A Dirty Dozen with WEED from THE ODDEVEN – June 2020

According to a recent press release: “The OddEven (Baltimore, MD) was formed in June of 2019 and is comprised of seasoned touring musicians.  The band quickly began writing new material while simultaneously booking opening slot road dates with established bands, such as Faster Pussycat, Bang Tango, Soulfly, Last In Line (Dio), and Nonpoint in VA, GA, and LA respectively.  The band also headlined shows in FL, and MS, and showcased in Philly and NYC.” We get bassist Weed 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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Space Juice is a 4 song release of upbeat melodic hard rock that sounds like it could have been released in the 90’s or 00’s decades.  While it wasn’t really on purpose, we have never shied away from what we came up on, and so that is captured on our music.  A hidden nugget?  Hmmm…  well, we really wanted to make the bass guitar dirty, so you will notice that we threw some distortion on in spots – it is easily noticed during the bass/drum first verse of “Bleed for Something” – not sure if that is hidden, but something different.

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

My younger brother was playing guitar, and a bunch of guys I raced BMX with nationally were all into hard rock/heavy metal, so I started getting into it.  I was always plugging in my brother’s guitar, turning his amp up to 10, and just playing badly at top volume along with Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, etc.  I did it enough that he wanted me off the guitar, so my parents rented me one.  Only when I got to the store, I chose a bass because it looked cooler (and Nikki Sixx played four strings), so that is really what I started on and have pretty much stayed with bass in most bands I have been in.  My first band consisted of x-BMX racers.

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

Nothing specific.  I mean it has changed a lot over the years…  Van Halen to Led Zep to Kiss to Black Sabbath to Mötley Crüe to Ozzy to Guns and Roses to Metallica to Slayer Janes Addiction to Red Hot Chili Peppers to Rage Against the Machine to Nirvana to AIC to STP to Soundgarden to Fuel to Saliva to Nonpoint to Puddle of Mudd…  and then you can add in The Brothers Johnson to Bob Marley to Prince.  It is all over the place.  Mötley Crüe probably gave me the final push to pick up an instrument.  I wanted to play every song on Shout at the Devil.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Hard to limit to 5 – but if we are keeping it on the hard rock/metal side, maybe these 5:  Led Zep, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Rage Against the Machine…  but ask me tomorrow and I will have a different 5!

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

Someone that was well established, and I knew the song we made would be a hit.  I will never shy away from being popular and making $…  especially at this early stage of The OddEven.  Getting the band name out there is paramount, and if a we get there through a collaboration with an already famous musician, let’s do it.  Dave Grohl maybe?

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?

I think my earlier comment says it best “upbeat melodic hard rock that sounds like it could have been released in the 90’s or 00’s decades”.  To date, most reviews have been incredibly positive, so we haven’t had to deal with negative press.  Some people may think that the Alice in Chains comparison is negative I guess, but if someone wants to compare my band to one of my favorites of all time, please go for it…  more than okay with that comparison.

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

No one has cooked yet, but my roadie Nate and I seem to pick the restaurants we eat at often on the road.  We need an endorsement from one of the “breastaurants” – lol!!! I am usually first to suggest a beer and a shot, while my singer Robb usually has a more refined liquor beverage plan. We all play guitar, so anyone of us could be breaking out a guitar at any time for new song ideas or just to cover something cool for a singalong.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

That doesn’t happen often, but a few months back we played with Last in Line (original Dio members).  That was really cool – always fun to share the stage with some of your heroes coming up.  All super nice guys, and great to hang out with after the show.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

If I was forced to choose, I would probably say playing live.  That is why I started playing – to get up on stage. I am not sure what I would do if I wasn’t a musician…  own a slushi stand maybe?   Flip houses?  Something non-corporate.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

“Have you ever been to a Turkish prison?”  (and the answer is “no”). While it is relevant to the times we live in, I guess I am sick of “what have you guys been doing during the pandemic”…  not the interviewer’s fault for asking, I just want the whole thing to be over so we can get back to business as usual.

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?

Yeah…  multiple times where I got into bands with guys that didn’t have the same drive or energy that I have.  There are tons of musicians that are great players, but they are very happy being the “big fish in the little pond”.  I never wanted to settle, but in retrospect I did a few times.  I want whatever project I am involved in to go to the top.  If we give it our all and don’t quite reach our goals, then so be it, but too many times I have been in really talented bands where there were what I call “anchors” that  prevent you from reaching the top for various reasons.  Stay away from these people kids!!!

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?

Maybe the first Rage Against the Machine record.  When I put that on for the first time, that was one of the those “oh shit…  what do we have here?!?” moments.  Energy, aggression, protest/fight the power, hard rock/metal, funk, rap, etc. – all wrapped in one.  Amazing record.

THE ODDEVEN LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

Category: Interviews