ninth it was nineteen eighty Sunset Strip the Roxy Motley Crue before they had an album, first club show ever. They weren't glam yet, glam yet. Had you heard of them or did somebody say, hey man, you got to see this band. I just saw their picture. Their flyer was everywhere in La You know, like they were the best marketers ever. I'm like, those fuckers look cool because they weren't through the nose for pr or something like that. No, no, that it was total grassroots man. Dudes drink Kinko's all night. Zero. I used to hang out with Mick Mars and Zero. They were And then you saw them all over La staatepling to the telephoam poles and ship like that, and they looked cool. Then that was before they were glam. They were more like horror punk. Yeah, man, I mean their their look on Too Faster Love and Shouted the Devil. Man. I bought into a hook line and singer. I must be a little younger than you, you know, but that was I was seventh grade, I guess when when Shouted the Devil came out and I was like, this is scary man. Whatever that that was your beginning, whatever that track is, Yeah, dude, there's some scary shit and I totally bought into it. I mean I was like, these dudes are dangerous. These are a dangerous group of guys. And originally they were, you know, because chat at the Devil was their original music, not Too Fast for Love, and they when I saw him at the Roxy. They tried to burn the Roxy down to bring Satan in and I was like, I'm never going to a real concert ever again. That was the fast and it is for us as the listeners, Like you're talking about that intimate experience. That's what I love about clubs because I am. I made friends with so many bands back in the eighties that because just being at the club, Like I went to Metallica's first show ever and Mustaine came out and started talking to me afterwards. I'm fifteen years old. It's like, oh, yeah, so cool. When would that happen? You know, Yeah, nobody's got a no eye contact clause and if they're playing the Roxy, you know exactly. And to your point too about the sound or the feeling, to me, ma washing to the music and a club has way more connection than at a festival. In other words, when you're up close and that sound is pounding on you. There the washing, I think it's just way more intense. Yeah, And I think people are just more it's more of a family feeling where it's like someone goes down to feel like people are more likely to pick you up in a small venue because you are You're like a little small family of people that are always experiencing this thing together where you know, festfo like this. There's a lot of really good people out there that are looking at for each other and stuff. But also there's some people that see it as like, oh, I'm anonymous, so I can behave poorly, you know, so you're exactly right. And you know what else too, is there's people that wouldn't go to those club shows because they're not really metal heads or whatever. They end up at a festival or usually the big dudes, they see these mash pits and they want to show how macho and tough day all right, Like, oh I can win the mush pit. Yeah, there's no winning, dude, No no having a good time. If you're having a good time, you're winning. What's funny about that, though, is like the little dudes like me and I'm big now compared to why I was back as a teenager. Yeah, I'm the one that comes around the pit like down low, like Mike Tyson really fast and I come take out that big dude with elbow and he didn't even know what hit him and I'm already on the other side. Well, yeah, I mean some of these guys they got a date. You know, they have some decorum people. That's right. So man, Rockville, you guys rock here and you're going to rock it at Sonic Temple. You want to give any final word store listeners, No, just stay awesome out there and Hydra That's what I say, hydraate definitely here. You know how many people last night I saw like I was up, you know, in the pit by the stage and they were bringing so many people out on stretchers because it was so hot. Yeah, so it's no. Definitely got hi. Dra. Well, you guys killed it here at Welcome to rock Bille. Thanks for having me and thanks for being on the Adventures pipe Now awesome enjoy the rest of the weekend. To thank you for listening to the Adventures of Pipe Man on w for CUI Radio.