|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Interviews
Robot
vs Rabbit: The philosophy is that people can be broken down
into two categories; a person who is a robot tends to be more science
based in their faith, are methodical in their ways and follow logic based
paths of thought. Some one who considers themselves a rabbit tend to be
more organic, simplistic and spiritual. Musically speaking a robot will
use more pedals / gadgets and won’t be afraid to use a synth or a
laptop where as a person who is a rabbit is prone to instruments less
complicated. So in a band sense, it’s people approaching the platform
of making music with different theories, hence they “verse”
each other. Look at it like this: robot vs rabbit, technology vs nature,
and science vs religion. So first decide what you are then try to be a
little bit more of the other. This balance is what must be achieved for
a person to become a RABBOT; the blending of science, spiritualism, logic,
and nature. To become a truly advanced species these paths must cross
or otherwise we will destroy ourselves. Sorry to get all preachy but you
asked. Hellride Music: Robot Vs Rabbit's approach to music is much different from most bands. I have taken liberties and categorized you (Hey!! I'm human! I need categories!) as furthering the cause for the drone/noise genre. In all actuality this may not be fair to you.... how would you describe the band's sound?
Robot Vs Rabbit: We don’t mind being categorized. We have been called drone, noise, psych rock, instru-metal, shit, and ambient but basically we describe our sound as ampfucking. We are ampfuckers. We fuck amps, the bigger the better. Not many bands in our opinion fit this category. Gravitar, Skullflower, Sleep, Boris (at times) to name a few.
Robot
Vs Rabbit: We started out as a 3 piece with Tim on guitar,
Garrett on bass and Tony on drums. At that time we were called “The
Earl Manigault Trio.” This was a jazz / metal trip. Tony quit and
moved to Texas. Tim and Garrett started to experiment with bass and guitar
to form a wall of sound without drums. Robot vs Rabbit was formed. Tim
saw an ad in a local music rag about an experimental musician looking
to find like-minded people. Tim called about the ad and Mark joined the
fold after one practice. Mark was playing bass at the time and Tony came
back and RVR became a 4 piece (2 basses, 1 guitar, drums). We became a
true wall of sound. Later on, Mark and Tim started to switch instruments,
Tony left again for Athens, GA and Garrett put down the bass and started
on drums. Once again RVR is a 3-piece ensemble. We have talked about expanding
perhaps with two drummers, or a string / horn section or even a whole
fucked up orchestra but who knows. Hellride Music: The CD-R you sent me, "Trading the Witch for the Devil" is being slated to come out on Mandragora records. Any idea when it will be released? Robot
vs Rabbit: Mandragora has set the release date for July 23.
They currently are in the process of organizing a compilation that is
scheduled to be released in June. RVR will be one of the bands on this
comp as well. Hellride Music: I'm very interested in the way you three approach the creation of your music. Can you go into the creative process? It appears to be much like free form Jazz, but with a nontraditional approach to your instruments.
Robot
vs Rabbit: Our approach to music is very free form. It is the
most freedom and of us has ever felt within a band. Our creative process
is less about the music and more about each other. Before we play we sit
around and talk about everything from what sound(s) we want to emphasize,
how we are feeling, our mood, to what’s going on in our lives. Any
ideas are tossed around. We smoke. We drink. We get our minds right then
we lock ourselves in a small room and try to destroy each other, our instruments,
the house, and our ideas. Nobody has a set instrument to play. We search
the room picking up this instrument or that, beating on different things.
Whatever is at hand, we try to use it. We play maybe 30 – 40 minutes
at each practice. Everything is recorded; from the first amp being turned
on to the last sigh of exhaustion. On later days we go back and listen
to our recordings and pick out what worked and what didn’t. The results
are brought to the next meeting and are used as a basis for construction
and or deconstruction. Robot vs Rabbit is more jazz influenced than people
realize. We build on moods rather than tuning and time signatures.
Hellride Music: Speaking of instruments, can you tell us what some of the instruments are used in Robot vs Rabbit?
Robot
vs Rabbit: Mapex drums, Fender Standard bass, Sunn concert
bass amp, Panasonic Slimline tape recorder, Fender Stratocaster, Rickenbacker
4001s bass, Ampeg BS1 combo amp, Gibson L6-S guitar, Gibson EBO1 bass,
Marshal JCM 800 ampAce Tone Top-5 portable organ, Korg Kaoss Pad, Gibson
Lancer amp, Moog Micromoog, Kimball Superswinger organ, various effects
pedals, Roland VS-840GX digital 8 track recorder, Polish Harp, trumpet,
clarinet, misc. household items, Optical theremin, Maestro Rhythm King
drum machine, Sony MZ-R50 mini disc recorder, Sony BM-575 micro-cassette
recorder, Compaq Presario 5280 with various editing programs. New additions
to our arsenal: Rickenbacker 330, Chet Atkins electric acoustic, Fender
squier strat & 12 string acoustic, Rickenbacker ROAD amp, Morley volume/wah
pdeal, DOD Meatbox pedal fx32. Hellride Music: Oooffa! Maybe I should of asked what instruments you DON'T use! What are you guys listening to now?
Garret: Quadrajets, Honeymoon Killers, Sleep, Tom Waits, Warlocks
Mark: Glenn Branca (symphony #1), Farflung, Oneida, Skullflower, Spacemen 3
Tim:
Slint, Melvins, Karp, The Cult (Electric), Metallica (Master of
Puppets)
Hellride Music: Great! Thanks for the interview and your time.... any shout-outs, big ups or propaganda you'd like to spread? Robot
vs Rabbit: Thanks to Columbia SC and Magic John, Erik Amlee
and Mandragora for releasing this disc, Woodchuck Cider, Porn, Karp, Farflung,
the Immortal Lee County Killers and The Warlocks for showing how rock
is supposed to be played, and Yume Bitsu for asking us to play some dates
with them.
|
Music
is perhaps at it's most powerful when it goes beyond coventional structures
into free form expression of untapped emotions and experiences. Robot
vs Rabbit probe and prod the outer boundaries of music by introducing
freeform expression with nontraditional instruments. Recalling the trails
blazed by bands such as Sunn 0))), Earth, Gravitar and Merzbow, Robot
vs Rabbit turn conventional musical wisdom on its head. Hellride Music
talks with the band. 
Purchase
