RockRevolt Magazine’s Ace Sims talks upcoming tour With Godsmack Bassist Robbie Merrill
98.9 The Rock Presents Godsmack with Sevendust and Sidewise, September 29th at The Midland Theater in Kansas City
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
Robbie: What’s going on
RR: Not much man, how are you bud
Robbie: I am doing alright, we are in rehearsals. Just got in today, working out some bugs Starting the tour Saturday September 19, 2015
RR: Is this the tour you are kicking off with Sevendust
Robbie: I think it is a festival , Sevendust is playing, I think STP is playing
RR: I looked over your tour and your teamed up with some great bands. Sevendust, Breaking Benjamin, Zombie, everybody
Robbie: Yup its going to be a good one
RR: You looking forward to the tour, getting back out on the road
Robbie: Yeah we been busy ya know, we were in Australia in February. Did 5-6 weeks in the states, we had like 10 days off then did all of Europe, it was really cool. We went to Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, all the places I have never been. It was fun it was a good summer
RR: You guys are getting ready to kick off this tour, you will be in KC September 29th, I am looking forward to that.
Robbie: Yeah I love Kansas City, KC rocks
RR: You guys have put on a lot of really good shows in KC, I know the fans are ready to see you again.
Robbie: We’re pounding it out just getting ready. Its going to be a fun evening with Godsmack
RR: How are rehearsals going
Robbie: Yeah, we’re just working on the new sound, new lights. Getting all the bugs worked out
RR: So new show, changing it up from the “1000hp” set
Robbie: Yeah, we’re going to try and play some songs we have not played in a while. When I get done with you we’re going to go through the set list and see what songs we want to play. Might even play some covers, just lighten it up a little bit, have some fun.
RR: A good cover is always fun, the crowds always respond well.
Robbie: We’re going to play it different, every nights going to be loose. We will have a bunch of covers that we know, and any given night depending on where we are, what type of mood were in, we will just go from there
RR: So just play it by ear, I think that will create a fun night for the fans as well as you guys
Robbie: Yeah who knows what’s going to happen maybe some guest musicians I don’t know, it’s going to be a fun tour
RR: Speaking of what venues you’re in, you like the big festivals, Stadiums or the smaller venue, what do you like as a musician
Robbie: I like it all, as long as there are people in the building, I don’t care. After 20 years of touring you learn each type of stage, from the small ones to the bigger ones and you just have to turn it up. With years of us doing this its easy for us, you can walk into a club and play, play an acoustic set or go and play in front of 20, 000 people. I love it
RR: Do you like the acoustic sets, I know you guys did ‘The Other Side” do you enjoy that
Robbie: It was a blast, I got to set down and play, it was quite, the acoustic thing was a lot of fun to do. It’s good to change it up a bit. It keeps your juices flowing
RR: You guys have changed up your styles on previous albums such as “IV” with a bluesy type feel
Robbie: Each record we have a vision that we want to do and we try and pull it off. The last couple of records it has been working really well for us. We will go in as a group, we will write as a group, and we will develop the songs as a group. So this next record might be a little different, we will get a visual of what we want to do, and we will start to focus on that visual and see if we can pull it off.
RR: So you guys have a follow up to “1000hp” that you are working on
Robbie: We’re going to do this tour, and then we will take the holidays off, and we will get together in February and start writing
RR: I had read in another interview with Shannon that you guys want to go with an aggressive higher energy on this next album
Robbie: Yeah there is talk of that, whatever that is. Yeah we will see what happens
RR: it will be whatever the creative flow brings
Robbie: Yeah, we’re really proud of the last record
RR: It’s a great record, as all of your records have been. It’s been a pretty great ride.
Robbie: It’s been such a great ride; I call it a great bulk ride. It has been a great journey, just thinking about if we were going to get signed and thinking we were never going to get signed. I mean I think about it now and a cherish it, I respect it
RR: Throughout history everyone has had their up and down moments, have you always enjoyed it or have you had your down moments as well
Robbie: I like to tour, I really like all the aspects. You got the writing aspect, then you get to record it. Then you get the vision of your artwork, then you’re out touring, there is the merch and on and on and on. The touring part, being on stage, that is the best part. You have hours of waiting around then you get that hour to be on stage and have fun and then your back on the bus. You go 500 miles wake up the next day and you get to do it all over again. Being on stage, yeah that is the best part
RR: You enjoy yourself on stage and I think everyone that has seen you guys know it, all of you enjoy it up on stage, and you really give it your all to the fans
Robbie: We have always been a live band, its special, its magic. We have that, we know it, and we respect it
RR: There are those bands that are studio bands and then there are bands like Godsmack that are just great live bands
Robbie: I mean it is hard to go in and record a record because we are a live band, we play everything live. We have Pro Tools in the studio but we don’t really need it. We just like to play live
RR: So what are you listening to right now, what’s coming out of your mp3 player
Robbie: I am listening to Dead Sheriff, they played with us a couple years ago and I really liked them. I usually like to go old school. I have this program called “Amazing Slow Downer” you download and it slows down the song but stays in key. I am learning some Rush and some Zeppelin and stuff like that. Songs that I have played before but never really had the chance to analyze it like I can now
RR: Have you ever put any of your own tracks on there and listened to it
Robbie: I don’t need to, I know it
RR: True, just might give you a different aspect
Robbie: Yeah, no, no what’s funny is a couple of the records didn’t have in my opinion a good bass mix. A lot of times when I record, I do it on the spot so I don’t know what I did so before we play it live I have to go back and listen because I don’t remember what I did.
RR: Well man you guys are getting ready to get out on this tour anything you want to pass along to the fans
Robbie: We’re going to be coming out with a fun set and we will see you September 29th, I love Kansas City and I can’t wait for the whole tour
