Lotus: What’s the latest on The Atomic Bitchwax 3 CD? Where are you recording it, and who’s producing?
Chris: Actually Three is just the working title until we decide on the cover art. That might be the name, but it’s not carved in stone. We’re going to Trax East in South River, NJ. (Note: the band has already entered Trax East) I have been going there ever since Godspeed with Tommy and Rob of Solace, as well as the short-lived Slaprocket (also with Tommy), the first Bitchwax album, and the first Black Nasa, all spread over 11 years. Eric Rachel has worked on all of those projects, including this new one. I should also mention Eric and the studio are responsible for the Solace, Lord Sterling, Core, Burnt By the Sun, Human Remains, Dillinger Escape Plan, and even Skid Row records from way back. They’re truly dedicated to giving the band a professional sounding record. If your thing is beating on a garbage can with a stick, he will make it sound 1,000 times better than your uncle’s friend’s basement studio.
Lotus: How many songs do you have ready? What’s the material like?
Chris: The plan is to finish ten songs and maybe some drum tracks to use down the road. If you like our earlier stuff you will find plenty of it on this CD. But with Finn on guitar and vocals, I would like to think he’s added another side to the overall sound. Also, there are vocals on every song except one, as opposed to the half-instrumental/half-vocal stuff in the past. On top of that, Keith’s drumming just gets crazier every year. He never ceases to amaze me. There’ll be plenty of stuff to air drum along to on this new one.
Lotus: MeteorCity is putting it out?
Chris: Yeah, in early May to coincide with a European tour. Jadd has been there from our beginning (with the Welcome to Meteor City compilation). He runs a tight ship over there. We always get paid. What more could you ask for in a label?
Lotus: I heard the new demos on your website. The lead vocal trade-offs between you and Finn on “Dark Chi” sound killer, and Finn nicely handles lead vocals on “Going Guido.” Are you going to mix up the vocal duties throughout the new album?
Chris: Thanks. Finn’s voice is much higher than mine and so he sings the stuff I’ve had to scream in the past. We both sing on every song, trading the lead vocal and the back-ups evenly throughout. I think Keith will be doing some back-ups here and there this time around too.
Lotus: How did you and Keith hook up with Finn?
Chris: Originally, we weren’t looking to replace Ed. We just started playing together with Finn on a whim, really. I think Keith bumped into Finn at the heath food store and said, “Let’s get a jam together.” One night we played "Kiss the Sun," a Core song that Bitchwax had covered on the first CD. We asked him to learn a couple more Bitchwax tunes of his choice and the next time we got together he could play the whole first record, then two weeks later, the entire second album, and that was that. When we toured last year, 80 percent of the show was older stuff mixed with a couple new songs and some covers.
Lotus: Whatever happened to Core, anyway?
Chris: They broke up a couple years ago after their bass player Carmine moved away for a job or some chick, it’s kind of a grey area. But the drummer, Tim, who is also Finn’s brother, is still around. Last I heard he was looking to jam again.
Lotus: You played a fair number of shows last year, was the idea to whip things into shape before heading into the studio?
Chris: There was a two-pronged reason. One was just to let people know we were still around since our last record, Spit Blood, was already two years old at the time (and now it’s about three years old). The second reason was as you said, to whip things into shape for the writing of this new CD. At this point we’ve played about 60 shows inside of six months with Finn, which is funny because in the past it took two years to play that many with Magnet taking up so much of Ed’s time.
Lotus: How were the shows? Got any funny stories?
Chris: Great. We averaged about 100 people per show last year. Which, like I said before, is pretty good considering we weren’t supporting a new record. But like most touring bands there were a few poorly-attended shows here and there, usually the fault of the venue for not promoting the show. One show in North Carolina, a guy rode his Harley into the club a la Rob Halford, did a few doughnuts on the main floor and then rode out the door.
Lotus: OK, what’s the official story on Ed leaving? Was it really a case of him being too busy in Monster Magnet?
Chris: The “unoffical story": rampant drug abuse, chronic alchoholism, rockstar bullshit, bruised egos, shitty record deals, crazy ex-girlfriends, depression, money, and simply knowing each other all to well. And those were the good times. The “official story": Ed was too busy with Magnet.
Lotus: I read that you have only one bass. You really need to work on getting a backup for that J-bass.
Chris: I got that bass about 12 years ago. I had just got an income tax return check for $570 in the mail. I signed it as I walked into the neighborhood music store, then I put the check on the counter and said, "What bass can I get for that?" The owner said, "This one.” It was a ‘78 Fender Jazz, with no case, and he took my check. From going to the mailbox and getting the check, to walking out of the music store with the bass took about 15 minutes. Since then I’ve used it on every record and tour. I had others from time to time but they’d just sit in the case, so I just sold them for rent or food whenever money was tight. I actually have an old Hagstrom bass sitting in the closet but it looks cooler than it plays.
Lotus: Finally, what’s the status of Black Nasa? Did you guys break up?
Chris: Personally, I wouldn’t close the door so quickly on something that had so much time invested in it. But for now, it’s on hold. Corey, our drummer, has a recurring back injury and a real job. Not the greatest combo for a drummer. Duane is busy with his own band, called Daysleeper, and has sat in for a couple shows recently with King Valley. I still write tunes/riffs for myself all the time. I’ve got around 25-30 works-in-progress on my computer that could become Nasa tunes in the future.
