John: I was going to ask about new guitarist Aaron Lewis (no relation to the dude in Staind), but then I saw on your website that the other guitarist, Bernie Romanowski, left the band and has been replaced by Chris Fischkelta. So with that in mind, how�d you recruit Aaron, what led to Bernie�s departure, and how�d you find Chris?
Randy: Well, the Aaron thing is much easier to explain. When we started the writing process for Pigs Never Fly, we (me and Vic) had not asked our old guitarist, Ben Cowles, to come back in the picture, and Bernie (the other guitarist) was undecided if he wanted to continue the band or not. That left me and Vic to start the search for guitar players. Aaron had been a fan of the band for sometime and heard we were looking for someone; he came down and jammed with us a few times and it worked out great. Around the same time, Bernie decided he would come back and the wheels were in motion for the next album and beyond, so we thought!
After the completion of Pigs, we played our ten-year anniversary show, and not long after Bernie decided that ten years was long enough and left the band in early June 2004.
When Bernie left, we jammed a few times as a three piece and decided we wanted to get another guitarist to fill out the sound. At the time we tried out Aaron, I got together and jammed with Chris. I really liked his playing and wanted to ask him to come practice with Cable but that was around the same time Bernie decided to re-join the picture so that�s what happened. I guess we are lucky that Chris was still around and wanted to do it. So far the new line-up is great and a breath of fresh air for me. Cable is not dead yet, but we sure try hard!
John: Pigs Never Fly is Cable�s sixth release, and the first for Translation Loss Records. How would you describe the new album, and how did you guys wind up with the new label?
Randy: I think the new album is good. I think it�s some of the most interesting stuff we`ve done in years. We really tried to mix it up on this album. I mean its still Cable! It�s heavy, noisy and all, but there is some more experimental stuff and even a few moments of melody that will surprise some people, I�m sure. Hopefully people will like the new album, but if they don`t, I really don`t give a fuck. We will always continue to make the music we want and if people like it great, if not that�s fine to.
The Translation Loss deal was mostly Vic so you will need to ask him!
Vic: Well, we played a gig with Slacks! and Ed (Ballinger, Slacks! bassist) knew we were looking for a label so he suggested his friend`s label, Translation Loss. I got a call from them the week after the show, and they had interest in us sending some demos, which we did, and here we are. I`m looking forward to working with these guys - they are top-notch. But they can�t fucking party for shit...ha ha ha.
John: How is the songwriting broken down? Is it a 100% collaborative effort, or do certain members bring in the majority of a song and then the band as a whole fleshes it out?
Randy: The song writing thing has pretty much always been left up to me. I usually put the riffs together and write the lyrics then bring the thing to practice and we all make it a real song. It doesn`t always turn out the way I envisioned, but more times than not, it is better than I thought. I don`t do 100% of the writing - Aaron and Bernie both have songs on Pigs. Me and Peter Farris pretty much sat down wrote 90% of the lyrics on Pigs on a Saturday afternoon that was filled with lack of sleep and alcohol dreams!
John: How did the recording process go?
Randy: This recording was totally unique for Cable - this was our first attempt at recording a album ourselves. Aaron had all the equipment and we had no label or money at the time, so we figured we would give it a shot on our own. So in late March of 2004, we set up the mics and manned the board and Pigs was born over the course of the next few days. We pretty much tracked the whole thing in one rotten night then did overdubs the next day. Pete flew up from Georgia and we laid down vocals, then took sometime to listen to everything, and began mixing in April. The mastering was done at M-Works in Boston, Massachusetts, and that was the whole process. We are pretty happy with the result of the final product, but as usual, I think everything we�ve done could be better!
Vic: This is my favorite album to date. I think it best represents us, a little bit of everything. I`ve said it before and I`ll say it again, I refuse to be part of putting out the same album over and over. This is a textbook example of Cable pushing the envelope once again.
John: What sort of touring plans do you have lined up?
Randy: That�s hard to say right now - we want to play shows to support Pigs and we will. We are very exited about playing SHoD VI - I think that will be amazing for Cable. As far as a full on tour, I don`t know. If something good comes along I�m sure we will think long and hard about it. We�ll see how Pigs does and take it from there.
Vic: We`re at the point in life where we can�t just pack up and split like we did when we were younger, but make no mistake, if the time is right we will take the sideshow back on the road.
John: In the last interview you did for StonerRock.com, you were pretty down on the Hartford scene. Has that changed, or is it still tough getting gigs in that area?
Randy: In my opinion Connecticut as a whole still sucks pretty bad. Not many cool bands come through here and the clubs are not very cool at all. Vic is trying to get the Webster Underground to do some cooler shows, but besides a few shows here and there Connecticut sucks!
Vic: It�s very disheartening; people just don`t want to show up for good music. If I threw a few mosh bands in the mix, we`d sell out every show.
Oh well. At least we`re trying, I guess.
John: How was the reaction to Never Trust a Gemini?
Randy: All the reviews have been killer and people are saying good things about it. As far as sales go I could not tell you. I think a lot of things could have been done differently with that album that would have got it more press and exposure. I�m not pointing fingers - it was part our fault too.
Vic: I like that album, it seems like no one really "got it" though. There was a kink somewhere.
John: Vic, what happened to Attila Booking?
Vic: I just lost a ton of money, man. I loved all the bands, but it just cost way too much keeping it together. Shit, I think the website alone cost more to operate than I got in return for my work. No regrets though. I helped out a dozen+ bands that summer, some who turned out to be some of the best bands I`ve ever heard (Dirty Power, Smoke, Ribeye Brothers, Totimoshi). Another huge factor was that I was doing it 100% alone. I was working my day job for 8 - 10 hours a day then going home and getting online and on the phone and working half the night. It really burned me out.
John: Any new bands that have caught your attention?
Randy: New bands - good question. A few I`ve heard that are good are GreatDayForUp, Mare, Outlaw Order (ex-EyeHateGod). I also can`t wait to hear Family Man (ex-Kiss It Goodbye, Deadguy) and A Thousand Knives Of Fire (ex-Halfway to Gone). Also Jesu (Justin Broderick from Godflesh).
Vic: I`m totally in love with Greatdayforup right now and Lord Sterling - they are really great up and coming bands.
Randy: I would like to thank all the people at StonerRock.com for their support and all the Cable fans for their support as well. Overdosed and underpaid in 2004! Thanks, Randy.
Vic: Thanks for all the support, please buy our new album and me some beers at SHoD! Take her easy, Vic. |
