Kansas Bible Company
Junior's Cave Music Interview
with Kansas Bible Company
Late Winter (February 2012) Edition
Music Now Spotlight
by Isaac Davis Junior, BGS, MBA
Kansas Bible Company
Photo Credit: Richard Call
Junior’s Cave Golden Isles Online Magazine brings our readers the magnificent and dynamic music of Kansas Bible Company. The band is compiled of talented musicians from various musical backgrounds. If you enjoy listening to big bold sounds/tunes, catchy hooks, strong vocals, and all around good music, then Kansas Bible Company is your band. Here is the band’s story in this special spotlight.
Band line up is:
Carl Violet: vocals, guitar
J.J. Sleepyeyes: guitar
Boo Ruth Tooth: guitar
Bones Morrow: bass
Zac Slater: percussion
Klinkity Klank: drums
Soc Ramsey: trumpet
Jimmy Nimbus: vocals, trumpet
Randolph Snake: tenor saxophone
Yagu Bear: alto saxophone
Christian Slickrock: trombone
Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?
Bones Morrow (bass): I personally love traveling around and experiencing different crowds and different venues. Each venue has its own unique atmosphere. At this point, I'd much rather be playing small, tightly packed bars and clubs than arenas. I think the great thing about being an indie performer is that you have opportunities to be intimate with your audience. You don't usually get that with major label stars.
Carl Violet (vocals, guitar): We have the ability to do just about whatever we want. Technology and the Internet make things easy. We have total artistic control and direction. If we want to do something, we set our minds to it, develop a system, and do it.
Isaac: This is well said and clearly state why it is essential for more artists to follow this philosophy.
Isaac: Would you be up to signing to a Major or Indie Record Label? Why or why not?
Carl Violet (vocals, guitar): Yeah, if we retain total artistic control and ownership. We'd reach more people with our music and we would see more money. With more money, we would be able to pursue some of our more elaborate ideas that require more funding. Like a feature length spaghetti western. Or a record/concert recorded on the moon.
Bones: At this point, we don't have any plans to sign to any label which doesn't mean we are opposed to the possibility. If we did sign, it would be with an indie label that would help us along in our creative process rather than own us. We would consider a record label with a one album contract such as Ipecac Recordings. At the same time, we like working with friends rather than with business partners. Everyone in the band is great friends with each other and we have great relationships with everyone who has done our promo materials and merchandise. Kansas Bible Company is first and foremost about relationships.
Isaac: What do you feel is the one aspect of making music that excites you the most right now?
Kansas Bible Company
Photo Credit: Richard Call
Photo Credit: Richard Call
Bones: The sky's the limit. I think there are many new artists who understand the sempiternal potential of music. I'm influenced by bands who constantly to try push the boundaries of their own sound as well as the sounds around them. Many people think that KBC plays ska or funk music because we have a horn line but we cover a variety of genres as well as develop our own style. We wrote one song recently that switches between an alt rock—almost Pixies sounding line—to an Igor Stravinsky-style arrangement.
Isaac: What do you feel is the one aspect of making music that gets you the most discouraged?
Bones: I guess the flip-side of what I just said. We live Nashville which is great and has a lot of amazing artists and musicians but you also end up seeing a lot of Black Keys and Kings of Leon wannabes. I love playing music with people, regardless of who they are. But it's a lot more exhilarating and rewarding when you play with someone who isn't trying to sound like someone else.
Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?
Yagu (Alto Sax): I would say so. To me, respect is very dependent on how good the band and the musicians are. When we play a good show, people come up and tell us. And when you play a bad show, people don't always tell you, but it's usually pretty apparent.
Isaac: In your opinion, what are your thoughts on how the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording impact the qualities of the show/recording?
Carl Violet (vocals, guitar): We played a basement show in Bloomington, IN once and it was amazing! It was a small basement and the band barely fit. We set up so we played in a big "U," around three walls. Then we packed in about 100 people in the middle. It was hot and sweaty and electric. The energy was huge. We've also played several garage shows in our hometown, Goshen, IN, that were similar. In my mind, when the space is filled, something special happens.
Isaac: I am interested in knowing if in what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?
Boo (Guitar): I believe that the geographic location as well as the smaller community in which you are set has an astounding effect on both the creation of your own music as well as your listening interests. When we lived in a small town in Northern Indiana, we were a big fish in a small pond (or more accurately, one of the only fish at all), which didn't always challenge us to write more sophisticated music. It fostered our visions and creativity, but did not provide as much room for growth. Since relocating to Nashville and seeing live music 3 or 4 nights a week, all 11 of us are consistently motivated to stick out above the rest and write new, innovated music.
Soc (Trumpet): I think there is also something to be said about living together as a band. Living together as a band provides even more cohesion in our music and our creative process.
Isaac: What can you tell our publication about the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about the whole process?
Bones: We're currently in the process of writing new material for an upcoming album. We usually have multiple song ideas and structures floating around that we chip away at, let sit for a while, and come back to. Usually one or two people will have a song idea that they present to the band. With 11 people it gets kind of messy so sometimes we split off into smaller groups to refine certain parts. I would say that songs usually don't fully take shape until they have been played live a couple times and even after that they are continuously growing and changing.
Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.
Bones: Yes. Some people like KBC guitarists Boo Tooth Ruth and J.J. Sleepyeyes, are very much musicians and specifically guitarists; guitars are almost like extensions of their body parts. I'm primarily a song writer and it's impossible for me to not constantly be writing. Everyone in the band has a different approach to music but I would say that we all need it; it's a part of who we are.
Kansas Bible Company
Photo Credit: Jacob Landis-Eigsti
Isaac: Do you have a strong support system with your family and friends? How do you help you as your pursue your music dreams?
Zac Slater (percussion): The majority of us moved to Nashville with no family connections in the area, and all eleven of us moved into the same house (with two other friends). We spend so much time together it is essential that we all get along and keep each other happy, healthy and motivated. There is that stereotype of a starving, alone, drugged out musician barely getting by; I don't want to be there because I believe we need to meet our basic needs first. Like Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, the really cool creative stuff can't happen if you aren't in the right state of mind. We are more than just a band—we are a community that among other things happens to spend our nights and weekends playing music.
Soc: Family and friends are a very important part of the Kansas Bible Company. It was amazing to see the kind of support most of us received from our loved ones when we decided to make this move and dedicate ourselves completely to our musical endeavors.
Isaac: As you continue your own path for making music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?
Carl Violet (vocals, guitar): Absolutely, I crave it. We hit the town about 2 nights a week and go out to see shows. I am constantly following up bands I see live that interest me. I want to learn how they approach making music. It keeps me, as a songwriter, moving discovering new music inspires me.
Isaac: As far as your influences, what would you say are the musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener?
Boo: Personally, as a listener I am drawn to anything and everything that has come before me. I find myself consistently discovering new eras and waves of music that were unique to a given time period or geographic location. Usually the 60s and 70s are the primary grounds for my ears, whether that's the Beach Boys, Stax Records, King Crimson, or the Talking Heads. As a guitar player, I've found myself moving away from the guitar for inspiration. I think that all of us in the band listen to music with a slightly different ear that pays more attention to arrangement and melody/chord structure. Since our inception as an 11-man band, it has become essential to work as a machine. Sure we all have spotlighting moments, but the vast majority of our music does not involve a single feature, it involves most of us working together to create something unique, as opposed to just ripping solos and improvising.
Photo Credit: Jacob Landis-Eigsti
Isaac: Do you have a strong support system with your family and friends? How do you help you as your pursue your music dreams?
Zac Slater (percussion): The majority of us moved to Nashville with no family connections in the area, and all eleven of us moved into the same house (with two other friends). We spend so much time together it is essential that we all get along and keep each other happy, healthy and motivated. There is that stereotype of a starving, alone, drugged out musician barely getting by; I don't want to be there because I believe we need to meet our basic needs first. Like Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, the really cool creative stuff can't happen if you aren't in the right state of mind. We are more than just a band—we are a community that among other things happens to spend our nights and weekends playing music.
Soc: Family and friends are a very important part of the Kansas Bible Company. It was amazing to see the kind of support most of us received from our loved ones when we decided to make this move and dedicate ourselves completely to our musical endeavors.
Isaac: As you continue your own path for making music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?
Carl Violet (vocals, guitar): Absolutely, I crave it. We hit the town about 2 nights a week and go out to see shows. I am constantly following up bands I see live that interest me. I want to learn how they approach making music. It keeps me, as a songwriter, moving discovering new music inspires me.
Isaac: As far as your influences, what would you say are the musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener?
Boo: Personally, as a listener I am drawn to anything and everything that has come before me. I find myself consistently discovering new eras and waves of music that were unique to a given time period or geographic location. Usually the 60s and 70s are the primary grounds for my ears, whether that's the Beach Boys, Stax Records, King Crimson, or the Talking Heads. As a guitar player, I've found myself moving away from the guitar for inspiration. I think that all of us in the band listen to music with a slightly different ear that pays more attention to arrangement and melody/chord structure. Since our inception as an 11-man band, it has become essential to work as a machine. Sure we all have spotlighting moments, but the vast majority of our music does not involve a single feature, it involves most of us working together to create something unique, as opposed to just ripping solos and improvising.
Kansas Bible Company
Photo Credit: Jacob Landis-Eigsti
Bones: I have many musical interests but lately I've been drawn to artists who pay attention to "sound" as opposed to "music." Artists such as Boredoms and Mike Patton come to mind.
Soc (Trumpet): As a trumpet player, I naturally gravitate towards jazz music, especially the likes of Miles Davis and Ahmad Jamal. Ahmad Jamal's music is particularly interesting to me in the way he uses space and time. I think that letting silence speak is just as important as letting your voice or instrument speak. Every time you listen to a Miles Davis album you can learn something new. You can listen to an album like Nefertiti and turn around and listen to something like Big Fun and hear so many different things in his tone and expression. These are elements of my sound that I'm constantly trying to explore in my playing with the KBC. With our most recent material, there is definitely an orchestral influence. Listening to composers like Stravinsky, Rachmaninov, and Philip Glass has had a profound effect on our musical direction.
Yagu: The biggest influence on my sax playing is probably Charlie Parker. His tone is so bold, it just hits you like a train. Some other big influences are the Doors, Modest Mouse, and more recently Odd Future (specifically Earl and Tyler).
Carl Violet (vocals, guitar): I love the Pixies. I also like drone and punk music. I love classical music too.
J.J. Sleepy Eyes- Jazz is my first love...though it will always be something I draw from rather than really being able to play. Those old jazz singers move me more than anything...Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Holiday, Frank Sinatra. Like any young guitarist, Jimi Hendrix made me really want to explore the guitar. John Mayer has also been a big influence in understanding how to create unique chords that fit within a melody.
Isaac: What is the best site/s that you can be found on the Internet?
Bones: You can check us out at kansasbiblecompany.com or on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter.
Isaac: The floor is yours; final words…..
Kansas Bible Company: Live long and prosper!
Photo Credit: Jacob Landis-Eigsti
Bones: I have many musical interests but lately I've been drawn to artists who pay attention to "sound" as opposed to "music." Artists such as Boredoms and Mike Patton come to mind.
Soc (Trumpet): As a trumpet player, I naturally gravitate towards jazz music, especially the likes of Miles Davis and Ahmad Jamal. Ahmad Jamal's music is particularly interesting to me in the way he uses space and time. I think that letting silence speak is just as important as letting your voice or instrument speak. Every time you listen to a Miles Davis album you can learn something new. You can listen to an album like Nefertiti and turn around and listen to something like Big Fun and hear so many different things in his tone and expression. These are elements of my sound that I'm constantly trying to explore in my playing with the KBC. With our most recent material, there is definitely an orchestral influence. Listening to composers like Stravinsky, Rachmaninov, and Philip Glass has had a profound effect on our musical direction.
Yagu: The biggest influence on my sax playing is probably Charlie Parker. His tone is so bold, it just hits you like a train. Some other big influences are the Doors, Modest Mouse, and more recently Odd Future (specifically Earl and Tyler).
Carl Violet (vocals, guitar): I love the Pixies. I also like drone and punk music. I love classical music too.
J.J. Sleepy Eyes- Jazz is my first love...though it will always be something I draw from rather than really being able to play. Those old jazz singers move me more than anything...Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Holiday, Frank Sinatra. Like any young guitarist, Jimi Hendrix made me really want to explore the guitar. John Mayer has also been a big influence in understanding how to create unique chords that fit within a melody.
Isaac: What is the best site/s that you can be found on the Internet?
Bones: You can check us out at kansasbiblecompany.com or on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter.
Isaac: The floor is yours; final words…..
Kansas Bible Company: Live long and prosper!
Posted by Isaac J Davis Junior at Sunday, February 05, 2012 10:28 PM 
Categories: Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
Tags: Kansas Bible Company Carl Violet J.J. Sleepyeyes Boo Ruth Tooth Bones Morrow Zac Slater Klinkity Klank Soc Ramsey Jimmy Nimbus Randolph Snake Yagu Bear Christian Slickrock
Categories: Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
Tags: Kansas Bible Company Carl Violet J.J. Sleepyeyes Boo Ruth Tooth Bones Morrow Zac Slater Klinkity Klank Soc Ramsey Jimmy Nimbus Randolph Snake Yagu Bear Christian Slickrock
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