I
originally featured today's guests back in 2012 when I reviewed their
superb S/T début album which I give a very positive review. It's
blend of infectious Hard Rock/Stoner Rock vibes has won them a loyal
following within the Hard Rock/Stoner Rock scene. It also helps they
know how to write catchy as hell tunes such as Mexiqo, Whatever
Happened and Hot For Pizza.
I
am honoured to be interviewing – TILTS – today who are about to
release their highly anticipated new album - Cuatro Hombres – which
was made possible by their hugely successful Kickstarter fund which
reached their set goal in double quick time.
With
a band that features ex-members of Shame Club, Riddle of Steel,
current members of Torche, and Blind Eyes among others. You know
there is some highly talented people behind this band.
So
lets get down to business with the mighty TILTS.
Q1
– Hi guys. Thanks for doing this. How are things with you today. As
you know I am a huge fan of your band.
Tilts:
Things are rad. Super stoked on the new record and currently
rehearsing for our upcoming Tilts Tiny Tour.
Q2
– Can you tell our readers a brief history of how Tilts came about
and where it is today.
Tilts:
Yes! Ken and Andy left Shame Club in '09. They wanted to continue
raging in a new band. We all go way back, played in bands together
before. Ken and Andy called Andrew E, asked him to jam, we later
hooked up with Shawn Hart on bass and started getting serious.
We're
all such good friends man, so it's been a crazy blast.
Andrew
later joined Torche in January 2011, but we've been continuing on
during down time and it's been awesome thus far. Currently on Robotic
Empire and couldn't be happier!
Q3
– How would yourselves describe your music as you have a lot of
crazy stuff going on.
Tilts:
Andy White says, "An '84 Camaro with hi-tops on and Oakleys for
a windshield. Like, if Brian Bosworth was a car that would be the car
and that car would be our music." Hahahaha!!
Q4
– It seems Tilts music is all about having a great time. Would you
ever consider writing a much more serious song now or in the future.
Tilts:
Nope. Though we may do a straight up dance record. No joke. As
stated before, we've known each other for about 18 years and have
been tight friends the whole time so when we get together it's
laughter until crying. No interest in furrowed brows, plenty of
other bands for that.
Q5
– You're about to release your new album. - Cuatro Hombres. Can you
tell us what the album is all about.
Tilts:
Well, of course the title is an obvious tip o' the hat to ZZ Top.
For us, it's our 4th release as the prior full length is actually a
collection of 3 ep's. It's a continuation of our original plan, to
have a good time all the time. It's about a wizard getting fitted
for Air Jordans at a Footlocker in Middle Earth.
Q6
– Was it an easy or hard album to write and record for.
Tilts:
Easy on so many levels. We love writing together and can crank em
out by the truckload. Life gets in the way as always, heavy stuff
tries to darken the vibes, divorce, people moving away, hell Ken was
diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in January, 2012. I mean, holy
shit. Ken is a beast and has been steady fighting, refusing to let
it change much if anything at all in his daily affairs. It gets
tough but spirits are high as ever.
Q7
– Both of your albums were funded by Kickstarter Crowd-funding
projects. And they have both been extremely successful. Was that an
easy decision to make to ask your fans to fund the release of both of
your albums.
Tilts:
We were super happy with how both campaigns turned out, and lucky to
have Robotic Empire largely running the show. "Fans funding the
record" isn't quite right though since we ran both Kickstarters
basically as a big pre-sell. So it wasn't any more "fan funded"
than any other release that any band would do except that the records
were pre-ordered. It was awesome all around. No one had to go into
debt, people got to participate, and we've been able to release two
records.
Q8
– Crowd-funding seems to be very controversial at the moment. A lot
of bands and musicians are for it but a lot are against it as well.
Can you tell our readers your experiences using Kickstarter. Good or
bad.
Tilts:
Well, see above. But yeah, it's an interface where our fans can
pre-order and get behind the release. So really, to say we aren't
down with it, would be like saying we aren't down with the fans
putting into it, which we aren't gonna do. The idea that it's more
honorable or whatever to go heavily into debt or be forced into some
shitty contract is the least DIY thing we can imagine.
Q9
– The Vinyl Record is being released on Robotic Empire Records. How
did you hook up with them. Great label doing excellent work.
Tilts:
Andrew's old band Riddle of Steel had a release on Robotic. We kept
Andy Low at Robotic in the loop as to what Tilts was up to and
eventually all parties decided to work together. It's been an awesome
fit and Andy Low has been super supportive and a big believer in what
we're doing.
Q10
– What is the song-writing dynamic with Tilts. Is it a group
collective or down to one individual. Plus what influences you when
writing a Tilts track.
Tilts:
The songs are 98% collaboration. Occasionally someone has an idea or
two to bring to the band, but it's always a group thing. As to
influences, the bands we like are obvious. I mean, we have a song
called "Hot For Pizza." It's a fun and shameless time
influenced mainly by laughter.
Q11
– You're all involved with different bands and projects. How hard
is it for you all to get together to record new music and tour
together.
Tilts:
It can get tricky. But we're all down for the cause so it's no
sacrifice. We want to be doing what we're doing and we're all deep
bros willing to commit the time needed to do what we love to do.
Q12
– You're début album received a lot of praise within the Stoner
Rock community. Did it surprise you the response you received for
your début album.
Tilts:
Hmm, surprise maybe isn't the word we'd use. But happy for sure.
It's always nice to be appreciated, no matter who's doing the
appreciating. The stoner rock scene, is largely well informed on
good classic rock: Truth And Janey, Buffalo, Iron Claw, etc. so it
makes sense that scene would latch on to what we're doing.
Q13
– How big of a help has BandCamp and the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal
community been in promoting your music.
Tilts:
Bandcamp has been awesome as far as ease of getting music to people.
It's a great site. And any love we get, from anyone ever, from any
scene ever, is always appreciated.
Q14
- What is your musical set-up when playing live or recording your
music. Any hints and tips would you like to give to the budding
musicians out there.
Tilts:
Andy says, "We face our cabs to the ground to communicate with
the eternal spirit." When we record, the approach is very
plug-in-and-play without trying to be contrived or force some kind of
vibe. It fits the music we write and is super satisfying as opposed
to sucking all the life and excitement out of our tunes with 600
takes of guitar or whatever.
Q15
– Which bands and artists influenced you as musicians. Any
particular band or album that stand out.
Tilts:
As a group it's pretty obvious: Van Halen, ZZ Top, Devo, Sabbath,
BOC, Zeppelin and the like. Individually, it would be a list 100
pages long. We work together where the common loves occur.
Q16
– If you could change anything within the Hard Rock scene. What
would it be and why.
Tilts:
Wow. Hard to say. Shawn wants to bring back funk metal (probably).
Andy wants less guitar solos, more Bit-o-Honeys. Ken wants world
peace and Andrew wants a nice cigar in the evening.
Otherwise,
we'd be cool with less bullshit. But who wouldn't?
Q17
- We are massive Vinyl Heads here at Sludgelord. Are you vinyl fans
yourselves. And if so what are your favorite records you currently
own.
Tilts:
Huge fans of vinyl but we may not own as much as we'd like. Current
faves, Deep Purple - Machine Head, Richard Pryor - That Nigger's
Crazy, Glass Candy, Herb Alpert, Paul Simon, old Leo Kotke, Zeppelin
III, Sabbath IV, Brant Bjork, Nektar.... Could go on for ages.
Q18
– When Tilts do tour, do you guys perform a lot of gigs in your
home town or do you have to travel further afield to perform
regularly.
Tilts:
We wish we could tour way, way more but life has a way of fudging up
the plans. We play St. Louis more than anywhere else, but always
hoping to hit the road and do whenever the stars align. Touring
overseas for Tilts is still a dream. One day!
Q19
– If you could give any advice to someone wanting to start a band.
What would it be.
Tilts:
Do it for honest reasons. Set goals. Practice at home. Find like
minded people you get along with and play as much as you possibly
can. Stay rad, stay hopeful and expect nothing.
Q20
– The last thing before you go, Do you have anything else to say to
your fans.
Tilts:
Thank you, everyone, everywhere. Though we'd be playing together
regardless, it means an awful lot that anyone gives a shit. Always
humbling.
Well
guys thanks for doing this. All the best with the new album. Can't
wait to hear it.
Be
Excellent To Each Other.
Thanks
to Tilts for this great interview. Our review of their new album -
Cuatro Hombres – will be published soon. You can buy the album from
here.
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Written
by Steve Howe
