Mike Johnson: So,
you guys have gone through at least a couple of line-up changes,
and a name change, but going back to the beginning, how did Sons
of the Soil come into existence?
Nate: By chance
really, I had always wanted to do a country band, so had Sappy
and Pat but I didnt know them at the time. Years ago I started
writing country songs because it just seemed right. One night
I was out with Adam Norden and Mike Duffy of American Heritage,
I was telling them about how I always wanted to do this, and I
had songs etc. Adam told me he had been playing country with Sappy
and asked if I would like to sit in that coming Tuesday. I did.
Originally it was going to be just for fun, doing old country
standards and playing the occasional show, but fairly quickly
we started writing our own songs, just to have some variety in
the set, and also because its our nature. We really had
no concept of what direction we were heading in or what sound
we were going for, we just let it develop naturally and tried
to sing about things that were real and meaningful to us that
werent the make fun of the white trash subject
material that is so pervasive in the genre. We are white trash
so how can we make fun of ourselves? We really wanted to contribute
something to country music.
Mike Johnson: How
has the chemistry of the band changed since that time?
Nate: Its
a lot more relaxed these days. We laugh a lot more than anything
else. Everyone wants the same thing and is not content with playing
a few shows here and there for fun. Its easier nowadays.
Mike Johnson: How
is the songwriting process affected with the line-up changes that
you've had so far?
Nate: It really
hasnt changed. What affects it more than the lineup is peoples
lives, how they feel, how much bullshit is going on. All the new
songs have more swing type of beats, more solos. The band learned
a lot about arranging when we did our record, and we are using
that more now.
Mike Johnson:. You
guys have gotten yourselves onto some killer shows in recent months.
What's been your most memorable show so far? If you could play
with any band/performer, living or dead, who would it be?
Nate: The Tweeter
center show was a trip. It was about 30-35 degrees out and we
were fucking freezing. My fingers were numb and I had a little
more vibrato in my voice because I was shaking so bad. A lot of
people we knew came down there, which was amazing, and I am so
grateful to every one of them. No one complained at all.
I would like to play with Johnny Cash but he is retired. Jeff
Buckley would have been amazing. Hank Sr. Dylan
Kiss Ernest Tubb Lefty Frizzell Merle Haggard
Gram Parsons Stones The Original Skynyrd
Motorhead Slayer AC/DC lots of punk
bands but Pat Buckley has played with most of them already.
Mike Johnson: Any
plans of doing some out-of-town touring in the near future?
Nate: As much
as we can. We need a new vehicle though.
Mike Johnson: I'm
sure people are wondering, with the backgrounds that you all have
in other bands, why country?
Nate: I can only
speak for the others so much, but most of us had it around as
kids and came back to it later in life. For me, I love folk music
in its simple forms and have always been fascinated with the idea
of writing good songs that stand up on their own, just guitar
and voice, and experimenting with the arrangement and sound to
make something new. Country fits perfectly.
Nate: Its very American music.
So many people associate country with the unbelievably horrible
shit you hear on hot country radio. Its really sad. There
is so much good stuff out there, but people are listening. Funny
that Chicago is at the center of this new country movement, we
have a HUGE country radio station here, and they wont touch
any of it.
Mike Johnson: If
you weren't playing country (or punk), what would your next genre
of choice be?
Nate: Stoner
Rock with a baritone guitar.
Mike Johnson: Johnny
Cash or Elvis?
Nate: Johnny
Cash, though I do have a soft spot for fat wasted Elvis.
Mike Johnson: Old
Style or High Life?
Nate: Old Style
Mike Johnson: Five
top albums of all time?
Nate: I dont
really have many, I like songs mostly and it changes so often.
Bob Dylan Desire I love a lot and have been listening to again
lately. It s metal one week, country the next, then punk,
then rock; I can never make up my mind.
Mike Johnson: Five
favorite movies?
Nate: Hearts
of Darkness, Godfather, Empire Strikes Back, Hydrogen and You
(filmstrip), any Drivers Ed movie.
Mike Johnson: What's
the worst thing you ever got in trouble for when you were a kid?
Nate: What I
got in trouble for and what I did are 2 different things. As for
what I did, I still cant say publicly.
Mike Johnson: Anything
else you want to add?
Nate: 3985664233841636
+ 4866455698569 = 3990530689540205
for more info on The Siderunners please visit:
The
Siderunners home page
|