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HORSE THE BAND :::::: |
THE BASICS Name : Dashiell Han Arkenstone Band : HORSE the band Job In Band : Bass Website Address : www.horsetheband.com || www.myspace.com/horsetheband HOME Hometown : Los Angeles Hometown is best known for : The Karate Kid, The Terminator, and Terminator 2 took place in LA. Best thing about the music scene in your hometown : There is nothing good about our music scene. It's full of tattooed hipsters who go to shows just to be seen. It's not about the music, it's about status. It is nice to know that a good tour is always guaranteed to come here though. Most influential band to yourself that's come out of your home town : Black Flag, N.W.A., Slayer and Guns 'N Roses are responsible for most of the crap that comes out of L.A. Our old drummers favorite band was Spineshank. Best up and coming band from your home town would be : Motley Crüe reunited, I think they have a chance. THE BAND What’s the story behind the band name? David Isen (guitar) and Erik Engstrom(keyboard) started the band in the late twentieth century under the name HORSE, a name they had chosen after watching "The Godfather". They later had to change it after a crabby, evil witch with the same name threatened to sue. How would you describe your sound to the average Joe on the street? I tell the guy behind the counter at the gas station in Wichita that we're metal with a keyboard, reminiscent of the 80's/ orchestral at times. What's your current release? Tell us a little about it… We released 'A Natural Death' last year. It ventures into darker and heavier territory. The drumming is the definitely the best we've had, thanks to Chris Prophet who no longer plays with us. We all wanted to challenge ourselves with this album and wrote parts that were harder to pull off. I think it turned out well. What image do you think / hope your music conveys? I hope that people understand that we're awesome, and not a joke. Our music is well written and well thought-out, and I think that's what is important, but our music conveys a sense of comedy to a lot of people, which is unfortunate. In five years time the band will be… Forgotten. OFF THE STAGE What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? I grew up in a musical family and was surrounded by instruments growing up. My Mom introduced me to Metallica when I was 8 and that pretty much did it. What was your first band name and what style did you play? My first band was called "The Droppings". We played terrible punk but mostly covered other terrible punk. Tell us three albums you couldn't live without in your collection Neurosis : Times of Grace Bach : The Great Organ Works (Wolfgang Rübsam) Summoning : Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame Best piece of musical advice you've been given "Use your fingers, picks are for pussies!" Two groups/artists you'd love to take out on the road Time To Burn and Monarch, two bands from France. Favorite song of your group? My favorite songs to play live are, The Black Hole, A Million Exploding Suns and The Red Tornado. My favorite over all would be "I Think We're Both Suffering From the Same Crushing Metaphysical Crisis". (or "Rotting Horse") The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is Playing every night and I really look forward to all the time I get to myself. The thing you least look forward to before a tour is Leaving home not knowing how I'm going to pay rent. When your not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? Playing pipe-organ by candlelight and slow-motion tackling my cats ON THE STAGE / ROAD What gear do you use? Fender Bassman 300 (amp), Carvin LB75/IC5 (basses), Ampeg SVT 8X10 (cabinet) Favourite place (city/town/country) you've toured… and why? I will never forget the feeling I had when I first played Scotland. It was awesome, then some Mormons told me I was the most beautiful guy they had ever seen. California is definitely my favorite place to tour. It's close to home and familiar. We're touring the world starting March 3rd. so, that may change. The best show you've ever played was… and why? One time after a show in Texas, Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse told me that he liked my bass playing. That was probably the best day of my entire life. Who hogs the stereo in the van the most? Whoever drives gets the pick of the music. I probably play my music the loudest though. After a week in the van/bus on tour which band member will have the messiest section, and what would we most likely find stashed there? Nathan's bench is usually saturated with piss and booze by the end of tour. One time he accidentally took a swig of piss from a bottle and spit it out in our tour manager's face after peeing his pants. Who in your group has the worst "bad habit" on tour, and what is it? Our old tour manager would drink tons of milk and it would dry his mustache into a flaky, white, crusted catfish mouth. Then he would cut his greasy hair and leave it all in the sink of the hotel before I've brushed my teeth. Most embarrassing moment on tour? One time I had too much to drink and pissed off a band while we were on Sounds Of The Underground. I didn't talk to them for the entire tour, mostly because I thought they were going to kill me. I'm still embarrassed. Give us a good quick 'on the road' story, funny, embarrassing, memorable, whatever… Nathan was once arrested in Canada for robbing a gas station and firing a gun at an innocent lady. We were all extremely hammered and Nathan fired his cap gun into the air when we stopped for gas after a show. We were pulled over and handcuffed facedown on the freeway with shotguns to our heads. There were like 10 cop cars, they shut down the freeway for an hour while they questioned us. It was awesome. Nathan spent the night in jail and was threatened to be convicted of attempted murder… (a cap gun). Your manager calls and says the venue you are about to play really wants to keep you happy, what's the first thing you chuck on the rider? Marina Sirtis from Star Trek (in uniform). RIGHT NOW What's getting the most spins in your stereo right now? The soundtrack to "KOYANISQAATSI" by Philip Glass Tell us a band or artist everyone should check out and why… Light This City from California. They're an honest, straightforward, brutal thrash outfit with female vocals. Brutal. If you could change one thing about the music industry today, what would it be? I don't think the industry should exist at all unless the bands operate it exclusively. As soon as I've finished answering these questions I'm about to… Drink wine with our new drummer and listen to Portal. |
