American Blackbelt Academy
Three guys with various vices and Attention Deficit Disorder joined together to make music that would satisfy their needs: quick changes, complex parts, creepy sounds, cool musical toys, and as far away from mainstream as possible.
Once described as sounding like "two elephants fucking," A.B.A. realized they were on the right track...
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
The drummer, Toby, was in REO Speedealer for about three years back when they were punk rock. He played on and engineered their first album that was released on Spanish Fly records in the early 90's. Toby's brother, Taz, played drums for Reverend Horton Heat during the best part of that band's history and now plays for the Burden Brothers.
The bass player, Corey, and Toby have known each other since 1988 when they met at the University of North Texas. They've been playing in bands together ever since then and have developed into a very solid rhythm section.
Alan, guitar, was Corey's girlfriend's little brother. He has always been into very bizarre experimental music. His influence on this band is very obvious with the introduction of the laptop, samplers, and synths. Alan's solo project, Vitmin, is very cool Squarepusher-esque music.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Currently we're playing in and around Texass.
Your musical influences
Fast changes, cool sounds, weird lyrics, vocal processors out the ass, theramin(!), samplers, laptops, synths. Blistering riffs, slow heroine music. Imagine doing Whip-Its in the middle of a crowded movie theater while watching Apocalypse Now. That's what we're like.
What equipment do you use?
Laptop with Reason, Roland XP30, Boss SP202, theramin, shitloads of pedals.
