So I head to one of my new favorite stomping grounds the Troubadour- where everybody knows my name and they’re always glad I came (the bouncers actually greeted me by name) to check out the Aussie import Karnivool.

Now I’ve seen the Troubadour packed before (most recently due to our current Artist In Residence Fight From Above)- but I was in no way prepared for this crowd.  Every hard rock fan from Southern California was in attendance to hear the boys from down under rock like it’s going out of style (or at least, the country) with a few that had driven up from San Diego specifically for the shin dig.

None of us were disappointed as the Ian Kenny opened his mouth and out spewed vocals of a dark and soulful rock-infused nature.  His range was out of this world and as he serenaded the crowd the puma clad Kenny seemed to be in a trance of his own- really leaving reality and taken prisoner by his own creation of tunes and tracks.

The nest day I caught up with the band in between meetings and going back and forth between accents I found myself lost in translation with Drew Goddard.

BNB:  So this was your last show on your US tour!  What’s the main difference between the US music scene as opposed to the one down under?

DG:  You know it changes from state to state- it seems like every state’s got their own little scene going on!  You know- there’s some good stuff and there’s some awful stuff!  It’s a very small pond where we come from- everyone sort of knows everyone, so it’s a great place for musicians to kind of do their thing- but it is really isolated.

BNB:  Main musical influences?

DG:  Everything from like Radiohead to sould to Iron & Wine- as long as it’s good and it’s got soul.

 

BNB:  What’s up with the name- mean anything?

DG:  You know its sort of been around for a long while- since the early days before I was even in the band.  We’re not really partial- it’s just a tag, just a name.

 

BNB:  Who’s responsible for the majority of your lyrics?

DG:  We all kind of get in on the lyrics- Ian Kenny will sort of deliver a string of consciousness when we’re writing- sort of whatever will come out of his mouth and they we edit them.

BNB:  The lyrics can be incredibly dark!  “Deadman” specifically was a great tune!

DG:  That’s definitely one of the darker ones on the record- but they’re always hopeful- sort of a light at the end of the tunnel thing.  That’s what Karnivool’s really about- lots of darkness but heading towards the light.

 

BNB:  What general kind of sound or idea were you guys going for when creating your latest release Sound Awake?

DG:  It’s an interesting one- there was no real agenda, ya know?  There’s a fine line between directing it, and letting the music take its own form.  We just kind of jump in the room and jam out and record.

BNB:  Well mission accomplished there- Sound Awake has a great sound!

 

BNB:  Memorable tour or show stories you care to share?

(Drew looks to the rest of the boys in the band to jog his memory.  They were not much help and poor Drew is now left to fend for himself.  May the force be with you, Drew.)

DG:  Well we were playing a show in Scottsdale, Arizona and we just finished playing a show and it was just SO hot- like 115 degrees- and so we went outside and met someone and kind of ended up swimming in their pool.  And then they drove us back across town in like a gold cart buggy.  Lots of crazy experiences on this tour- we went on sort of a bender in Chicago, ended up in Napa- which is pretty random!

 

BNB:  So now you guys are going back home for a bit and then you’re off to tour through Europe- where are you most excited to get to?

DG:  Amsterdam- one place that I’ve never been to but I’ve heard good things about.

BNB:  Indeed- I’ve heard some crazy things about that place!

DG:  Yeah I’d hold up in a café for a couple of days- hey, where did Drew go?  I don’t know!

BNB:  I’ll have the search party on standby.

DG:  Yeah- I’d end up swimming in the Cotswolds  or something!

 

BNB:  So you’ve got a long flight ahead of you- what’s currently playing on your ipod?

DG:  This band called The Books that I’ve been listening to a lot lately- really ambient, kind of trippy.

 

BNB:  Closing remarks?

DG:  Yeah just next time we’re over here come and check us out!

Sound Awake does just that and it kickstarts your mind with no amount of censorship- so be prepared as it shocks your system.  You can check out their tunes at www.myspace.com/karnivool and the next time they make a U.S. appearance I suggest you run not walk to see the spectacle for yourselves.  It’s not often a pseudo metal band can make a xylophone look (or sound) good- but Karnivool is working it like it’s their job.  Oh, wait…