Interviews By Mack B. March, 16 2017
Hippie Crippler’s Brandon, Johnny
I’m Mack from DravenFrost Productions and this is our interview with one of Durham Region’s best cover bands, Hippie Crippler. Tonight I’m speaking with (Vocals, Guitar) Brandon, and at one point I also get a chance to speak with (Vocals, Guitar) Johnny. These guys put on an amazing show Thursday night at Gravity Lounge and the members I was fortunate enough to meet were extremely humble and nice guys.
This, being the first interview I have done for DravenFrost, went rather smoothly; there were lots of laughs and a few good stories in there as well that I chose not to include in here for more reasons than one, those being that some of the things discussed were a little off track, and some were a bit indistinguishable due to all of us speaking or laughing. I would like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to these two, and hope that I might have another chance to do this again with them.
So again, check out their Facebook page, listen to some of their stuff, and enjoy!
Here is what these talented folks had to say:
I would like to start by saying that was an excellent show you guys put on tonight.
Brandon - Thank you.
Are all of you guys from around here?
Brandon - Well, three of us are from Durham. Me and Johnny Baker, we grew up in Whitby, but we live in Oshawa now. And then Gregson, he’s kinda from like Niagara to Etobicoke.
So how do you guys all know each other?
Brandon - Uhm, I know Johnny Ross, and he knew Gregson, so he invited him out to jam first. And then he knew Baker (Drums), and that was our mutual friend, which I didn’t know we had. So we all jammed, and it kind of came together after that.
That’s always good. It’s nice to have, almost like a natural fit, right?
Brandon - Yeah it was kinda like a natural fit, everyone just fell in together. I find all of our personalities are very relaxed, like it isn’t hugely ego-driven with us or anything.
So how long have you guys all known each other?
Brandon - Well, I’ve known baker since High School, so we met in like Grade 9 because he lived just past my street down the road. And (Johnny) Ross I’ve known for a year now, Gregson maybe a little bit less, but we’re all pretty good with each other.
And how long have you been playing together as a band?
Brandon - It’s Marc now, so I guess our jams were about November/December of the year before last. So just over a year, I know February 14th of last year was our first show.
Wow, so I have to say, you guys play together very well for that short of a time and just kind of coming together spontaneously like that.
Brandon - Thank you.
And I also appreciate the vast range of music you guys play too, like most bands are kind of like “We’re a metal band”, or “We play country”, or whatever, like everyone kind of picks a Genre now and kind of runs with it, ya know?
Brandon - Yeah, and for me, I like bands that do stick to their Genres, but I also like all kinds of Genres myself. You know, some days, I’ll listen to like, Miles Davis, or sometimes I’m in the mood for something like Slayer.
Mhm, I’m like that as well. It kinda depends on your mood right?
Brandon - Yeah it depends on the mood, because like they all takes different levels of talent to play, you know? Slayer stuff isn’t really easy to do on guitar. Or any instrument really.
Yeah, I know what you mean; I’m a metal-head myself, and I have been playing guitar for about 14 years, and I can’t touch their stuff, it’s almost a tad intimidating (laughs)
Brandon - And that’s just it too, I was out to see a Slayer, Pantera, and Sabbath cover and they were all fucking wicked.
Yeah, that would be.
*(First bit of off topic chat)*
What is your favorite venue you’ve played so far?
Brandon - Hmm, favorite Venue.. You know what? (laughs) I would have to say The Moustache Club has been my favorite so far.
Yeah?
Brandon - Yeah, I would have to say The Moustache Club for around here, for the sound, and like the atmosphere, you know? It’s like a rock bar, and you can get the bass thumping, and you have so much room, it feels nice.
So it’s almost more directed straight at what you do, like what you guys play right?
Brandon - Yeah to what we do; intimate in a way.
Yeah, whereas here, there isn’t really any set theme, people can play whatever Genre and everyone is going to love it, like I have already seen so many different kinds of music played in one night. It’s part of why I love coming here so much.
Brandon - Yeah, I like Gravity too, I really like Jason doing the sound, he’s fun.
I haven’t had a chance to actually meet him yet. Then again, I don’t play when I come here either so that’s likely why (Laughs) But on that note, everyone I have met so far has been extremely nice, very chill people here that’s for sure.
Brandon - Yeah there is for sure.. But just more for the overall feel, I would have to say the Moustache Club.
Mhm.
So is this your first musical endeavor? This band, I mean.
Brandon - No, actually. Uhm, I’ve had a few. For instance I did a 90’s cover band kinda thing.
That’s cool.
Brandon - Yeah, it was fun, it was all kinda like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, That sort of stuff, which I really love.
And then, I was also in another band that was more 80’s driven, so like I had to go onstage in like, zebra spandex and shit (Laughs)
(Laughs) So like some Steel Panther shit or something?
Brandon - Yeah, pretty much exactly that, and I was like Yeah! So it was fun for sure. But this is probably the most comfortable, like the closest to who I am kinda thing. Which is cool.
Yeah.
Do you enjoy playing all of the stuff you guys do? Like all the different eras of music?
Brandon - Yeah, I love it, all the songs, because like we all kinda pick songs, and we are all the same musically to what we wanna play for the most part. I mean, I’ll have my days where I wanna just sit and play a lot of metal at times, sometimes I just wanna chug away with heavy distortions and whatnot. But other than that, I love like, CCR, and Tom Petty, that sorta thing.
Yeah, you gotta love CCR (laughs) I discovered them when I was rather young.
Brandon - Yeah, I find it funny because I know this metal Drummer, and he loves CCR as well. I just like how there’s like this, variation in Genres, nobody is like “I must only listen to-…”, you know?
Yeah, as I said earlier, I’m a metal-head for the most part, but for instance, I love Blue Rodeo as well, or like there is some country I will listen to, and I like some rap as well, I’ll listen to smooth jazz. Whatever strikes me at the time sort of thing.
Brandon - Yeah, me too, I like rap as well but I’m a bit selective with it.
So this next question might be a bit random, but where did the name Hippie Crippler come from?
Brandon - That. We were all sitting around the table talking about what the name should be, and we decided to go to leafly.com, and check out marijuana strains (Laughs)
*Johnny enters*
Johnny - Are you giving away all of our secrets? (Laughs)
Brandon - Yeah, what were our choices for names? We had like Electric Kool-Aid, -
Johnny - That would have been cool-
Brandon - Yeah, that one was cool bit the problem with that was I think there was a band out of Spain that already had that name. Plus there was a book and all of this other shit. So there was Hippie Crippler, and there was um..
Johnny - Mr. nice-
(Both Laugh)
Brandon - That one was great.
Johnny - I think we actually played one show as Mr. Nice.-
Brandon - Yeah we did play one show as Mr. Nice.
Johnny - But it wasn’t so nice though, were like “you know what? Fuck Mr. Nice (both laugh)
Brandon - Yeah, and so then we just went with Hippie Crippler
Johnny - Which is cool too, because it’s got like that two-vibe, you know? People are like, “What? Youre fuckin’ up hippies? What?!” (laughs). Like, I grew up with the 70’s and all the hippies and stuff.
Yeah for sure, it was a good time.
*(Here, we got a little off track, talking about random things)*
So do you guys have anything in the works at the moment? Or any upcoming shows to watch out for? I saw you guys are playing The Players Bench on Saturday night.
Brandon - We actually have a lot of shows coming up, we’ve got the Players Bench, then we open up at The Atria , Whiskey John’s, and then we’ve got a few more at the Moustache Club over the summer.
Johnny - Well there’s a bunch of the Moustache club booked, it’s kind of a regular gig for us, probably once a month at least.
Well that’s always good to have recurring stuff.
Johnny - Yeah. We play all night on our own, ya know, so we can make a living out of it and continue that way. But me and Brando have some things were working on as well.
Yeah, like we do acoustic stuff also.
So do you go by Hippie Crippler for that as well? Or do you have another name?
Johnny - No.
Brandon – No. Well we do acoustic stuff as Hippie Crippler, it just kind of depends on what comes up, you know?
Yeah.
Johnny - Because we do this trio, we call the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. And we just do acoustic, like the three of us. Um, Hippie Crippler, anyway we can sustain financial gain; like we have found a way after this long to remain on the up, not that it’s all about money, but like for instance, he (Brandon) bought a pedal today. That kinda thing comes out of pocket.
Brandon - Yeah the income helps better the show, by maybe adding a new effect, or a new sound, even in the slightest.
That’s good though, because you might want sometimes for it to be a new or different experience for returning viewers.
Johnny - Yeah.
Brandon - Yeah it could be literally the most subtle thing, like it would be a big thing for me to notice, but others might not be like “Oh shit, here’s something different about this”, but I would know.
Johnny - I actually almost got killed today, getting this pedal.
Brandon - Yeah you did, you almost walked in front of a fuckin street car
(both Laugh)
Johnny - I was like “oh, sorry, I’m not from around here!”
Brandon - And as they laid on the horn, I was like, “Was this compression pedal even worth this?”. Like it would have been like “Johnny is dead guys, but hey I got this new pedal today, so it’s alright I guess”.
(Both Laugh)
Here in Oshawa?
Johnny - No, in Toronto. But that’s what we’re like, you know, I was like I wanna sit in the car in traffic to go get this pedal.
Nothing wrong with a bit of adventure.
Brandon - It was an adventure, like its Thursday afternoon, what the hell else do we do? (Laughs)
So I was talking to you outside a little earlier, you said you were raised on a lot of bluegrass and that sort of thing?
Johnny - Yeah, I grew up doing kitchen jams with my uncles and stuff, whether you sing, pick up a guitar or banjo, It was all in the family (the instruments). Like, I started out with the drums, and learned rhythm that way, because my brother played guitar, but he wouldn’t ever jam with me. Which kinda sucked, but at the same time, he’s in his own project now too so.. You grew up and you found your instrument, and for me, I realized growing up with a lot of punk bands as well, nobody could sing or write songs, so I would kinda riff over them and stuff. As a drummer, you kind of make that tempo, distinguish the verse to the chorus and so on.
So is that the main contributing factor to the vast range of music you guys play?
Brandon – No.
Johnny - No.
So it was a combination of everyone in the band loving all the older stuff then?
Johnny - Yeah
Brandon - Yeah like we all pick songs and stuff, I find we all kind of gel with our choices, like the Classic Rock/Americana kind of feel stuff.
So the bluesy stuff?
Brandon - Yeah the more blues driven stuff, which a lot of music is based around.
Johnny - Yeah, everyone kind of accepts the challenge, and you give it your all, and that’s how we figure out “Hey, this works for us”.
Yeah, because going from one genre to another isn’t necessarily an easy thing to do for everyone.
Johnny - Yeah we push each other, we’re pretty good at that.
Brandon - Like we will play something like Elvis, to Pink Floyd, and into the 90’s and even now if something new catches out ear.
*(another random off topic discussion about Columbia House records, first albums and Warped Tour)*
So if someone, a fan of yours was to go looking for your music, how would they go about that? Do you guys have a YouTube page or anything like that?
Johnny - Well, you know, we are still so fresh, and I consider what we’ve done in just over a year to be quite impressive.
I agree.
Brandon - But if anyone were searching, I would say for now, our Facebook page (@HippieCrippler)
Yeah, I had seen a couple videos on there.
Brandon - But other than that, you’re gonna find a lot of bootlegs.
(Both Laugh)
Johnny - Yeah.
So Brandon, How long have you been playing guitar?
Brandon - Well I guess, seriously since I was about 15, but I kind of picked it up when I was young, like maybe 10? But I never really seriously started practicing until about 15 or so. Like the first song my dad’s buddy taught me was Over the Hills and Far Away (Led Zeppelin) and I played that for maybe two years until I decided to get serious with it.
Yeah, Zeppelin was a big thing for a lot of people who play music, I know a friend of mine out west played a lot of it, but he plays in a metal band right now. Just goes to show how diverse people can be with their taste.
*(Yet another off topic discussion about Avenged Sevenfold)*
We sort of discussed it but not too far into detail, but what is the main goal with the band? Like it obviously isn’t just for fun right?
Brandon - Our main goal right now.. Well after this year, we have established our covers,-
And you have established a name as well.
Brandon - Mhm. So right now we are kind of pushing towards writing original material. Because as of right now, we have our three sets of cover songs, so we can make money. And now I would like to get about five or six of our own songs, originals that we could play, or maybe toss one or two in here and there with our sets even. You know, I think at the end of the day, that’s every bands goal, although I think a lot of people may just want to do covers for a living. Like don’t get me wrong, I love jamming other peoples shit, because I find it helps you grow as a musician, from other people. Because I find even songs I have been playing for a long time, the shit you forget, you begin playing your own way, and when you go back to revisit and sit with the guitar you go fuck, I started doing my own thing and you notice that little nuance, or note that wasn’t there but worked. And you go Okay, and you learn something new all the time; like reading a book for a second time or something. You can always be learning something which is great.
Yeah I understand that, and when you learn others music, you can learn all different flavors, or little tricks, and apply it to your own Music. And then you find your comfort zone with your own style right?
Brandon - That my thing right now, Especially I find with our Skynyrd tune we do, I found I’ve learned loads from that, with the lead work because there’s all these weird tasty licks that flow within the pentatonic range right? There’s a lot of different weird techniques.
*(I go off topic for another quick minute, I apologize to the reader, as this happened a few times throughout)*
Brandon - For me right now, I’ve been learning a lot of John Frusciante, because I really love his different chord voicings, and the chords he chooses to use. Like don’t get me wrong, his lead work is good, but for his rhythms, because he’s the only guitar player, he is very soulful. The chords he uses, you go “Fuck, that’s so cool!” They’re just so ambient, they flow with the bass, and you hear it and go “I don’t know what that is but I like It”, you know?
Yeah, I have always been a fan of the Chili Peppers. I always loved the bass, it’s so funky.
Brandon - Yeah it’s funky, and it’s how percussive the guitar can be at times. And he just keeps it going, and doesn’t fuck it up, it’s good.
Yeah I have always found their stuff very hard to play.
Brandon – Some of it can be, but it depends.
To start wrapping up, is there any last words you would like to say before we end this?
Brandon - Last words? I love playing music, we all do. So if at the end of the day you may bitch about something, like “Fuck, I wish we were making more money”, or whatever, you do it because you love it. It’s not something I do because I feel like I have to do it.
Well yeah, it’s all about the passion right? Where would any artist be without it?
Brandon - For me, if I feel depressed or a little blue or whatever, I play guitar for like two hours, I feel right as rain again. That’s the effect music has on me. So yeah, I would take that over anything else in my life, just music, for sure.
Music is definitely a good tool, if you will.
Brandon - Yeah it’s therapeutic.
That’s actually a much better word to use than tool. (Laughs)
Brandon - Yeah. (Laughs), I mean, it is a tool.
You can use it as one, you can use it to reduce anxiety, or improve a bad mood, and even make people laugh, you can use it for all kinds of things right?
Brandon - Yeah, you can. Music is a tool, marijuana can be a tool, both can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression right? Like there’s all kinds of different tools you can use, it’s just a matter of using them properly, and not abusing them, or taking them for granted or anything like that.
Okay, well the last thing I have to ask you, is do you have any advice for any upcoming or struggling musicians?
Brandon - Advice? Just keep chipping away, no matter how shitty it may get, because life will inevitably shit on you. It’s how you deal with it that matters. I mean I’m sure once you get to a certain age you realize that so.. Just keep doing your thing, you know? Just keep a positive attitude, that’s all you can really do sometimes.
That’s a good message I think personally, keep positive, because I know shit can get hard sometimes, but it’ll pass eventually given enough time.
Brandon - Yeah, you gotta learn to look past that, because you realize everything is fleeting in life. Everything comes in waves right? But focus on the positive.
I agree.
Well folks, this has been Mack from DravenFrost Productions, speaking with Brandon and Johnny (Ross) from Hippie Crippler.
I would like to thank you for allowing me the chance to do this with you, I appreciate it for sure. It was nice to meet you, great to see you guys play, and Thanks again!
Brandon - No problem man.
Hippie Crippler’s Brandon, Johnny
I’m Mack from DravenFrost Productions and this is our interview with one of Durham Region’s best cover bands, Hippie Crippler. Tonight I’m speaking with (Vocals, Guitar) Brandon, and at one point I also get a chance to speak with (Vocals, Guitar) Johnny. These guys put on an amazing show Thursday night at Gravity Lounge and the members I was fortunate enough to meet were extremely humble and nice guys.
This, being the first interview I have done for DravenFrost, went rather smoothly; there were lots of laughs and a few good stories in there as well that I chose not to include in here for more reasons than one, those being that some of the things discussed were a little off track, and some were a bit indistinguishable due to all of us speaking or laughing. I would like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to these two, and hope that I might have another chance to do this again with them.
So again, check out their Facebook page, listen to some of their stuff, and enjoy!
Here is what these talented folks had to say:
I would like to start by saying that was an excellent show you guys put on tonight.
Brandon - Thank you.
Are all of you guys from around here?
Brandon - Well, three of us are from Durham. Me and Johnny Baker, we grew up in Whitby, but we live in Oshawa now. And then Gregson, he’s kinda from like Niagara to Etobicoke.
So how do you guys all know each other?
Brandon - Uhm, I know Johnny Ross, and he knew Gregson, so he invited him out to jam first. And then he knew Baker (Drums), and that was our mutual friend, which I didn’t know we had. So we all jammed, and it kind of came together after that.
That’s always good. It’s nice to have, almost like a natural fit, right?
Brandon - Yeah it was kinda like a natural fit, everyone just fell in together. I find all of our personalities are very relaxed, like it isn’t hugely ego-driven with us or anything.
So how long have you guys all known each other?
Brandon - Well, I’ve known baker since High School, so we met in like Grade 9 because he lived just past my street down the road. And (Johnny) Ross I’ve known for a year now, Gregson maybe a little bit less, but we’re all pretty good with each other.
And how long have you been playing together as a band?
Brandon - It’s Marc now, so I guess our jams were about November/December of the year before last. So just over a year, I know February 14th of last year was our first show.
Wow, so I have to say, you guys play together very well for that short of a time and just kind of coming together spontaneously like that.
Brandon - Thank you.
And I also appreciate the vast range of music you guys play too, like most bands are kind of like “We’re a metal band”, or “We play country”, or whatever, like everyone kind of picks a Genre now and kind of runs with it, ya know?
Brandon - Yeah, and for me, I like bands that do stick to their Genres, but I also like all kinds of Genres myself. You know, some days, I’ll listen to like, Miles Davis, or sometimes I’m in the mood for something like Slayer.
Mhm, I’m like that as well. It kinda depends on your mood right?
Brandon - Yeah it depends on the mood, because like they all takes different levels of talent to play, you know? Slayer stuff isn’t really easy to do on guitar. Or any instrument really.
Yeah, I know what you mean; I’m a metal-head myself, and I have been playing guitar for about 14 years, and I can’t touch their stuff, it’s almost a tad intimidating (laughs)
Brandon - And that’s just it too, I was out to see a Slayer, Pantera, and Sabbath cover and they were all fucking wicked.
Yeah, that would be.
*(First bit of off topic chat)*
What is your favorite venue you’ve played so far?
Brandon - Hmm, favorite Venue.. You know what? (laughs) I would have to say The Moustache Club has been my favorite so far.
Yeah?
Brandon - Yeah, I would have to say The Moustache Club for around here, for the sound, and like the atmosphere, you know? It’s like a rock bar, and you can get the bass thumping, and you have so much room, it feels nice.
So it’s almost more directed straight at what you do, like what you guys play right?
Brandon - Yeah to what we do; intimate in a way.
Yeah, whereas here, there isn’t really any set theme, people can play whatever Genre and everyone is going to love it, like I have already seen so many different kinds of music played in one night. It’s part of why I love coming here so much.
Brandon - Yeah, I like Gravity too, I really like Jason doing the sound, he’s fun.
I haven’t had a chance to actually meet him yet. Then again, I don’t play when I come here either so that’s likely why (Laughs) But on that note, everyone I have met so far has been extremely nice, very chill people here that’s for sure.
Brandon - Yeah there is for sure.. But just more for the overall feel, I would have to say the Moustache Club.
Mhm.
So is this your first musical endeavor? This band, I mean.
Brandon - No, actually. Uhm, I’ve had a few. For instance I did a 90’s cover band kinda thing.
That’s cool.
Brandon - Yeah, it was fun, it was all kinda like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, That sort of stuff, which I really love.
And then, I was also in another band that was more 80’s driven, so like I had to go onstage in like, zebra spandex and shit (Laughs)
(Laughs) So like some Steel Panther shit or something?
Brandon - Yeah, pretty much exactly that, and I was like Yeah! So it was fun for sure. But this is probably the most comfortable, like the closest to who I am kinda thing. Which is cool.
Yeah.
Do you enjoy playing all of the stuff you guys do? Like all the different eras of music?
Brandon - Yeah, I love it, all the songs, because like we all kinda pick songs, and we are all the same musically to what we wanna play for the most part. I mean, I’ll have my days where I wanna just sit and play a lot of metal at times, sometimes I just wanna chug away with heavy distortions and whatnot. But other than that, I love like, CCR, and Tom Petty, that sorta thing.
Yeah, you gotta love CCR (laughs) I discovered them when I was rather young.
Brandon - Yeah, I find it funny because I know this metal Drummer, and he loves CCR as well. I just like how there’s like this, variation in Genres, nobody is like “I must only listen to-…”, you know?
Yeah, as I said earlier, I’m a metal-head for the most part, but for instance, I love Blue Rodeo as well, or like there is some country I will listen to, and I like some rap as well, I’ll listen to smooth jazz. Whatever strikes me at the time sort of thing.
Brandon - Yeah, me too, I like rap as well but I’m a bit selective with it.
So this next question might be a bit random, but where did the name Hippie Crippler come from?
Brandon - That. We were all sitting around the table talking about what the name should be, and we decided to go to leafly.com, and check out marijuana strains (Laughs)
*Johnny enters*
Johnny - Are you giving away all of our secrets? (Laughs)
Brandon - Yeah, what were our choices for names? We had like Electric Kool-Aid, -
Johnny - That would have been cool-
Brandon - Yeah, that one was cool bit the problem with that was I think there was a band out of Spain that already had that name. Plus there was a book and all of this other shit. So there was Hippie Crippler, and there was um..
Johnny - Mr. nice-
(Both Laugh)
Brandon - That one was great.
Johnny - I think we actually played one show as Mr. Nice.-
Brandon - Yeah we did play one show as Mr. Nice.
Johnny - But it wasn’t so nice though, were like “you know what? Fuck Mr. Nice (both laugh)
Brandon - Yeah, and so then we just went with Hippie Crippler
Johnny - Which is cool too, because it’s got like that two-vibe, you know? People are like, “What? Youre fuckin’ up hippies? What?!” (laughs). Like, I grew up with the 70’s and all the hippies and stuff.
Yeah for sure, it was a good time.
*(Here, we got a little off track, talking about random things)*
So do you guys have anything in the works at the moment? Or any upcoming shows to watch out for? I saw you guys are playing The Players Bench on Saturday night.
Brandon - We actually have a lot of shows coming up, we’ve got the Players Bench, then we open up at The Atria , Whiskey John’s, and then we’ve got a few more at the Moustache Club over the summer.
Johnny - Well there’s a bunch of the Moustache club booked, it’s kind of a regular gig for us, probably once a month at least.
Well that’s always good to have recurring stuff.
Johnny - Yeah. We play all night on our own, ya know, so we can make a living out of it and continue that way. But me and Brando have some things were working on as well.
Yeah, like we do acoustic stuff also.
So do you go by Hippie Crippler for that as well? Or do you have another name?
Johnny - No.
Brandon – No. Well we do acoustic stuff as Hippie Crippler, it just kind of depends on what comes up, you know?
Yeah.
Johnny - Because we do this trio, we call the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. And we just do acoustic, like the three of us. Um, Hippie Crippler, anyway we can sustain financial gain; like we have found a way after this long to remain on the up, not that it’s all about money, but like for instance, he (Brandon) bought a pedal today. That kinda thing comes out of pocket.
Brandon - Yeah the income helps better the show, by maybe adding a new effect, or a new sound, even in the slightest.
That’s good though, because you might want sometimes for it to be a new or different experience for returning viewers.
Johnny - Yeah.
Brandon - Yeah it could be literally the most subtle thing, like it would be a big thing for me to notice, but others might not be like “Oh shit, here’s something different about this”, but I would know.
Johnny - I actually almost got killed today, getting this pedal.
Brandon - Yeah you did, you almost walked in front of a fuckin street car
(both Laugh)
Johnny - I was like “oh, sorry, I’m not from around here!”
Brandon - And as they laid on the horn, I was like, “Was this compression pedal even worth this?”. Like it would have been like “Johnny is dead guys, but hey I got this new pedal today, so it’s alright I guess”.
(Both Laugh)
Here in Oshawa?
Johnny - No, in Toronto. But that’s what we’re like, you know, I was like I wanna sit in the car in traffic to go get this pedal.
Nothing wrong with a bit of adventure.
Brandon - It was an adventure, like its Thursday afternoon, what the hell else do we do? (Laughs)
So I was talking to you outside a little earlier, you said you were raised on a lot of bluegrass and that sort of thing?
Johnny - Yeah, I grew up doing kitchen jams with my uncles and stuff, whether you sing, pick up a guitar or banjo, It was all in the family (the instruments). Like, I started out with the drums, and learned rhythm that way, because my brother played guitar, but he wouldn’t ever jam with me. Which kinda sucked, but at the same time, he’s in his own project now too so.. You grew up and you found your instrument, and for me, I realized growing up with a lot of punk bands as well, nobody could sing or write songs, so I would kinda riff over them and stuff. As a drummer, you kind of make that tempo, distinguish the verse to the chorus and so on.
So is that the main contributing factor to the vast range of music you guys play?
Brandon – No.
Johnny - No.
So it was a combination of everyone in the band loving all the older stuff then?
Johnny - Yeah
Brandon - Yeah like we all pick songs and stuff, I find we all kind of gel with our choices, like the Classic Rock/Americana kind of feel stuff.
So the bluesy stuff?
Brandon - Yeah the more blues driven stuff, which a lot of music is based around.
Johnny - Yeah, everyone kind of accepts the challenge, and you give it your all, and that’s how we figure out “Hey, this works for us”.
Yeah, because going from one genre to another isn’t necessarily an easy thing to do for everyone.
Johnny - Yeah we push each other, we’re pretty good at that.
Brandon - Like we will play something like Elvis, to Pink Floyd, and into the 90’s and even now if something new catches out ear.
*(another random off topic discussion about Columbia House records, first albums and Warped Tour)*
So if someone, a fan of yours was to go looking for your music, how would they go about that? Do you guys have a YouTube page or anything like that?
Johnny - Well, you know, we are still so fresh, and I consider what we’ve done in just over a year to be quite impressive.
I agree.
Brandon - But if anyone were searching, I would say for now, our Facebook page (@HippieCrippler)
Yeah, I had seen a couple videos on there.
Brandon - But other than that, you’re gonna find a lot of bootlegs.
(Both Laugh)
Johnny - Yeah.
So Brandon, How long have you been playing guitar?
Brandon - Well I guess, seriously since I was about 15, but I kind of picked it up when I was young, like maybe 10? But I never really seriously started practicing until about 15 or so. Like the first song my dad’s buddy taught me was Over the Hills and Far Away (Led Zeppelin) and I played that for maybe two years until I decided to get serious with it.
Yeah, Zeppelin was a big thing for a lot of people who play music, I know a friend of mine out west played a lot of it, but he plays in a metal band right now. Just goes to show how diverse people can be with their taste.
*(Yet another off topic discussion about Avenged Sevenfold)*
We sort of discussed it but not too far into detail, but what is the main goal with the band? Like it obviously isn’t just for fun right?
Brandon - Our main goal right now.. Well after this year, we have established our covers,-
And you have established a name as well.
Brandon - Mhm. So right now we are kind of pushing towards writing original material. Because as of right now, we have our three sets of cover songs, so we can make money. And now I would like to get about five or six of our own songs, originals that we could play, or maybe toss one or two in here and there with our sets even. You know, I think at the end of the day, that’s every bands goal, although I think a lot of people may just want to do covers for a living. Like don’t get me wrong, I love jamming other peoples shit, because I find it helps you grow as a musician, from other people. Because I find even songs I have been playing for a long time, the shit you forget, you begin playing your own way, and when you go back to revisit and sit with the guitar you go fuck, I started doing my own thing and you notice that little nuance, or note that wasn’t there but worked. And you go Okay, and you learn something new all the time; like reading a book for a second time or something. You can always be learning something which is great.
Yeah I understand that, and when you learn others music, you can learn all different flavors, or little tricks, and apply it to your own Music. And then you find your comfort zone with your own style right?
Brandon - That my thing right now, Especially I find with our Skynyrd tune we do, I found I’ve learned loads from that, with the lead work because there’s all these weird tasty licks that flow within the pentatonic range right? There’s a lot of different weird techniques.
*(I go off topic for another quick minute, I apologize to the reader, as this happened a few times throughout)*
Brandon - For me right now, I’ve been learning a lot of John Frusciante, because I really love his different chord voicings, and the chords he chooses to use. Like don’t get me wrong, his lead work is good, but for his rhythms, because he’s the only guitar player, he is very soulful. The chords he uses, you go “Fuck, that’s so cool!” They’re just so ambient, they flow with the bass, and you hear it and go “I don’t know what that is but I like It”, you know?
Yeah, I have always been a fan of the Chili Peppers. I always loved the bass, it’s so funky.
Brandon - Yeah it’s funky, and it’s how percussive the guitar can be at times. And he just keeps it going, and doesn’t fuck it up, it’s good.
Yeah I have always found their stuff very hard to play.
Brandon – Some of it can be, but it depends.
To start wrapping up, is there any last words you would like to say before we end this?
Brandon - Last words? I love playing music, we all do. So if at the end of the day you may bitch about something, like “Fuck, I wish we were making more money”, or whatever, you do it because you love it. It’s not something I do because I feel like I have to do it.
Well yeah, it’s all about the passion right? Where would any artist be without it?
Brandon - For me, if I feel depressed or a little blue or whatever, I play guitar for like two hours, I feel right as rain again. That’s the effect music has on me. So yeah, I would take that over anything else in my life, just music, for sure.
Music is definitely a good tool, if you will.
Brandon - Yeah it’s therapeutic.
That’s actually a much better word to use than tool. (Laughs)
Brandon - Yeah. (Laughs), I mean, it is a tool.
You can use it as one, you can use it to reduce anxiety, or improve a bad mood, and even make people laugh, you can use it for all kinds of things right?
Brandon - Yeah, you can. Music is a tool, marijuana can be a tool, both can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression right? Like there’s all kinds of different tools you can use, it’s just a matter of using them properly, and not abusing them, or taking them for granted or anything like that.
Okay, well the last thing I have to ask you, is do you have any advice for any upcoming or struggling musicians?
Brandon - Advice? Just keep chipping away, no matter how shitty it may get, because life will inevitably shit on you. It’s how you deal with it that matters. I mean I’m sure once you get to a certain age you realize that so.. Just keep doing your thing, you know? Just keep a positive attitude, that’s all you can really do sometimes.
That’s a good message I think personally, keep positive, because I know shit can get hard sometimes, but it’ll pass eventually given enough time.
Brandon - Yeah, you gotta learn to look past that, because you realize everything is fleeting in life. Everything comes in waves right? But focus on the positive.
I agree.
Well folks, this has been Mack from DravenFrost Productions, speaking with Brandon and Johnny (Ross) from Hippie Crippler.
I would like to thank you for allowing me the chance to do this with you, I appreciate it for sure. It was nice to meet you, great to see you guys play, and Thanks again!
Brandon - No problem man.