Chris Martin catches-up with bass player Nick Schendzielos to discuss the new album ‘Demonocracy’ and the band’s knack of attracting a female following…
There’s a lot of buzz going around about the new CD Demonocracy. Seems from the couple songs I have heard, the band is shifting gears somewhat from the past albums. Was this a conscience decision or just a natural progression?
Nick: A little bit of both actually. Naturally, with new players (Tony and I), you’re going to get a different sound. We’re both way into our instruments technically speaking, and I think you can hear that coming out in the record. The band’s musical goals have definitely shifted from when they were 16 for sure!
How does the writing process work for JFAC? Is it spontaneous or is it the case when it’s time to record you just get together and write? Seems that the new CD has a political theme to it. Was this a decision based on the political stuff going on every day in the news or just something that happened on it’s own?
Nick: This time around, Al and Tony wrote the song skeletons together over the summer. They both live in Boston so they can get together and hash things out, then they’ll email the skeletons to the rest of us to make changes or what not. Pretty cool that the internet lets you have the capability of doing that. As far as lyrically, Jonny handles that department and he is constantly in the know of what’s going on. I think his inspiration is always spooling up from current event which seems to be really prevalent as of late.
I had the privilege of catching JFAC on the Metal Alliance tour in Charlotte the other night. Incredible bill of bands. This was the first time seeing you live, and I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t overly familiar with the songs prior. There was a definite connection with the crowd. Is this how it’s always been for the band or is this part of the new album buzz?
Nick: Thanks man! We had a lot of fun on that tour. From my knowledge of them before I joined the band, they’ve always had a great crowd response. I think it’s just how the songs are written, they have this great flow to them which sort of coax the crowd into involvement.
The show was very aggressive, which didn’t shock me much due to the heaviness of your music, but the pit was brutal! There’s been some recent news in Boston about wanting to ban this activity, what are your feelings on that?
Nick: I say when you walk into a baseball game, you know’s there is a possibility of getting a broken nose or possibly even killed by a foul ball. I think it should be the same for moshing or pitting, crowd surfing, etc. If you engage in those activities then it’s at your own risk. Suing the venue or even the band is total bullshit. Now bands who can’t necessarily afford it are having to provide “dumbass” insurance in order to play certain tours/fests/etc.
One thing I noticed about the crowd that I really didn’t expect was the number of younger female fans Job seems to have. In fact, prior to the band hitting the stage, one made the statement, “If you don’t mosh to Job For A Cowboy, you’re a pussy!” Does the band have a big female following? If so, what do you think is the appeal? It’s not often that a band of your extreme nature appeals to females.
Nick: I think there is a decent amount. I looked at the Facebook demographic and as far as that tells us, it’s about 25% which I think is definitely a good stat for a metal band. I think the appeal is Jonny. Chicks can’t seem to help being drawn to his hair and muscles and shit. OMG
I’m sure this question has been asked plenty, but what is the origin of the band name? How did you guys come up with it?
Nick: Jonny told me the official story one time. It goes like this: Growing up in Arizona, Jonny had an interest in the old west culture. He used to watch shows like City Slickers, Clint Eastwood joints and old John Wayne flicks and whatnot. When he was 14, his mom said that he had to get a job to start helping out if he wanted new shoes or cds or whatever, so his first inclination was to get a job as a ranch hand. Well apparently with all the CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), the dude ranches of yesteryear are literally almost extinct. He ended up having to work at Cold Stone and sing songs about ice cream or something because of it. So it became this kind of symbolic message about the state of affairs in the country. Good, wholesome professions like being a ranch hand or working on a farm have all been replaced by automated machines and massive operations where profits are put before quality and the hearts of the American worker. The concept is that there is no job for a cowboy.
Jonny Davy is a very intense performer. He almost looked crazed during the performance the other night, yet during the between song banter he seemed fairly easy going. Is this because of the intensity of the music? What drew the band as a unit to perform music this aggressive?
Nick: Yeah he gets all jamo-ed up and channels is inner wrestler when he’s performing. I mean the song content is about seriously messed up things in the world, and the music is violent and aggressive so it’s only fitting that your stage persona should match eh?
I was super impressed with the guitar work. Solos are something I personally find important to a song, and so many bands tend to steer clear of them. Other than the fact that the band has awesome players, what is the appeal of having intricate guitar work in a genre that tends not to have it?
Nick: I think it showcases the level of commitment that the players in our band have to their craft which lends to the overall work ethic of the band. We bust our asses becoming as good as we possibly can, to push the limits and bring that to the crowds. Anybody can cover a JFAC song off of Doom. But to cover a song off of Demonocracy, you’d better have some damn talented players or is going to sound like ass.
What are some bands that you enjoy that folks may not have heard of? I find it interesting to see what other bands listen to.
Nick: Whourkr, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Stanley Clarke, Zero 7, Car Bomb, Kitezh, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.
After Metal Alliance any other tours lined up? I’m sure getting out and promoting Demonocracy is top on the agenda of things for you guys to do.
Nick:Yeah we’re about to head to Puerto Rico for a killer headliner show, then I’ll be in Europe and Iceland with Cephalic, then fly straight to Boston to start Summer Slaughter with JFAC which will be sick this year. Cannibal! BTBAM! The Faceless! Goatwhore! Exhumed! and more. Gonna be rad.
Are there any bands, whether you’re opening for or having open for you that you would love to tour with?
Nick: Yeah I’d like for Metallica to open for Megadeth with Slayer as a guest appearance and then Slipknot is just there to wait and bleed. We’d have fun on that tour for sure! Thanks for the ‘view!
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