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Side step with Peter , TLD - Johnny Cashs estate is in a battle right
now with - everyone knows June Carter wrote Ring of Fire with some guy
. . .the sad thing is this guy wants to license that song with
Prepiration H . . .
( nobody at the table liked that idea )
Paul, CC - Social Distortion doing Ring of Fire was one of the greatest Johnny Cash covers I've ever heard.
RW - What would you guys like to say about your album, the tour and where you're headed?
Jeff, TLD - Where we're headed. Lets see, it will be a year and half
tour all together with a few breaks at home. It started in Europe, a
U.S. tour and back to Europe and we're on a U.S. tour now for five
weeks then back to Australia, then to Europe and South Africa then back
to Europe and back home to write a new album. This album here is
called 'Whispers in Rage'. The whole idea behind this album happened
because in 2001 our drummer Ivan died on tour. We went over and were
doing a festival and a couple of other shows. The festival was in
Belgium. He died the day after we played the festival. We had to come
home and basically write an album - which was already pre-planned to do
this and after he died - we really weren't sure if we were going to
continue as a band. And, we were at the wake with his family and his
mom came up to us and said - I just want you to know that no matter
what, you guys have to promise me you will continue as a band. And,
that settled that. Tom (drummer) played with us a few years before and
he came back. We played a few live shows then sat down and wrote the
album of our lives. Half the songs, at least are about dealing with
that issue. But not dealing with it years later, we were dealing with
it in the thick of it. It was very difficult, yet theuraputic to have
to write and record an album while mourning the lost of your drummer
and best friend. The vengence that this band pursued music with is a
reflection of that event. We try our best to be absolutely cool to
every band we play with, with every promoter and every audience that we
play with. So that everybody gets a good show. Everybody gets
their turn. Everybody gets a fantastic time all around. Because, our
buddy Ivan was all about a good time. It's more than just music, you
can tell what we do. Because, for twelve years we existed as a band
hoping to make something. Hoping for that big deal - I could give a
flying fish for that big deal at this point. I do what I do for ten
people or a thousand people and it doesn't matter. The people who show
up get a good show. The bands that play with us get their beer and get
their backstage . . . .
Cassandra Metal - Your shows honestly touch people . . . I saw you two years ago
Jeff, TLD - You saw us about four months after Ivan died. The shows
before that were good. I think we've been a good band for a long time.
We're an unstoppable band in the since that we don't care how many
people show up. We don't care how much merchandise sells. . . .
you brought us to Mpls and we really digged the show.
Glen, CC - I felt like we've all been friends for a long time. All
night, because you guys played like there were a thousand people here
even though there weren't.
Peter, TLD - Being in a band from southern California - as a
sound guy I've dealt with alot of bands - worked at the Whisky -
there's so many bands, like everybody that gets into music dreams of
being a rock star. But, there's people that just don't know how to make
the distinction between pursuing the dream of being a rock star and
acting like a ass . . . the coolest rock stars, real rock stars
are cool to their fans and the people they work with. There's always
exceptions, the thing is those people are ass. . .be they rock stars or
not. You will always meet people like that. You'll meet alot of bands
that think that part of pursuing the dream, part of the image of being
a rock star is to look down on everybody and kind of treat everybody
like a peeon. We never believed that and never respected people like
that and there's no reason to be that way. For me its a big Karma thing
to, I really believe the - you reap what you sow - kind of thing. How
you treat others is going to reflect - cause its a ladder, you're going
up and down a ladder, who you piss on as you're going up will piss on
you as you're going down - ya know.
Jeff, TLD - When you're on stage, what you're selling is a good time.
What happens when a kid buys your record and a kid being anybody - they
take it home - listen to the songs you've written - read the words that
you've written and they're personally touched by it. The most you can
hope for in a show is to connect with somebody. But, it's always
connecting in the sense of a good time. When you personally touch
somebody with the music you're writing - that's awesome. Alot of people
think that rock stars don't have a responsibility to their fans. I
think they have every responsibility to their fans - because its the
fans that make you. It's the people that come to your shows and buy
your records and whatever that make you a band. That personal
connection in public and private are two different things - I've also
seen them as very similer too. I don't sing much about 'sex,drugs and
rock and roll' because I can't. I write songs when I'm alone. I write
songs when I'm not in the realm of having a good time. I write songs
when I'm in the realm of - what do I have to say in the world and just
being a person trying to find my own place. How can I turn that around,
third person - be detached and write a good song that somebody is going
to relate to.
RW - Most likely you have played with bands that you admire and perhaps
there are bands you were embarrased to have played with - how did you find
Cold Colours?
Peter, TLD - Put us on the spot.
Paul, CC - How did you find out about Cold Colours there Jeff.
Jeff, TLD - Well, I read your banner. We have absolutely no control
over who plays with us and sometimes its a terrible experience. Either
because they just outright suck, which alot of bands do or because
they're jerks or whatever. I thought that Cold Colours did the music
that they do very well. I thought they put on an awesome show and above
it all they're fantastic guys. We made friends tonight and maybe not so
many new fans because there wasn't so many people who turned out. But,
we made some new friends which is cool, that makes the show go down in
our memory as - hey, that that was a cool time.
Peter, TLD - Another interesting thing. When we were listening to them
playing, at first - sometimes we're booked with bands that you don't
immediately get a sense of compatibility with. Maybe they sound very
different . . . that can be a really good thing specially if the
audience, it comes down to how the audience perceives. If the audience
can enjoy both bands, two bands that are kind of different from each
other. That makes it a enjoyable expierence for everyone. It was
obvious listening to these guys and some of the song choices . . .
there is common ground, even though on the surface we are more of a
goth band and they are more of a metal band. With Tom and me, we grew
up on Iron Maiden, Judus Priest, Led Zepplin . . . There are alot of
people that have heard us that would not like heavy metal but like us.
And there are hard core metal heads that like us. We don't consider
ourselves a metal band. But, because we are so diverse and come from so
many different spectrums of influence and I can tell that these guys do
as well. These guys played a Slayer song yet the drummer was talking
about Bruce Springstein. . . In my mind the bands that last and
actually have an impact on people have alot of different influences and
they come together to create a chemistry. That's why with some bands
you can interchange members and it does not matter. And other bands,
interchange members and suddenly the bands chemistry is totally lost.
It may be for the better or for the worse - but it changes.
( It was time for the bands to pack up the gear and head on out )
Was able to speak with Tom of TLD as they were packing up where he
spoke of how it was a natural transition for himself as drummer. Taking
over where Ivan left off and progressing forward with the band.
[ side line out takes ]
Glen, CC - Bruce Springstein said you play every show like its your
last three hours on earth. Unfortunately we only have 45 mins to live -
most of the time.
Joey (former guitar player with Epicurean) - I know Cold Colours and
I've never seen The Last Dance before. Casandra has been talking about
them for awhile. Got to tell you, they're refreshing. I've never seen a
band like them in the Twin Cities.
One of the Cold Colours guys - Peter has fantastic legs. I think we
need to drop a house on him.
( referring to his red and black stripped
socks - Wizard of Oz )
- - - -
The interview session was not planned and occured off the cuff
after the show with next to no knowledge of the band or their music
prior to the show. Thanks to Casandra
Metal along with Bill Berry at The Rock that brought the bands together for
this show. All photos by Cansandra Metal, more of her photos can
be found at her website www.nakedriderecordings.com - - - www.therocknightclub.com
Thanks
and best wishes for 'The Last Dance' along
with their crew. They provided a great show and friendly conversation
and hope to see them play the Twin Cities yet again in the future. - -
- Philip Kramer
www.rockwatch.org
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The Last Dance and Cold Colours at The Rock
It
was Thursday, July 1st 2004 with alot of things going on in the Twin
Cities area including some music festivals in and outside the Twin
Cities. It was a slow evening at The Rock with plenty of elbow room and
ear space for those that saw there would be a good show to be seen on
this evening. The Twin Cities local band 'Cold Colours' opened the show
with their metal set which sometimes has a gothic twitch. Partly due to
their earlier gothic metal approach. Here they held the crowd together
with songs: 23rd dynasty, Autumn Reign and are gaining popularity with
the song Breathe In. The pause between bands left anticipation in
search of a cold drink and a new set of ears for 'The Last Dance'.
As
their opening song began, the visual and audio senses were quickly
drawn into their stage command and dimensional layers of sound and
persona. After the first song, Jeff
Diehm the singer said something on the line of : I
hear this is not exactly Mpls , but Maplewood , Metal said you would
all die after seeing us - think she meant that in a good way - we are
'The Last Dance'.
They then broke into the song 'Nightmares' which may
very well be their signature song from the new album - 'Whispers in
Rage'. As I took in the show, my eyes noticed that they were minus one band
member but my ears could not really distinguish if they were minus a
bass or guitar player. Peter was up playing guitar on this evening with
the bass parts recorded and playing out of a separate amp. Rick Joyce
would normally be playing guitar but was off home with wife expecting a child.
The
pace of the show continued in full stride with each song
enriching the time and space that was shared by a smaller crowd then
was expected. With a good natured friendly personality, Jeff took
a moment to tell a story about the band 'Bella Morte' that hail out of
the state of Virginia. You may have to search around the web
to get the complete story that envolves inflatable pigs and crashing a
Bella Morte show at a festival in Austria. Up close and personal was
the experience for those that were on hand. Perhaps, next time they
play the Twin Cities they will play part in a larger event at First
Avenue or the Quest in downtown Mpls with a larger crowd and fan base
in the Twin Cities.
The music of 'The Last Dance' may very well be described as part of the
dark underground scene. In the good time sense of goth, industrial,
electronic, dance and trance with a metal edge. With four previous
albums, their fifth album seems to bring them full circle to the front
lines of success as individuals and as a band. With a balanced dose of
passion, inspiration and aggression - a movement within the shadows and
night lights .
Be sure to visit their website www.thelastdance.com And www.coldcolours.com
Coverage by Philip Kramer - www.rockwatch.org
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