Kyng is no stranger here at the Great Southern Brainfart. Ever since seeing then blow Black Stone Cherry off the stage in 2011, Kyng has been a favorite band of mine who I have come to not just love as a band but love as people as well. These guys are easily three of the nicest fucking guys on the planet. Now don’t get me wrong, even though I love the, I’d totally call them out for sucking but here’s the thing, they never suck! Makes my life easy huh?
This year saw the much anticipated release of the new Kyng album Burn the Serum. As usual, Kyng is hitting the road like the road dogs they are as they support this amazing album of theirs. This time around they were here in Atlanta supporting Zakk Wylde’s band Black Label Society and bassist Tony Casteneda took time out to talk with me backstage before their awesome set. Tony and I caught up over a couple of cold ones and talked about the new album, life on the road, and why he feels like the band really “got it right” with Burn The Serum. Enjoy!
Welcome back to Atlanta hombre! Thanks for doing this interview.
Thanks, man. No problem brother. I’m happy to.
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What is the one question that you get asked so much that if I asked you right now you’d punch me in the face?
It’s not so much what I get asked but what I get told.
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What is that?
“Hey, Pepe.” [laughs] They always think the dark Mexican guy is Pepe [laughs].
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THAT’S RACIST! Racial profiling!
[laughs] Totally, and I totally call them out on it too [laughs].
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Man, if it was me I would just play it safe and say, “Eddie!”
[laughs] Yeah really. Go for the less obvious!
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You guys did a great run with Crobot recently as a headliner. Even though it was only a few dates, did you learn any kind of lessons being your first headline tour?
Yes. We learned not to headline [laughs]. We just know that we have very few people who will come out to our shows. I don’t know if it’s just promotion or that we’re just not on that level yet. I’m not sure. We don’t know how to promote shows especially on a tour. We play music, that’s what we do. We really learned that we’ve got to hold off on headlining shows at least until we can figure out what markets we’re drawing more in. It’s hard to tell when you’re touring with a band where we’re playing to their fans, not ours. We’d like to think that we’re gaining those fans but when we go back to those places there are just not many people there. It’s kind of weird.
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It just doesn’t seem to happen like it did back in the day. Back then, it seemed like every time a band revisited a city, their audience got gradually bigger but this just doesn’t happen anymore.
Right and it’s frustrating. We fucking travel so much and tour and when we go back to places we think, “We should have some people here. There was a ton of people here the last time we played with so and so band.” That’s just not the case. What are we doing wrong or is it the promoters that aren’t promoting properly? I don’t think that many promoters should give themselves the title of “promoter.” If all they’re doing is setting up a show and calling the venue to let them know a band is playing there, how is that promoting it? I don’t know. I’m just a musician and I don’t know how all that works but it is just very frustrating.
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You also told me that you felt that Trampled Sun missed the mark on the production side. Do you feel like you got it right with this one?
Yes, absolutely. The people we worked with, we had a great, professional studio with no bullshit people. They were close friends of ours but they are now because of the experience. The last one we worked with friends and that didn’t work out so well. With Burn the Serum it was just a much more professional and inspirational experience. Recording at Grandmaster Recordings in Hollywood was just an awesome experience. I mean, that’s where bands like The Black Crowes, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age have recorded. It was just really inspirational to be there and the vibe in there was awesome.
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What new songs have you been the most excited about adding to the set list?
“Burn the Serum” for sure but as you know we’ve been playing that song live since we started touring. Even though it’s a new song on an album it’s not a new song to people like you who have been seeing us since the beginning. We’ve played it so much live that it’s just cool to finally have it on an album.
Oh absolutely. He gave us a ton of advice. The last day of the tour he brought us on the bus and said, “I want you guys to take my phone number down and I want you to keep in touch with me and call me with any questions about anything. I want to be a part of your lives and help you out.” Pepe has actually had long conversations on the phone with Dave about business stuff like opening up a credit account and production questions. We got a ton of advice and to have someone like Dave Mustaine on our side is absolutely amazing. It really is.
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We have been seeing a lot of great, talented musicians leaving us way too soon. Just recently Dave Brockie of GWAR passed. Does seeing people pass at such young ages worry you at all?
Sadly, it doesn’t surprise me because it’s been happening for years and as long as there’s people out there who have that kind of vice it’s bound to happen. The odds are against you if you’re choosing to do that. It’s sad but we’re all human and when you have an addiction it’s really hard.
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How hard is it to take care of yourself on the road?
Oh it’s very hard because it’s not like you can go to your favorite supermarket and get your organic veggies and shit like that [laughs]. Your options are limited. Working out for us is definitely a must. It kind of keeps your sanity and we also get to take showers at the gyms [laughs]. It’s very important to keep us in shape for those long van rides.
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If Hollywood made a movie about you who would play you?
Maybe George Lopez? [laughs]
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That’s racist!
[laughs] Either George Clooney, George Lopez, or Tom Cruise. Or Machette! Let’s go with that one [laughs].
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What is a KYNG song that has yet to be performed live that you would love to see make the set list?
“The Roses.” That is such a cool song and there are a lot of people who are big fans of that one and are asking us to play it a lot. It’s such a ballady song that we always fear that it wouldn’t go the way we hope it would go.
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You guys played “Porcelain” for me last time and I’m so glad I got to hear that one.
Oh that’s right! Yeah, I love that song so much. That’s a great one too.
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I have a friend who always talks shit about Kyng and is a total hater. Care to send him a message?
Um, sure. What’s his name?
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Ruben.
Hey Ruben, Fuck you! I don’t even know you and I hate you, you son of a bitch! [laughs]
Obviously [laughs].
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If you could have dinner with any rock star alive or dead, who would it be and what would you have?
Eddie Veliz. I get to have dinner with him every day! [laughs] Actually, Geezer fucking Butler man. We’d have pizza.
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I think he’s a vegetarian.
Half cheese, half pepperoni [laughs].
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When you’re cruising around LA in your car, what song do you just HAVE to sing along with when you hear it on the radio or your iPod?
Oh man, Thin Lizzy’s “Cowboy Song.”
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If you could go back in time and tell a 14 year old Tony ONE thing about the future what would it be?
Damn that’s a good question. I would say, “Keep it up. You’re gonna be a handsome motherfucker.” [laughs] No, actually I’d say, “Tony, you’re gonna end up with a damn good woman.”
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And finally, Tony, how long can you keep this lifestyle going?
Not very long if we don’t rich and famous soon [laughs]. Actually, I’ll do this for as long as it takes man and as long as it’s fun and as long as I’m healthy.
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Tony, thanks so much for doing this again brother. It’s always great catching up with you.
No problem brother. Love you, man and thanks as always for supporting us.
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