June 10 to June 16, 2021
MUSIC
(Full disclosure: I’ve been a passionate fan of the Rival Sons since my pal Tom insisted that I get their second full-length album, “Pressure And Time” in 2011. We were lucky enough to have lengthy conversations with both the vocalist, Jay Buchanan and guitarist Scott Holiday, before and after our very first Sons show at Fingerprints Records in Long Beach. A friendship of sorts blossomed from there. Since then, I rarely miss an opportunity to proselytize about this Long Beach four-piece.) uitarist Scott Holiday, drummer Michael Miley, original bassist Robin Everhart (who amicably left the band in 2013 and was replaced by Dave Beste) and vocalist Jay Buchanan came together in 2009 and hit the ground running. They quickly made a name for themselves, touring nonstop throughout Europe and America. In between, they recorded and released six albums: Before The Fire, an eponymous EP, Pressure And Time, Head Down, Great Western Valkyrie and Hollow Bones. All but the first two were released through the British label, Earache. Their sound, a potent combo-platter of Blues, Folk, Garage, Psyche, Soul and good ol’ Rock N’ Roll, was amplified by their incendiary live shows. Pretty soon, Led Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy Page, was name-checking Rival Sons as his new favorite band and Ozzy Osbourne handpicked them as the only opening act for Black Sabbath’s final world tour. Sharing the stage with Sabbath definitely raised their profile here at home. Once their Earache contract expired, the Sons were offered a deal with the legendary Atlantic Records label. Their first Atlantic offering, Feral Roots arrived in early 2019 and America finally embraced the band with open arms. Not only did the album garner rave reviews, it also shot to #22 on the Billboard Top 100. The music industry finally began paying attention, and in early 2020, Rival Sons were nominated for two Grammy Awards. Naturally, the pandemic slowed the Sons’ momentum. But now that everything is beginning to reopen, and live music poised to return, it seemed like an opportune time to check in with Scott and see what the band has been up to. EPA/CVW: You guys have been on the road constantly since the inception of the band in 2009. How did you react to this enforced, pandemic “vacation,” and how have you spent your time away from touring? I know at some point during 2020 we talked about you
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producing an up-and-coming new band… SH: “I’ve done some producing…wrote (well, still writing final touches on) our next album as well as recorded it. We started our new record label, Sacred Tongue Recordings. I bought some new old guitars, collaborated with some folks, new new guitars, etc. But mostly, even with all of that….I really just got comfortable in being home for my family. Moved into a bigger house with my kids and girlfriend. I got a puppy, my girl brought her cat. I really needed time with my kids. Couldn’t be happier to have gotten all this time with ‘em.” EPA: Recently, you guys returned to the studio with longtime producer Dave Cobb in Nashville. How did that go? How many songs have been recorded and do you have a release date in mind? SH: “Well….you know how quickly we normally make records….but this time, we just decided to really take our time. It’s our eighth album and I think it’s important to change how you do things to yield a different result, and it feels right to give this one extra time. We have nearly everything done, nearly 11-12 tracks. One or two may not make the cut. There’s another three or four we want to get down before calling it complete. We’re very happy with what we have thus far, it feels like a proper evolution, like something we haven’t made, meaning, we’re exploring new territory, and yet, it feels every bit as much a Rival Sons record as there’s ever been. Maybe more than ever. In the end, one of the most important things to us has always been to create an honest and uninhibited snapshot of where we are musically. To not reach back, but to move forward and not repeat ourselves. To push ourselves, even if it’s a little discomforting. I think this album does all of this.” EPA: Rival Sons famously wrote and recorded entire albums in the studio in less than a month’s time. Records like “Pressure And Time” (2011), “Head Down” (2012), and “Great Western Valkyrie” (2014) had a real spontaneity and immediacy that bled through the grooves. These days, with everyone in separate cities, (Jay in Nashville, Miley pivoting between California and Estonia and you and Dave here in Southern California), along with limiting in-person contact because of Covid, how have you been able to create songs together? SH: “Actually, Dave (Beste) is the only one left in Nashville. Well, Todd (Ogren-Brooks, who tours with and records with the band on keys) is in Philly too. The songs are mostly
written by Jay and I…almost exclusively. So, he and I just pass music back and forth. We’ve had Miley involved as well, when we want to go a little further with an idea before actually recording it with Dave Cobb. So, we have a method of home recording and passing things around. We’re all working in the new UA Luna (recording software), so it’s easy moving stuff around. Even though we are taking all the extra time in writing this album, Jay and I will actually keep things pretty close until it’s time to get it down with Cobb. We’ll introduce the new songs when everyone’s together, and almost immediately start recording it off the floor. This helps retain that immediacy that you are speaking of. You’ll still hear things going down- first or second takes off the floor-all playing together. I absolutely think that’s an important element of capturing the band and song.” EPA: So, for instance, when everyone met up with Dave Cobb in Nashville, did anyone show up with riffs and melody ideas, or were they fully formed songs? Which method is preferable? SH: “It’s a mix. There’s finished songs, almost finished songs, just riffs I’m bringing in. A riff with another section. Plus, we’re still creating stuff on the fly, off the cuff. My preference generally, is bringing in songs fully formed. Songs that Jay and I have created from inspiration and feel good about. But we have gotten some of our best stuff via the other scenarios…so I have to stay fluid in the process.” EPA: Rival Sons have been resurrecting, what some characterize as “the decaying corpse of Rock N’ Roll.” Do you take that as a compliment, or does it feel like a burden? SH: “It’s absolute compliment. I certainly do not wear it like a burden. I actually don’t wear it at all. Anyone who walks around thinking “I’m responsible for this or that…. thank goodness we’re here to resurrect the dying corpse called Rock N’ Roll…” I mean…. it’s ridiculous. There’s plenty of great Rock N’ Roll bands. We’re just making our contribution and trying to put something forth with our individual and collective flavors. Something honest and real, like our own favorite artists have done.” EPA: Giants like Jimmy Page and Ozzy Osbourne have sung your praises. Also, everyone from AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Guns N’ Roses, Lenny Kravitz and The Rolling Stones have tapped you guys as an opener for select shows and world tours. Do you ever “fan-boy” out, or do you tend to reel it all in?
SH: “We most definitely reel it all in. I’m a fan of these artists, and definitely was a crazy fan as a kid. These artists’ posters were plastered all over my walls…and in my life daily. But when you get older, make albums, tour albums…lather, rinse, repeat. There’s slightly less “hero worship.” I won’t lie though…it’s incredibly exciting to meet and hang out with Jimmy Page, the Stones, Sabbath, etc. It’s incredible! I’m not so desensitized or reeled in that I don’t feel honored or absolutely excited to meet these legends! But somehow, in a crazy way, I’ve met these folks, and when you’re in front of them hanging backstage… and they like your band and want to hang out and want to talk about it…and tell their stories and hear mine…I dunno, in the flesh, they just become a little more real and normal. Which of course, they ARE just normal people… they’ve just lived these extraordinary lives and made great accomplishments with their art.” EPA: Not unlike Led Zeppelin, you guys draw from a huge well of disparate influences. Jay’s background hews closely to Blues and Folk, Miley made his bones in Jazz combos. I know from our record trades throughout the years that you are inspired by everything from ‘60s Psych and Garage, Country, Jazz and HipHop. What have you been digging into lately, and has it influenced (even peripherally) any new songs? SH: “I’ve been all over the place. Been back on a Toots & The Maytals kick recently… then my son turned me on to Ebo Taylor (a Ghanaian Afrobeat/Highlife artist), really good. Before that I was on a Motown thing as I almost picked up a guitar owned and used exclusively by Eddie “Chank” Willis (one of the guitarists in the Funk Brothers). I didn’t get the guitar, but I listened to a lot of Motown. Earlier in the pandemic I was working with an artist named GVLLOW, and there’s some strong ‘80s Synth-Pop influence in what we did. That launched me down that rabbit hole… into artists like Killing Joke and Soft Cell. Lots of Jazz…got some out of this world (John) Coltrane records and (Thelonious) Monk, Bola Sete, Charlie Christian, etc. And you know I’ve always been into Garage Rock stuff. Been hitting stuff by The Liter, Spirit, July, Quicksilver Messenger Service…and the Youngbloods. I can’t say anything has influenced my songs too directly…knowingly. But everything seeps in there eventually.” EPA: You guys are known for your fashionsense. You are all rather sartorially splendid. That’s especially true of your bespoke suits and Jay’s whimsical shaman aesthetic. Your styles have definitely evolved over the years. I remember the first time I saw you at Fingerprints, Jay had his hair in pigtails and his feet encased in spats. Do you consult stylists, or are you just expressing yourselves as individuals? SH: “Well, thank you for that rather kind opinion, ‘sartorially splendid,’ …nice. We definitely do not consult anyone. We just search out what we like. We often don’t even speak to each other about it…and that can lead to visual train-wrecks on stage! But generally, things work out. You’re definitely just seeing us express ourselves as individuals. I dunno… maybe the other guys have their own stylists/ consultants, I don’t. Lol.” EPA: Jay recently added his stentorian
