Perth’s Mezzanine have recently released their new EP ‘Vile Horizons‘ and are about to head out on the road to launch it. So we’ve caught up with their singer / guitarist Cory this week in The Hotseat. Expand this post to check out his answers, their upcoming tour dates and to take a listen to the EP.
THE BASICS
Name : Cory John Rist
Band : Mezzanine
Job In Band : Singer/Guitarist
Website Address : facebook.com/mezzanineonline
HOME
Hometown : Perth, Western Australia
Hometown is best known for : Oh man, where to begin. Bogans, Miners, A plethora of nothingness
Best venue in your hometown : The Rosemount
Favourite show you’ve seen in your hometown : PJ, Bad Seeds, Sufjan, U2
Favourite show you’ve played in your hometown : Rosemount, Vile Horizons Launch
THE BAND
How did the band first come to exist? Jago (bass) and I started jamming in his grannys sleepout, we still play the first song we wrote in there, The Guardian.
How long has the band been going? About 4 years, pretty sure the anniversary is in a week or two, better buy some flowers and chocolates for the boys.
Any particular story behind the name? It looks good in uppercase, im a bit of a font fiend you see.
What’s your most recent release? Tell us a little about it… ‘Vile Horizons’ is out recently released second E.P, it is pretty ball tearing but has a soft melodic centre. Its mostly an uneasy listen with a lot of self deprecation and general doom, but in a good way.
Got a personal stand out achievement of your band to date? Launching the E.P at our favorite venue with a bloody fantastic lineup made me proud as punch, our first headline slot there.
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? Honestly, it would have been mid 1990s, Oasis, in particular What’s The Story? (Morning Glory), and more concisely Champagne Supernova, it flicked a switch in my brain that has yet to be turned off, one day it might but I have a long time before old age defeats me.
Your first band name, and what style did you play? Oh jeez, would have been a cover band in High School, we were for a very short amount of time called JFK, I even made up a logo with the presidential seal, the whole hog!
Most prized music related item you own? I have bought and sold enough gear in the past 5 years to start a shop, right now though its my Lee Ranaldo Fender Jazzmaster, everything you ever needed to make a very lioud racket.
When you’re not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? Drinking and Thinking, its what takes up the vast majority of my time, thinking about drinking and then drinking and then thinking and then writing down what im thinking, it’s a great little cycle ive got going.
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is… The feeling, not before, not after, but right in the middle of a gig, where nothing is of any importance other than the moment you are in right now, that feeling comes (pun!) during sex but it is quite fleeting, playing music its like one elongated orgasm.
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is… Money, why cant I be chauffeured in 5 star luxury for free rather than paying money to sleep on a tissue masquerading as a sheet?
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ON THE STAGE
When on offer, what’s your one must have item on the rider? Decent beer, I mean fair enough you pay us fuck all, exploit the punters with expensive beer and again, pay us fuck all, but please don’t give us Carlton Colds, id rather drink bear grillz piss.
Favorite place you’ve toured… and why? Istanbul, I imagine its very nice.
Most memorable show you’ve played? and why? Rosemount Hotel in Perth, out launch there a few weeks ago was a great one, one of those nights that makes it all worth it.
Got a favorite song to play live? Personally at the moment it would be a new song called Allergic Me, everyone always chooses the new songs I guess?
Any embarrassing on stage moments come to mind? I have had a few instances where under the influence I have verbally abused the crowd, as one might expect this did not go down well.
Any pre-show rituals? I have been trying to work out the exact amount of beer to drink so as im not stone cold sober but not tits drunk, suffice to say im still testing the theory.
What do you find is the hardest aspect of touring in a band today? Time, seeing as no one can afford to be a full time musician anymore getting the time to play shows and tour is the hardest part.
RIGHT NOW
Last song you listened to? Bad by U2 as I was walking back from the bus station, it has the perfect bpm for walking at a mild pace.
Last album you acquired? R.E.M Live at The Olympia, great concept, a show that’s just an open rehearsal where they try out new songs and play really old obscure tracks, ok im not selling it well, shut up I like it!
Which band or album is currently on high rotation? Highest would be Springsteen & The E Street Band live at Hammersmith Odeon 1979, such energy, such a voice, and the big man!
Tell us an up and coming band or artist you think we should go and listen to right now? Oh man, you must listen to Emperors, they are treading the same kind of grungy boards as we are but they are killing it on their debut LP ‘Stay Frosty’, ‘Ready When I Say Go’ is the anthem of our generation.
What’s on the cards for the next few months for the band? Touring all up and down the East Coast in Late July August.
IF ONLY…
You can pick any one album for your band to cover in full, what would it be and why? I would choose R.E.M – New Adventures In Hi-Fi and purely for selfish reasons, I think we may be better suited to weezer/nirvana territory but I would love to tackle this one, its my favorite album by one of my favorite bands, that’s all I need.
You can pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums in full, what would it be, and why? I love this question, id really like Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds to turn Vile Horizons into a Murder Ballads type vibe, the sinister slow paced epics are really what our songs need.
One band you wish you were able to see live but never had the chance? Radiohead circa 1998.
One venue you have yet to play that you would love to? We always joke about playing Subiaco Oval here in Perth, I guess that would be up there as the goal, all we need to do now is be as big as U2, or AFL.
The chance comes up to fill in for a member of a band for one tour, which band would it be, and why? Steve Van Zandt in the E Street Band. I wouldn’t mind being The Boss’ sidekick for a whole tour, singing all those harmonies, playing all those classic licks, that’s the stop for me.
A headline tour overseas comes up, tell us two bands you’d take along to support your band. Emperors playing Emperors and Brian Eno, playing his pre-ambient solo records.
PLUG TIME
Got any final words? The Vile Horizons National Tour will more than likely be coming somewhere down your neck of the woods soon so check out the dates below. ‘Vile Horizons’ can be purchased here
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MEZZANINE
JULY
21st – The Railway Hotel, Fremantle [18+]
26th – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney [18+]
27th – The Forbes, Sydney [18+]
28th – Side Bar, Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle [18+]
29th – Ric’s, Brisbane [18+]
AUGUST
1st – Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne [18+]
2nd – Yah Yah’s, Melbourne [18+]
4th – Ed Castle, Adelaide [18+]
10th – Velvet Lounge, Perth [18+]
—> For more detailed information, visit [Here].
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