China Shop Bulls – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

China Shop Bulls – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Tell me about your most recent song, album, or video (you pick.) Tell me a story about what went into making it. Not a process, but a cool story that took place within the process.

CSB: with our only actually released debut single “unwired” we were coming up with many good instrumental tracks but couldn’t settle on something to write about. Our singer/guitarist Cole basically just decided he was gonna write about tourettes syndrome since he was recently medically diagnosed with it. we straight up just wrote about how he felt and that’s how the song song was born.

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

CSB: We have many talented bands in our scene that we definitely admire. Brother T and the Boys is a big one. they really took us under their wing and are still working with us to help us get ourselves out there. Deadstreet Dreamers, The Hauntings and Unintelligents. we really could go on and on.

RRX: Our style comes from the extension of our influences. It’s like an evolution. We’re influenced, and it inspires us to influence. What can you say about your influences, and what you feel you’ve done with their influence as a musician or band? Have you extended their work?

CSB: we have quite a few of bands that have influenced our style, one of the biggest ones is Blink-182 from their Cheshire Cat and Dude Ranch Album, we also take influence from their self titled slightly. Face to Face, LagWagon, NOFX are all great bands we are very inspired by.

RRX: What instrument would you add to the band if you could? Is there anything you are trying to do musically that would be helped with one or more additional players?

CSB: We have talked about the potential of adding an additional guitarist. We think this could expand our opportunities for more complex riffs in some parts of our songs that Cole might not be able to play and sing at the same time. in a lot of the songs we have written, there is extra guitar parts added in which would be nice to also have during our live performances.

RRX: Stereotypes are a bitch. I mean, aside from the really bad ones, you have cultural stereotypes about everything, including music.  Would do you think is the stereotype for the music you play, and how far are you away from it?

CSB: We think we would be seen as high energy. Our bass player and guitarist, Nick and Cole are practically bouncing off the walls at all times. Our drummer looks at us half of the time like we’re nuts. We just like to have fun and not be so serious all the time. we aim to give the best performance for our audience and the only way to keep the energy up with them is by being high energy as-well.

RRX: “The best laid plans of mice and men…” I don’t really know the quote, but I know this one; sh*t happens. When we least expect it, calamity befalls us. Sometimes just comic inconvenience. Please tell us a story about some comic inconvenience that happened to you whilst performing?

CSB: Well, at what was supposed to be our debut show at Gus’s Place in Hudson Falls, Our opening band “Sugar Eater” got 4 songs in to start the night off before the power suddenly went out. We ended up having to just pack it up and never got to play.

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