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Ex-VoTo!!
Interview with frontman Larry Rainwater
Larry: Well basically, it was me and the keyboard player, we started the band about 3 and a half years ago.
HIP: And how would you describe your music?
Larry: I would describe it as real alternative and on the edge of all the new stuff that comes out but we're not trying to recreate anything from the past, we're just trying to push forward.
HIP: We've read some of Ex-VoTo's lyrics which I think
can be somewhat haunting, who handles the songwriting?Larry: Well basically, songwriting is up for grabs to whoever wants to do it, but mainly it boils down to me and the guitar player, Dee Madden.
HIP: What do you write about?
Larry: More intellectual than just the regular rock n' roll beer-drinking lyrics. It deals more with personal politics and the way you feel and approach different situations.
HIP: Are there any gigs coming up in the near future?
Larry: No, right now we're in the recording studio.
HIP: Oh yeah, what are you guys doing?
Larry: We're recording a 5-song EP with songs like 97 crosses, Portrait of a Man, Last Vow, Water into Wine, and some others. We've got a tape that should be out in a month that has 8 different songs on it.
HIP: I can't wait, how can people get a hold of this? Who is releasing it?
Larry: Well, people can either write to us or get it at some local stores, it's being put out by Poor Alice.
HIP: I can't wait. Okay, I think I have an idea of the answer for this next question because I've seen you and Linda spinning records at the Krypt niteclub. What are your musical influences?
Larry: Everybody from Joy Division, Sisters of mercy to Alien Sex Fiend. We just keep developing into different styles and keep getting better.
HIP: Do you have any advice for struggling bands?
Larry: Well the bands that are in our genre, I would say that the biggest thing is to
just try and keep going. It's really hard for us to get shows with the revival of all
the 70's rock and stuff, it's like no one really wants to hear a band that plays new
music anymore, I mean people want to hear us but the clubs don't because it doesn't
make enough money.HIP: For those unfamiliar with you guys, who's in the band right now?
Larry: We have a keyboard player which is Linda Patti, Dee Madden is the guitarist, Greg Bevington is the singer, and I play bass.
HIP: And you guys get along pretty good?
Larry: Yeah, we get along really well.
HIP: What do you see in the future for Ex-VoTo?
Larry: Hopefully to just keep playing and keep progressing.
HIP: So Ex-VoTo has been around for how long?
Larry: We've been playing around for about two years. The first gig we ever played was with the Jesus and Mary Chain, and since then we've played everywhere from Scream to White Trash au go-go to the Krypt to just about every club in LA.
| The Krypt's Top Ten Playlist |
|---|
| 1) Falling Apart--Ex-VoTo |
| 2) 1st Cut--My Life w/the Thrill Kill Kult |
| 3) Floorshow--The Sisters of Mercy |
| 4) Peek-A-Boo--Siouxsie & the Banshees |
| 5) Asbestos Lead Asbestos--World Domination Enterprise |
| 6) Mexico Sundown Blues--James Ray & the Performance |
| 7) Spiritual Cramp--Christian Death |
| 8) Bela Lugosi's Dead--Bauhaus |
| 9) Don't Krash--Front 242 |
| 10) Blue Water--Fields of the Nephilim |
Permission Magazine Interview with Ex-VoTo
and Dee Madden's band, Penal Colony.
(for Penal Colony)