LOCALIZED
by Jennifer Nielsen [pumpkins213@hotmail.com]
Issue 223 / July 2007 More from this Issue
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Localized is a monthly music showcase held the second Friday of every month at the Urban Lounge. This months Localized will be held on Friday the 13th and will feature Junta Deville, Spooky Deville and opening band Dubbed.
JUNTA DEVILLE
Juanta Spock – bass, vocals
Juanta Clint – keyboards
Juanta Mark – guitar
Photo By Adam Dorobiala
Junta Deville have only been together for two years, but their current distaste for corrupt politics and anger towards our government began years ago in Spock's early punk incarnations. Living in San Francisco, his bands Carnage and House of Wheels opened for TSOL, Dead Kennedys, 7 Seconds and even Jane's Addiction. While those groups certainly influence Junta Deville—especially the vocals, which at times sound like Jello Biafra’s—they don’t carry on with the confrontational, in-your-face attitude. Nor do they name drop to give them the "cult status like it is now for punk bands. Back then you just saw bands you were into." Further inspiration comes from non-musicians like Aldous Huxley, Kurt Vonnegut Jr and President Eisenhower. Junta Deville’s songs are socially conscious without out being preachy. "Our songs are more lyrical like reading a story. Pay attention to the lyrics and you might learn something if you're not careful," Spock said.
Did you know that KBR [subsidiary of Halliburton, and the largest non-union construction company in the US] is building the American Embassy in Iraq bigger than the Vatican? Spock told me this and continued on his rant. "It's not about Iraqi freedom; it's about money in people's pockets." He encourages others to look to the source: www.followthemoney.org. It's a machine that's out of control. The money is too lucrative. "Corporatocracy," as Clint calls it.
"See," he tells Spock, "That's a lot of anger."
"Yeah," Spock concedes, "I'm fuckin' pissed off."
Spock is quick to restate that they’re not too confrontational. Listening to their demo (which they burn to give away freely, no label to stop them), you can hear the frustration of a "rock 'n roll band with augmented chords". Rock 'n Roll that sounds like The Stooges, Television, Sonic Youth and a bit of John Densmore (The Doors).
The only thing missing from their lives is a permanent drummer. It doesn't hinder them from recording though (they use a session drummer) or wanting to recreate the feeling of shows at The Speedway Cafe. Catch them at the Urban Lounge on Fri., 13 before they play a few shows in San Francisco.
SPOOKY DEVILLE
Billy Diesel – guitar
Kid Gruesome – rambles
Dozer – tries to sing
El Cucuy – upright bass
Photo By Adam Dorobiala
In the middle of recording a song for the soundtrack of Gris Grimly’s upcoming movie, Cannibal Flesh Riot!, Spooky DeVille took a moment away from the studio to chat with me about themselves and their music. Unfortunately, the conversation was brief and the phone connection, not so great. I did get a sense of their humor (perhaps sillier than normal due to long hours recording) and sound—enough to tempt you to see their live show.
While both of this month's Localized bands happen to have 'Deville' in their name and their style is rooted in punk rock, they sound completely different. Spooky Deville plays self-proclaimed 'Krunkabilly' Billy Diesel says they're "technically psychobilly, but we really just play rock 'n roll music."
"Yeah, only it's scary like Scooby-Doo," adds Kid Gruesome.
The band has only been playing together since March 19, 2006, (yes, they know the exact date) but has already accomplished many things. Spooky DeVille have already self-released a CD, Breathe Transylvania, and just got back from a brief tour with Mad Sin (Berlin, Germany). They’ve also been invited to play the esteemed Hollywood Showdown at The Knitting Factory alongside Guana Batz (UK), Hellblasters, The Nutrinos and Zombillyz. Looking at their spine-chilling Myspace profile you come to understand they’re becoming a big deal and are known in strange locations around the globe. Horror rock is a lot more popular than the average person would think. Spooky Deville pulls their sound together from older music: "80s, doo wop, punk rock, surf blues, western, Jagermeister..." and then they start laughing.
They laughed again when I asked some bands they’d like to be compared to: "Coffin Cats, Polyphonic Spree, John Denver, Slipknot…" Fortunately, they sound nothing like Slipknot and you can hear how spooky Spooky Deville really is during July’s Localized.
JUNTA DEVILLE
Juanta Spock – bass, vocals
Juanta Clint – keyboards
Juanta Mark – guitar
Photo By Adam Dorobiala
Junta Deville have only been together for two years, but their current distaste for corrupt politics and anger towards our government began years ago in Spock's early punk incarnations. Living in San Francisco, his bands Carnage and House of Wheels opened for TSOL, Dead Kennedys, 7 Seconds and even Jane's Addiction. While those groups certainly influence Junta Deville—especially the vocals, which at times sound like Jello Biafra’s—they don’t carry on with the confrontational, in-your-face attitude. Nor do they name drop to give them the "cult status like it is now for punk bands. Back then you just saw bands you were into." Further inspiration comes from non-musicians like Aldous Huxley, Kurt Vonnegut Jr and President Eisenhower. Junta Deville’s songs are socially conscious without out being preachy. "Our songs are more lyrical like reading a story. Pay attention to the lyrics and you might learn something if you're not careful," Spock said.
Did you know that KBR [subsidiary of Halliburton, and the largest non-union construction company in the US] is building the American Embassy in Iraq bigger than the Vatican? Spock told me this and continued on his rant. "It's not about Iraqi freedom; it's about money in people's pockets." He encourages others to look to the source: www.followthemoney.org. It's a machine that's out of control. The money is too lucrative. "Corporatocracy," as Clint calls it.
"See," he tells Spock, "That's a lot of anger."
"Yeah," Spock concedes, "I'm fuckin' pissed off."
Spock is quick to restate that they’re not too confrontational. Listening to their demo (which they burn to give away freely, no label to stop them), you can hear the frustration of a "rock 'n roll band with augmented chords". Rock 'n Roll that sounds like The Stooges, Television, Sonic Youth and a bit of John Densmore (The Doors).
The only thing missing from their lives is a permanent drummer. It doesn't hinder them from recording though (they use a session drummer) or wanting to recreate the feeling of shows at The Speedway Cafe. Catch them at the Urban Lounge on Fri., 13 before they play a few shows in San Francisco.
SPOOKY DEVILLE
Billy Diesel – guitar
Kid Gruesome – rambles
Dozer – tries to sing
El Cucuy – upright bass
Photo By Adam Dorobiala
In the middle of recording a song for the soundtrack of Gris Grimly’s upcoming movie, Cannibal Flesh Riot!, Spooky DeVille took a moment away from the studio to chat with me about themselves and their music. Unfortunately, the conversation was brief and the phone connection, not so great. I did get a sense of their humor (perhaps sillier than normal due to long hours recording) and sound—enough to tempt you to see their live show.
While both of this month's Localized bands happen to have 'Deville' in their name and their style is rooted in punk rock, they sound completely different. Spooky Deville plays self-proclaimed 'Krunkabilly' Billy Diesel says they're "technically psychobilly, but we really just play rock 'n roll music."
"Yeah, only it's scary like Scooby-Doo," adds Kid Gruesome.
The band has only been playing together since March 19, 2006, (yes, they know the exact date) but has already accomplished many things. Spooky DeVille have already self-released a CD, Breathe Transylvania, and just got back from a brief tour with Mad Sin (Berlin, Germany). They’ve also been invited to play the esteemed Hollywood Showdown at The Knitting Factory alongside Guana Batz (UK), Hellblasters, The Nutrinos and Zombillyz. Looking at their spine-chilling Myspace profile you come to understand they’re becoming a big deal and are known in strange locations around the globe. Horror rock is a lot more popular than the average person would think. Spooky Deville pulls their sound together from older music: "80s, doo wop, punk rock, surf blues, western, Jagermeister..." and then they start laughing.
They laughed again when I asked some bands they’d like to be compared to: "Coffin Cats, Polyphonic Spree, John Denver, Slipknot…" Fortunately, they sound nothing like Slipknot and you can hear how spooky Spooky Deville really is during July’s Localized.
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