interview with Vantana Row
What´s the name of your band? Vantana Row
How was the band formed? We met at the hook bar while Volly was dating the cousin of Ronnie Radke. We met after him and I had a fist fight, our first words to each other were actually while I was being handcuffed on Mission street in San Francisco 2010.
Can you tell about your band? We are a duo from Oakland, California and we duo lot of things around town. We have fun, set up our mercy table, drink smoke, tell about ways to think of life through channelling our dead relatives.
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? Jamey is from Antioch, CA and he drums like god. My name is Volly, I scream like a dying monk and I’m from Martinez, CA originally.
-What was the ambitions of the band when you started? We wanted to play house shows at first but later realized that the real free booze is actually at bars, then we started to become popular for some reason
but that was before we were called Vantana Row
Could you explain your music to someone that hasn’t heard you? Thrash, pop punk, and samples. We call it electropunk because electronic music should be used for non-conformists as well
Where was your first gig? Pacific ave in Santa Cruz, CA
Where was the latest gig? Deep in an alley in East Oakland
Who writes your songs?/Who writes the music who writes lyrics? Jamey writes the music, I write the lyrics
Who has the best sense of humor in the band? Jamey died
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? The living arrangements get bad. The songs get good. Our genre is electropunk. Punk with samples.
Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about? We picked it because Frank said we should. We love Frank. Our songs are about Frank. Most of them.
Do you write your own material or mainly covers? We did a cover of a Sheryl Crow song in our new album about Frank.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? Funny you would ask such a thing. DEMZ RIP is coming out soon. Frank is withholding it.
Do you have any clips on YouTube? Yes. If someone were to type Vantana Row on youtube, someone would ask you
How old are you?/What got you started in music? We are 23 and 25. Frank got us started in music. And my mom.
At what age did you start playing? 19 and Jamey started when he was 10.
How old were you guys when you first stood on stage? As little children
What year was the band started? 2010. But we’ve changed our name since then. Frank made us do it.
Best/worst gig you've played? At a pirate bar, completely themed like “The Caribbean”
What places will you be playing in in the immediate future? We should be playing at Gilman in Berkeley within the next few months.
Which band is the most naked you´ve seen? Probably Beneath The Massacre and Britney Spears
Is it always the same songs live? Never. Frank wouldn’t allow that.
Have you had any bigger tours from start to now? We will this year.
How big crowds do you usually play for? Oh, beeg beeg crowds
What are the plans for the rest of the year? Tour and then tour and then make friends
How do you get psyched up for a gig? Serve the community
What are your goals with your music? We want to show people a new style of music
Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? All ‘em
What are your sources of inspiration? God, homeless people, Forbes magazine, David Letterman, Holocaust documentaries
What's the first step when making a new song? We go to our local bathroom and write melodies in the stalls. Then we go to wash our hands and write lyrics.
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? It’s a change for sure.
What would be your dreams for the band? Tour Europe.
Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to? Mew, Be Your Own Pet, Mika Miko, The Number Twelve Looks Like You
What do you hold most dear? Frank
What would be your greatest fears for the future? Frank dying
When you are on stage, what do you fear most then? That I fart and no one hears it
Have you been in any other bands? Hiimyourmom, Mrs. Rage, Volly Advena
What do you work with outside of the band and the music? We drive around doing nothing but smoking cigarettes
What would you do if there was no music? Swim
How important are your fans? We believe in them
What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you? A fan messaged us about some lyrics that changed her life
How often do you rehearse? Every week
Where do you rehearse? East Oakland
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? “I’m Gon’ Die A Woman” and “Edging Goltress For The Sake Of I Be Back In Town One Day Betta Catch You Climbin Girl”
What do you feel is the best live band you've seen? The Chariot
What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? Drugs *laughs*
Do you have any webpages? jameyblaze.com has his webpage jameyblaze.com. He has placed some thing of ours on his home page.
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? Yes. “If you want it, do it. If you need it, become it.”
Describe your show, visually and musically There eight migits lined up at the back door, waiting for us to stop. We play, Frank comes up and does his typical exit speech. Then we go home.
How do you view the music indurty of today? It is a cyborg that thinks both digitally and mentally.
What advice would you like to give other bands? Have Frank as your manager. You won’t have to buy food.
What are the biggest obstacles for a band? We have none.
What is best/worst with playing the clubs? Sound guys are the best.
Tell us about upcoming gigs and why we should be at them? Honestly, no one should seen at our gigs. There is far too much blood and moaning
How would you describe your sound in one sentence A best man at a wedding learning he has syphilis because of the groom
What is your favorite crappy instrument? Toy piano with nylon strings
What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? Crashing at grandmas
Whats your Pre-show ritual? Showering
Do you have anything to add? Love is in the air, but only if you hold it. Holders are poker masters. Deal the cards and you EBT in your hands. Deal them again, and have syphilis. Love god, and make money in your basement. Tell the homeless in your community to do the shuffle, and you’ll have a democracy on your hands. Your hands will have blood on your hands. Your arms will have hands on your arms. And I will have an interview on your website. Love, Vantana Row
