IO at SXSW Pt. 1—Five Questions with Mutoid Man, Venemous Maximus and Yautja

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For the second straight year, Invisible Oranges is heading down to Austin for South by Southwest. We’ll be presenting a diverse and pummeling show with Black Tusk, Mutoid Man (members Cave In/Converge), Kayo Dot, Yautja, Wild Throne and Venemous Maximus. If you’ll be down in Austin, we hope you’ll come by—the show is Thursday, March 13, at the Quantum Lounge (303 W. 5th St. in Austin, TX), and those with festival badges and wristbands are welcome, and additional tickets will be available at the door. Doors are at 7pm, and the show begins at 8.

To get to know the bands that’ll be playing our show a bit better, we sent each band the same five interview questions. We want to know what these bands are all about—what’s your favorite Big 4 band? How often—honestly!—do you change clothes on tour? What’s the worst show you’ve ever played? You know, the heavy hitters. Below is part one of what will be a two-part feature with Mutoid Man, Venomous Maximus and Yautja—come back tomorrow for Black Tusk, Wild Throne and Kayo Dot, and stream all of the bands’ music here.

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MUTOID MAN

What is your favorite venue to play in the country?

Right now I’ve got Texas on the brain, so Emo’s comes to mind. Two big rooms, with parties of people swarming back and forth between them, located right in the heart of Austin. And when they close off that main road, you get some prime time late night people-watching. [Note: Emo’s closed as a regular venue a few years back; it now reopens under the name only for SXSW. -ed.]

What are some albums that you guys have been spinning in the van lately?

Leading up to this trip, Nick and I assembled our pedal boards while listening to James Plotkin’s Phantomsmasher album. We’ve all been digging that new Beastmilk record. And I love the newest Helms Alee record—turns out we’ll be in San Francisco on the same night, so I’m hoping to somehow catch even a blip of their set.

What was the worst show you’ve ever played?

Mutoid Man has played only two shows, and the first one naturally had a few more bumps in the road, thanks to everyone guzzling large coffees before our set and playing everything too fast. That being said, it felt like an Olympic feat compared to some other shows I’ve played.

Which Big 4 thrash band is the best?

Hmm. Probably Slayer? My heart will always be with Metallica, but at this point I think Slayer fans are more united in terms of rallying behind several of their albums. Plus…South of Heaven.

How often do you change clothes on tour? Be honest.

Why does it matter when you’ve got nothing but black socks and black underwear? And besides, that’s what Fabreeze is for.

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VENOMOUS MAXIMUS

What is your favorite venue to play in the country?

So far the bottle tree in Alabama. They have a small camper park out back for the bands to stay in. Everybody that works there, even the owners, are all in bands and they really create the atmosphere that guys like us appreciate. Other than that, I would mention Reggie’s in Chicago. Great food, cool record store above the venue And The band room is below ground level, which we don’t see in Texas often.

What are some albums that you guys have been spinning in the van lately?

High Spirits is one of our favorites, there’s always some Black Angels in there. The new Ravenettes CD is good. Recently got into Jack Rose and also listening to Witchcross a lot.

What was the worst show you’ve ever played?

Before this band, pretty much every show was a wreck. It takes years of horrible shows to really start knowing when it gets good.

Which Big 4 thrash band is the best?

Fuckin’ MetallicA. Reason is the BNWOHM.

How often do you change clothes on tour? Be honest.

I have a system of van clothes, show clothes, and normal clothes. So I change into all three each day but its the same 3. I’m actually the “cleanest” and healthiest when I’m on the road. At home is where it gets weird.

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YAUTJA

What is your favorite venue to play in the country?

Bottletree in Birmingham or Strange Matter in Richmond? Both spots have so much personality. Nashville has some great venues as well. I love playing The End and Stone Fox.

What are some albums that you guys have been spinning in the van lately?

The new Psalm Zero record has been in heavy rotation. Ulcerate’s Vermis, Polvo’s Siberia, Grass is Green’s Vacation Vinny, Shellac’s Terraform, lots of Krill’s Lucky Leaves, My Disco, Thou’s Heathen, Mare’s self-tltled, the hits, etc.

What was the worst show you’ve ever played?

Hmm. There have certainly been some duds. We played a Metal Monday in Jacksonville where we had to stop playing mid-song because there were two fights in the first 3 minutes of our set. It was ridiculous. We played through the first fight, but the second fight just wasn’t ending so we quit playing while they finished slapping each other, then finished the set. We were also the only band that played, and they blared Have Heart and Blood for Blood all night, no metal at all. It was a very odd night.

Which Big 4 thrash band is the best?

Slayer, duh.

How often do you change clothes on tour? Be honest.

Shibby: Outside clothes, pretty much never. Underwear and socks, every 3 daysish.

Kayhan: Shirts last anywhere from 2 to 4 days. Pants and shorts can last way longer. Uhh, most of my underwear has brown stains.

Tyler: I ruin a shirt a day. My sweat smells pretty toxic so I can’t ever wear a shirt more than once, and socks and undies get pretty bad after about 2 days. But my shorts, they are forever.

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