BAND: Silver Side
INTERVIEWER: Rob Pratt (rob@bandvibe.com)
INTERVIEWEE: Kris Murray, Doug Smith from Silver Side
DATE OF INTERVIEW: 01.31.07
BAND MEMBERS:
Dr. Brian Corn- Vocals
Kris Murray- guitars
Doug Smith- Bass, backing vocals
Terry Birks- Drums
How long have you guys been together?
Kris- Current line up right now, about a year and a half. But me and Doug formed it about 3 years ago.
How did you come up with the name Silver Side?
Doug- We had a contest. Everyone in the band went home came up with 10 names, came to practice, no one liked the names. We couldn’t find out what we wanted to name it, so I came up with it from a street name. A street from back home in Ohio where I’m from called Silver Side Drive. And I said, “How about Silver Side” They said it sounded tight, so we named it that. That’s like the third band name we had.
Kris- It has nothing to do with the fish either or the church.
What bands have influenced you the most?
Kris – Growing up, I was big into the Seattle bands like Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Most definitely Pantera, Ozzy, Black Label Society
Doug- I’ve been influenced by a lot of things. Rock, Metal, I listen to a lot of stuff. Not a country fan. Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Killswitch Engage has definitely been a new one. Those guys are sick
Kris- Lamb of God, Mastadon, the New wave of heavy Metal.
In August your first c.d. “Trail of Stones” How has the response been to it?
Kris- It’s been pretty good. Initial release we had a release show. Just about everybody who showed up to that show bought a CD. It seems that every show we do we’re selling 10- 20 cds.
Doug- We just wanna keep pushing it as far as we can.
You have played it seems every place in the last 6 months. Oconnell’s, House of Blues, Brick by brick, 710. Which of these is the most fun to play?
Kris- House of blues. It’s the baddest club out here and probably in southern California. And just the fact all the greats before us have graced the same stage that we played on. It’s an honor to play at a venue like that where Zakk Wylde plays there and a couple weeks later you’re playing there. Big venue, pack the house. It’s pretty wild.
That was a great memory seeing Brian jump off the stage and into the crowd. Do you think he plans that?
Doug- It’s kind of a competition between him and I as to who can do the most crazy stuff but I kind of have to hold an instrument. Usually the at the beginning of the show, first thing we do is look around. Seeing what we can jump off of and do different from the last show to keep it entertaining and make it interesting so people can enjoy. It’s just him.
Kris- He has a split personality. During the day, he is in a suit and tie, cutting deals, wheeling and dealing, you know and at night he turns into a rock monster.
Jekyll and Hyde?
Kris- Exactly
There seems to be no limit to what you will jump off of.
Doug – No. I’ve jumped off bar tables. I’ve done speaker cabinets. I’ve gotten on the thing at Cane’s. The Big bar walked across that thing. The couch at O’connells.
Kris – Yeah, I took a seat on that thing for a little bit, get a sip from some brews. Get a back rub after the solo.
Who are some of your favorite bands to play with?
Kris- Boys like REV, Decompression, Canobliss, My brother’s band up north Sundial project. Accident Experiment is always a great show. Bands like Unset, Kicking K8. All these great San Diego bands man it’s always a pleasure.
Its obvious when people see you that you love playing live. Is that what drives you?
Kris- Yeah. Most definitely.
Doug- I’m definitely depressed if I go a month without a show. I get pretty bummed out.
Kris- There’s one thing like being in the studio and cutting an album or sitting at home with an acoustic guitar, but when you put it all together on a Friday or Saturday night and see hundreds of people coming to see you, that’s what it all comes down to. Like I always said playing rock music is a very personal thing, and when people are getting in to it, it’s a blessing. People are on the same page. When that show comes around that’s real. That’s payday.
Doug- Once that show’s done it’s time to get ready for the next one.
¾ of the group is in the Navy. Does that make it difficult to book shows?
Doug- In the past, when we first started off it was kind of rough. Kris and I were on a ship together, that’s how we originally met each other. He went to shore duty and he goes under way, he doesn’t have any crazy duty days or anything like that. In the past it’s been difficult. We cancelled 2 or 3 shows since we’ve been together and that’s because the ship was going underway. They changed the schedule on us.
Kris- Right now it’s good. We have a typical 9-5 thing going on for us. We’re doing it every day and we have all the time in the world right now. We’re actually planning a tour. 2-3 week action coming in the spring time. Going through the south west united states. When we have an opportunity, we run with it. Raise some hell.
Over the past few months I’ve been noticing a rise in Silver Side. First the Cd, next the endorsements (Intune Guitar picks and Basson Sound equipment), now you guys are winning a lot of awards on garageband.com and getting airplay on Rock 1053. How does it feel to see all these great thing coming to you?
Doug- It’s pretty awesome man
Kris- It’s payday man. You pour your heart and soul into something. Spend all those hours, doing the traveling, humping the gear.
Doug- Getting back surgery.
Kris- Over coming injuries, Personal scheduling conflicts and what not. When it pieces together and see things take off, with radio play and going to NAMM. We’re looking at it as if it’s the kickoff you know. This is where we are really starting the snowball and soon it will be an avalanche.
What was it like going to NAMM? Did you get to meet anyone who has influenced you?
Doug- NAMM was sweet.
Kris- Yeah we saw Kerry King, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars
Doug – (Mick) Looks like death but he’s still signing autographs
Kris- Jon Donias of Shadows Fall, The guys from Ill Nino, papa roach, Black Label Society, It was pretty sweet for us man.
Doug- It was like guitar center times a million.
What is it like to hear your songs on the radio?
Kris – It’s pretty crazy. It’s not just that you’re hearing it. It’s probably a couple hundred thousand listening to it. That’s pretty cool. It’s probably the best exposure we can get right now.
Doug- People will hit us up on like myspace and be like we’re coming to your next show and we don’t even know who these people are. They’re totally stoked about it. We’re all about playing in front of different people in different places.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Doug- Thank you.
Kris- I like Jagermeister. Crown Royal. Gotta do the black tooths. Sierra Nevada. Always looking for endorsements.
Doug- Thank you again and come check us out.
For more official information on Silver Side, please log onto:
+http://www.silversidemusic.com
+http://www.myspace.com/silversideband
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