Photo by Katie McGuire
Narco States are a five-piece band from Minneapolis, MN that
just recently released their debut LP in late 2014 called Wicked Sun on Piñata Records.
The record emits a unique brand of psychedelic infused aggressive rock n’
roll that sounds like it could have been played in a scene from the film Apocalypse Now. Narco States intensely
weave melody, darkness, and agitation into a thick blanket that’s gently laid
over your head as you sit back and start to spin around the room to their
music. While so many bands these days are going around giving the term “psychedelic”
a bad name, Narco States are here to repo it, rub some dirt on it, and throw it
back to the masses the way it’s supposed to sound.
Interview
by J Castro
Let’s start off with
some introductions, who’s currently in Narco States and what does everyone do
in the band:
Michael
MacBlane-Meyer - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Ritual Sacrifices
Aaron Robertson -
Lead Organ, Farfisa/Wurlitzer, Beard, Incense
Nate McGuire: Lead
Guitar, Hendrix Riffs
Erik Johnson: Lead
Druummz, Pomade and Black Rimmed Glasses
Nick Sampson: Lead
BASS, Drugz
How did you all meet
and decide to play music together?
MICHAEL: I posted one
simple Craigslist ad that said "Looking for someone to play my Vox
Organ" and at the same time decided to browse the ads and I came across a
post from Nate that mentioned The Growlers and 13th Floor Elevators. Then the
emails began to fly and samples were traded and it turned out we all kind of
knew each other from other places and times so we got together and the rest, as
they say...is mystery.
Your music has been
compared to the likes of The Rolling Stones, the Stooges, Black Sabbath, and
the Cramps. All of these bands had iconic and influential front men. Tell me a
bit about your personal favorite front man/woman; when did you first see them
perform and what you felt the first time you saw him/her?
MICHAEL: Phil May
from The Pretty Things, Andy Ellison from John's Children, and Stiv Bators from
Dead Boys have all had big effect on me but the most influential lead man was
Stewart Lupton formerly of the band Jonathan Fire Eater. I had been going to
shows for a long time and had numerous influences but he was the single
greatest frontman I ever saw live. I had never seen anyone writhe around,
straddling the microphone stand while looking so dapper and dodgy at the same
time. It was like Patty Smith and Lord Byron had a child together and he was up
there on stage.
With the way most of
today’s contemporary culture is rooted in convenience and instant
gratification, do you see rock n’ roll bands ever being as much of an influence
to popular youth culture as they once were?
MICHAEL: I think
you'd have to ask the youth that question. As I get older I can feel myself
getting jaded and thinking no music or bands are as good or influential as the
ones I have adopted as my favorites or experienced when I was younger. My gut
reaction is to say that it doesn't seem likely, but that's the same expanding
gut that wants those damn kids to "stay off my lawn," so I sure hope
the answer is yes. The youth look like a bunch of virtual obsessed zombies to
me. I hope there is a real and true underground scene boiling somewhere under
all of this technology that will shake the foundations of passive rock fans and
technophile hermits.
AARON: I agree with
Mike. But it is hard to argue that rock has anything even close to the
influence that it had in the ‘60’s/’70’s. It just seems to be more of a
commodity now for most people, just another product. And these days most people
don't even OWN music, they just "rent" it on Spotify. Maybe someday
there will be a point where it's more important to contemporary culture, but
I'm not counting on it. There's just too many other distractions today with
technology.
Photo by Katie McGuire
With much of your
obvious musical influences being bands that were in their prime decades ago,
are there any current bands that inspire you?
MICHAEL: Although some may have broken up
already, I am currently really digging on Summer People (especially Burn the Germs), Bits of Shit, Los
Tones, and Japanese Motors.
AARON: Mount Carmel,
Radio Moscow, Pentagram, The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Kadaver, Orchid,
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Daikaiju (who I just discovered when we opened
for them, amazing performance).
I was reading an
interview with Keith Richards where he said that anyone buying digital music is
getting short changed. Do you agree with this?
AARON: Absolutely. My
belief is that digital music is good for the car or whatever, but for serious
listening I think it's hard to beat vinyl. The sound, the look, the artwork,
the ritual of playing records, the mechanical process, even the crackles and
pops, it's all part of the experience. That's just me though, and I tend to be
pretty obsessive about vinyl.
With that being said,
what do you think of the whole vinyl revival: fleeting trend or a legitimate
resurgence? There has also been some comments about record processing plants
turning away small labels that have kept them in business for years with small
runs, in favor of pressing major label’s releases with much larger runs, any
thoughts on that?
AARON: Revival? I've
been buying and listening to vinyl since I was a kid in the ‘80’s. To me it's
something that's always been there; it hasn't ever left. I go to the same
record stores that have been open since the ‘70’s in some cases, and most of my
friends have done the same over the years. The only difference now is that it's
easier to get new releases on vinyl and there are a lot of labels re-releasing
older stuff (which is really cool for getting records that were previously
really rare). It's cool that people are discovering how awesome the format is,
but from my perspective, not much has changed. So as to whether or not it's
fleeting or not, I don't know... I lean towards it being a legitimate
resurgence because of how cool records are, and people tend to get very
passionate about it (like myself). The downside to the hype is like you
mention, plants turning away some customers. Even worse, the wait times to get
vinyl pressed compared to the "old days". It's not uncommon to wait 6
months to get a record pressed, when it used to be a month or so. I guess the
plants go where the money is, but there are definitely some smaller plants
(Palomino records comes to mind) that are geared toward smaller pressings and
labels, and in my opinion offer way better quality and service than some of the
bigger, more popular plants that don't give a damn how many flaws are in your
final product and take months to deliver.
What are the elements
that you’ve felt all have fused together when your band has had a really good
show? Can you tell me about the last show Narco States did that you felt went
really well?
AARON: I feel like
our last couple of shows has gone really well, because we have a stable line-up
once again that has jelled over time. For me, it's simple, a good show happens
when you transcend reality and let the music play itself. In my case, I almost go into a trance
and just let it happen. When all of us are comfortable and don't have to
concentrate on what we're playing, those are the BEST shows. Kawabata Makoto
from Acid Mothers Temple said in an interview that I read years ago something
along the lines of the musician not really doing anything more than tuning into
the notes/music from the universe and letting that through via your instrument.
I think there's some truth in that.
MICHAEL:
We just need the right mix of medication and illegal drugs. It's all about
balance.
What sorts of things
influence your lyrics? Are there any subjects you purposely stay away from?
MICHAEL: Mental
illness, Esoterica, Cultism and Existentialism compose the bulk of it. However
there is some sex, relationship and self-deprecation salted in as well. I stay
away from Politics, Cars, Stature, and Materialism.
Where are the best
places to go or the best sites for people to find out more about the band,
listen to your music and buy your records?
AARON: narcostates.com goes to our Bandcamp page with all of our music (most of it
available to stream for free), and there are links to shows and our Facebook
page there.
Check it out!
What does Narco States
have in store for the rest of 2015?
MICHAEL: Well…Since
Satan refused to let us sign a contract…we are shooting a music video, playing
some killer shows and recording a new album this winter and doing some touring
as well.
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