Thursday 10 December 2015

Borderland Fuzz Fiesta Spotlight: An Interview with Roger from DEAD CANYON


Well it's time to find more about another band who will be performing at 2016 Borderland Fuzz Fiesta in Tuscon, Az. Previously I interviewed Mike from Big Mean. Now it's time to interview Roger Williams, bassist from Psych Rockers Dead Canyon and Progressive Sludge/Post-Metallers – Sorxe.

Though Roger will be performing with Dead Canyon at Borderland Fuzz Fiesta. Wayne Ruddell asked myself to interview Roger to see what people can expect from Dead Canyon when they perform at the festival and what the future holds for both Dead Canyon and Sorxe.

So let's get started...

Hi Roger. How are things with you today. Thanks for doing this interview.

Thanks for the time. Things are getting better everyday. I am actually recovering from a serious auto accident (Broken Jaw, Ribs, etc.). The band is just now getting back together after 2 months. We actually just played with Nik Turner's Hawkwind last night.


How Dead Canyon get together? And why did you choose the name?

Frank & Josh actually formed the band as a 2 piece, coming out of their previous band Black Hell. I heard them at a party and instantly knew that I wanted to be a part of it. After much coercing, I was finally able to convince them that they were missing an integral piece to the equation. I was coming out of playing in Graves At Sea, so most people only knew me for playing "Doom" bass. As for the name, It was already decided by the time I joined. What a relief. It's a cool name

How would you describe your music?

That's such a tricky question. Perhaps, Desert rock with a groovy feel. Queens of the Stone Age, Black Keys, ZZ Top, Thin Lizzy. although, for some reason, I get a lot of Black Sabbath comparisons, which seems weird to me.

Your scheduled to play Borderland Fuzz Fiesta in February 2016. How did you get involved in that festival?

I saw that it happened last year. In it's first year, there was great quality bands that I wanted to see. Unfortunately, prior plans stopped me from going. Being from Phoenix, it is only an hour drive, or so, to get to Tucson. We played a few shows with Wayne and he reached out to me about playing it this year. I immediately said yes and now we are looking forward to the day.

What can people expect from your set at Borderland Fuzz Fiesta.

Loud Party Rocking


Which bands are you looking forward in seeing at the festival.

Really looking forward to Dead Meadow. I still haven't seen them. Blaak Heat is a band that I have been hearing the name for awhile and have still net heard them. Elder will be awesome. Plus, all the new bands that I will get turned onto from the festival.

Will you be performing any warm-up gigs before the festival.

As far as touring, no. We will be doing a local warm-up show with the Bay area band Owl, February 18th at the Time Out Lounge.

Have you played in festivals before or is Borderland Fuzz Fiesta your first one.

This will be the first festival that we have played together. I've done festivals with Sorxe and Graves At Sea. Frank and Josh, have done so, with Black Hell and Carol Ann.

How hard is it being a band in today's world. What are the most difficult aspects in being in a band.

Probably the double edged sword, which is, social media. You can find anything that you want, you can get exposed to all forms of bands that you previously wouldn't have been able to, endless promotion. The other side, anyone band can put music online, you get inundated with different stimuli, thus over-saturation.

What inspired you to become a musician. Any particular album, band or life-changing event that told you – Yeah, that's what I want to do....

I have always really gotten into and felt, music. Very open to all forms. A love for the heavier stuff, but always space for exploration. I played various instruments growing up. It wasn't until I starting playing bass that I really found home.

What is the song-writing dynamic in the band. Is it a group collective or down to one individual.

Frank usually comes in with a song structures that he's been working on, then Jokey and myself with add our flavour to the mix, then we all solidify it.

Will Dead Canyon be releasing any new music in 2016 as it's a been a long time since you guys released anything.

That is definitely the plan. We are working on new material now. After the songs are done it will be time to record them. We write a little slower. It's difficult to not write a song fast and complicated Also,we plan to get out to some other places and spread the desert groove.


What most people don't know is that you play Bass in Sludge/Post-Metal band – Sorxe – who released a great album last year with Surrounded by Shadows. I was surprised you're involved with that band as it's so different to Dead Canyon. Are you still involved with Sorxe and how are things with the band going.

Things are moving along with Sorxe. We are in the process of demoing the new songs for a, yet untitled, full length. We'll send that out and see what kind of interest we will get. If nothing seems right, we will release it ourselves. As for playing in both bands, they are both styles that I love and wanted to explore and I didn't feel that just one band would be able to encapsulate that.

Were you happy with responses that Sorxe's debut album got from people. And looking back would you change anything about that album.

All of the positive response from the album was great. We spent a lot of time on it and released it ourselves. It is nice to know that people are responding, and getting into, something that we created. I would have loved to have released it on vinyl. Hopefully, we still can.

OK if you had the chance to put on a festival. Which bands would you put on. It can be any bands from any era of music.

It would be a summer of debauchery camp-out with all the festivals combined Woodstocks, Hellfests, Roadburns, Wackens, Maryland Death fests, lollapaloozas, etc.. That's crazy to even think about. I don't get paid enough money to go crazy on the thought.

Before you go, do you have anything to say to your fans.

Most certainly. Just want to thank everyone for all the support. For everyone that comes to the shows. We appreciate it. This is why we go through all of the hassles. That it the reward. Also, the promoters, and people behind the scenes, who believe in us and keep inviting us to play on such awesome gigs. See you soon.

Words by Steve Howe and Roger Williams

Thanks to Roger for doing this interview. Thanks to Wayne Ruddell for arranging this interview.

Dead Canyon Links


Sorxe Links


Borderland Fuzz Festival Links


Tickets

Early Bird Two Day Pass: BFFEarlybird.brownpapertickets.com
Dead Meadow Single Day: BFFDeadmeadow.brownpapertickets.com
Elder Single Day: BFFElder.brownpapertickets.com