Wednesday, June 6, 2012

ES2: Chicago interview with David Schock

Love this guy.
This session brings us David Schock of WTII Records. He's the man hosting this shindig at the end of the month. I've seen him as Santa. And, much like the fat man in red or a hooker with the clap, he gives you a gift with every show.

Rusty: Dave, thanks for taking the time to do the interview. You've done these with me before, so lets get to the meat and potatoes of this thing.

Electronic Saviors 2. It looks like there is a hell of a line up again for Chicago. Who do we all have and who are you looking forward to seeing the most?

David: First off Rusty, I wanted to thank you for starting up these interviews again much like you did for the WTII Records Minifest 2 back in June of 2011. I had a fantastic time reading your blog and I thought it gave some interesting insight to some of the bands and helped to create a true “family” feeling between all of the bands who performed at the Minifest. Several different factors went into assembling this amazing line-up this year, part of it was that we weren't going to do another WTII Minifest in 2012, but wanted to have some type of show with a “festival” feel to it, I wanted to try to top (or at least equal) the first ES show that we did back in 2010 that had a lineup of Acumen Nation, Gothsicles, Cyanotic, the (short) return of Christ Analogue, Xuberx, the live debut of Aimonia and more, plus this is the final ES 2 benefit show so I wanted to go a little overboard to make it special and a fitting end to the 2012 round of benefit shows.

Anyway I am excited that we have Patricia Wake from Pittsburgh, opening the evening up as her voice is one that stays with you and her brand of Gothic song writing/story telling is unforgettable. We then quickly lead to Chicago's Short to Ground who are quickly becoming one of the hottest rising Chicago bands around. Nashville's Cryogen Second will be making their Chicago debut at this show and are one of the bands that I am most interested in seeing. The newly revamped lineup of Madison's Sensuous Enemy will be bringing some eroticism to the stage, followed by fellow Wisconsinite's Am.Psych. The man of the hour, Jim Semonik, will be leading his project (and WTII Records artists) Rein[forced] to the stage and you can expect to hear many songs off of his upcoming WTII release debuted at this show. Chicago's very own, Gothsicles, need no introduction (no seriously they don't need an introduction) and rounding out the evening are Baltimore's Ego Likeness and a very special late set by Ohio's AimOniA. You asked me who I am most excited to see and it may very well be AimOniA on the strength of their jaw dropping Minifest set. Oh and I am also excited to have Dj Pathogen (Pandemic), Wade Alin (Christ Analogue, The Atomica Project, and producer extrodinaire) along with Don Anderson (Terror Firma Sky) working the decks all night!

Rusty: I don't think a lot of people really appreciate the kind of time and dedication it takes to get something like this going. You have done the Sunday showcase for almost 5 years now, and a couple larger events as well. Now you're pulling this off. You have a full time job, a wife, a kid, you help run WTII with Bart. Where do you find the time to get all this festival/promotion stuff done?

David: Thank you for the kind words Rusty and I want to be truthful with you and tell you it's not easy at all. During the 5+ year run of the monthly WTII Records showcases that we did things kind of fell into place and I was able to get into a 3 month groove where I kept a schedule of "by this time I need to book a band, by here the artwork needs to be done, by here I need to post info to websites/physical media" etc etc and it was pretty easy to do as these things take on a momentum of their own. Now you are correct I have a new full time job, a beautiful, supportive and understanding wife, an amazing 18 month old son and still have many responsibilities with the record label. Being organized with my time and laying out a schedule has always been an important part of promoting methods. I obviously had to take a break during the birth of my son as well as I wanted to take a break after putting on the 4 day WTII Records Minifest 2 as it was emotionally, physically and financially draining but I have started to pick up my shows again and have done or are doing shows every month from March-July AND increasing the territory of shows that I book to include Milwaukee as well. As much as I would love to stop booking/promoting shows I always harken back to some advice that Gray Kaze from Club ? in Milwaukee gave me and that is "you can't ever truly get out of it, you can try to leave, but the bands/fans/clubs will drag you back into it". It's in my dna makeup now and even though it takes more energy to put on a show it's still something I take a lot of pride and pleasure from.

Rusty: Yeah, when you said you were "retiring" from promoting, we all said you would be back. It's like a WWE wrestler saying he's retiring... you're never really done and you can always take one more bump off the ladder.

Also, you're freaking me out being so professional with your responses. Knock it off.

So, we're doing this show over at LiveWire this time. Why the change in venue? Things were running pretty smooth at Darkroom for such a long time. (I know some of the story, but not all of it... fill us in here)

David: Well Darkroom has been and always will be where we call home, they were one of the first people and venues to really get behind the idea of monthly live "industrial" shows and the nights and club grew exponentially because of it. Darkroom played host to some of the most amazing independent shows that Chicago has seen over the past ten years or so. Now unfortunately Darkroom like many other venues in the city (and country) suffered during the recent economic recessions and they have been trying to sell the building now. The are still open and are still booking shows at Darkroom but unfortunately they are doing it on a month to month basis which doesn't really work when I normally book shows 3+ months out at a time. If Darkroom's future improves I would love to work with them again as word has gotten around the country about the professional staff there as well as the sound and ambiance of the venue. The memories that Darkroom has provided not only to my wife Jean and I such as our wedding, baby shower, several bday shows, holiday events, simply pale in comparison to the relationships that were forged there over the years, shows, and the many bottles of Jameson's. But speaking of professionals I am pleased to have started up a new relationship with Dave Hornyak and Live Wire Lounge. I've worked with Dave in the past for a few shows at Underground Lounge and was excited at the idea of working with him again especially in this new venue. Live Wire has been kind enough to let me book my April, June and July shows there and we hope to do more in the future. While it may appear as if it won't hold the as many as the 235 people that Darkroom holds some changes and concessions are being made to improve the spacing in the venue to accommodate the 150-200+ crowds that we are anticipating to see for both this event and the upcoming July iVardensphere show there

Rusty: That's great that you still have a place to get all the bands seen. We're getting a bit wordy today and I want to give our readers what they come for... the lightning round... you know the drill. 5 questions, 5 answers. This time we're going to do it a little different. I'm going to name off five bands that are playing the show and you rattle off what comes to mind first.

1) Ego Likeness

2) The Gothsicles

3) Rein[Forced]

4) ummm... Am.Psych

5) Sensuous Enemy

BONUS!!!! Fuck it, lets get them all out there.

i ) Cryogen Second, Short to Ground, Patricia Wake (and if you feel like it AimOnia... they've been picking on me online lately... something about goats and being called something with a trombone...)

David: Yes I realized that we were a tad wordy so I apologize if I bored anyone to death, guess we'll go to the other extreme and use the minimal amount of words now
(1) Ego Likeness---Ultra Talented and worthy headliners
(2)The Gothsicles--Soon-to-be scene Superstars (if they aren't already there, Jesus who would have ever thought that!!)
(3)Rein[forced]---My Hero, My Friend, My Brother (nuff said)
(4)Am.Psych--Proud (watching them grow up over the years as a band)
(5)Sensuous Enemy-- Underrated (more people show know about them, Jai is an amazing Frontwoman)
(6)Cryogen Second---Wildcard (never played Chicago so their set is highly anticipated)
(7) Short to Ground--Up and Comers (taken the chicago scene by storm in a very short time)
(8)Patricia Wake--Beautiful Voice (get out early to check out her set as you won't be disappointed)
(9)AimOniA---Bar is Raised (after their jaw dropping set at the WTII Minifest a lot is expected out of this band now!!)

Rusty: Dave, thanks for getting back to me on these questions and taking the time out of your crazy busy day. I think we've got a hell of a show lined up for the end of the month.

ES2: Chicago interview with Gooby and The Goddamn Batman of Ego Likeness

I probably should have let Ego Likeness know how I operate when it comes to doing interviews.  I work my interviews like a conversation. One question at a time this way people can get responses out and it actually flows. I'm not sure why, but I've been told this interview would only be done if I referred to myself as "Busty" and in the middle of the interview Steven decided he was "The Goddamn Batman" and after it was all done, Donna said something about "Gooby" so that is now going to be her pet name in this interview.. Now that we all have our alter egos ready for this interview... here we go.

"Busty": A lot of people reading this may not be too familiar with Ego Likeness, I myself don't want to butcher any back story. Donna, why don't you give us a little history lesson. (Side note, I have complied with all demands on how I am to conduct myself and address myself... let's do this thing.)

Gooby: Well, Busty, Steven and I got together, started dating, and started a goth band sometime around 1997 or 98. It was pretty straightforward goth, and we found ourselves wanting to do something that incorporated our other influences, (and so help me, if you ask me what our influences are -as every single interviewer EVER has done- I'll cut you) so we started Ego Likeness. The goth band broke up and then we got married in 1999. We released our first full length EL album in 2000 or 2001 (I can't remember) with the help of a friend at the time, then did the next two albums with Dancing Ferret. We signed with Metropolis for 'Breedless' in 2010, and will be releasing the next full length at the beginning of next year. So in the past 12 years, there have been numerous members, numerous shows and tours, a couple of nervous breakdowns, and many, many miles put on our van.

"Busty": I will have to admit, I didn't know a whole lot about Ego Likeness untill the WTII Minifest last year. That was my first opportunity to hear you and see the live show. I was blown away. I love the stage presence and your voice with the music matches up perfectly. I know a lot of this scene seems to have a lot of acts that don't have women as the vocalist or the main focal point of the band. Have you found this a challenge at all to get people to notice Ego Likeness? (Don't worry, Steven... I have questions for you too...)

Gooby and The Goddamn Batman: Goat hunting
"Gooby": Thanks. We've been at this a long time, and I do often think about why we haven't made more of an impact, considering we sell well, get good reviews, people enjoy the shows, we get to open for some of the biggest acts around, etc... You may well have hit the nail on the head. It seems that in this scene female fronted bands don't get taken as seriously, though I can't put my finger on why. I think sometimes there is this attitude of "Oh, that's one of those bands where the guy does all the work and the girl -usually his girlfriend- is just there as eye candy." It is still a bit of a boys club out there. More than once before a performance, people have assumed that I was either the merch girl, or at best, the keyboard player. To be fair, though, with some pretty major and awesome exceptions, (Ayria, I:Scintilla, Sensuous Enemy, Hansel und Gretyl, to name a few who are ) some of the female singers for darkwave/ industrial bands I've seen could stand to step up their game a little. Confidence and a strong stage presence go a long way.

"Busty": Well, from the show I saw last year, you have the confidence. So do the other bands you mentioned as well.

Merch is an interesting transitional topic for me with your band. Ego Likeness had one of the most awesome merch tables I have ever seen. Why? Most of it wasn't "band" merch. There was art. Some crazy creepy stuff blended in with skulls and bones and they were turned in to necklaces and pendants, things of that nature. How did that all start? Is this something that was done by necessity to "change it up" a little bit and stand out?

"Gooby" : Well, you see, Busty...we are starving artists. We have no real skills beyond making things, so we've had to survive on what we know. Steven -who, incidentally, requested we refer to him from here on out as "The Goddamn Batman"- is an artist, and we are both writers, in addition to being musicians, and really- it's all tied together for us. When we started touring, we realized pretty quickly that CD and Tshirt sales alone weren't going to cut it - gas, food, van repairs, supplies, places to sleep - it adds up fast. Sometimes, some of those things are covered, but you're not going to get a swank room at the Super 8 every night, you know. Having all of the art and books and jewelry makes a huge difference in our income. And, as you said, I think it does help us stand out a bit. Nothing sadder than a nearly empty merch table.
"Busty": (Jesus, "The Goddamn Batman" needs to stop making so many demands. Anyway...) I tend to keep my interviews short (minus that Caustic one cause Matt and I talk like little girls when you get us together). I want your music and your live performance to speak for itself. If you've never read any of my other interviews, I have a staple in them. I watched a lot of game shows as a kid. So... it's time for...

The Lightning round! Five quick questions or statements, and five quick or wordy answers to them. It's going to be a little different this time because of who I'm interviewing and the fact that "The Goddamn Batman" should probably respond to at least one of these questions. So, questions 4 and 5 are specifically meant for him.

1) Band you can't miss at the ES2 show in Chicago:

2) Best book you've read in the last six months:

3) Your favorite meme:

4) Electronic Saviors and Jim Semonik:

5) Goat:

"Gooby" : 

1) Gothsicles

2)  "Gooby": JG Ballard "Myths of the Near Future"
TGDBM: Peter Watts "Blindsight

3)  "Gooby" : Dolan Duck (it's sooo dumb, but all I have to do is think "Gooby plz" and I crack up)
TGDBM: Insanity Wolf

4) He's one of our heroes, though he's still not going to make 'Yak' happen.

5) They have horizontal pupils and FUCK YEAH GOATS.

Also, thanks! You're a good sport, Busty! xx
"Busty": No, Thank you. I have fun doing this. I'll see you at the end of the month for the show.

"Gooby": We're so excited! ; )