mend interview – 2/10/03
Funny what you find on the internet. Here’s an old interview that was featured in Boise State University’s Newspaper, The Arbiter.
[It should be noted that there was a small misunderstanding/ error at the end of the article. mend were not featured at the C9 Festival...we were in the process of booking a pre-convergence show with a local promoter. As time drew closer to the show, the promoter "changed venues" and failed to provide us with the contract we initially asked for, we bailed 2 weeks before the show. A good decision on our part- as it turns out the promoter was corrupt- not really a promoter but her boyfriend was "helping her". They were trying to cash in by putting on a show, throwing out the Convergence name for quick promotion for all of the inbound travelers arriving the night before. The lineup was mend, bella morte, and abney park. It started out at a large 1,000 person capacity club in downtown Las Vegas. 3 weeks before the show she called and informed us that the club "fell through" but we would be changing venues to a smaller club in town. We had been corresponding with Abney Park and Bella Morte and were looking forward to performing with them. Turns out the club was a broke down pizza joint with pool tables and karaoke on the outskirts of vegas. the p.a. was held together by duct tape and only one POS speaker worked. The word we got back from the abney crew was a nightmare. Anyway...reminiscing old times! If you get a chance, check out Abney Park & Bella Morte if you get a chance. Great music and very cool people!]
Mend ops to bring dark electronica back home
Mend is fixing to develop a bigger local following. Photo by Jeremy Branstad, The Arbiter
By: Lauren Consuelo Tussing, The Arbiter
Posted: 2/10/03
In a town whose local music talents ranges from peppy jam bands to pissed off progressive metal, the electronic music scene has had little chance to surface from the underground. But, local electronic trio, Mend, just may be the band to break through.
More unusual than their unique style of dark, atmospheric electronic music is the fact that, for a local band, Mend is virtually unknown in their own hometown.
But their gothic, rhythmically driven music (think Depeche Mode or KMFDM minus heavy guitar riffs) has given them a loyal following in the electronic-friendly city of Salt Lake.
This band is just about the least ordinary band you will find (or, more accurately, won’t find) in Boise.
The trio, who began in 1998 as a four-piece band called Fade, met through mutual friends in Boise, and started playing music together. When the singer split after about a year of singing with Fade, the band decided to take on a different musical forte.
“We discussed going into a darker direction, and low and behold we became Mend,” band member Todd Mahoney said.
Instead of trying their luck on the not-so-electronically-friendly music scene of Boise, the band decided to head to Salt Lake.
“We shied away from it [playing in Boise] originally just because of the lack of appreciation for that style, and it was just overwhelming in Salt Lake. It just made more sense to invest a little more to travel a few extra miles to get a better response. But we’re going to start branching into doing Boise a lot more,” Mahoney said.
Mend hasn’t performed in Boise yet, but they played twice in downtown Nampa at Jubal’s Palace on 4th St. Instead of playing at a smoke-filled bar where the audience is more concerned with socializing than the music, this venue was more conducive to audience response.
“We had a good reception both times,” band member Corey Hennis said.
Although the band listens to all genres of music, they collectively agree on electronic music as a favorite.
“I’ve been a big fan of electronic music just from as far back as I can remember,” Hennis said.
Mend’s influences range from the biggest names in the underground electronic scene to Black Sabbath.
“That’s a funny influence to have. People don’t expect an electronic band to be a metal fan. But, for me personally, I’ve always been a big heavy metal fan from way back,” Hennis said.
“I draw a lot of influence off of heavier music and I try to put that in when I’m writing songs. It kind of gives it a darker edge, but I love electronic bands too. I’m a split personality when it comes to that.”
Mend strongly adheres to a self-sufficient methodology. Not only do they promote themselves and take their own promo photos, but they also record their own music.
After spending money for time in local studios, the band decided to invest in recording equipment. Hennis describes the process of learning how to use all the gear as an “educational experience.”
“A lot of the songs that are on the CD [In Spite of it All] are the 5th generation because the recording of the first songs, we recorded, were a little rough,” Mahoney said.
Aside from the crucial aspect of the club scene in Salt Lake City, Mend also attributes the Internet to a part of their success.
“The Internet, the way it is now, plays a big part in music and availability of music. They’ve had the Internet radio stations … as a way to get your music out there in other cities. People that host these radio stations will be able to play your music so you’re genre of music is getting to those people who like that kind of thing.” Hennis said.
“That’s the amazing thing about the Internet … you can have several thousand fans, but they’re spread out all over the world. You can have a huge following, but it’s so vast that the support isn’t centrally located,” band member Chet Slater said.
Another thing about the band that isn’t “centrally located” is their collective singing effort. They have no lead singer/front man. On their album, In Spite of it All released last June, whoever you hear singing is the man who wrote the song.
Despite a loyal following in Salt Lake, the band doesn’t expect super-stardom in their immediate future, and they don’t plan to quit their day jobs.
“We play dark electronic music. We have no aspirations of becoming rock stars,” Mahoney said.
“You’re pretty much not destined for radio stardom when you’re in this genre,” Slater said.
“For right now, I kind of view the music as more of a hobby, or something to keep me sane after having to work a day job. I’m content. I’m at a point in my life where I’m content no matter what happens,” Hennis said.
Despite Mend’s humble demeanor, the band has big plans for the near future.
Mend is kicking off the Convergence 9 dark arts festival in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 24 at the club Entombed.
The band is also planning to include a track on the soundtrack for the independent film Graphic Fantasy [Starllam3pariahs]. The soundtrack, on Double Zero Records, is scheduled for release later this year.
In Spite of it All …
Mend’s full-length album is available at most major music stores in Boise. The CD is also available for purchase at adifferentdrum.com
© Copyright 2008 Arbiter Online
