Mindtrip - 15 Rounds
by: Buzz Staff
1) Tell our readers who's in your band and what kind of sound to expect.
Paul: Davos on the drums, Eli on guitar, Alan on the bass, and Paul on vocals.
Davos: An aggressive in your face sound with a lot of Live energy.
Eli: Paul-vox/Davos-drums/Al-bass/ and i play guitar...probably the most Rock energy you can pack on one stage.
2) Where did your name Mindtrip originate?
Paul: We actually got our name from a Nonpoint song called 'Mindtrip'.
Davos: Me and Eli were sitting around trying to figure out a name for our band, Just so happened that we were spinning the Nonpoint album “Statement” and “Mindtrip” is the first tune on that CD.
Eli: From a really cool band "Nonpoint" they have a song 'mindtrip' the lyrics were really ballsy had the attitude we were looking for I hit everyone with it and it just seemed to stick.
3) Give us a brief history of the band and any releases that are available.
Paul: We've been together 6 years and hopefully will have a second album coming out soon.
Davos: Actually I think it’s 5 years and some change, in that time frame we have put out One EP in 2004 and one full length “Stand your Ground” in 2005.
Eli: 5 years together 4 years playing gigs when we first started we practiced for about 6 months writing material trying to get all the loose ends tied up before we played a gig... so in all we’ve had a few sampler CD's that have a had 4 to 6 songs on them. If you ask around you'll probably find some floating in circulation...then in 05' we put out our first full length album which is crazy i think we top that off with 16 tracks or 18 there’s so much material its crazy.. and hopefully we'll have our new album in everyone's mits by this next summer.
4) Does your band have a website? And where can we check out your music?
Paul: The official site is www.mindtriprocks.com, or www.myspace.com/mindtriprocks
Davos: You can check out our EPK at SonicBids.com as well.
Eli: www.mindtriprocks.com or www.myspace.com/mindtriprocks for the most updated check the myspace address.
5) Where do you see the band 3 years from now?
Paul: Hopefully in a big ass tour bus cruising the states & rockin’ out for everyone.
Davos: I want to be having fun, doing what I love and that is playing music with my friends. But a big tour bus would be pretty damn sweet for sure.
Eli: Hopefully a Tour bus and the Mindtrip Mayhem that will follow.
Alan: I don’t like to speculate, but with a whole lot of hard work and even more luck, anything could happen.
6) Tell us what you like best about the Birmingham music scene and where you think it could use some improvement.
Paul: The Birmingham music scene is awesome, the improvement that I would make is if your going to show up for a show then ‘cool’ but do it for the music not to tally up "hey I’m here I showed up" and then as soon as the band plays your out the fuckin’ door when there is four more bands left to play @ that show.
Davos: “The ham” has always had great bands. I feel it has more of a diverse selection of bands than most places in the south. When you see that type of diversity then you know that folks are creating music from the heart, “Making their own sound” so to speak, and that in my opinion is when great music occurs. I think there is too much competitiveness though, we could make the scene better by banning together as one. More camaraderie and way less “I’m better than you” type of thinking.
Eli: With an exception of a band or two all the bands in bham get along really well its not treated like a competition but a big party of friends having fun playing shows. if i could improve it MORE VENUES!
Alan: I like that it’s pretty easy for a band to get a gig. The area where it could use the most improvement is getting people to go to local shows. For this to happen, I think several things would have to change. Radio stations would have to play local music once in a while during the day. I mean, who the hell listens to the radio at 11pm? There’s also a need for more venues, and promotion of those venues. For example, lots of people haven’t even heard of the Highnote. Finally, the bands need to receive more constructive criticism from people. Seems to me that all bands get is praise, and I don’t believe that’s going to drive a band to improve their music.
7) Do you think your Birmingham connection shows in your music? If so, how?
Paul: I think so because we proudly say after every show in other towns and metropolitans and even in bam that we are from B’ham Alabama.
Davos: Yes I sure do. I think that the “B’ham Diversity” shows through in MT’s music and especially in our way of thinking in general. Besides we are just proud to be from “The Ham”.
Eli: Yep...it's hard to describe a certain style but you can definitely tell a difference in our music by the sound. I dont know if the ham had anything to do with it or just our different tastes in music.
Alan: Being that I’m not from around here, I honestly have no clue.
8) How do you promote your music around Birmingham and beyond?
Paul: The biggest promotion right now has been myspace and word of mouth and of course, having a great lineup for your show.
Davos: Myspace is awesome for sure. Word of mouth for MT as been great too.
Eli: Flyers & myspace a band's greatest invention.
9) If you could rock the stage with any other two bands/musicians throughout history, who would it be and why?
Paul: For me it would be rage against the machine/and or Jimi Hendrix.
Davos: Probably would be Black Sabbath, because they are the founding father of Heavy rockin’ music. And Motley Crue because they’re “The Poster Boys” for Rock-N-Roll Party life style.
Eli: That's a tough one....first i would have to say Pink floyd just to be apart of the dark side of the moon tour would have been amazing..Second probably in another country with Rage against the machine standing in front of 250,000 screaming folks.
Alan: I would have to say Seigmen, and The Smashing Pumpkins; my two biggest influences.
10) What's the best show you feel you've played to date? Any distinct magical moments?
Paul: Probably City Stages 2006, we had been waiting such a long time to do that and well we had a great time and it was a great show.
Davos: I’ll have to say City Stages was pretty damn awesome, and a close second would be the rockfest on April 1st 2006 @ ‘The Hightnote” in B’ham, because of the way the bands meshed, you could tell it was going to be a rockin’ night the moment you step into the club.
Eli: City stages...that was one of our goals in the beginning was to play City Stages...and it was a blast i will remember that feeling for the rest of my life.
Alan: City Stages was fun. I’d also have to say the Rockfest was pretty cool being that it was my first show with the band and there were a lot of people there.
11) What are some of your favorite local venues, and why?
Paul: My favorites are the Highnote, The Nick and well, Zydeco when they’re is’nt a cover band playing.
Davos: I would have to say The Hightnote, that place is home for me…And The Nick, simply because of the history of that venue. The drunkenness’ I have been a part of @ those two places is crazy for sure.
Eli: The Highnote - Sam and Katherine are always awesome, love those guys.... at second spot I'd say Zydeco very cool place
Alan: Definitely Zydeco; they seem to attract bigger bands and more people. The Highnote is cool, when enough people show up.
12) Where do you like to drink or hang out in Birmingham? And what's the best night to go out?
Paul: I like imported beer so I like going to on-tap and having a cold Hoegaarden but hey what do you do right.
Davos: The Highnote for live tuneage and Lightning Strikes bowling alley in Trusville for Drinkin’ and Karaoke.
Eli: The highnote if im going to drink i will drink with friends and you can always find a band to watch on friday & sat..... So GO TO THE NOTE
Alan: Guess I’ll have to go with the Iron Horse being that it’s right down the street for me. Saturday would be my day of choice.
13) Recommend some other local acts you think our readers should check out.
Paul: Mark of heritage, Beitthemeans, Bloodlet signature, there are so many I can’t name them all but B’ham has some of the best local talent of any city I’ve ever seen.
Davos: Apsis is rockin’, Stuckinsider, Overhed, Namastafam, Intonever, Beitthemeans. All super cool Folks making slammin’ music. That’s what it all about.
Eli: You know what just pick one because there is so much talent in Birmingham I really don't think you could see a bad show...they are so many different genres in bham you're bound to find something you like.... but to call names Mark of Heritage, The Bloodlet Signature, Stuckinsider, Beitthemeans, Zenkil, Lock 13, Overhed...thats just for starters.
Alan: Check out Lynam and Lock 13. I think Overhed has potential. I’m sure I’m forgetting some.
14) That about wraps it up. Is there anything else you want our readers to know?
Paul: Yes, come to a show hang out with us let’s have a beer or two or three and “Lets rock out with the cock out” and have a good time, listening to some really cool rock and roll and remember b’ham MINDTRIP ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!
Davos: Support local music, Get out of the house, hit a club up and rock-out.
Eli: When you see a Mindtrip show in the cityscene or on myspace come hangout that’s what makes a show for us is the people we love hanging out and having a few drinks with new friends.
Alan: I have to go with Davos on that one.
15) One last question: After a show, do you prefer Waffle House or IHOP?
Paul: Neither bro I like Krystal’s its the only way to go for real, take care I’m out.
Davos: I will agree, Krystal’s it the ticket. Those little “Gut-Grenades” are awesome @ 3am.
Eli: That’s a two sided question...a paradox if you will....it's according to how drunk I become not so drunk to drunk Krystals..... too drunk to give a damn or if it's too far to krystals i'd say waffle HO.
Alan: If I were to go to either of those I would definitely prefer IHOP!
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