An Interview With
Grovel
by Kiran Reddy, for The ZoneIn the fall of
1992, common musical tastes and attitudes brought together Brad Hodgson,
vocalist/guitarist and Keanon Liggatt, guitarist (whom you could refer to as Grovel's
"founding" members) to form the band Grovel. Grovel began to create and eminate
a sound that developed into a young naive energy. However, under the surface, waiting to
be scratched by time's nails, lied more emotion, intensity, complication, and romanticism
than we could ever imagine.
With the addition of a polite third guitarist, John Ferguson, a very talented and focused
bass player, Mark Johnson, and a straight-forward powerful drummer, Brian Frisbie, Grovel
has developed into a wall of noise: melody, harmony, emotion, love, frustration, and an
expression of its members for the woes of life itself.
Q.
|
Congratulations on winning the
"Redhouse Tuesday's" contest at Roadhouse Ruby's South (they had the most
attendance and won 10 free recording hours at Redhouse Studios), when are the big plans to
record? |
| A. |
We're beginning our next venture
October 3rd and 4th with Ed Rose mixing and mastering. |
| Q. |
Do you know what the album is
going to be called? |
| A. |
"Treading Water"...
but don't tell anyone...that's the point where we feel personally...we've gotten past some
evils in our existence, now we're kicking our feet like mad to keep our heads where we can
breathe. |
| Q. |
What is in the future for
Grovel? Any out-of-town tour plans? |
| A. |
Well, we have some gigs coming
up at Gee Coffee with the Black Water, as well as the Liebrary in Emporia. We plan on
going to St. Louis and Chicago sometime, but it will most likely be after the semester is
over. |
| Q. |
How did you feel about your
Spirit Fest performance? |
| A. |
We were extremely happy not only
with how we played, but with the audience turnout and response as well. Playing with great
bands made the mood very positive. |
| Q. |
What kind of things would you
like to see happen with the KC/Lawrence local music scene? |
| A. |
Our "scene" as it
stands, isn't too shabby at all...you can't pick and choose what people want to hear, but
like we've ranted about before, there is less "mainstream" but just as important
group of bands just under the popular surface, playing their asses off, playing their
hearts out, trying to get their message out to people...maybe just a little "mind
expansion" is all we are looking for in the scene. |
| Q. |
How do you feel about the scene
in general? |
| A. |
Good and bad all at once, there
are SO many great people in great bands here, but not a very big audience for music like
ours. I find it disappointing that people have to leave here to get noticed in their own
city. |
| Q. |
How would you personally improve
the scene? |
| A. |
We do all we can, personally, to
get our music out to people...we organize free, all-ages local shows, shows with out-of-town
bands to increase interest in that particular show...we do our part, I believe. |
| Q. |
What kind of things would you
like to see the Zone do for bands? |
| A. |
I think Zone-sponsored events
like shows and CD compilations are a great idea along with the great things you already do
for people. We, as well as all of the bands here, appreciate the attention the Zone gives
us. |
| Q. |
Is there anything else you'd
like to add? |
| A. |
Keanon: I wear size 15
shoes...Converse All-Stars only...ROCK. |
|
