Precious Metals – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.
RRX: What was the very first reaction to your music, from the first person to ever hear so much as a practice jam or the demo of your first song?
PM: Oh wow gotta think back about that one. I believe the first person, outside of the boys I wrote the songs with, to get an ear on them was my pal Dustin Deluke. I played a lot of the instruments on our first release but the one thing I don’t play is keys. I sent him the rough mixes from the early recording sessions and asked him if he would be willing to do the key arrangements which was a little daunting because he’s a Julliard trained cat and at the top of his craft and I was of course worried he’d find my stuff juvenile and whack. He reminded me it was juvenile and whack and it’s rock n roll so why am I taking myself so seriously? Do it because you love it, do what’s natural because it’s honest and there’s no room left for dishonest music. He continues to push and encourage me and constantly remind me to knock it off when I get too big for my britches. He’s one of the most encouraging people in my life and he rules. Harder than me, harder than you, harder than anyone. I’ll flatter him here because I don’t think he can actually read.
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?
PM: One time in Philadelphia someone spilled a drink on the power strip at the front of the stage that had our pedalboards plugged into it. Both guitar rigs went completely down. I saw it happen and knew there was nothing to do at the moment. Luckily in our band every one has a microphone so we just finished the last two songs like a barber shop quartet. Rich had a striped shirt on so it just made sense.
RRX: My singer punched my drummer out. Memorable moment, though nothing to brag about. But we have these things that, when summing up your endeavor, an incident comes to mind. What do you got?
PM: One time Chase and I were playing a duo bar gig in Troy and this obnoxious dude pulled a bar stool up to the front of the stage and started playing it like a bongo. Usually I’m the hot head of our crew but on this particular day, Chase was NOT having it. He stopped the song and told the dude to fuck off in slighty, but not much, more diplotmatic words. He threw a beer and Chase made his move. I tried to help but this dude was a mess and I almost pulled his hair out. Sometimes I swear I can still smell the patchouli oil on my hands late at night. The guy later stole my sandals off the stage when I wasn’t looking so I guess he wins the day.
RRX: We have to play somewhere, and sometimes those places have more going for them than a stage and a power outlet. What is a memorable place you played, and bonus points if it’s not a well-known place.
PM: Vibe points go to Ralphs Rock Diner in Worschester. Its worth the trip just go. Don’t look up who’s playing that’s weak. Just go. Best light show of my life was PM opening for Barnes Courtney at Empire Live (shoutout Teddy) and one time my old band opened up for Mindless Self Indulgence and I still haven’t sobered up from that Xperience. (See what I did? I said the title.
RRX: Playing out is tricky because you never know what’s going to happen when you get there. Sometimes everything goes wrong. What was your worst show like?
PM: The worst shows were probably the ones we didn’t make. I dropped the transmission in my van heading out to Bug Jar in Rochester once. It was a Sunday and no garages were open. We got towed to the nearest Monro Brake and Muffler which was closed of course. It was next to a Dennys and the girls working felt bad for us and gave us free chicken fingers, Anyway I had to spend the money I had set aside to rent on a Uhual van AND a Uhual trailer (to tow the van back Albany). We had to stay up all night because cars kept pulling up to case our trailer and we had to chase em off. Folks love robbin’ trailers. He had to walk two miles away to get the Uhual and it cost us like $400. Our guarantee for the Bug Jar show was $100. It really is a labor of love, I guess.
RRX: Would you rather have one of your songs blow up and make you a one-hit wonder and household name, or would you rather have all your songs be solidly received, but no chart-climbers? (You have to pick one or the other here.
PM: Charts are bullshit, right. It’s all bought and sold by everyone but the artists. I don’t have any desires anymore and I don’t take a single inch of it all for granted. It’s a miracle every time I can get my guys on stage and everytime we play it feels like pure magic to me. I love my band, I love playing shows, and I’m grateful every time 15, 50, 500 people care to share it with us. Im not a purist and I sure hope I’m not a snob, I just know what I know and I like what I like. I do like rock shows and honest songwriters. I do not like charts, rankings, or awards for art. The purveyors of such nonsense need a beer and ball gag. They can all kick rocks.