A Dirty Dozen with MICAH LINDER of WAXPANEL – February 2019

According to a recent press release: “WAXPANEL is a Christian alternative/modern grunge band from San Antonio, Texas, that was originally conceived in July of 2008. Current members include Micah Lindner (vocals/guitar), Fletch (bass), James Esquibel (guitar), and Steve Boldway (drums). The band is dedicated to making music that blends their faith in Christ along with their personal life experiences to create a blend of music that is both emotional and from the heart.” We get Micah to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest release is called For Those Left Standing. It’s our debut album being released from Pavement Entertainment. This album was recorded over several years, and in multiple studios throughout Texas. Some of the songs being released, even feature members no longer a part of the band. This album is dedicated “For Those Left Standing” in WAXPANEL, on our eleventh year as a band. I wouldn’t say there are hidden nuggets on this release, aside from my eight year old son’s debut on a particular track. I’d say diehard fans would notice, that some of the material dates back to our first EP. We’ve released two EP’s prior to this album, but most of that music is hard to find online these days.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I come from a very musical family. I started playing instruments when I was eight years old. I realized I wanted to take music seriously, when I saw Slash on the Welcome To The Jungle video for the first time. I thought he looked so cool, and I loved his guitar. I made a pact with myself, that I would only own Gibson guitars. I saved up my money, and bought my first Gibson Les Paul when I graduated High School.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Nirvana’s Nevermind, Guns N Roses Appetite For Destruction, and Deftones Around The Fur, are all albums that have had a big influence on me. I’ve always wanted to take heavier styles of rock music, and combine them with lighter pop influences.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

WAXPANEL’s top five musical influences would be Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, Deftones, and Oasis.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Most of the people that come to mind first, have already passed away unfortunately. Noel Gallagher doesn’t do collaborations, but he would be my pick. I believe that Noel is one of the greatest songwriters of my generation. He’s written many timeless songs, and his music resonates with many generations. I’ve enjoyed his work in Oasis. I was fortunate to see him play last year with the High Flying Birds.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

WAXPANEL is a Christian rock band, that draws heavily from 90/s grunge and alternative bands. Our heart is to spread the Gospel, using musical styles that we grew up on. We were playing in a bar once, and an excited fan told me we sounded like Static X. I didn’t “cringe,” but I had to do a double take, to see if the person was joking with me or not. I think Static X has some cool songs, but I wasn’t expecting that comparison at all!

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

The best thing for me, is seeing the music that God has given us, connect with people at our shows. We’ve been telling stories about the songs for the past couple of years. It’s been amazing hearing how the music is helping others. We’ve heard stories from people, who’ve told us specifically how they can relate to the messages. This opens the door for us to pray for someone, and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

If we’re having a band hang out session, I would probably be the one busting out the acoustic guitar for a singalong. I write most of WAXPANEL’s music starting out on the acoustic. I love singalongs, and the opportunity to show the band new material I’ve been working on. Steve would probably do the cooking, and Fletch would bring the jokes. We’ve been playing music for many years together now. We played our first out of state show not long ago. We traveled to Omaha Nebraska, and opened for Paw’s 25th anniversary of their Dragline album. That was a weekend hang out session that we’ll never forget!

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

The last time I was star struck, was when I saw Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds last year in Austin. I’ve been on a UK artist kick for the past few years. Noel & Liam Gallagher, The Verve, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Johnny Marr, Richard Ashcroft, Paul Weller….  Fletch and I bought great some tickets, and it was my first VIP concert experience where I went all out. I loved how Noel had an elaborate band, and as the set wore on, more and more people exited the stage. At one point there was an intimate acoustic session, with only Noel and his pianist.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

That’s a tough one, because I’m constantly thinking about music. I’d love to travel the world, speaking to youth groups in Churches. Hopefully music will allow me to do this as well. Last Father’s day, WAXPANEL played for hundreds of kids at a Church camp. I was able to share my testimony, to our largest audience so far. It was a life changing experience, and I would definitely love to do that full time.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

A couple of years ago, we wasted quite a bit of money in a recording session. We thought we could cut corners, and decided to record with someone we didn’t know very well. Personally, I learned a ton from that experience. I’ll never record music again, with someone who doesn’t have impeccable music credentials. I’m really looking forward to recording our second album. Pavement Entertainment has many great connections for us to use, and we won’t be taken advantage of.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would want to be a part of Nirvana’s Nevermind recording session. That album probably means more to me than any other album out there. I’ll never forget where I was, when I heard “Smells Like Teen Spirit” for the first time. I was at an ice skating rink, and the DJ on the radio said “here’s a song from a new band called Nirvana. Tell us what you think.” After the song’s intro kicked in, hundreds of people stopped what they were doing. Most everyone in the place, just stared at the speakers, and remained silent throughout the duration of the song. My buddy nudged me and said “pay attention to what’s happening right now. You’re witnessing a moment in music history.”

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Category: Interviews