Exposed Vocals just caught an interview with The Buzzards of Fuzz
If the radio is broken maybe we should hum?
“Desert Drivin’ (No Radio)”, the second offering from The Buzzards of Fuzz upcoming self-titled record, finds Atlanta’s alt avians on a singalong because the radio is busted.
From start to finish Buzzards cross sonic lines, clawing into your speakers, racing low desert UFOs, kicking the clutch, and huffing the fumes while penning their own apocalyptic space tunes.
With its canyon cruising surf chords, tailpipe cutting dual leads and wildly drifting bass riffs “Desert Drivin’ (No Radio)” aims to deliver a ledfoot banger to satisfy the most serious stoner rock summer craving.
We bought your ticket, take the ride.
The Buzzards pit crew features:
Jackman – Van Bassman – Vocals, Guitar
Gasman – Benjamin J. Davidow – Vocals, Guitar
Technologist – Charles Wiles – Bass, Drums
Crew Chief – Kristofer Sampson – Engineer, Producer
Spotter – Chris Griffin – Mastering
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
We grew up in separately in pairs actually.
Claude & I (Van) came of age in Chatsworth, Georgia. At the time it was a very small, rural town and there was little to nothing for kids to do. At some point a friend named Alan Morris turned me on to Hendrix and The Doors and overnight I was annoying my father for a guitar.
My dad picked up a seventies student model Yamaha acoustic for me and I played until my fingers bled. Soon we were starting our first group (Suicide Monkey). I think we had seven guitar players and a dummer. Our repertoire consisted of the main riff from Enter Sandman on repeat. We had the right spirit though, and everybody starts somewhere. At some point, many bands later, I moved to Athens with a band and Claude moved to Chicago.
Ben & Chuck grew up together in Roswell, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. They met in high school and immediately started working with different bands. By the time I caught up with them, they were already seasoned performers for their young age and the three of us just clicked.
Recently, Claude left Chicago and moved to Atlanta, joined up, and it was like there was no time lost even after all those years playing apart.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Absolutely, do one thing for your band every day. That could be a creating a logo, sending a booking email, or rehearsing. Whatever you do, just keep it going. These little things add up and in a year, you’ve made 365 moves to further your band.
Also, always try your best to be kind and professional. The people booking your shows, hanging your flyers, or pouring your drinks are all trying to help you. You can’t always get what you want and you don’t always know everything. Keep your cool and treat people how you want to be treated. A little kindness goes a long way in this business.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Sure we do, I always smile and dig in harder.
The reality is that not everyone knows your songs and depending on the severity of your “mistake” it could be that ONLY you noticed. Do you want to point it out to everyone with your face or do you want to dig in harder?
If you hit the wrong note on a guitar, give it a bend till it’s the right one. If your drummer missed a beat, make eye contact and move with them to find a new path. Don’t get upset or frustrated. Enjoy the journey and chase a new version of your song.
Music is a conversation between yourselves that you’re presenting to the audience, so live in that moment. There are no mistakes, only music.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
We do. With the exception of last year, we’ve spent the past few years enlarging our circle on southeastern runs and we always have an incredible time.
This past weekend, we performed in Savannah at El Rocko Lounge and it was no exception. We had an amazing set and a wonderful time with Manarovs and Klept, courtesy of Aurafest. After a year of being cooped up, we stayed up after the show, drove out to Tybee Island and ran around the empty beach like bats until the sun came up. It felt good for the soul.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Outside of our amps & pedalboards, we leave a lot of the tech specs up to our producer and engineer, Kristofer Sampson (The B-52s, All The Saints, Ponderosa) from Sampson Sound.
During lockdown, we were all lucky to have small rigs in our homes that allowed us to finish some of the final overdubs for our upcoming LP. We flew them over to Kris to dial-in and reassemble with his sonic wizardry.
My home studio is really meant for demoing so we’re prepared when we see him again. Outside of the tube amps, there’s nothing too exciting there.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
With the relentless onslaught of technology and the ever-growing collective unconscious that is the internet changing daily, we’re always looking for a new angle or avenue to present our music.
For instance, we recently released a video game called “Desert Drivin’ with The Buzzards of Fuzz” to promote the similarly named second single from our upcoming record. The song is absolutely driving music and our friend Chad DuBay (Trainfight Studios) expertly crafted a classic arcade style game that combines elements of our band lore & the song’s imagery.
Ultimately, I believe that if your release strategy is organic to the soul of your music, then advertising can be art – and that yielding to each other, and your team, can lead to the creation of new art.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
That’s a tough one but I know my answer.
Guitar Legend Dick Dale at The Earl in Atlanta, Georgia.
I don’t mean to be a cop out. This is one we already played, but I’d absolutely love to do live it again. It was Mr. Dale’s final performance in Atlanta and it really had an impact on us. What an original! What a performer! What an absolute legend.
It was a sold-out night and that room was a conduit. We gave it all we had and then some before we got out of his way. He walked out and let us all know “I invented this sh!t”.
I genuinely find a ton of joy living in the moment and nostalgia can be painful but there was a change in us that night and he gave us a gift I can’t even describe to you, I just know it’s there – every time we perform. I know it’s not possible – but If we could, I’d play that bill again in a heartbeat.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Our first full length record The Buzzards of Fuzz is out on September 30 and immediately after is our annual celebration of all thing Fuzz: FUZZSTOCK!
We throw a yearly festival in Atlanta in collaboration with A. Rippin Production. For our third year we’re OUTDOORS for two nights of peace, fuzz and love! Including performances from Thelma & The Sleaze, RMBLR, Fantomen, Twin Criminal, Loony, Hot Ram, Turbo Gatto, Gnomonaut, Small, The Fill Ins, and of course, The Buzzards of Fuzz.
This all happened October 1 and 2 on the West side of Atlanta, OUTDOORS at Boggs Social & Supply!
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Last year during lockdown, I think we all got a glimpse. I stayed home. I learned to bake. I learned to cut down a tree. I learned to be by myself. Ultimately, I found my heart was happiest around nature, so If I couldn’t do music, I think I would pursue something that kept me around animals and my family.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
New Vinyl, new CDs, new music videos, a tour and more are in the stars! Now that we’re back, we’re going to keep on kicking out the fuzz, sweat and tears at every opportunity – because you never really know when it’s going to be your last.
Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?
Yeah, actually – special thanks to Exposed Vocals for taking the time to talk with us and for helping to spread joy and music around the world. Y’all rule!
