Melynda Jackson and Nathan Carson have been friends for close to ten years. What started as mutual artistic appreciation developed into a long-term bond and professional relationship, glued by their crass senses of humor. Jackson’s Eight Bells joins Carson’s group Witch Mountain later this month for a CVLT Nation showcase in Vancouver BC. The following is an Artist To Artist conversation between the two. Since their friendship began over long distance chats when Jackson was living in SF, they decided to recreate that experience for you.
NC: Is the water ready yet?
MJ: Yes Lisa
NC: Shall we begin?
MJ: Yes Lisa.
NC: LOL.
MJ: still got it via im!
NC: Ok let’s start. First off, thanks for convincing me to post that really embarrassing photo of our new bassist Charles Thomas. I was planning to use the 2nd most embarrassing photo, but you were right.
MJ: I know! I think that photo makes him look like a nice human being. You know, weird.
NC: I liked that he chimed in too. He’s good like that. Very positive. I guess we’re gonna have to work much harder to break his spirit.
MJ: Well with no patience, and a total lack of love I am sure you will succeed in good time. Just kidding.
NC: You’ll have 48 hours to help us later this month. Looking forward to those shows.
MJ: Are you excited about going up the Canada with him? This is weird.
NC: It’s weird to me how many years I avoided playing in Vancouver BC. Until 2012, I’d only performed there once, in like ’99 when I was in Bishop of Battle. This will be the third Witch Mountain show there in the last year, and the same for Eight Bells?
MJ: Yeah – I was so stoked both times we played there. Not sure how I have played music on the west coast and not been up there. I do remember a band mate a few years ago telling me that BC was like a music paradise- he was part of the noise scene…. Its fun though, seems less jaded to me or maybe I feel less jaded when I am there.
NC: That can only be a good thing! I’ve been there quite a few times to visit. Even lived there very briefly in the early 90s. I learned to drink there.
MJ: Yeah I’ll take it either way. Its nice to get out of the country so easily…Can I ask a goofy leading question to get you to talk a little bit about your fairly recent tour of Europe?
NC: Please do.
MJ: So you guys went over and played RoadBurn, and traveled all around. What do you think was your favorite country? Were there any bands that were on for local support that you really liked? What country were they from? Can you talk a little about that?
NC: We hit like 16 countries. So it’s hard to choose a favorite. Definitely can say that the biggest and best shows were the festivals–Roadburn and the two Desertfests. After that, the next biggest show was Vilnius, Lithuania. And maybe the best surprise was how well we were received in Reykjavik, Iceland. We played there with a band called Plastic Gods who we liked a lot. Iceland excepted, there were not a lot of local bands on those shows. Most nights, they were early evenings with just the two touring bands. Not what I’d expected. I did really enjoy Berlin. I know you have some history there as well.
MJ: Actually I have never been to Berlin. I lived in a town outside of Frankfurt when I was in my late teens for about a year though. I would like to make history there.
NC: I’m sure you will.
MJ: haha
NC: There’s no doubt in my mind that a boundary-pushing act like Eight Bells will ultimately get a great response in Europe. Music is actually considered an art form over there. While in the US, it’s looked upon as a hobby.
MJ: That would be super fun. I think our goal at this point is to get over there. Releasing another record is a given as well.
NC: Do you have an intuition of which country is going to embrace you the most? I don’t know why exactly, but Eight Bells seems like a band that Italians would eat up.
MJ: I don’t really know. It would be cool to get popular somewhere weird though. Like maybe Poland. I know we already have a couple fans in England because the write to me and ask when we will come there.
NC: Seemed like in Warsaw everything was death metal, grind, and this weird kind of metalcore that I don’t really understand.
MJ: Oh really? Hmmm I really don’t know. GREECE!
NC: I can see that for sure. Though I don’t think it’s a very good/safe place to go right now
MJ: Totally. We just did an interview for ‘Greek Rebels’
NC: I read that they’re putting drug addicts and transgenders in internment camps. Could be Internet propaganda though. Hard to know what’s really happening in these places.
MJ: OR here.
NC: I was just reading about 33,000,000 people protesting in Egypt. Biggest protest ever in human history, supposedly. Then I checked CNN and they were only reporting on the fact that 50 people were injured. Nothing about what they were protesting.
MJ: Yeah what a scary situation. Listen to KBOO [FM radio]
NC: Good idea. I only ever listen to the Classical station!
MJ: The people wanted the president out because he was congratulating police for beating protesters, essentially. Now the military has taken over. They are trying to say it is not a coup, but it is. Muslim brotherhood is for the president who would not step down. Because he would not step down the military made him and now has control. But the people want another election and it seems as if the Military doesn’t want to give it to them
NC: Separating church and state over there doesn’t seem possible.
MJ: We can’t make that separation here apparently. I am afraid of what I am seeing around me in terms of social unrest. It is happening everywhere at the same time. Scary stuff.
NC: I actually think it’s exciting. About time people quit letting the powers that be control every aspect of life on earth. I think people in the US are waking up. Tea party keeps shooting itself in the foot. It’s out of toes.
MJ: I feel really choked up about how the people are getting out there and making their own reality and I know that we are still too comfortable here to do that.
NC: Exactly. Nothing can really change here until people are waiting in line to get bread.
MJ: I would rather work my crappy job and play my electric guitar at this point.
NC: As long as we have this relative wealth and plenty of tv shows, populace is placated. I’m definitely trying to slip through the cracks and make my own reality. Huge reason that I live in Portland. This place is a bubble.
MJ: Future generations are fucked though.
NC: Yeah, I am bummed for children.
MJ: The entire west coast is rad- well a lot of it. It started with people who wanted to get as far away as possible from the early governing body. California was my first experience with that. Then I found that going north.
NC: Yeah my folks moved us to Oregon in the ’70s because they wanted to “go back in time.”
MJ: It becomes more profound how much it is its own world. I suppose Alaska would rule for weird.
NC: I want to play up there for sure. I’ve played in at least 40 states. That one’s definitely on the bucket list. I made some contacts in Hawaii recently. But I think the mostly want much bigger bands, or bands that are on their way to Japan. I used to have a girlfriend in Honolulu and she saw Danzig play on an air force base there.
MJ: wow. Outdoors in the sun no doubt. So yeah tell me about the new bass player….How did you meet him?
NC: New bassist is Charles Thomas. He owns the Euro Trash food carts here. And he rides a motorcycle, which I believe is how Rob and Uta met him. I only met him when he started working towards the audition. I actually had been pining for a good friend of mine to get this gig, but in the end, Charles proved to me that his heart is really in it. He worked for it. And it felt good to give it to someone so clearly deserving and earnest. Also, the first time we played together, we really locked in. It’s key that our tempos don’t get pushed forward ever. He was right in step with me, which was very reassuring. You know how tough it is to find the right bass player. How many did SAS have?
MJ: Well, over 12 or so years it was 7 I think. This is like trying to remember how many loves I have had… don’t print that…
NC: Haha. Too late. This is going live to the web.
MJ: Drummers we REALLY went through though.
NC: Spinal Tap syndrome. Spontaneous combustion.
MJ: I feel so lucky right now, because there are no two other people that I would rather be making music with than Haley and Chris
NC: That’s so cool to hear. You three have perfect chemistry. Nothing is missing.
MJ: Both of them are really unique and determined and skilled. They are also such sweet and nice people. We might get grouchy sometimes or whatever, but we all care for each other and are nice to each other.
NC: That’s beyond key if you’re stuck in a van together or rehearsing at 10am on a Sunday morning. I remember the final SubArachnoid show with only one guitar. It was SO refreshing to hear you.
MJ: Yeah I used to get buried under the other guitar a lot in Subarachnoid Space. I think it was because I played with people who might have needed more direction than I was willing to give. When they would make up their own parts basically they would end up playing something that was too much like what I was playing. Also I am backing off the density of effects. I don’t think I will ever want to play with another guitar player again. There can be only one.
NC: Haha! Now you’re speaking my language.
MJ: It was terrifying at first you know. Nothing to camouflage my mistakes. Now I find it awesome, because I am learning to play more simply so that I can add vocals
NC: It’s a very natural progression for parts to become more minimal as a band matures. It’s healthy. It happens for good reason. When you’re young, you think everything should be as complex and brutal and weird as possible. Now, I appreciate that. But I can’t listen to it all day long. And I have almost zero interest in doing it.
MJ: I dunno. I don’t agree that youth is all about total destruction brutality and that getting old means getting soft. I think maybe at least for me, it is that I can do more with composition that I used to, and so I want to make room for that. What Eight Bells is doing is actually really complex and especially new material has us each playing near the top of our ability.
NC: I don’t think clarifying is the same as going soft. I agree with you though. For you it seems to have more to do with less instruments and effects.
MJ: Well our parts are not more minimal, they just leave room for each other in order to have a more composed whole.
NC: Not necessarily less complex compositions.
MJ: It’s less selfish. It’s less about someone getting to play as hard as they can and more about all of us really trying to do something together. At least compared to SubArachnoid Space that is. You know what I mean.
NC: I do.
MJ: I think I probably just reworded what you were saying!
NC: In the early days of Witch Mountain, we always used to throw in an extra beat here and there. Or play things an odd number of times just for the sake of being tricky. Now we just don’t feel the need.
MJ: I think you know the music is right when you don’t have to think about it too much when you are playing a song. When you know the parts and you are comfortable with them, it’s rad to actually be able to emote – instead of worrying how many times.
NC: We are a much more traditional band than Eight Bells. [WM is] Really the only traditional band I’ve ever been in.
MJ: Eight Bells never counts parts… traditional or not. The first time I saw Witch Mountain might have been at Ground Kontrol. haha!
NC: With Danava?
MJ: Could be… with Rob singing….
NC: If Rob was still singing, that would have been it. We hadn’t hit our second stride yet. I knew that if we were going to be really serious, we needed a lead singer that would allow Rob to really focus on guitar.
MJ: I think at that time you might have been more busy with other projects
NC: Yeah it wasn’t until Uta came on board that I really shifted all my eggs toward that basket. With her singing, I knew we could really do something. It just felt more complete. I’m guessing the first time I saw SubArachnoid would have been at Ash St?
MJ: Yes the brutal end of tour show at Ash St with Yob. When my bandmate lost the van keys.
NC: Was that the show where the van keys got lost in the grass outside my house?
MJ: yeah
NC: Haha jinx.
MJ: I wanted to KILL.
NC: How did you finally turn the van off?
MJ: I remember having to unplug the distributor every time I needed to turn it off
NC: Ugh.
MJ: We drove from PDX to SF with the dog house off–not totally off but off enough to get in there if we had to turn it off
NC: Filled the tank with the van running?
MJ: I remember feeling like it was rad to fill up with the engine running. YOU DO NOT FUCKING BLOW UP IF YOU DO THAT PEOPLE. I thought Portland sucked at that time based on the fact that that locksmith that came to rekey the van let his young apprentice son jack up my steering column to the tune of 250 bucks. What’s next after these shows?
NC: We have a few gigs supporting much bigger artists this Fall, then mostly laying low and writing a new album. We had intended to keep touring this Fall, but signs/energy seems to point toward writing instead. But who knows if some crazy offer falls in our laps? I’m looking forward to Fall into Darkness VII.
MJ: Totally! Always a good time that one. Can you tell us anyone on it or is it still hush hush?
NC: I shouldn’t just yet. But I hope to start announcing bands soon. Oct 10-13 in Portland. “Always a good time” – Melynda Jackson
MJ: Depends what you mean by ‘good’ but I have a good time at FID every time.
NC: That Aug 3 show is almost a festival. Slough Feg, Grayceon, Lesbian, Eight Bells, Krystos.
MJ: Right? What were we calling it?
NC: Oh right, I forgot already lol. Rainbow of metal or something. What was it?
MJ: Metal Circus?
NC: Circus of Metal sounds right.
MJ: Buffet?
NC: Smorgasbord. Core.
MJ: LOL I really hope the peeps will show up early for that one.
NC: It’s gonna be fun. I do hope people come early for Krystos because they are great.
MJ: Also Hope to have vinyl by then but we have been delayed again
NC: No vinyl is ever ready on time. Test pressing sounded excellent though!
MJ: Yeah it did sound good, I almost freaked out listening to it on my turntable that sucks and needs a new needle right now. So glad I brought it to your house. We will have our tape though from Tartarus Records in the Netherlands.
NC: That guy rules. I just saw a post from John Sherman of Red Fang today. He hates cassettes lol.
MJ: Yeah good he doesn’t need to buy one then, that’s cool.
NC: I’m not one to really listen to tapes either, but if people want them, I have no problem making them available.
MJ: I like them. I think that part of the reason I like them, is nostalgia of course, but also my car is 20 years old and has a tape deck. Rules.
NC: If there was a market for 8-track or wax cylinder, I’m sure some small European label would be hooking us up.
MJ: Rather listen to wax any day though.
NC: I knew you were a wax cylinder kid. Listening to cave music in your Frankenlab.
MJ: What is a wax cylinder? I don’t even know. Should I care? Mike [Scheidt] just chatted me and says he’s coming to our Seattle show.
NC: Yeah I got that text earlier. He’s a sweetie.
NC: Too bad his band is so slow and heavy. C’mon YOB, get it together!
MJ: No shit. Slow and with all that melodic overtone, I just hate it.
NC: So you’re watching Game of Thrones tonight, eh?
MJ: Yes we downloaded the episodes illegally. And will be watching a couple, probably more doggy style faux fucking.
NC: I got a link off Huffington Post that is just the sex scenes from both seasons.
MJ: Rad
NC: I enjoyed it.
MJ: I knew Huffington Post had to be good for something. It certainly isn’t news. But yea we watch them on Mondays. I started over because my roommate had not seen any of them.
NC: Now that you’ve seen a couple of seasons of GOT, are you gonna read that book or give it back?
MJ: I’ll read it.
NC: It’s so good.
MJ: I just have a hard time finding time because I work all the freakin time. Practice 3 nights a week etc.
NC: I hear you. But I find that the more I read, the more money I save.
MJ: I like the eye candy of the show as well though.
NC: The show is surprisingly well done, but as you can imagine, distorted. And missing SO much other cool shit that happens. You think the Red Wedding was brutal on tv?
MJ: Ssssshhhhh c’mon!
NC: hehe. Are you listening to music while we chat?
MJ: Nope. I listen to music all day on headphones. I find that when I get home from work I forget to turn anything on. I get ear fatigue a lot too.
NC: I remember having jobs like that. Now I listen to music over breakfast. Then spend a lot of the day quiet. Usually have to practice or go to gigs in the evenings. A lot of my music listening is covered by DJing.
MJ: yeah. I feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff that is marketed to me. I have never been a music collector.
NC: Breakfast tunes today were an Arthur Lyman exotica record that my girlfriend bought when we went to the coast last week.
MJ: And I actually think live is the best way to experience it.
NC: I agree man. Live is so much more compelling to me than albums these days. Why is that?
MJ: I kind of miss when I was a kid tripping and listening to albums that way. Seemed I was less busy.
NC: I don’t think it’s just about budgets and labels either, because I was freaking out to Butthole Surfers and Throbbing Gristle. And that shit wasn’t recorded well.
MJ: Yeah I mean it’s tactile when it is live.
NC: I love seeing a band make a mistake, and then recover. That’s way more compelling to me than a flawless performance.
MJ: Also maybe as a musician you are more interested in the musician’s experience.
NC: I agree with that.
MJ: And to experience that with them in some way. Like that show the other night. teehee!
NC: Hail brought it.
MJ: yep. Did we get anything good out of this?
NC: I think it’s all good.
MJ: ugh
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