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By: Chris Ball
When Chris Ball reviewed The Atomic Bitchwax’s latest album Gravitron recently (read his review here) he wrote that “checking out Gravitron was the biggest no brainer of the year thus far.” and that “this album is life affirmingly good and Gravitron is one of those records that rekindles your love affair with rock all over again.” With TAB playing London’s Desertfest this weekend, which is the start of another European tour, Chris asked bassist/singer Chris Kosnik some questions.
(((o))): So who or what is “Gravitron” in your minds? I know it’s a fairground ride, but the cover tells us something different.
Chris: Originally we wanted to call the record Levitate or Levitation but a quick Google search revealed there was 20 records called that already so then we thought “Gravitate” and so another search inadvertently had found the carnival ride “Gravitron” and the rest is history.
(((o))): There is really warm seventies feel to the production is that something you were aiming for?
Chris: It’s a real mix-up of old and new technology where the recorder is a computer and the program is ProTools but the preamps, effects and the microphones are all vintage from the 70s and 80s .The console that we mixed on is called a “Helios” and was originally designed to mix in Quadraphonic when that format was popular in the 70s. It’s owned by Joe DeMaio who runs ShoreFire Studios in Longbranch N.J.
(((o))): If so were there any particular records or artists you were inspired by this time around?
Chris: Not really, we wanted the record to sound like ourselves and didn’t want to try to copy a production of another band. It’s going to be what it’s going to be was the attitude.
(((o))): Do the songs come from jams in the studio as there is a very live and spontaneous feel to a lot of the songs?
Chris: Over the last couple years we wrote about 30 songs and then we ended up chipping away at that list until we had 10 strong tunes. We decided to record it without any click track and minimal effects so it’s a very dry recording, but it’s very live as we tracked the drums in the same room together so it definitely has that live element.
(((o))): Your last album The Local Fuzz was one long song with tons of riffs, is this new one, with some really strong individual songs and lyrics a reaction to it? Had you been saving these songs or are they relatively new?
Chris: No we weren’t trying to make a counter record to The Local Fuzz, but I would like to think that Gravitron is the culmination of all the ideas that we’ve had over the years and it’s just more refined without a lot of meandering jams, a “Get to point” kind of approach.
(((o))): When reviewing Gravitron I found to very hard to categorise your sound, which is always good, when an artists doesn’t just do one thing. Do you consider yourself part of any scene or do you hate labels like ‘stoner’? (I know Dave Wyndorf hates Monster Magnet being called a metal band!)
Chris: Well if we are stoner rock then were “super” stoner rock and I think Dave would be okay with space metal. Ha!
(((o))): ‘Roseland’ has a very nice feel, celebratory and euphoric – does it relate to the Roseland Ballroom in New York in some way?
Chris: Yes it is about the Roseland theater in New York, most of the lyrics on Gravitron are related to a comet smashing into the earth and ending the world in one way or another, sometimes it’s on its own sometimes a probe is landed on it and we’ve actually controlled and steered it into the earth other times they landed a manned probe and he steers it into the earth to kill his ex-girlfriend who just happened to be in NY at the time.
(((o))): Where did ‘Fuck Face’ come from – it’s incendiary – did you have anyone in mind when you named it?!
Chris: Ha! No. I got the idea from a show that was on HBO called the Pacific and there was a firing range scene where the target was a scarecrow with a sign around its neck that read “fuck face”. It just always stuck with me.
(((o))): You are playing Desertfest in Camden this month – when was the last time you played the UK? And any plans for more UK dates?
Chris: Bob and I played The Electric Ballroom this past January or February with Monster Magnet, but Bitchwax is just playing the one show on this tour and we’re coming back more than likely in the late fall so hopefully we’ll hit some more cities in the UK next time.
(((o))): Do you know any of the other bands playing Desertfest? Any you could recommend?
Chris: Yes. My Sleeping Karma great psych band from Germany. Awesome music, I’m pretty sure we play right before them.
(((o))): As two of you are touring members of Monster Magnet have you found it difficult to commit more time to TAB and is your schedule now clear to promote this album – which is receiving great reviews by the way?
Chris: Magnet is taking a break from touring for 2015 and so it’s all Bitchwax all the time, 24/7. Bitchwax will probably do three tours this year, two in Europe and one in US/Canada this summer.
(((o))): Okay that’s all from me – thanks for your time guys. I hope your shows go well!
European tour dates:
