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By: Andy Little
Black Moth return to live action during the Easter Bank holiday for the Doom Over London Festival. Hearing the band have been hard at work recording for their third album, we at Echoes thought it would be a good time to catch up to chat about forthcoming plans and general happenings in the Moth camp. Bassist Dave Vachon took time out to give Andy Little the lowdown.
(((o))): There was quite a bit of gigging activity (supporting The Sisters of Mercy, Pentagram etc) the latter half of last year at approximately the same time you required a new guitarist. It must have been a good exercise in bedding in the new line-up?
Dave: We basically did a few rehearsals and threw her right in to the deep end with a tour opening for The Sisters of Mercy but Fed [Federica Gialanze] was such a pro. She just turned up and smashed out the songs during first rehearsal, we then did the standard thing and all went out and got drunk. She’s fitted in to the band seamlessly though.
(((o))): You have recently Twittered a short clip titled ‘Saltaire sessions’. Is this a new E.P. or album in progress? If so can you tell more about the recording process and what we might expect?
Dave: Well at the moment we are writing our 3rd album. The ’Saltaire sessions’ are our rough demos before going into the studio hopefully later this year. That’s all I can tell you for now!
(((o))): Can you give any details on producer, album cover etc?
Dave: So far nothing is set in stone and we are just concentrating on writing an awesome album.
(((o))): Lyrically, you cover a broad range of topics. Can you reveal any details or song titles?
Dave: At the moment we use working titles for songs, which are often a little stupid like “spatula genocide” or “kung fu master beta”. The final titles often come together during the lyric writing process or in the studio. We’re not at that stage yet though.
(((o))): You have recently announced a couple of festivals you shall be playing. First up is the Doom Over London festival in, surprisingly, London, on the Easter Bank holiday. Am I right in thinking this is your first gig of the year. What can we expect?
Dave: Will any new tracks be given an airing?
Doesn’t time fly when you are writing?! Yeah it’s our first show this year so we might riff out one of the new songs during our line check, but at the moment we are wanting to make sure the songs are perfect before people hear them.
One other set back we have had is Harriet has not being able to write for the past couple of weeks due to burning her hands in a domestic fire. We’re saving that story for the promo campaign for our next album though so you’ll have to wait (she is ok though).
(((o))): Are there any plans for playing more festivals or to support more legends this year? Or any other general plans e.g. record releases, or videos to accompany singles etc, for the year?
Dave: Basically if we get offered an amazing tour support we would take it, but our first priority is to finish the 3rd album and get back in the studio.
Our aim is to have more videos for the songs this time and it would be good to release more singles on vinyl especially since the vinyl industry has been getting stronger and stronger each year.
(((o))): You have a couple of releases coming out on Record Store Day. Can you tell us more?
Dave: Ahh yes the amazing people at Too Pure Records have put out a lovely compilation with loads of bands including ourselves. The track on there is ‘Savage Dancer’, which we did as a single many years ago with our old guitarist El Nico. The the vinyl is YELLOW!
(((o))): The band give the impression to be having fun on stage. As we seem to be living in turbulent times is the main aim to give it your all and just enjoy the occasion?
Dave: We just love to have fun and hang out together, but it’s tough watching things unfold in the news with what’s going on all around us, close to home and afar. But, we do just love playing music, it’s our life.
(((o))): Has being nominated for best new band at last year’s Classic Rock Awards changed anything for the band? More profile? More pressure?
Dave: It was an honour to be nominated and the extra exposure has no doubt helped raised our profile. We’ll start feeling the pressure when things start kicking off for album 3. Harriet popped along to the awards and said she met some amazing and lovely people too.
(((o))): What is each member of the band’s album of the year last year?
Dom: Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard – Noeth Ac Anoeth.
Dave: Turbowolf, Fuzz – II.
(((o))): I’m always discovering new gems new and old for example, I am currently digging the 70’s bluesy rockers The Groundhogs. I am also looking forward to seeing Slabdragger and Alunah at the Doom Over London Festival on the Saturday for the first time. So have you discovered any new musical gems recently, either new or old bands?
Dave: Ahh The Goundhogs! My father introduced me to them when I was a child and I love them too. There’s a new band that our label New Heavy Sounds signed called Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard who are pretty cool and very heavy.
(((o))): Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton?
Dave: Trump on a spike.
Clinton in a pit.
(((o))): House of Cards or The Walking Dead?
Dave: The Walking Dead
(((o))): AC/DC – continue or quit?
Dave: There does come a point when all bands should stop, but when doctors are telling you it’s time then maybe you should take their advise. Replacing your frontman with special guests just seems naff. It’s not AC/DC then.
Black Moth shall be appearing at Doom Over London Festival on the Sunday. For further information on weekend and day tickets, check out Doom Over London Facebook page and Dome, Tufnell Park website.
