PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES REXROAD
1. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! Would you please introduce yourself, say what you do in the band, and name and describe your musical endeavors prior to Great Falls?
My name is Shane Mehling, I play bass and I was in Playing Enemy with Demian Johnston (guitar/vocals) many years ago.
2. For some context, would you please tell the readers when, where, and how the band formed?
Demian and I were in the aforementioned Playing Enemy. We split from our drummer in 2006 and started a two-person experimental noise band called Hemingway. We did that for a few years and then decided to do a real band again. We started around 2009 with a drum machine, then we got a drummer in 2010, got a different drummer in 2022, Nick Parks, and that is where we are today.
3. Your LP The Bite that Grows Up was released via Neurot Recordings on October 16th. How do you feel that The Bite that Grows Up builds on and/or differs from your 2023 offering Object Without Pain? What lessons or experiences in those intervening three years shaped what would become The Bite that Grows Up? What was the writing process like?
This is definitely a faster record. It’s the first album we’ve written from the ground floor with Nick and his nature is faster stuff, so we ended up with something that definitely pushes forward a lot more. The last record had a few really long, slower songs, and with everything a little more intense I think that forced us to rethink how to still add dynamics and find places to just breathe. I think we will probably try to write some more of those slower longer songs, but this definitely put us in a new mindset of how to create those same kinds of feelings in shorter timeframes.
The writing process was different for us because Nick lives a couple hours away and Demian and I practice twice a week. So there was a lot of riff writing and culling and some broad shaping of songs until we could see Nick again. And then based on those practices a lot of editing what we had and moving stuff around and trying to find where things fit within a song or if a whole section should be moved to a different song.
4. What was the recording process for this record like?
Any time we record with Scott Evans, it’s a great experience, but there are always worries or stress about putting stuff together. This experience was more intense because we didn’t feel as prepared as the previous record. A lot more question marks about certain things as we didn’t fully demo the songs before we went in. There was a lot of discovery of what the songs actually sounded like while we were putting it together. We will not do that again, but we think it worked out okay.
5. What is the thematic focus of the record?
It’s Demian trying to process his relationship with his father alongside the relationship with his daughter and all the sadness and anger and anxiety that comes along with it.
6. You just finished touring the East Coast with Kowloon Walled City prior to the release of the album—what can you tell us about that?
It was fantastic. We love Scott and the rest of the guys. Just dream tourmates. And watching them is really something else. They just own the stage in a totally mesmerizing, but also completely personable and genuine, way. Very much a band like no one else.
7. What have been the major highlights of the band’s existence so far and what are you most excited about with this upcoming chapter?
Well, getting to be on Neurot has been a huge thing for us, just based on the respect we have for Steve and Neurosis. And being able to tour Europe with Botch on their reunion tour, and then at their final show, was an honor. Also Roadburn. As far as future plans, we are just hoping to write more and be able to play more shows. And we do have a couple Neurosis shows coming up we’re very much looking forward to.
8. I have two questions here about Deconstructing Towers: The Story of Hydra Head Records. I’ve just pre-ordered it and cannot wait to dig into it! I’m also curious to get more information after learning a bit about the Initech set-up in Chris Wrenn’s Fenway Punk. First, can you provide a rough outline/description of the book, and second, can you tell readers a bit about when the idea emerged to write this book and how you went about constructing it, who you interviewed, etc.? When I’ve finished it, I’d like to circle back and discuss it in more depth as I did with Chris for his book, but this would be a nice “appetizer.”
Thanks for being interested! It’s sort of a loose narrative that goes from the beginning of the label through the end with a lot of focus on the history of specific bands or records that came out of the label. There is also a lot about the issues, personal and financial, that led to the label collapsing.
I was asked to write it by Decibel editor Albert Mudrian. I happen to live very close to Aaron Turner so that was certainly a benefit, but he knew I had spent time in this world and grew up as a huge Hydra Head fan.
It’s yet to be seen whether I’m successful or not, but hopefully it’s a book that can be read as one cohesive story, and is the most satisfying way to read it, but can also allow someone to read about a specific band or record. As far as whom I interviewed, it was a lot of people. I should actually figure that out. There are many I wasn’t able to include, either, but it was a sizable amount.
As far as Initech, the book unfortunately doesn’t include too much information about that time. Or maybe it’s more than I remember. But I of course include the Yankees Suck lore from Chris and some other anecdotes from others who were there.
9. A promoter with unlimited funds and artist access—including access to a time machine—is putting together a one-night-only show with you on the bill. You get to choose the other four artists you’ll be sharing the stage with, at their peak from any era. Who are you picking and why?
I know Demian would pick Craw, and I certainly wouldn’t protest. I would definitely pick Coalesce and Kiss it Goodbye (before Demian was in the band, sorry). And I think we might agree that The Jesus Lizard at their peak was probably the coolest thing in music history.
10. To close us out here, I’d like to get your personal picks on a couple of favorites; favorite: a) song(s) to play live; b) specific venue or type of venue to play; c) artist or band; d) book and/or movie; and e) non-musical creative or constructive outlet.
a) On this Kowloon tour we started playing all new songs at shows, so right now it’s probably “Nicotine in the Spine” because it’s the song I know the best. Probably my favorite song to play is always the one I have to think about least.
b) I love playing basement shows but we don’t find too many of those nowadays. A stage that isn’t very high with no barrier and a decent PA system is pretty much ideal for us.
c) I don’t really think I have a favorite band but Hiss, who are friends of ours in Portland, just put out an awesome album called A Cheapened Crown. It’s really fantastic.
d) My favorite book is White Noise by Don Delillo and my favorite movie is probably Glengarry Glen Ross.
e) Well, I do write fiction as well. I’m not sure it will ever be as interesting as the book about Hydra Head, but I try to split my anxiety between music and that.