Q&A with WAXEATER guitarist

Bloomington’s own thrash band WAXEATER and Nashville, Tenn.-based rock trio The Grayces played to a rowdy crowd Friday night at the Bishop Bar with local post-punk band Anwar Sadat.

The Indiana Daily Student got up-close and personal with Rob Montage, guitarist and vocalist of WAXEATER, for a one-on-one take on the band members musical influences and what they’re doing next.

IDS: How, when and why did the band get started?

Montage: WAXEATER started in May of 2006. I started it to write and play with my friends and to make music that I wanted to hear, which I thought wasn’t happening much in Bloomington at the time.

IDS: What artists or which bands were your biggest influences when you started out?
Montage: We are definitely fans of bands like The Jesus Lizard, McLusky/Future of the Left, Helmet and anything with Steve Albini. We try to blend those influences without sounding like a stone-cold rip-off.

IDS: What are you listening to now?

Montage: As of now, we all listen to tons of different things because music is sweet.

IDS: Where did you and your band mates come from?

Montage: I have lived in Bloomington since 2001, but I grew up in San Diego. Aaron (Sortman) and Elliott (Turton) both live in Louisville, but the band is based in Bloomington because I live here.

IDS: Why do you play in Bloomington?

Montage: We play here because, well, it’s a place to play. In recent years, the tradition of fun house venues has persisted – there were a phenomenal number of places this year and last. And, I think the Bishop helps keep the legitimate venue scene happening, but we sorely need more venues. The community is great but usually doesn’t quite cater to what we do.

IDS: What do you like about making music, and why did you choose your sound over another genre?

Montage: I like making music because it is a great excuse to shout without reprimand, and tour the country making and visiting friends while having a quality, fun-time party. I think we play the noise-rock-ish style that we do because it’s aggressive without being stupid or bro-y, and I get really bored playing slow.


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THE GRAYCES (Iz Stone)

IDS: How and when did you and the band get together and start playing music?

STONE: We individually met in an intergalactic wormhole. We finally made it out together the spring of 2012 after losing a few other members to the infinite of space.

IDS: Why do you make music and perform?

STONE: Because we enjoy it, and we don’t want to waste our time doing things we don’t like.

IDS: How did you hear about the gig?

STONE: We were asked to come to Bloomington and do a WTIU Public Television special, as well as a WFHB Local Live radio interview. The TV special will broadcast Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. The radio show will go live Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 9:30 p.m. We wanted to play a show while we’re in town. So, we checked out what was going on in the venues. When we originally contacted the Bishop about playing that night, they told us it wasn’t available, and we decided we were going to play it, anyway. After contacting the other bands, we are [playing]. I’m sure the booking guy smiled a little when he saw our name on the line-up, after all. That’s the way we work.

IDS: Is there any kind of stereotype you’d like to address about women in the music industry in general?

STONE: I don’t feel it’s necessary to create anything as a female artist, just as an artist. If you want to get away from separation of sex in music, don’t give it attention in the first place. It doesn’t matter if I’m a male or female. What really matters is the art produced by creative individuals and the connection that is made with whoever it reaches.

IDS: What are your plans for the rest of the year? Any more stops in Indiana?

STONE: We don’t have anything solidified for serious dates, but this year we’re putting out a new album, which is exciting, and it’ll be our first full-length album with our lineup that we have now.

IDS: Do you have a name for the new album yet?

STONE: No, we don’t have a name yet, but there have been a couple things stirring around the pot. It’s better to wait ‘til the music is done and solidified, but, until the music is done, I don’t think it’s proper to name it.