An Interview With Vanna [02/2008]

I had the opportunity to talk with the singer of the hardcore/metal band Vanna, Chris, about touring and the band’s rather unique Webisodes. I got to hear some insane tour stories from a band known for having insane tours [maybe they shouldn’t have named their album Curses?], the real dirt on their van, and also got a big scoop: they’ll be recording a new album in the next few months. Get to know Chris, and Vanna, a bit better.

pixie: So, how’s the tour going?

Chris: This tour has been pretty good so far. It’s been probably the most interesting tour we’ve done so far, considering the weather and the time of the year and the areas we’ve been traveling through.

pixie: It’s not worse than the Spring tour, is it?

Chris: Uhhh… yeah. It’s probably the worst tour we’ve done, condition-wise. We were in some areas we don’t usually end up in, and we did the full Midwest going through Kentucky, Kansas, and once we got to Kansas, it started getting cold and we started to hit snow, and then we hit Denver and it all went to hell from there. Literally, downhill. We got into the mountains up there, and it started snowing pretty much non-stop. We were supposed to play Salt Lake City and we got midway there and then they started shutting down highways, so we had to stop. And on top of that, all the electronics in our van went out, so we didn’t have headlights. So we’re stuck in Wyoming, no heat, no headlights, highways shut down…. We had to backtrack to Denver, and from there, we hit every type of storm that exists. Snowstorms, sandstorms, ice, hail, rain, wind… it was insane. But we finally made it to California and now we’re all set.

pixie: I didn’t even know there were sandstorms in the United States….

Chris: Neither did we, but… I woke up at 6am and it was my turn to drive. We started going through Central California and it was super-windy, and it was hard to even stay on the highway. Next thing I know, it’s louder than rain and hail and you can’t see anything - everything is just brown, and we’re being hit with sand. So we’re driving about 20 miles an hour. I wasn’t scared, I mean, what can you do? You have to just keep driving. We were trying to make the show, so we couldn’t stop or we’d have to cancel. It was probably the craziest thing to happen on tour so far.

pixie: My next question was going to be “is it hard to be on the road as much as you are?” but I think you already answered that.

Chris: Sometimes, it’s really hard, like this tour. It kind of depends on the time of the year and what’s going on at home. The hardest part is leaving people behind, not being able to see family and friends. And then it’s hard on the road, depending on weather. Generally, touring in the summer is better - it’s more of a party, you can be outside and hang out at the shows. Overall, we have a really good time on tour.

pixie: You can tell that from the Webisodes you guys have been making. Do you plan them or are they pretty spontaneous?

Chris: When we started touring, I brought my camera and we started filming stuff, as well as when we were recording. And then our buddy Justin came out and filmed some stuff for us, for the record. And when we went on the road, we did a couple of Webisodes and Epitaph liked them so they bought us a camera so we could do it all the time. They gave us free reign to do whatever we want. So we just bring the camera around whenever we remember to turn it on. Anything that’s funny, if we remember, we’re like, “dude, get the camera.”

pixie: You leave in all the affectionate moments. You’re very affectionate guys.

Chris: [laughs] Affectionate? Yeah. I’d say so. Are you referring to a specific clip?

pixie: Yeah! The one with lots of hugging and kissing and stuff.

Chris: We’re huggy dudes. We have a good time on the road and we like to hug.

pixie: You wouldn’t expect it. You hear you on stage just screaming and freaking out and then you’re all “awwww!”

Chris: I hope there’s not some misconception that we’re tough guys. I mean, I’ll fight anybody - but I won’t at the same time. We’re really sweet dudes. We hang out with the kids at the show and we’re all about having a good time. We might get a little affectionate at times. We might enjoy nature sometimes. We might get a little drunk and stuff. You never know. We’re all about having fun.

pixie: I think a lot of hardcore and metal bands get stereotyped as being tough and mean and people are always surprised when they’re nice guys.

Chris: It’s either the idea that the music we play makes us mean, or the fact that we are touring musicians and we think we’re some sort of big deal or something. When we get to a show, we’re in the crowd, hanging out, meeting people. We are not the type of band to sit in the van through the whole show and pout, or hide from the fans, or look for a back door to use. We’re there, we’re real dudes, and we want people to know that.

pixie: So what is your van like? We’ve seen it… but how about some more details. What does it smell like? That’s what I want to know.
Chris: The van is pretty legendary. We drive a bright red - lipstick red - Dodge 15-passenger van. It’s like a diaper on wheels, basically. It is awful. Right now, it’s on it’s last leg. We have this tour, and then we’re going to start recording, so we’re probably going to retire it after recording. We’re about to hit 200,000 miles, and it smells like it. Imagine 6 or 7 dudes at any given time, lots of Taco Bell, lots of sweat, dirty clothes… the floor smells like it is going to rot and fall out. Our merch guy was on the floor the other day and said, “Dude, did someone puke in here?” and I said, “no, why?” And he said, “The floor smells exactly like puke. Someone must have puked in here.” But no, I think it’s actually just rotting. You would not believe… there is no way to describe the smell of the van unless you have been in it.

pixie: Somehow, I knew to ask about this. It just kind of looks like it might smell.

Chris: Oh, it has a mean look. It has the Punisher skull on the front, so just by looking at it, you don’t want to mess with it. And then you open the door and it’s like, “yeah… this is serious business. This is a real problem.”

pixie: So, what is the worst habit that someone can have on a tour?

Chris: Oh man. Probably… we all have some bad habits. We’re like children. It’s like a kindergarten class. There’s a lot of nose-picking, crude humor, and then there’s bad habits like a couple of smokers in the band, a couple of us drink too much, but I think the worst habit on tour is anything that interferes with other people’s lives like talking too much or if you are particularly smelly? Then you have to go. You’re riding in the trailer. We’re pretty used to each other by now, so I can’t think of anything anyone could do that would drive me through the roof by now… if so, I think they’ve already done it.

pixie: Have you ever actually banished anyone to the trailer for smelling?

Chris: [laughs] Not while we’re driving. Not yet, anyway. It’s a common threat, though. Saying, “Dude… one more time… and you’re in the trailer.” But I don’t know. It might be more comfortable than the van, honestly.

pixie: You sound like a dad… “don’t make me pull this over.”
Chris: Oh no, we wouldn’t pull over. It’s a tuck and roll situation. You fuck up that bad, you’re tucking and rolling.

pixie: Will you slow down at least?

Chris: No way! Dude. If you’re bad enough that you’re getting out of the van, we’re not slowing down.

pixie: So what are your tour essentials?

Chris: I’m really reliant on my items of technology. I just got an iPhone and I am absolutely addicted to it. I have my computer with me everywhere. I also have a little bag that is my hygiene bag. If I don’t spend at least 20 minutes a day on hygiene, then my life goes downhill. It has deodorant, toothbrush, stuff like that. I smell good! And plugs… you have to make sure everything is charged or you’ll lose track of the world and feel like you’re out in the ocean somewhere. And iPods, but I would hope that every band would say that.

pixie: So you said you were going to be recording? When is that going to happen?
Chris: We actually just found out today that is going to be happening. I’m actually at our label right now and we were talking about it. We’re thinking of going into the studio in April, depending on what producer we choose and availability, which should put the album out… sometime this year. I don’t want to go into too much detail and get myself into trouble, but we are writing new music, we are going into the studio in the next few months, and we will have a new album out this year.

pixie: Awesome. Maybe pick a name that won’t quite put as much of a blight on your tours this time?

Chris: We’ve actually joked around about that a lot. We absolutely cursed ourselves calling the album Curses. I don’t know why we thought that was a good idea. We joked about calling the new album like, Prosperity. Or Blessings. Or Candy.

pixie: How about “anything that is good in the world”?

Chris: Anything positive, really. And we are taking a more positive stance on the lyrics and the themes of the songs, so hopefully it pays off.

—-

Vanna is still on tour through the end of March and they will be posting new Websiodes on their YouTube channel, with plenty more on the way. I strongly suggest bookmarking the page and adding it to your favorites.

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