Interview with Uncle Bill

First off, how are things going for you guys? Life been treating ya well I hope.

Shane) Can't complain ... wait, yes I can, ha.Danny) Pretty decent, staying as busy as I can musically, trying to keep myself from getting too drunk to play.Who is in Uncle Bill and what does everyone do? S) The core of Uncle Bill consists of myself (Bass, Samples, Voices) and Danny Taylor (Guitars, Voices) but we have a sort of revolving door of good friends that contribute in a wide variety of ways from the odd percussion to chants to cracking open beer cans.

D) I'm the slacker, all I do is play the guitar, Shane takes care of everything else.How long ya been at it? S) In the grand scheme of things its been in the back of my mind for a few years but it wasn't until 2008 that we sat down and started putting all the ideas together into a (semi) cohesive package.D) Long enough to release our lp. So yeah, this shit is only gonna get better.

I have an Uncle Bill on my dad's side of the family. Where did you guys get the name from?

S) We've tried to keep this one kind of hush-hush so don't tell anyone, ha. It's actually taken from a documentary about a up and coming filmmaker thats trying to produce films on a non-existant budget. The subject of the documentary has an uncle (yep, Uncle Bill) that is this really lovable elderly guy that is inspiring in many ways and miserable at the same time which is much like what we try to convey in our music. It's sort of a shitty outlook with a silver lining peeking through, ha.

I know ya just finished the Lp and I heard it. Love it by the way. Check out the review of it at the bottom of this blog. What are the plans for it? Got anyone to press it?

S) Plans are the antithesis to what U.B. is all about, somewhat intentionally and somewhat not. We've actually had some interest from a few different labels but while they all wrote back with positive reviews the general concensus was that they were a little concerned with whether or not it was "marketable". Maybe some of the positive reviews we're starting to get will change a mind to two ... it'd be nice to get some vinyl out there but we'd put out wax cylinders at this point.

D) I just want everyone to hear it. I didn't think that many people would get it at first (which only makes it better). But so far it's had great success, people all over the world have written to share their love for the old UB! It's a great way to express more of my stoner/doom influence.Take folks through the song writing process. D) step 1. Shane does all the work step 2. Danny goes chuga chugaS) Ha, DFT's being a bit modest. Hmm, this is a tough one. To tell you the truth, I was completely at the end of my rope when the very first UB song was written. I was at the point where someone else might've driven off a steep cliff but I decided to kick out a jam instead, ha, it hurts less. It all kinda goes back to the idea that there's a silver cloud even in the worst of situations. We try to give the songs a nice flow without unnecesserily complicating things, maybe throw in a couple surprises here and there. Alot of times we'll try to think of what most bands would do and then do the complete opposite. We basically just take the song where it tells us to go.

What are some bands you guys are really into lately? Do any of them play a role in the influence on the band?

S) Personally I try to avoid listening to other "doom" oriented bands when we're writing. I'll listen to some old punk, HxC, Jazz, Hank Sr. Of course now that were done writing for a while i'm free to crank some Weedeater, Rwake, EHG, Earth, Iron Monkey, Grief and of course the new Hyperion Blast! And I don't care if we were being interviewed by fuckin' Vanity Fair I still would've mentioned HB, you guys have done an amazing job! Everything that enters our ears influences the band. Pro and con. Although we don't sound much like Sabbath at all it would be impossible not to list them as an influence.

D) Ironically enough I've been crankin some Hyperion Blast, also been listening to some Earth, OLD Fear Factory, Poison The Well of course. Not to mention I've been gettin down to some Bootsy Collins. I cant see any of those bands influencing Uncle Bill with the exception of Earth. My bad.

Up here it's all about the Buffalo Wings. Nobody anywhere else can do them right. Whats the big food there that only seems to be good there?

D) I dont know about that situation, we eat a fuckload of deer. And I likes my fuckin biscuits and gravy!

S) The only food product this area is famous for is Corn Whiskey! I ain't even gonna lie, most of the food around here (commercially) is bland as shit! To get the good stuff you gotta hit up some of these southern housewives, man o' man they can put a hurtin' on a stove! I may have to agree with Danny though, it's hard to go wrong with biscuits and gravy, ha.

You guys do Wicked Jones Vicodin too? Is that like a side project to Uncle Bill or are both bands a huge priority?

S) Danny may disagree with me here but both projects are relatively equal in my mind. They operate on different planes though. Wicked Jones Vicodin has more of a "traditional" setup in that there's one person responsible for each instrument and live shows are inevitable. U.B. on the other hand follows no particular schedule or patterns. Just let the chips fall where they may, no stresses involved. It may be a year before we put the next album out and it might be a couple months but they'll be there when you least expect it.

D) Both bands are a huge priority for me. I started WJV a couple of years ago but with all the lineup changes and shit it has taken quite some time to pull it all together. WJV will definately be a live band, a live, loud, dirty, raw, agressive, doomy live band. Personally I'd love to see an UB show in the future but I'll leave that up to Shane. I couldn't ask to be involved in any other two projects, I love this shit.Dream gig.

Pick any 5 bands from any genre and time to add onto the ultimate Uncle Bill show.

S) Ahh, good one. Off the top of my head i'd have to go with Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, G.G. Allin and "blood, guts & pussy" era Dwarves. Damn, I could keep going and i'm sure it would change by next week but that should give you an idea.

D) SLEEP, NIRVANA, ELECTRIC WIZARD, CROWBAR. JIMI HENDRIX, UNCLE BILL ... LIVE TONIGHT! SOLD OUT!!!!

How are you guys recieved in your hometown. I know personally it seems to be harder to sell a band in the town they are from for some reason.

D)We have quite a few good people here who help us out and show their support. For example there is a girl I know who works at Pizza Hut and she stuck an UB sticker on her little order booklet where she keeps the reciepts and shit. That way everyone who orders sees the sticker and asks who we are. So I can't say we haven't done okay, this just isn't the place to get famous or anything.

S) To be honest we don't promote ourselves locally AT ALL. We have some close friends that dig what we're doing and the word has kinda "eeked" out slowly from there. Just to keep things following the UB philosophy we're doing it ass backwards ... we'll hit the local market after we're famous in Haiti (much love to our "Haitian" buds in El Diablo!)

Any touring plans? The current economy really puts a halt to that for lots of bands.

S) Nah, no plans anytime soon. The economy definitely plays a big part in that. We live in the heart of Appalachia where money has been tight historically but it's worse now than ever. Our town actually has the lowest employment rate in all of Virginia. In fact that is part of the reason that we've put the album up for free download, at least for the time being. To borrow the title from the old Cheech & Chong movie ... things are tough all over.

D) Fuck the economy, even if we never go on tour I hope the shit CRASHES AND BURNS! I hope it's worse than the last depression and stops all this music downloading and shit (except for bands like us who do it out of the goodness of our black hearts). Yup I hope it all goes straight to hell and people have to start scratching and clawing to get anything they want. UB and WJV will be good soundtracks to it! And maby people will start looking for something diffrent, stray away from all this bullshit music that's out now and start looking for honesty and passion in music again. But back to the point, touring would be cool, and I'm shure as time permits one of our bands will go on tour.

What you guys paying for gass down there? Its kinda all over the place up here.

D) Its kinda all over the place up here.

S) I think it's averaging about $1.80 around here but it was down to like $1.05 a couple months back. Huge improvement from the $4.50 we were paying a year ago. Fuck gas, We're working on a car that burns politicians!

Myspace. It is a great tool and a necessary evil. When I started doing bands it was hours at the post office and costly as fuck to get shit out there in little envelopes. I like the idea of having social networks to spread a band out but it takes lots more than just sending emails. What are your thoughts on that whole thing?

S) I'm all for it. Sometimes you've gotta sort through alot of b.s. but overall it's a great way for bands and fans to keep in touch, promote shows, albums, etc. There are sooo many good bands back in the day that have lived and died on total anonimity and these sites give everyone a somewhat level playing field. If you've got something worth checkin' out people will find it.

There seems to be a huge difference in the sound of doom genre bands from the south as opposed to the north. I asked Jesse from Buzzardstein that too and he gave a slew of reasons why that make some sense. Do you think that is the case and why? I personally (and my band) being from the north draw most of our influence from southern bands.

S) I've noticed that difference myself but it's not easy to say with 100% certainty that it's one thing or the other. I've always had a theory that the oppressive summers had something to do with it ... who knows. Although, as I sit here freezing (18 degrees) with the heat cut off, I may have disproved myself already, ha.

D) Dunno, There are good bands from everywhere, I'm shure my southern influence stands out a lot. I don't think it's just the music of the area you live in that influences you, I think most of it is whats there surrounding you.

It's been said to me that all music is in some way shape or form emo (as in it is emotional). I guess I can buy that. I mean putting your heart and soul into a band a putting your thoughts out there for people. Would you rather hear a band just play and sing about whatever or would you rather hear lyrics of a more personal nature?

S) Most of what we've done to this point is trying to convey feeling through sound more so than with the lyrics but in general I prefer something of a personal nature. As they say "write what YOU know".

D) I like very personal lyrics. Not the ones about cutting my wrists over some stupid bitch, but the ones about burning shit and doing drugs and fighting and killing! Yeah, anything that's trippy and written in a metophor is good with me.

There are lots of sources on the net for doom metal bands. One I think is really cool is the Doom Metal Alliance. What are your thoughts on what they do over there?

D) They can keep up the good work!

S) Agreed. Any publicity is good publicity. I've been a huge "doom" fan since the late eighties myself and I appreciate anything these guys do, however big or small, to promote the music that I love. Props to Ed at Earthdog Promotions for his help!

Well I mean it when I say the LP is fucking great guys. I really dig it tons. Whats the future of Uncle Bill? I hope lots of more goodies like what I heard so far.

D) There will be more UB in the future, definately. I'm gonna try to add just a littlt more doom next time ;)

S) I think we've found a comfortable little groove with UB. We kinda have a process down thats working for us and we'll be able to elaborate on that a little more in the forthcoming material. Trippy, heavy, different is the goal. The only rule is there are no rules. It would be nice to find a label thats willing to work with some oddballs but the music stops for no one, we'll get it out there one way or the other.

With any band there is a natural progression. You become better musicians and songwriters as you go. Do you think alot of bands get to a point where they forget their roots and have gotten away from the basic sound and idea that the band originally had?

D) I see it every day and it's fucking sad. Every band evolves of course but there are so many bands these days who will do a total 360 between their albums and I hate that. If you're gonna sound completely diffrent go start another band. I think as bands go from album to album they should make shure each one is very unique, but once you've sculpted a sound stick with it. Don't go changing your tones and singing techniques and shit or else you're gonna lose that passion. Pretend every album is your first and keep the shit raw and dirty as fuck, that is where your honesty and passion will surface. So long as those two elements are there you will never forget your roots.

S) What he said, ha. I look forward to writing each new song, new possibilities. I also think that 95% of the bands that change direction, all at once and in the space of one album, do so to their own detriment. More often than not they seem to move towards a more commercial sound and usually lose most of their original fans in the process. Maybe i'm just rambling ... Above all keep the music REAL, the definition of real may change from band to band but PLEASE don't write a song based on how well it will sell. Chances are it won't and chances are it'll suck!

Any final thoughts? This is your space. Go nuts.

D) Quit school, smoke pot, listen to good honest fuckin music. I hate wal mart with a fuckin passion. Test your limits and stay creative as fuck through any mind expanding activity you can find. There is a time on it's way where music like this is gonna reign fuckin supreme! All the "shit" is finally dying slowly but surely. Twinkies rule and so does beer.

S) This is as close as we'll ever get to the Grammy's so i'd like to thank everyone that has been so supportive of Uncle Bill. If you dig what we're doing maybe you'll consider covering up your carcass with and fancy new UB t-shirt. It'll look damn fine on ya and it'll help me turn the heat back on, ha. Think outside the box ... Be yourself ... buy the new Hyperion Blast cd and stop shopping at fuckin' Wal-Mart! peace.

Thanks a ton guys. It was a pleasure to do this and try to help spread the word. Best of luck in the future on all you do.