PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Backstage at the Manchester Ritz, Mike Dean best known for his work with Corrosion of Conformity, sits with a cup of tea. Currently lending his bass services to Vista Chino, with Nick Oliveri not playing a part in the band’s touring life, things are calm. The band have been on the road for a few months now, supporting their new album Peace, which provides a fresh, modern chapter to the Kyuss legacy. Speaking to Planet Mosh, he gives us the lowdown on where the band are at right now.
The last time I spoke to Vista Chino I was talking on the phone to John Garcia, it was his birthday and Peace had been released the day before, he and the band on a whole seemed to be in a really happy place, especially with the lawsuit now behind you guys, now with the tour well under way, are you still in that same, positive place?
Oh definitely yeah. From where I’m from I see a band in a transitional phase. They’re working on new music and leaving a little bit of the Kyuss legacy behind, not to deny it or anything, but having an opportunity to do new things. The unnecessary ugliness of the lawsuit is gone and now it’s just made them more prudent to move forward. It’s still very positive; the band’s identity is just being forged and its fun.
To me, it seems that the lawsuit was a blessing in the sense that it was a catalyst for this positive change. How does that effect the set, is this still a celebration of Kyuss or are you playing Vista Chino sets with Kyuss songs thrown in?
I think it’s in transition, it’s half and half. We’re bouncing between the new stuff and the older stuff that the guys wrote a long time ago. I wouldn’t say that whole debacle was a positive thing for them but it definitely has a silver lining.
You’ve been on tour for a few months now, are you at the stage now where you’re in full flow and very comfortable with everything?
Yeah, very much. We’re very dialled in but there are parts of the set that are improvised which is fun. It’s a risk; you could fall flat on your face every night. Even though there’s parts of the set that are structured, we still stick our neck out a little bit and make it up as we go along. That’s what I find so attractive about this band, it stretches you.
Monster Truck are supporting you throughout this tour, what are your thoughts on them as a band?
I’d never heard of them until about two weeks ago but they’re very musical and very melodic. They’ve got a lot of 70s rock influences, they’re very competent musicians and they’re voices are spot on. They’re kind of a tough band to come on after, it’s interesting.
Does it help having a quality support band, to make you play your best?
Yeah, how often do you go see a big, well known act and the support act is no contest which makes the headliner look good. It’s good to introduce the audience to new music and it challenges us too.
Although Nick Oliveri recorded most of the bass on the new record, you played on the track ‘As You Wish’ tell us a little bit about that?
Prior to going to Australia to tour I got asked last minute to lay the bass down on that one. That song’s become a part of the set. I had limited creative input because the song was already structured and the drums were already tracked. I did a couple of variants to earn my keep and make it worthwhile.
How does playing with Vista Chino compare to your work with Corrosion of Conformity?
There’s a lot more space and repetition in this band. This is more like settling into a groove and has more of a chance to be hypnotic than with Corrosion of Conformity which has a short attention span. I think in COC, more of the creative process is in the creation of the song rather than live, but with Vista Chino it’s a bit more open ended. It’s a little different every night.
So does Vista Chino have the long-term aim of becoming a band in its own right, rather than just a Kyuss off-shoot?
Oh yeah, absolutely. I aim to play with them for as long as I can if my schedule permits. They’re dedicated to this and they can’t wait to make another record and continue to craft their own identity.
Peace is out now via Napalm Records. For more information and a full list of tour dates, visit: www.vistachinomusic.com
