Blake, Steve, & Zack
The Druggist sound is hard to define and impossible to ignore. It's a very open, very patient mix of influences and styles that is part indie rock and pop with a tinge of alternative country influence as well. Anyhow, no matter what genre or music scene you're into, it's impossible to contest this fact: Druggist writes great songs.
The band (Blake: vocals, guitar, bass, etc; Justin: drums, vocal, guitar; Steven: bass, vocals, guitar; Zack: lead guitar) has been very busy since their inception nearly a year ago. Besides the shows and requisite promoting, the band has also been doing a lot of writing and recording as well. Their first CD, Early Michael Keaton, was entirely self-produced (recording, artwork, pictures, etc) and will be available on May 27th ("...unless something really bad happens," Blake jokes). In addition, the band will also be throwing a same-day CD release party which will take place at The Lounge and will feature bands from San Antonio as well as the Total Foxes from Austin. Coincidently enough, it was at The Lounge a few weeks ago where the band was willing to take some pre-gig time to discuss their history, the CD, and the songwriting process within Druggist, the band.
Justin
Before the formation of Druggist, everyone knew each other from other bands or, in the case of Blake and Steve, high school. They met in a physical science class, became friends, and were playing in bands — sometimes together, sometimes apart. "Me and Steven were in bands in high school like The Hermans and he was in The Heart Attacks and The Great Fantastic," Blake recalls, "and I was with Justin in Leaving Muldoon" [absolutely no relation to the similarly-named Muldoon, also from San Antonio]. Blake also remembers Zack's pre-Druggist band, however, it's a past the lead guitarist would rather not divulge ("No, it's a rumor," he jokingly offers). And although Druggist has been together since last May, Blake and Steven still write and record with their former projects, International Colouring Contest and The Great Fantastic respectively.
Early Michael Keaton was recorded where band rehearses—in a warehouse. Blake works there in the daytime and has afforded the privilege of using some of the space for rehearsing and recording after hours. "We recorded it in the middle of a bunch of wheelchairs and tools and stuff..." Blake says. "That was our inspiration for this album...," Zack interjects. "I don’t know if you’d know that [recording environment] by hearing it...," Blake finishes thoughtfully before joking, "We're, like, power wheelchair core."
Seriously though, there are some benefits to recording in a warehouse and Blake returns to the thought of how the site has added to the recording itself: "I've been trying to do the drums with no effects at all because it already sounds pretty cool in there. Like when we practice it just sounds cool and there's a lot of weird natural reverb in that room. It's really cluttered but the ceiling's really high with cement walls, so it's weird sounding..." Four of these songs recorded in the warehouse can be heard on their MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/druggist); however, only three of those mixes will make it onto the CD.
When it comes to songwriting and arrangements, Druggist prefers to keep things simple and open-ended; an idea is shared and everyone gives it a shot. "It [song idea] comes to the table and all of us try to play it and if you can’t come up with a part for it, then...it kind of gets phased out...," Blake says. "Everybody plays what they write." Sometimes playing what they write involves switching instruments for a song or taking turns with the singing (even Justin, before a recent injury kept him behind the kit, would sing and play guitar as well). "There’s no one style...," adds Steve. "If somebody has a song or melody or if they have a complete song, they just show it to the group where we work on it and elaborate on just a riff. So it's song-by-song as opposed to one systematic..."
"...Layer upon layer," Justin finishes. Steve agrees before assuming a mock-authoritative tone, "We have to do it this way or it's not a Druggist song."
It's still another month-and-a-half away, but here's a flyer from the Druggist CD release party:
But they have plenty of shows scheduled before and after, so definitely check them out when you get the chance. As always, check the Druggist MySpace page to confirm show dates and locations.
Shows (all at The Lounge)
Saturday, April 22
Friday, Apr 28
Friday May 12
Friday, Jun 9
Saturday, Jun 17