D-Day's Revenge....
Speak Your Mind!
Jenna Syde & The Watchers speak with D-Day...
I've been putting up a string of interviews featuring thrash, death and black recently.... so I'm now going to tone it back a bit with a great hard rock band called Jenna Syde & the Watchers.
This was a fun interview and all of the band members jumped in to give some fun answers. I'm sure all of the colors I use to show the different people answering will make it look like a psychedelic mind trip.......... So have fun with Jenna, Dread, Hel and Germ!
Yes Germ, I made yours purple...
D-Day: First off, thank you for chatting with D-Day's Revenge!
Jenna-Anytime man thanks for hitting us up.
Dread- hellyeah, thanks for the interest.
Hel-thanks for the interest as well
Germ- SWEET! (ouch... i'm still drunk, that hurt my head)
D-Day: What were your first influences for music and getting into the biz?
Jenna - My Dad, Pat Benetar, David Bowie, The Pretenders, X, Etc.....
Dread: KISS in 1977 was it. Ace Frehley was my guitar god. Over the years though, my interests grew into the punk movement of the late 70's and early 80's.
Hel-Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, King Diamond, Slayer, Corrosion of Conformity and oddly Rush and mostly for the drumming. Getting into it? Well my family has music in it’s blood and I had an older neighborhood friend that would play to Rush. I asked him once to see him play and that’s what got me into drums and Rush…he played all songs exactly the same with the same huge ass kit…at age 13 it was mesmerizing and had a major WOW factor and influence on me making me take up the drums.
Germ- I hate this question... I know it was the Rock (Kiss, Aerosmith, Elton John) that made me listen to music... but it was bands like Dead Kennedys, Fear, Circle Jerks and Devo (Yes! Devo!!) That made me want to Play in a band!
D-Day: If you could choose any 3 bands to tour with on a worldwide scale, who would they be and why?
Jenna- Bowie ( my idol ) Juliet and The Licks ( the music is cohesive to ours ) Buck Cherry ( They're a Big Rock Band at the moment and it would be a great party and business move )
Dread: GWAR (though we wouldn't be a wise opener but they're the hardest working band in the biz, hands down and i beg to differ with anyone and they're my friends), Alice Cooper (cuz he still rules), and Ace Frehley
Hel-Velvet Revolver, Alice n Chains… I think playing with those types of bands would certainly expose us to the crowd that would dig our stuff…no sense in touring with let’s say thrash metal bands because it wouldn’t really reach an audience that is more in our range of music. But, I wouldn’t hesitate playing any gig, for me it’s about playing in front of a crowd regardless and hangin with people.
Germ - Hannah Montana - Taylor Swift and Lady GaGa! wait...??
D-Day: What are your plans for music to be released for the fans to hear?
Jenna- Right now we have the 1st Jenna Syde & The Watchers Ep up on Myspace and are working on the next 4 to blast your ears with soon. After that we are putting up a full length album and 2 videos are in the works. Until then you can only get a C.D. Through contacting us on www.myspace.com/jennasydeandthewatchers1 or at any of our upcoming shows.
Dread: what Jenna said!
Hel: Ditto
Germ - I thought we were working on my Afghani Drug Lord Rock Opera ? ( Nobody ever takes the Bass Players Ideas seriously!)
D-Day: How about shows? Anything planned?
Jenna- 4/14 @ The Dragonfly in Hollywood, Ca and 5/21 @ The Vu in Santa Clarita, Ca
Both we will be debuting brand new tunes
Dread: Pal Joey will be playing with us @ the Dragonfly and they are a great rock band. Legendary Detroit rockers, The Dogs, are headlining The Vu gig, so that is something special for us.
Hel: ditto
Germ - ottid
D-Day: I know that most hate labels, but how would you describe your musical sound in general if you were to introduce it to someone?
Jenna- 1 part pills, 1 part alcohol 2 parks kicks ass rock
Dread: The Cult meets ACDC that partied too much with the Ramones.
Hel: Yeah, Cult meets ACDC, and it's a blend of 80's rock with some punk and metal beats...Joan Jett on steroids?
I like “Call it rock, call it punk, but call it what you want”, “This shit rocks!” or “Fast cars and loud guitars!” (Dread coined that one) meaning loud and crankin in your face rockin tunes.
Germ - I love Labels... I peel them off my beers and put them on the roof of my white cargo van! But truthfully, the is the first band that I have been in (since the early 80's) where the attitude,the message, and the vibe was truly PUNK ROCK!
D-Day: What are your thoughts on hard rock today? As a side question, female fronted hard rock bands seem to be gaining headway. What are your thoughts on that?
Jenna- Hard Rock seems to be making a come back these days thanks in part to strong beautiful female fronted bands such as. In This Moment, Paramore, The Distillers, Juliet and The Licks, Etc.... and thank god!!!! It's needed a boost for a long time and who doesn't like hot girls and killer tunes
Dread: Most people appreciate live rock bands that are good. I truly believe that many people are just tired of typical radio formula and 1 hit wonders. There isn't too much nowadays that's kicking ass with a major attitude. Girls in bands, obviously, are eye catching but they still have to know what they're doing or else its all crap.
Hel: hard rock today, well, it changes with the times, what I care about most is that you play your instruments...no playback tracks live etc. I think hard rock and 70’s/80’s styles are coming back (less the glam). But I think the industry and music in general are in it’s days of “history repeats itself” and I think it's the good ole 80's RnR. Also, I think a lot of people are looking for better/happier (funner/upbeat) times in this day and age with all the shit going on. Female fronted etc., I don't think it matters, if it's good, it's good and will do good with the right support and presentation behind it. Jenna, she's beyond good and that includes live too.
Germ- the scene now seems to be in Limbo...Actually I think the Biggest draw in Hollywood is "Steel Panthers"?? (80's hair metal cover band that makes fun of 80's metal bands... )
D-Day: What are your thoughts about getting signed? Any preference in indie or major? Tell us about that.
Jenna- There's isn't much luck on being signed in this economy these days.Though we would love to be signed we are taking the approach of kickin ass as much as we have to on our own. If we have the privlage of becoming signed i would hope it was a major lable with an indie attitude or and indie lable with the major budget.
Dread: it can go either way depending on how the game is played between all of the parties involved. Most bands would rather keep their integrity and go the indie route to keep control of their operations. But a major label would have much more of a wider reach and grasp for an upcoming band thru promotions and marketing. Getting screwed with vaseline or without is still getting screwed.
Hel: What matters most to me is that once signed they don’t push us to the back of the line. Don’t bullshit…do what you say you’re gonna do that got us to sign on and put our careers, life’s long efforts etc. in your hands. Simply, stick to your guns! And, they dont try to break up the band!
Germ- are there any Major Labels signing bands??? I say DIY!!!!
D-Day: Let's try a multiple choice question... You are on an airplane heading towards Germany for a major festival when suddenly the air masks fall out of the overhead compartments. What are your first thoughts out of the following list?'
a) Holy shit, I'll miss the rest of the in-flight movie.
b) Time to pray now....
c) Someone will get their lucky day for sex.
d) What the hell are these things falling down?
e) other
Jenna- ( Did i just crap myself? )
Dread- E. Do i have a volleyball to name it Wilson for company?
Hel:
a) scream it’s party time, pass the booze!!!!!!!!
b ) I’d be thinking, figures when I am finally doing what I love, gettin paid for it and enjoying life…it’s over!
b) I shoulda brought my smoke
c) I wish I made up with all my enemies and invited them on the trip!
d) Other as well that I cannot say…
Germ - (E) .... Wheres my Drink I ordered?
D-Day: The fun part of the questions here is the one about crazy shit happening in the biz. What story can you tell us concerning jenna Syde about any zany or Spinal Tap moments that have happened while in the band? Any stories about over-zealous fans, wardrobe malfunctions, asshole promoters, someone shit their pants onstage... you get the point
Jenna Syde- Well this band is pretty new so the only stories i can tell ya about are us all partying to hard and vomiting days later from it. But in my past band -being that i am always scantly clad on stage - i have experianced more then a few wardrobe malfunctions. From splitting my pants onstage ( i don't wear underwear ) To Hair peices flying off my head
Dread: Yeah, not to much seeing that we are new. In past bands i've been in, i've seen alot. Partying on stage with pants down, choking my fake chicken out of my pants and spraying the crowd with silly string. Taking acid in the early days and having a surreal yet awesome show.
Hel: what happens with Hel stays with Hel
Germ- I liked it when I was trying out for the band...there was a bass player that was trying out before me so I was sitting at a nearby bar.. when 15 minutes into the other Bass Players rehearsal I get a call saying "GET HERE NOW!!!!" I thought it was funny anyways...
D-Day:What is the goal for Jenna Syde? Where do you want this to go?
Jenna-To Kick Ass and make music across this world so that is we can support our dreams till the day we croak!
Dread- i would like for all of us in this band be legitimized within this music industry. We've all been in various bands and have worked very hard to get where we are at. Some of us have achieved moderate success but nothing stellar or off the charts yet. So with that in mind, we want to take this as far as we can, to tour worldwide, maintain longetivity, keep creative control and not let any negative influences hinder us.
Hel: Ditto. Being legitimized by your peers as said would be like getting a Grammy or on your way to actually winning one. It would be awesome to have a major band say they listen to our stuff and dig it. Recording, gigging, being successful enough to enjoy life is absolutely fine (meaning no job seeking when you return, music is our jobs). But it’s really about touring the world meeting new people in strange places. Getting over any internal or external hurdles and don't let anything or anyone get in our way.
Germ- I just wanna continue to write play and party with all the people in this band! Jenna,Dread and Helmut are the best musicians I have played with... (Don't print that though.. I don't want it to go to their heads!)
D-Day: Thanks again for speaking with us! Any final words or plugs for the fans?
Jenna-You want to rock, come check us out. www.myspace.com/jennasydeandthewatchers1 and thanks for taking the time to interview us!
Dread- keep up the good work! help spread the message of Jenna Syde & The Watchers and demand us to play in your town! Horns up!
Hel: peace and thanks!
Germ- I'll Trade beer for Full Frontal!!
For continued info and to hear some tunes, go here: www.myspace.com/jennasydeandthewatchers1
