Hiya Clifton Weaver, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
I can’t really point to one thing. Since I was a little kid, I’ve always loved music. My parents even bought me a turntable and some records when I was three so I could stop bugging them to play records for me. Haha!
Introduce us to you all and your musical history.
We’ve got John Duran on guitar and vocals. Sean McBreen on bass. Harry Parr on drums and backing vocals. Victor Salazar on guitar and backing vocals. And I play keys, guitar, harmonica, percussion; whatever extra is needed for a song.
What’s the live music scene like in Los Angeles right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
Band-wise, the live music scene is very healthy. There’s great bands of all genres playing almost every night of the week. Unfortunately, like a lot of major cities, venues have been closing left and right; that or they’re bought ought by corporations with prohibitive booking policies.
I’ve seen a lot of people struggling for support recently online. What’s your view on the industry?
As healthy as the band scene is, things like streaming and the corporatization of venues have led to there being less financial support for musicians. It can also make it difficult to get crowds out as some venues have pretty harsh policies regarding audiences and it’s just easier for them to listen to online.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
I’m not sure. It’s hard to judge from the inside. Someone else, with a more objective view, is probably best suited to make that assessment.
Tell us two truths and a lie about you.
I’m the oldest member of the band. I’ve never left the country. I’m 6ft tall.
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
I’m not sure if “worry” is the right word. But, I think anyone of good conscience wouldn’t want to hurt or offend someone needlessly. Having said that, I also don’t think we’d compromise our values or morals to not be ‘canceled’; that also extends to our musical message/values.
Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories? If not, why not?
Not really. I find most conspiracy theories have an unrealistic view of how people work/organize. It’s tough enough getting five people to agree on when to have band practice. There’s no way thousands of people in secret organizations across countries are working together.
What was your best experience on stage?
Hmmm… Around the time I first joined the band, we played a warehouse party in Orange County and the crowd (mainly kids) were SUPER into the show. They even started a mosh pit! Imagine kids moshing to garage rock. Definitely the best, most memorable experience for me.
What was your worst experience on stage?
I can’t point to any one experience as THE worst. A good friend of mine once explained that to have any kind of longevity in music you have to love the bad shows as well as the good. Anything that wasn’t great was a learning experience.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I’m not sure about the other members but I think people would be surprised to know that I love disco and also gardening.
What are the next steps you plan to take as a band to reach the next level?
I’m not sure how many other steps there are. Musicians rehearse, write, and perform. We do have a tour coming up which should definitely put us on another level. Afterwards, more rehearsals, writing, recording, and performing.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
We’re excited for everyone to hear our new material! We’ve stayed true to our 60s roots but have also worked really hard to put our original stamp on the sound. The sonic palette is a bit broader and the arrangements, to my ears, sound more developed; they take the listener on a journey.
What was the recording process like?
In order to maintain the “lo-fi”/garage rock aesthetic, the recording was done between actual garages and rehearsal studios. We’re pretty tight as a unit and after rehearsing the new songs, we were able to record 3 to 4 songs per session.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
I can’t point to any one thing as the biggest learning curve. But, with every recording and every song, we constantly challenge ourselves to become better musicians; to learn new techniques/skills to flesh out the songs. This batch of tunes is no different. What you hear is the sound of a band striving to evolve and grow.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Not a thing.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Just a wish for peace, freedom, justice, and security for everyone.
FOLLOW THEM HERE
🇺🇸 FOR MORE NEW MUSIC NEWS FROM THE USA CHECK OUT RGM USA 🇺🇸