FEATURED INTERVIEWS 07                             

The Vincent Black Shadow

Sassy, Edgy and Sultry. The Vincent Black Shadow is the Real Deal. The Vincent Black Shadow has all of the right moves and the right sound to prove it. Frantik checks in with Robbie to talk all TVBS and about their current tour.

By: Gian Erguiza



Gian: Alright, let’s get it started! You guys are on the Warped Tour this year, how is the tour coming along?

Robbie: So far it’s been amazing. We’re in Detroit today, the crowds have been really good for us and we’re surprising ourselves everyday you know, how much encouragement we’re doing. We did the Warped Tour last year, building our stage, it was a smaller stage with the whole 200 hundred people kind of like helping out on the stage and now we’re on the main stage….We’re moving on up like Jefferson did.

Gian: Sounds like some good times goin’ on right there man…

Robbie: Yeah man, It’s been really great for us!

Gian: How’s the crowd response so far? Overall, even with the other bands on tour…you know has it been overwhelming?

Robbie: It’s kind of like…the main responsibility is to give a good show. You know, a whole bunch of the bands give real good sets and 70% percent of the time we’re tired…You know, we’re still moving on up and we do the smaller gigs as well on the tour but when we play the main stage, we try to give it a really good punch! Just looking out there and seeing the people…It’s really cool! As far as the other bands go, we’ve been getting a lot of respect from the other bands on the tour, it’s been really cool. We’ve also been talking to some bands that can possibly take us out on tour but we’ll see how that goes. It’s just been very very positive, people are coming out for this energetic tour this year and so it’s been fun.

Gian: That sounds like an awesome time man! Wish I was around! So after this tour, are you guys planning to headline a tour? Maybe take a break? Hibernate for a little?

Robbie: Yeah, we hope to get on another tour cause our last single, “Fears in the Water” is coming out and we’re hoping that it takes us through all the way through October. We’re going to be shooting a video while on tour with a guy named Dale Restegheni, who’s done Fall out Boy, This is why I’m hot by Mims, He’s done a lot of good videos so we’re going to get ready to pack up and go at it again and we’re hoping that it comes out in the next couple of weeks along with the tour in the fall. We don’t know who with yet, but we know we’ll definitely be out there.

Gian: Man, that’s good news man…that’s a cool song man, I was just listening to it right now, right before you called and that’s one of my favorite songs on the album and it truly rocks!

Robbie: It’s probably the most fun to play, you know it’s got a solo and everything and I’m happy about it.

Gian: So what’s the word on a new album? Are you guys constantly writing? When can we expect a new album from you guys?

Robbie: Well basically, after we got back from Europe, my brother, he’s got another band and they rocked all the way to Germany and did a week of touring. While he was gone, I figured as musicians that there’ll be times when they’ll be around and then It’s time to start writing and then start clipping everything. I already have a good good chunk of the recording that I consider on the beat, that’s ready to go and other chunks for the band so we definitely need to get together, in terms of like getting it ready, but I think we’re going to need some time off to deal with some of things back home, day and night. I don’t want to put out a crappy album and make sure we don’t rush to put it out. I don’t care if the birds and trees hurt instead of crap stuff.

Gian: Well let me definitely tell you that it’s good that you guys are trying not to make a crappy record cause there is a lot of crappy records out there.

Robbie: Yeah, bands got a good record going and the next thing you know, It’s like let’s rush to put out a single and we’ll just put goal on it and throw a bunch of crap in it and it’s like, why would I want to buy this? I think bands need to take responsibility to make sure that their album, in their mind, is the best possible they can do at this time. It should be a tall order. This is what you do for a living man, this is your work!

Gian: Exactly! So I am talking to the right man! Are you guys trying something different as far as new equipment, gadgets, any type of style or sound that you guys are trying to head in the direction of?

Robbie: Basically, I want it to keep it as an eclectic sound than Fears in the Water. The one thing that I’ve always been proud about is why we stay so different than everything else that’s out there. All the songs are really eclectic and for me, it’s a huge compliment to be kind of being trailblazers on positive things in music I think and you know even though it takes a bit longer to take notice at times, when you finally do it, the reward is huge and the steps are done so for this album coming up, the songs are stastic and stuff, feeling very like the groove is stripped down so you can just hear like the piano and her, stuff like that or I like to always go with a jumpy groove, same with Oingo Boingo. We’re going to have more sassy and talk on the album. More guitars and do more like dancy beats to the music...that’s one thing I definitely want to see.

Gian: Definitely man. You know what man, whatever you guys are cooking in the kitchen, I bet it is going to be good.

Robbie:I hope so man, the one thing we’ve got going is that we’ve got real good musicians in the band and Cassie is a phenomenal singer so we like to try new things and come in with new ideas.

Gian: So speaking of Cassie…..Is she a diva backstage?

Robbie: Onstage or offstage?

Gian: Offstage.

Robbie: I don’t think so. I mean, her and I have been real good friends for a while, 7 years or so and we know each other well and she can be doing those things you know? But she’s not really that type of girl, she doesn’t have that type of thing going on where it would take her 5 hours to get ready you know? If you asked her let’s try this new idea, she’ll be like cool, for her, she’s ready and she’s always game. I know a lot of women that are just way too concerned where for her she’s always ready to go.

Gian: So basically, she’s awesome.

Robbie: Yeah! She’s great!

Gian: So are you guys planning to put out a live DVD anytime soon? I bet your fans would love for you to?

Robbie: Oh I would love to man, I’m telling ya! A lot of people say I love your CD but when I see you live, it’s totally like, makes your album like a drug where it takes you to a different place. A lot of people are impressed by our live sound, live beats and Cassie onstage....I don’t know exactly if we’re going to make one just yet but I’m sure. I think we need more repertoire of our songs...It’d be nice where everybody knows your music but it’s definitely going to be a concern.

Gian: So now tell me man, what is the biggest misconception that people have about The Vincent Black Shadow?

Robbie: The biggest misconception? That we are No Doubt rip-offs! Well, actually, let me take that back....more like that we have this No Doubt influence. I mean definitely, Cassie and I have both influences in our shows, no doubt, lol! But I’ve sat on it and Oh wow there’s a Gwen Stefani feel to it but Cassie is an influence to me! It comes from a lot of the shows that we do, a lot of old movies, very catholic, very classic, talented voice, almost classically trained in a way. Not shouting, not screaming, not growling, it is proper singing and there is not many girls out there doing that today so I appreciate it when people pay attention. Basically, we’re not a No Doubt Cabaret band!

Gian: Nah man, I definitely don’t think you guys are a rip-off for sure…you guys have your own unique sound.

Robbie: Yeah, I think it really comes out and people really look at us direct.

Gian: How about this, being in a Digital Revolution that we live, how do you guys feel about physical purchasing vs. digital downloading?

Robbie:Well I’ll be honest with you....True music fans still want to actually hold it in their hands, whether it’d be vinyl, CD, shirt, whatever it is, I mean as far as the actual thing I think kids still want something to just buy and look at to vinyl, to everything! But I think what’s happening is, nowadays there’s a lot of....hold on let me shut the door here....Alright, what was I saying?

Gian: We were talking about Digital Downloading vs. Physical purchasing.

Robbie: Oh yeah! Ok, I think what’s happens is that when a band goes into myspace and without checking into like downloading or burning a cd or whatever, to share with all their friends, it’s like tape trading back in the 80’s...when you get an album and you tape onto a tape, branded that there’s a lot less actual manual labor involved in downloading songs...without actually being able to hold it. I don’t know maybe I’m a dying breed but I love to have the actual copy in my hand so I can listen and read through the songs, play whichever songs, I want to know what band and it sort of seems weird to trade. Whoever seems to have a technocological advance in trading in which an Ipod, which you can buy an Ipod with your album in it, so the Ipod right now is years in advance like that or where you can take your Ipod to your local FYE or whatever, put it to the audit station, hook up to The Vincent Black Shadow album, download it and it goes right into your computer or link to your Ipod and it will all be divisible as well. I think that, that can be the future of music which is cool too cause you can download the artwork as well and it’d be great right? Right into your Ipod and everything! I don’t have any objection at all but I think these things need to happen or they’re going to suffer.

Gian: Those are some good points for sure man....So tell me man, what do you guys do to pass the time when you’re not playing or making music?


Robbie: I really love old movies, not the type to get married, me and Cassie are kind of like one side of the band and one side of the mattress has like eight types of books. I mean we’re both reading Harry Potter right now, we both like to watch a lot of Asian war movies, and then there’s Chris and Co. who love to party, drink until midnight, go out and all that kind of junk. The Ying and the Yang of the band.

Gian: Hey it works!

Robbie: Yeah it works! I know my brothers so I know what pushes their buttons and I know what they like and all that kind of junk so when we do something crazy I’m not all.....

Door opens again.....

Gian: I’m here…

Robbie: Yeah, I tend to think that it’s all a big joke you know? There’s a lot of bands here, well not that many of them, but the ones that are here that try toward chicks, the ones that think they’re so cool and it’s like dude it’s going to be all there tomorrow...all into drugs backstage, playing a big show, in front of a big crowd today and how is that....you know what I mean?

Gian: Yeah, that’s just straight ridiculous.

Robbie: I know for a fact that there’s just those kind of days that people get those bad bands.

Gian: That’s why you’re there bro....So who’s in your player right now? Your Ipod?

Robbie: Who am I playing? I’m playing the B-52’s, play a lot of them, Devo, a lot of them, I just got the new Tomahawk….

Gian: Yes!

Robbie: You got that album?

Gian: Yeah definitely, the newest one right?

Robbie: Yeah the latest one, I got the newest Tomahawk and I’m hoping to pick up a couple of Bad Religion albums cause they’re on the Warped Tour and they’ve been rocking so hard.

Gian: No, definitely man! I just saw them on the Warped Tour Pre-Party with Gallows at the Glasshouse and it awesome!

Robbie: Really? Pomona man, we’ve played the main stage at Pomona and it was a good show…

Gian: Nice!

Door opens again....

Gian: Party Time! So Robbie, please explain to our readers what they can expect from a Vincent Black Shadow show?

Robbie: Ok, there’s very specific points. You can expect a lot of stick twirling from Joe, you can expect a lot of rockstar poses from Chris, expect a lot of sweat, craziness and jumping around from me and you can expect sultry, icy and bare from Cassie, she’s got an amazing voice. Expect a Good Time!

Gian: So before we go, do you have any additional comments or shout outs?

Robbie: Yeah, please go to check out our myspace, http://www.myspace.com/tvbs and leave us a comment! One thing we’re really into is responding to fans, fans that write to us because without them we wouldn’t have this job so they make it all worth while and we wouldn’t be able to do this. If you are on myspace, check us out and check out our record, “Fears in the Water.”

Gian: Very Nice! Alright Robbie, thank you for speaking with us and good luck out there on the road!

Robbie: Alright thank you for having us, it was good times! I really appreciate it!

Gian: Alright man take it easy!

Robbie: Alright man!

Gian: Thanks Robbie!

Be sure to check out TVBS on the Warped Tour this summer and TVBS just announced a fall UK tour with Silverstein! Don't miss it!