RAY ROCKET
WITHIN PUNK ZINE INTERVIEW WITH
RAY ROCKET BY EMAIL
FEBRUARY 08,2016 COURTESY OF
MELANIE KAYE PR J.B: Hey so we are hanging here talking with Ray Bottlerocket and we are talking about his new upcoming solo project is that what I’m hearing? RAY: Yeah! J.B: So tell us about Ray Bottlerocket? RAY: I decided to go by Ray Rocket, sorta flows off the tongue better. I’ve always enjoyed playing acoustic guitar so I decided to record a record. So stoked on the way it turned out. J.B: You have done some acoustic previously on your own before that was some covers previously from Bottlerocket songs so it kind of grew from there? RAY: Yes, exactly. I’ve always jumped at the chance to play acoustically in the past and I wanted to play as often as I can. In the past it was just here and there, but with the Ray Rocket release I’m actually going to tour and do as many shows as possible. J.B: Well you did have that YouTube video from “Songs from a couch” for “Go Away” and also the acoustic version of “Todayo” on “Punks in Vegas Stripped down Session”? RAY: “Todayo” is going to be on the album “Go Away” is not! But a cover of “Pet Sematary” will be on the album. There are some new songs including “Please Feel Free” that my roommate in college wrote. But mostly the record is made up of TBR tunes. J.B: So what’s the working title Ray? Any ideas? RAY: The album is called “Do You Wanna Go To Tijauana”. I did a video for that song as well. J.B: Acoustic punk is really coming around full on lately in the past years, I mean it has always been there because punk has its roots in
folk and country but it seems to show up more. So is there anything that kind of influenced you acoustic wise? RAY: I think maybe my biggest influence was sitting around with my roommates back in college and just jamming. I’ve always felt that a lot of TBR songs translate over well acoustically. That’s not to say that the record is just me and an acoustic guitar. We threw a lot of different instruments on the album. J.B: A lot of people say it’s scary doing acoustic like K.J Jansen said there’s no band to rely on, do you feel that’s an accurate example since you have to rely more on your voice instead of a band and you have to shine through more? RAY: It’s definitely a lot different than playing with a band. If I was to screw up a line in a TBR performance I could most likely get away with it. It’s not that easy when it’s just you and a guitar. I feel like it puts me under the microscope more and I like that. J.B: So you mentioned the Blasting Room so are you recording with Bill? RAY: No with Andrew! Bill wasn’t around during the session. I think he was out rocking with the Descendents somewhere. I love that dude. J.B: Will it be on that fancy new Atapi analog that they have? RAY: We tracked everything in the B-Room in about 4 days. We mixed in the B-room as well, for 3 days. The B-room at the blasting room is really nice. The A-room has the big board and is alot bigger. The B-room is sorta set to the back and is smaller and more tucked away. It was perfect to track out the record back there. J.B: Lyrical content you have anything else that you might want to touch base on other than the regular stuff? RAY: I was not interested in tracking out the tunes exactly the way they are on the TBR records. Those songs are already out there so I really wanted the songs to be different from the record. I recorded a Kody song too, “Without You”. I had my friend Angi Phlangee from The Spastic Hearts sing along with me on the Chorus of the song. Kody sang backups on the entire record. That song stands out and is most likely going to be the 2nd track we premier off the album. J.B: So what label? Maybe Joey Capes One Week Records?
RAY: Rise Records is putting it out. They picked up the album after I recorded. They have been great so far. I love those dudes. J.B: Tours? RAY: Yes! I’m going on tour with The Copyrights and The Lippies in May. There are a bunch of Canadian dates that a band called The Penske File are playing as well. I can’t wait!! It’s going to shred! J.B: Pouzzafest? RAY: Yes sir! Playing Pouzza in May. Super stoked!! J.B: We always end with a famous book or a famous quote that inspired your life anything come to mind? RAY: “That was wicked man”
Spring Tour (with The Copyrights 5/12-5/29) 4/1 - Laramie, WY @ The Roughed Up Duck 4/29 - Fort Collins, CO @ Surfside 7 (with Sundowner) 4/30 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater (with Sundowner) 5/12 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club (with The Copyrights, The Lippies) 5/13 - Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge (with The Copyrights, The Lippies) 5/14 - St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill (with The Copyrights, The Lippies) 5/15 - Indianapolis, IN @ Melody Inn (with The Copyrights, The Lippies) 5/17 - Detroit, MI @ Majestic Cafe (with The Copyrights, Penske File, The Lippies) 5/18 - London, ON @ Call The Office (with The Copyrights, Penske File, The Lippies) 5/19 - Toronto, ON @ Bovine Sex Club (with The Copyrights, Penske File, The Lippies) 5/20 - Hamilton, ON @ Club Absinthe (with The Copyrights, Penske File, The Lippies) 5/21 - Montreal, QC @ Pouzza Fest (with The Copyrights, Penske File, The Lippies) 5/22 - Barrie, ON @ Roxy Side Room (with The Copyrights, Penske File, The Lippies) 5/24 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Smiling Moose (with The Copyrights, The Lippies) 5/25 - Cincinatti, OH @ Northside Yacht Club (with The Copyrights, The Lippies) 5/26 - Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s (with The Copyrights, The Lippies) 5/27 - Ft. Wayne, IN @ Brass Rail (with The Copyrights, The Lippies) 5/28 - Howell, MI @ Bled Fest (with The Copyrights, The Lippies) 5/29 - Lombard, IL @ Brauerhouse (with The Copyrights, The Lippies)