Sondra Faye: What's it like recording inside the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee? Do you think Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson from TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society - GHOST HUNTERS television show) should be investigating for EVP's?
Lynn Dials:
It's amazing. You're standing there where Elvis recorded his first songs. And Johhny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis-the list goes on and on. I remember looking around when I was recording and feeling a little overwhelmed.
Nikki Cave:
It was great, they have so many old instruments there and big pictures of Elvis staring at you, They even have an "X" on the floor where he stood when he recorded songs. I definitely think TAPS should investigate, I felt someone watching me when I was going to the bathroom, But then again with Lynn around, I always have that feeling.(joking)
Sondra Faye: A lot of bands ask rockazine.com for a resource on the internet where they can go to get new members enlisted in their bands. Since your band has had various drummer switching - what advice can you give?
Lynn Dials:
Well, we put out ads for drummers on a few different sites, but Myspace is the one where we got in contact with our last two drummers.
Justin (Birmann) out in Memphis and now Robert Cooper here in DC. It's just really easy to put the word out and pretty much everyone has a Myspace.
However, we got some good responses from www.musiciansforest.com.
Nikki Cave:
It always seems to take awhile and when we finally start to think no one will respond we get flooded with interest, Just be patient.
Sondra Faye: Tell me about Director John Pickle, and your band winning Memphis Indie Film Fest Best Video? Also where can rockaziners see this video?
Lynn Dials:
John Pickle is a filmmaker out in Memphis. His most notable work, besides our video of course (joking) is this hilarious movie called" The Importance of Being Russell", which he created and starred in as the title character. Justin, our drummer in Memphis was also in the movie, which is ultimately how we hooked up with John. The 3rd annual Memphis Indie Film Festival was held in Oct last year and our video actually won for Best music video out of like 30 entries. We're pretty proud of it. We shot it at an amazing haunted house in Memphis called Nightshade Manor ( http://www.nightshademanor.com/ ).
You can check out the video on youtube.com. But we recommend seeing it on our myspace player @ www.myspace.com/thesplints or just click here for "Stillborn" video on Brightcove.tv for a clearer, much better looking picture.
Nikki Cave:
Pickle is so great to work with. He's fun and it was in no way stressful, He shares a love for dead things with us.
Sondra Faye: How important is it for The Splints to be associated with the PUNK genre?
Lynn Dials:
Interesting question. I mean, punk is definitely at the core of the band, it all stems from it.
But, we have other influences and stuff thrown into the mixture. We basically take the punk "format", if that's what you want to call it, and we expand on it.
I love old school punk, don't get me wrong, but it's been done over and over. And if you're in a band in 2008 sounding like 1978, more power to you. We're not about that though. We like to try and do something different with it.
But, yes I do feel it's pretty important. There is absolutely room inside the wide genre of PUNK for the Splints!
Nikki Cave:
I think that it's important too. But, It's all in the the way you interpret music. We had a review sent to us recently of our EP and they said that our CD is in no way punk... And we didn't give a Fuck what he had to say, That's pretty punk rock.
Sondra Faye: So Lynn, what was the first punk song you played and on what kind of guitar?
Lynn Dials:
Wow it's been forever ago. I don't really remember...but it was probably either "Beat on the brat" (Ramones) or " Hybrid moments" (Misfits).
I know for a fact though, because I still have it, that it was on a black Stratocaster copy. It doesn't play well anymore, but I still have it.
Sondra Faye: Nikki, how long have you been playing the bass?
Nikki Cave:
Well I've been playing for a few years now, at least two.
Sondra Faye: Which bass guitar did you use to record with on the Splinte latest CD?
Nikki Cave:
When we recorded at Sun I think I used my black Ibanez for the most part. It's best for long periods of playing, it's really lightweight. We recorded for six hours, But we finished the EP in that time frame.
Sondra Faye: How are you involved in the Memphis Rollar Derby?
Nikki Cave:
When we were in Memphis I was a skater for The PrissKilla Prezleys. I was in MRD (Memphis Roller Derby) for over two years. We put out a 2008 calendar and I'm Miss June. Everyone needs to pick one up, feel free to leave it on June all year long. (www.memphisrollerderby.com)
I think that's why I'm such a happy person, I got to beat the shit out of other girls for years.
Sondra Faye: Robert, what Drum Kit are you using and have you only always been playing in Punk Bands?
Robert Cooper:
Right now I'm playing with a custom D.W. kit. And no it hasn't always been punk bands I've played with.
It's been anywhere from jazzy funk, to heavy hitting rock to hiphop to well... you get the picture. But punk has always been a staple.
Sondra Faye: Thank you for the interview, and myself and the other staff rockaziners will try to get the word out about your future gigs!
Nikki Cave:
Thank You!
Lynn Dials:
We appreciate it.
Band Web site: www.myspace.com/thesplints
Band Members:
Lynn Dials : Vocals, Guitar
Nikki Cave : Vocals, Bass
Robert Cooper : Drums
Photos Courtesy of: Don Perry and Dan Ball
Label: Lightning Rock Records
interview posted January 24, 2008
Link to the interview with The Splints Lynn Dials and Nikki Cave and Robert Cooper on rockazine.com just cut and paste into your HTML