1.Introduce
yourself and your band and tell us why we should listen to you.
My
name is Craig Meinhart and I’m the vocalist for SILVERTONGUEDEVIL &
ACOUSTIC DEVIL. You’re going to love what we do if you love metal
and have an open mind. No one else sounds like we do and we love
playing live. It’s as simple as that.
2.What
do you classify your sound as, Who do you tell people you sound like?
We’re
METAL, there’s no need to classify it beyond that. Our sound is a
mix of thrash, death, and old school heavy metal with a dash of punk.
Ask six people what we sound like and they’ll give you six
different answers.
3.With
digital music in today's world would you vote to keep or eliminate
physical media?
Physical
media is critical to the survival of underground bands. We just put
our fourth album out on vinyl and only put a single on streaming
services. Digital is great to help get the word out, but one bought
album is worth a few thousand streams. We’ve seen bands put out
albums on cd, cassette, you name it. And they sell. It’s important
to have something you can put in someone’s hands.
4.What
is the reason you decided to be a musician and has that reason paid
off?
We
do what we do because we love it, that’s all the reason anyone
needs. Has it paid off? Monetarily no. Life is hard as a band in the
digital age, but it’s always been hard. The true payoff is playing
our music in front of people that appreciate it. Sometimes the crowds
are small, sometimes they’re big. Either way it’s worth it. Doing
music shouldn’t be a career decision, and if it is do something
else.
5.How
do you feel about females in metal getting special attention? Do you
feel it is fair?
Nothing
in life is fair. Who cares what someone else is doing? Do your own
thing and if you’re lucky people will dig it.
6.In
the world climate with hatred being at an all time high and metal
being an “ angry” music
Do
you think your music contributes to anger and hatred?
I’m
not sure we’re at an all time high of hate, we’re not exactly
fighting through the trenches of World War 1 or burning witches at
the stake anymore. But the world is a dark and scary place for sure,
and music is one of the bright lights of existence. Even the darkest
most morbid music is a wonderful thing. Talk of music contributing to
hate or the decline of values is just thinly veiled censorship.
7.Are
you opposed to religious beliefs or politics being used in music?
Everybody
can write about whatever the hell they want. No one is owed an
audience, so run it up a flagpole and see who salutes it.
8.We
have dive into some pretty deep issues here do you think your music
sends a message and if so what is it?
I
don’t put much into music with a message, I prefer to let the tunes
speak for themselves. We’re much more into storytelling as an art
form than personal polemics. A lot of thought and effort is put into
the lyrics and arrangements so it’s always great when people get
something extra out of the songs, but it’s also fine if someone
just likes the riffs or drums or whatever.
9.The
market has changed and many bands believe that record labels are a
thing of the past, with many labels now charging bands to “sign”
how do you think a band can make it in todays scene?
That’s
a tough one and I don’t know if there’s one right answer. What is
gone are the days where labels will put money into a band. It’s up
to the individuals involved to do the hustling and take control of
what happens to their band. The internet is a great distribution
tool, and the costs of recording are getting cheaper by the day, but
the trick is how to get noticed in a sea of bands. I don’t think
there’s a magic formula for that. Part of that is skill, and part
is luck. You have to have both to keep going.
10.Why
with the thousands of options including netflix , sporting events
everything on demand
Why
do you think people should take the time to listen to what you have
to say in your music?
Live
music is a unique experience that can’t be duplicated on a tv or a
phone or anything else. It’s one of the best ways you can possibly
spend your time. You’ll hear some shit you love, some you hate, and
you’ll meet a wide variety of interesting people. Get out and go to
shows and you will not regret it. You’re going to have a good time
at one of our shows because we play hard and we want everyone to
enjoy it.
11.How
do you feel about pay to play? Do you think it is fair for a band to
have to pay money to play?
Pay
to play is bullshit, pure and simple. There’s no other art form
that requires the artist to provide the entertainment AND the
audience. Comics don’t sell tickets to their shows. Dancers aren’t
asked how big their draw is. For some reason this nonsense is common
in the music scene. If someone wants you to pay to play tell them to
fuck off. Play a house show or a basement party or anything else
instead. Build your crowd the old fashioned way by networking and
kicking ass.
12.It
is fact that you are the talent and the entertainment explain what
you think is the most important key to success?
I’m
not qualified to say to success means to someone else. Is it money?
If so stay away from music. Is it the feeling of accomplishing
something uniquely you? If so keep going.
13.In
country music and even in some cases rock music is written and
performed by different people would your band perform a song written
by someone else?
We
sometimes put a cover in our set to show our influence, but other
than that no. We play our own music.
14.If
you are pro female in music are you pro using sex to sell your music?
There’s
nothing wrong with using sex to sell music or anything else, but at
the end of the day the only thing that matters is the music itself.
Just write good shit and play the hell out of it.
15.What
is your view on the lawsuits against people saying lewd or
unprofessional things to women or men and how does that affect an art
described as sex drugs and rock n roll ?
We’re
in a time of heightened calls for censorship, and that’s the death
of freedom. On a personal level its important to not be a cunt to
others, but on an artistic level its very important to protect
everyone’s ability to express themselves. It’s best summed up by
the quote: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll
defend to the death your right to say it.”
- Ok lets lighten up a bit. What is your favorite band of all time and why?
That’s
too tough to list, there are many great bands I love for different
reasons. But I’ll list BLACK SABBATH as the most important since
they invented heavy metal. Their stuff is just timeless.
17.What
would you be doing if you were not in a band?
Writing,
reading, watching movies, playing games, working. Basically all the
things I do now while in a band.
18.
Do you have a favorite sports team?
Nope,
not into sports.
19.If
you could get on stage with anyone dead or alive who would it be?
I’d
love to SEE a million dead artists like Mozart and Beethoven all the
way down to guys like Hendrix, but as far as actually performing
onstage with someone it’d probably be Toni Iommi from SABBATH. The
guy came up with the most crushing riffs of all time.
20.This
is your shot to let loose, Throw down your biggest complaint about
the music biz.
No
point in complaining. Everyone knows its a cesspool of thieves and
liars, but the opportunity to do your own thing is worth the
struggle.
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