Chunks World Local Band Interviews

Cleevage

Friday September 10, 2004

www.cleevageband.com

Cleevage is a unique band who kind of came out of nowhere here in the last year to deliver a fresh new sound to the Chunks of Meat scene. They are a “band” in the true sense of the word and really care about their music and the people who hear it. They are also one of the most supportive Chunks bands and turn up at almost every Chunks Show. Their music is filled with lush harmonies that are rare in this genre of music and split up the lead vocal duties between the drummer and the guitar player which is also unique. The 3 guys that make up Cleevage are all earthy type guys and were at no loss for words during this interview. I was happy to have the chance to hang with these guys – Moe – Bass, Keegan – drums & vocals, and Bob – guitar and vocals. We literally sat down in the parking lot on the asphalt at Just Bill’s during Dose’s cd release party and just kind of shot the breeze. It is dark, humid, and we are interrupted by some drunk guy complaining about the 5 dollar cover to get in Bill’s. We all quickly inform him not to be a dick and that it is the cheapest cover in St. Louis to see three kick ass bands! I had to keep reminding myself that I was interviewing these guys and not just hangin with my buds. Here’s how it went.  

Q.Mike -  Where did the name Cleevage come from?

A.Keegan & Moe – We had played for a long time with out a name and it was coming up on our first gig here at Just Bill’s and we still didn’t have anything, so we were just sittin there in the house watching TV and it came to us. 

Q.Mike - Where are you guys from originally?

A.Keegan - Eldrid, Carrolton, and White Hall, all sides of Green County IL.

A.Moe – Yeh, nowhere land. 

Q.Mike - Why did you move to this area?

A.Bob – I had just broke off a relationship and had to get away, we all got jobs in Alton, and we wanted to make this band thing happen. Where we were at - it just wasn’t gonna be, so here we are.

A.Keegan – There was like no place for us to play back home. And it came down to like, do or die, so we just went for it. 

Q.Mike - What are your living arrangements now?

A.Moe – We all live together in one house in Alton IL. now and it works out perfect. We don’t have to worry about a practice space, whenever it strikes us we just go to the basement and do it.

A.Moe – Yeh and Keegan likes to spy on me while I’m in the shower.

Lauhgs all around.

A.Keegan – Yeh, I like that. But seriously, we practiced forever in a cabin down by the river and it just sucked. This is much better. We all get along great, if we aren’t playing we are all sittin around the living room playing playstation in the evening.

A.Bob – Yeh it’s like a family thing, just like all the Chunks bands that we have become friends with, we are all a big extended family. 

Q.Mike - Were you guys all friends before or did you come together as a band?

A.Keegan – Bob and I have been playing together for about ten years with a few other guys here and there, but mostly he and I were just jamming. Moe came later, a little over a year ago I guess. He always played keyboards and has classical training in that regard, but it just wasn’t working out very well with just keyboards and guitar. So one day he just started playing bass.

A.Bob – But yeh, we all knew each other, coming from a small community.  

Q.Mike - What is your favorite place in St. Louis to play?

A.Unanimous – Just Bill’s!

A.Keegan – You got the best sound and all your buddies, it’s just like home. We are really comfortable here. 

Q.Mike - So what do you think of the St. Louis metal scene?

A.Bob - There are a lot of good bands. St. Louis seems to be a hot spot right now for all kinds of music.

A.Keegan – There are a lot of crappy bands too that just because they sell a lot of tickets, get to play a lot weather they suck or not. We didn’t realize when we were back in Green County that there are so many bands out there trying to achieve the same thing as you. Like on any given night how many bands are out there playing in St. Louis. We were just amazed. This whole last year has been a real eye opener. 

Q.Mike - You guys were kinda unknown to us regulars here in the St. Louis metal scene and then bam there you are, one of the premier Chunks bands about to kick our asses in the battle of the bands, were you guys already established back home?

A.Bob – No not really, we played a couple of things back home, but nothing big. It has all happened to us just in the last year. We went from playing a birthday party to opening for 40 Below Summer at Pop’s here in a bit and we are just amazed. And we didn’t think we were gonna make it to the finals of the battle of the bands at all.  

Q.Mike - What genre would you put Cleevage’s music into?

A.Moe – Heavy rock, or something like that. We do have elements of metal too, but we focus more on arrangements and stuff. We can’t really pin it down, don’t want to.  

Q.Mike - Who are your influences musically or otherwise?

A.Bob – That could be a long list.

A.Keegan – Alice & Chains and STP, just about anything rock or metal that isn’t pre-packaged.

Warning – this is where Keegan gets a little out there on a soap box.

A.Keegan – You know MTV is gonna be the down fall of our society. It is ruining all our lives by force feeding us all this pre-packaged formulated bullshit. All this fake crap just makes me sick. Like the other day I saw a certain celeb on TV talking about how her album is done and now it is time to meet her band and learn the music. Here we all are busting our butts practicing as bands hoping to some day get a record deal and she says some crap like that. And then you got these guys who don’t play any instruments, and sample other people’s music who do play, calling themselves musicians. They aren’t musicians. That just pisses me off. Maybe it is an art form, and it is music, but it is still a rip off!   

A.Mike – Uh, yeh, what Keegan said!

At this point we all agree and laugh at ourselves for being so cynical.

Q.Mike - You guys just completed a demo with Paul Moerke and Chunks Studios. What was the recording process like and how was Paul to work with?

A.Bob - Paul is the man. He really knows his shit. For the budget and the quality that you get from Paul, you just can not beat it. We spent a lot of time with Paul and he truly loves music and is a really nice guy too. And he has a dog named Bob.

A.Keegan – Yeh, we did our basic tracks right here at Bill’s and then all the overdubs and a few guitar layers at Paul’s. He was so cool. 

Q.Mike - Tell me about the song “Sweet Tart” – what it’s about and how did it come to you guys?

A.Keegan – Well we had the music for that song first, and added the lyrics later.

A.Bob – The lyrics are about that little guy inside your head, you know that little voice telling you stuff, like your conscious or something.

A.Keegan – We try to not follow any formulas or standard vs chorus vs set up. It’s a conscious effort on our part to break those rules.

A.Moe – my little guy tells me to get more beer.

Laughs  

Q.Mike - So what is Cleevage’s song writing process like?

A.Moe – Accidental shit! We jam a lot.

A.Keegan – We record on a little 19 dollar boom box thing with one little hole in the top for a microphone and then listen to it back.

A.Bob – Then we might take little pieces of different things and arrange them into a song. Like ok, that would be cool for a chorus or a vs or what ever.

A.Keegan – We work on arrangements a lot to try and always be different within what we are capable of as Cleevage. 

Q.Mike - You have some unique harmonies and split the vocals up – guitarist and drummer – is that a planned thing or how did that come about?

A.Keegan – Bob and I just jammed so much and we were always thinking that we were going to get a regular singer but it just never really happened. It really just came out of necessity. And it works out that what Bob may not have vocally, I do, and vice versa. We really compliment and help each other out. I sing better with Bob than without him.

A.Bob – And we work at the harmonies, but like Keegan said, neither one of us are the front man we are just a band and try to help each other to make Cleevage better.

A.Keegan - It is work not having a “front man” but we work with what we got. 

Q.Mike to Keegan - how hard is it for you to drum and sing?

A.Keegan – Well I’ve been doing it for so long now that it is kinda natural. I just imagine myself out in the crowd singing along with the band like I do When I’m watching other bands. I guess I really don’t think about it that much anymore.  

Q.Mike - What are your goals as a band?

A.Bob – To do it, to make it, get a record deal and everything. Isn’t that the goal of all our bands?

A.Keegan – To have people appreciate us and our music. We are having so much fun with this. It means so much to us to have people compliment us when we get done playing because our music means so much to us. We are truly grateful for those compliments!

A.Bob – It’s all fun and we have our dreams but we aren’t quitting our day jobs yet. 

Q.Mike - You guys are one of the most supportive Chunks bands and are always at other bands shows, up there in front, right in the mosh pit, hell I’ve had Moe laying on my feet while I play, anyway give me one good rule of mosh-pit etiquette.

A.Moe – When you knock ’em down, pick ‘em back up.

A.Bob – About the supportive thing, we are just out hanging with our buds. That’s what we do, we like all the Chunks bands.

A.Keegan – Yeh, I can sing 3 or 4 Baine or 7 Stitches songs.

A.Moe – When I get a little drunk I get top heavy. I’m the clumsiest dude around. Sorry for that monitor, pedal, and microphone I took out in front of you at Bainefest.

Laughs all around.  

Q.Any last words?

A.Keegan – Thanks to Chunks, all the bands, and the fans for all the support! 

    Well, there you have it. These are really cool guys and I wish the best for them. I hope this gives everyone a little bit on where these guys are coming from. 

Thanks for reading,

Mike,

Chunks World Local Band Interviews