El Danno: When, where and how did The Glasspack become a band and can you give us some history on the band?
Dave: The Glasspack was formed in Louisville, Kentucky sometime in February, 1999. I had just quit jamming with the notorious Louisville band "Blacklisted" and decided to start a new rock band. So I stayed home for a week, learned some blues scales on my acoustic, smoked weed, listened to nothing but Hooker-n-Heat (John Lee Hooker with Canned Heat), and practiced singing and playing guitar simultaneously. Next, I wrote The Glasspack`s first two songs, "Smut" and "Shut Up and Ride". Then I gathered Andy Garrett (from Blacklisted also) to play guitar, Chris Matthews to play bass, and Brian Foor to play drums. We jammed for about two weeks and decided to record with Jon Cook (Crain) and play a show on the same day with just two songs. We started warming up for recording at Jon`s house and started playing what was soon to be "Hall of the Mountain Speedlab". We didn`t know Jon was recording us and this is the track as it is on "American Exhaust". So basically "Speedlab" was the first glasspack song ever recorded and it was used as the first track on "American Exhaust". We also recorded two never surfaced takes of "Smut" and "Shut Up and Ride". We then played our first show that night in Louisville with Louisville bands "Purple Jesus" and "My Own Victim" at the now closed Mercury Paw (r.i.p.).
The recording from Jon`s was never properly mixed but we ended up sending it to Man`s Ruin out of curiousity beacuse we found out they were into rock-n-roll. Frank called us back and told us he loved that shitty demo and wanted to put something out in early spring 2000 and we need to find someone and somewhere to record us. This was all in the summer of 1999. Later that summer we got Zach Dorsett to play bass and Brett Holesclaw to play drums. See The Glasspack line up is not anything that is concrete. The Glasspack is a group of about 15 of my friends that all know the songs. Basically, Andy and I run the business side of the band and I write the music and lyrics. Everyone else, bass players, piano players, and drummers, just take turns so the survival of our band is not jeopardized. All of us have to work, therefore, not all of us have the same work schedules and flexibility. We are a rock band that has been adapted to the times. Anyway, after that line up change, we played more shows with such bands as "The Frogs" and "Melt Banana" and looked to our buddy Will Hancock to record us in his basement in october 1999. This was to be "American Exhaust". At this time we started recording and having enough of a crowd turnout in Louisville to start booking, promoting, and headlining our own shows. I do most of the work because it was my pipe dream.
El Danno: Where are you guys located and is there much of a heavy rock scene where you live?
Dave: The Glasspack is from and of Louisville, Kentucky. There is a shitload of music here. I know musicians of every kind. Louisville is a cheap nice place to live, making it great for a musician or artist. There are three or four distinctive rock scenes here. There is an all ages scene which involves punk rock (this is where I came from). There is also a scene here which involves hardcore and emo rock. There is an artsier over 21 rock scene which involves indie type bands. And there is a metal scene here which inlcludes such music as metal, rap-metal, death-metal, and such.
To tell ya the truth, there is a lot of rock-n-roll segregation here but I dont believe in all that. I believe it`s all rock-n-roll, fuck all the names. Names are only good for marketing not for society purposes. This might be why The Glasspack draws from all the different types of scenes here. We are also one of a kind here. Most bands in Louisville really are original.
El Danno: What are some of your favorite bands in the area where you live?
Dave: My favorite band of all time from Louisville is "The Hookers". They kicked fuckin ass. We played a shop with them once in Louisville and a fight broke out during our set and one during their set. It was funny as shit. The Louisville bands I grew up with and loved are "Bush League", "Kinghorse" (Caroline, early 90s), "Crain" (Restless Records, early 90s), and "Oblong Box". In the early 90s, Louisville was booming with hard rock. It died over a couple of years and then all these art fag bands started popping up. Then, I got tired of it and started The Glasspack to bring rock back to Louisville. And it worked. Now we have such bands as "Starkiller" (ex-hookers), "Purple Jesus" (r.i.p.), "Without Further Ado", "The Brothers of Conquest" (Tee Pee Records, ex-Hookers, ex-Purple Jesus, and ex-Starkiller). As you can see, a lot of bands in Louisville share members. It`s because the scenes here are real tight and everyone knows everyone. And everyone plays music in Louisville. Louisville is a great place but it gets boring sometimes just like anyother place.
El Danno: What do you think of the Internet and what postive and/or negative effects has it had on The Glasspack?
Dave: I think the Internet is fuckin genius for instructional and informational reasons. It`s a great learning source. It is also a very powerful tool of communication. It has had a major positive impact on The Glasspack. We can communicate long distance for cheaper, we can communicate with our fans and possible business partners on a one-on-one basis, and we can access our market easier.
El Danno: Nate Mountain and I listened to your debut full length album "American Exhaust" on shrooms shortly after I received it for review. We were honestly blown away by it. The influences of Monster Magnet`s "Spine of God" space rock and The MC5`s punk `n` roll attitude are what seem most prevalent to me but there is so much diversity in the album I would hate to pin it down to just those two influences. What would you say are the main influences behind The Glasspack`s sound?
Dave: It would be really hard to tell you who our influences are but I write most of the music so I can tell you guys what I like to listen to and what has moved me. You definetly got the Monster Magnet and MC5 right. I love both of those bands a lot. "Spine of God" has made me shake my head and wish I had wrote "Black Mastermind". Then MC5`s "High Times" has made me call in to work just to get high and ride my bike around the city of Louisville. I have also always been fascinated with "Hawkwind", "Chrome", and other space rock bands since I was a kid. I have explored music since i was old enough to put my dad`s needle on one of his records. He really molded me by listening to "Credence Clearwater Revival". I have had people tell me The Glasspack was just a fast reincarnation of C.C.R.. I completely understand this because of my use and love of simple blues scales. I am also a very big "Misfits" fan. It disgusts me how Danzig won`t play with them and they play anyway. I feel like Danzig should just at least do one tour for his younger fans. You know he probably needs the money by now.
"Black Sabbath" and "Cream" have always been the way i want The Glasspack to sound live. "The Stooges" and "Hooker-n-Heat" have always been the way I wanted The Glasspack to sound on recordings. I do like some more current bands like "Mudhoney", "The Oblivians", and "The Hellacopters". There is just too much, I could go on forever. One thing is for sure though, I am a ROCK-N-ROLL MAN. Anything else is civilized.
El Danno: "American Exhaust" was originally supposed to be released on Man`s Ruin Records but you guys decided to release it on your own. How come?
Dave: As above in the first question you asked me, Kozik told me he wanted us to record a full-length for Man`s Ruin. Being the work-a-holic that I am, The Glasspack started recording "American Exhaust" with Will Hancock immediately. Kozik was supposed to pay for us to record and send a contract. But we never heard from him before we were done and I figured he would eventually take care of it after Man`s Ruin settled their distribution problems in 2000 and I knew it would back up the plans of our CD being released in spring 2000 so we just waited and eventually tried to contact him several times with no replies. Eventually, near the end of 2000 we figured out Kozik wasn`t going to do it. So we got stuck having to pay our buddy and eat the words of Man`s Ruin for all of our friends. It`s o.k. though, we understood shit happens and one of our friends (he goes by "Toad") and I figured we would get a shitty loan to pay for having it manufactured in a quantity of 1000. So we made up "Riverock Records" for this reason. We got a lot of help from our friends and we did it and got it out there. We still hope to do something with Man`s Ruin. There are no hard feelings. The Glasspack wants to do as much as possible with any label.
El Danno: I talked to you on the phone a while back and you told me that the "All that`s Heavy Online Store on StonerRock.com" was the only store that had any interest in selling "American Exhaust" to the people. I find this shocking because it`s such a well done album. Is this still the case or are you having more luck getting the album out in to stores now? Why do you think there`s been such a lack of response to this album?
Dave: Yes, for a while StonerRock.com was the only place outside of Louisville that carried our c.d.. Most distributors won`t disribute a label with one release on it and that`s the answer we got when we tried anyway. The Glasspack always tries anyway, no matter what. You guys at StonerRock.com are just all about the music and are cool enough to overlook the politics of rock-n-roll. The Glasspack is the people`s rock band. We don`t agree with the politics of rock-n-roll and if we get a chance we will destroy them. We did it in Louisville and we are going to take it as far as it will go. We can`t do it alone though. Everyone has to come together to stand up against the system of politics that seems to have taken over rock-n-roll. It is starting to happen though, people like StonerRock.com and The Glasspack are starting to know each other and find that we all share one thing in common; "fuck all the bullshit, let`s rock, fuck the money, fuck the good-looks, and most of all fuck all the rules! And with the computer and the Internet we can do that, we can unite to take rock-n-roll back. As far as any response to the album, everyone who has heard it said it kicks ass. We just had to break the barriers and get it out there.
El Danno: You also told me on the phone that you do all of the promotional tasks for The Glasspack yourselves. How is this going? Are you having much luck getting The Glasspack recognized via self promotion? Do you think 100% self promotion is a viable option for bands right now? How about in the future?
Dave: Yes, The Glasspack does all of it`s promotion and business. And yes, it is possible in this period of time to have a band that way. It`s all due to the Internet but if your band rocks it will always help break the barriers (Join The Glasspack Army at [email protected]). Rock is powerful. So is the Internet. If you want something done right you`ve got to do it yourself. I was totally nursed by the punk-rock, DIY thing. "Lookout honey cause I`m using technology" -Iggy
El Danno: You just signed a record deal with Small Stone Records. How did that come about?
Dave: We sent them a copy of "American Exhaust" and they loved the songs. Small Stone like The Glasspack for the same reasons you guys do; the punkrock attitude and the powerful riffs.
El Danno: Can you give us some details on the record your going to release on Small Stone? (IE: is it a full length or an EP, have you started writing it yet, when is the projected release date etc?)
Dave: I can give you some of the details but they are subject to change. The CD will either be called "Harrassing Communications" or "Verbal Assault and Unnational Anthems, Uncorporated". We already have a lot of new songs due to the time preiod between when we recorded "American Exhaust" and when it hit the market. But there will probably be some of the same songs from "American Exhaust" on it as well because the recording and promotion will be better for this release. It will definitely be a full-length. The idea behind the title and songs is much revolved around calling out the powers that be. Small Stone plans for a fall/2001 or winter/2002 release date. We are going to attempt to record the tracks all in the last weekend of July.
El Danno: Besides the Small Stone release, what does the future hold for The Glasspack? Any tours or other releases planned?
Dave: The Glasspack is always willing to work with any independant labels but at this time no more releases are scheduled. We are currently trying to work out a small tour for October that would include the west coast and Witch Mountain. We will probably also tour next spring and/or fall for the Small Stone release.
And now for the "StonerRock.Com 13 Stupid Questions" portion of the interview... These are just some quick and fun questions we usually ask during every interview. You don`t have to take these too seriously, just have fun with them and be as brief or detailed as you like.
El Danno: If you weren`t a rocker, what would you most like to be?
Dave: I would like to be a painter if I couldn`t be a rocker. It`s the closest thing to being a rocker because I could still do whatever I want and blame it on being an artist. It`s definetly a hard life and a good excuse for not having, not being, and/or not doing anything else.
El Danno: What was your worst gig and why? What was your best gig and why?
Dave:My worst gig with The Glasspack was the time I don`t remember playing the show. I think it was last summer and I think I had been drinking and smoking heavily and had about 40 valiums in my pocket. I don`t know where I was at. I really don`t know anything.
El Danno: Top 3 movies, books and albums of all time?
Dave: My top five favorite movies are as follows:
- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
- Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (Clint fuckin rules!)
- Planet of the Apes
- Omega Man (Charlton fuckin rules!)
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
My top three favorite books are as follows:
- Sexual Astrology
- Everything You`ll Ever Need to Know About Astrology
- Guerrilla Marketing for the Home Based Business
My top five favorite albums at the moment are as follows:
- Black Sabbath/Black Sabbath
- The Stooges/Funhouse
- The MC5/High Times
- Kiss/Kiss
- Jimi Hendrix/Axis: Bold as Love
El Danno: How often do you surf the net and what do you mostly do while online?
Dave: I really don`t surf the net. When I am online I am usually looking for naked chicks and dealing with The Glasspack`s e-mail. Join The Glasspack Army at [email protected].
El Danno: What is your favorite city and venue to play, and why?
Dave:I think my favorite venue that The Glasspack has played is The Ritz in Austin, Texas. Texas is really into rock and that venue kicks ass. Austin kicks ass!
El Danno: What is the most Rock `n` Roll thing you`ve ever done? What`s the most Rock `n` Roll thing you`ve seen someone else do?
Dave: I have done a lot of stupid rock-n-roll things. The one I liked the best was hopping on stage and smashing an acoustic guitar over our bassplayer Zach`s head when he wasn`t looking. It was the dramatic beginning of a Glasspack set.
The most rock-n-roll thing I have ever seen someone else do was when i got to see Ted Nugent live and he put on the indian headdress and shot his guitar with a bow, arrow, and pyrotechnics. The Glasspack is gonna open for the Nuge one day.
El Danno: What`s your worst `bad trip` story?
Dave: I took some acid one time a long time ago and had a good reason to believe one of my friends was unconcious and was being possessed by some sort of wolfman. I dont like to talk about it.
El Danno: What`s the most painful thing you have ever witnessed at a rock show?
Dave: I saw this dude`s head get busted wide open at a Morbid Angel show. They had to stop playing and there was blood and shit everywhere.
El Danno: How old were you when you first realize you wanted to rock?
Dave: I wasn`t born yet.
El Danno: What`s the most embarrassing job you ever had?
Dave: I used to clean the toilets at a local rock bar in Louisville. I played music there as well.
El Danno: What`s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Dave: Chocolate
El Danno: If you could date any rock star dead or alive in the world, who would it be? Movie star?
Dave: I want Fiona Apple to have a seat on my lap. It would also be cool to go back in a time machine and date the actress who played Nova in The Planet of the Apes.
El Danno: What would be the ultimate dream gig of all time line-up be, with your band opening? Limit to 3 bands please (including your own...) and where?
Dave: The MC5, The Stooges, The Glasspack, Detroit 1969
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