Reese Van Riper aren’t just a band that you’ll hear once and they’ll go away. In fact, this trio will likely engulf you with their indie blues sound. Their latest effort, Ghost Oil Revival, was released in November and features a guest appearance by Trophy Scars’ Jerry Jones. With their high energy, guitar and bass swinging performances, it’s no surprise that they’re on the rise.
Reese Van Riper will be appearing at Maxwell’s on Feb. 10 as part of the Tiny Giant Winter Beach Ball. The Aquarian spoke with the band to discuss the festival, Ghost Oil Revival, and their future plans. The transcription is below:
Ghost Oil Revival came out last November. Has it lived up to your expectations?
Greg Infante: Yes, I love the way it came out. And the fact that we got to add keys on this record.
Reese Van Riper: Absolutely. People have only had positive things to say about it. It’s exactly what I want people to hear when they think Reese Van Riper. The album is going to be what makes things happen in 2013.
What’s your personal favorite song off the release?
RVR: My favorite song off of GOR is “Lucy.” I wrote the song years ago and have been itching to put it on an album with a full band.
GI: My favorite is “Promenade,” because it sounds like the soundtrack of a sex freak carny’s mind.
Favorite song to perform live?
RVR: “Hoodoo Rising.” It’s the song we close with and by that time, the energy in the room is at its highest.
GI: “Mama’s Soul,” because it has the intensity of aggressive music like metal and hardcore, when it’s anything but those genres.
How did Jerry Jones get involved with “Promenade” and “Hoodoo Rising?”
GI: Jerry sings in John Ferrara’s band, Trophy Scars. John produced and mixed our record, and we became good friends. Because of this, Jerry got to hear the early production of the record and dug it.
RVR: And after a show we played together, I told Jerry that I liked his grit and asked him if he’d do guest vocals on a few songs off the new album.
Where does the band draw influences from?
RVR: I get a lot of influences from my obsession with cryptic shit. I have hundreds of books on the occult, witchcraft and the supernatural. I also carry around a little black book with me at all times that I fill with secrets.
GI: Tour, and literally every genre that exists. Hope that’s not too blunt.
Compared to most of Ghost Oil Revival, “Love Is A Cure” stands out over the other tracks because it isn’t as brash. Was there any concern that it would derail the release?
RVR: I wanted to have “Love Is A Cure” on Ghost Oil Revival exactly for the reason it is so different from the other tracks. It’s also an homage to my grandfather, who I played with as a child in his version of Reese Van Riper. And the actual song is a great love song about a really strange and gory sexual experience I had in upstate New York.
What does 2013 have in store for the band?
RVR: We are going viral in 2013. We plan on shopping our music to managers, labels, booking agents, anyone who can help us get the word out and tour for a good portion of the summer. We hope to get another record out as well.
What are your expectations for the Tiny Giant Winter Beach Ball?
RVR: It’s going to be a really amazing event with some awesome bands and some of our best friends. Make some new fans.
What are some of your favorite venues to play at?
GI: Bar Deluxe in Salt Lake City, or The Wormhole in Savannah, GA.
RVR: Bar Deluxe in Salt Lake City and My Place in Lake Charles, Louisiana—we have a lot of really close friends & fans there. The Western and Southern states really go nuts for our music. At home, there are so many. The Clash Bar in Clifton, NJ, with Bob Clash behind the bar, is always a plus. The Meatlocker in Montclair is always packed and, of course, the shows at Hansil’s in Oakland, NJ; it’s close to home and it reminds me of a tiki bar from Goosebumps.
Who are you excited to see play the Beach Ball?
GI: Science, Morning…, Dad Brother, and Pour The Pirate Sherry.
RVR: Dad Brother; for a two-piece, they really get you moving. Plus, Andrew’s [Lange] licks are something to admire. Science brings the high intensity. Morning… gets better and better every time I see them and Pour The Pirate Sherry always bring it home. One band I’ve really wanted to see was France; we are playing with them at Maxwell’s on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., and I can’t wait to check them out.
As a trio, do you feel that your sound is limited?
GI: For the live show, yes. This is something we’ve been considering for a while now, whether to add another member or not. Sometimes I think it would be cool to see Reese with just a mic. Adding someone to play keys would definitely add to the live show, I think.
RVR: I really love the trio yet I like to go a little nuts on stage more and it’s hard to concentrate on guitar parts while my guitar is flying in the air and I’m on one foot and screaming into the mic.
How did the band begin?
RVR: The first generation of Reese Van Riper began in 1924. With each generation, the band has been passed down. Greg, [bassist Matthew] Kearns and I have known each other for what seems like forever. I was in a band called The Murder and The Harlot with Greg and when the band [RVR] was passed on to me, I knew exactly where to look for a drummer and shortly after that, we asked Kearns to record on The Paper Mache Bandits, and he went on tour with us—he hasn’t stopped following us since.
What song is the most fun to play live?
GI: “Mama’s Soul,” because I feel like I got my ass kicked after playing it, as well as everyone else in the room. It kicks you in the face.
RVR: Even though “Hoodoo” is my favorite, the most fun to play is “Promenade.” It’s such an eerie yet fun song, a ghost waltz on the Jersey Shore boardwalk.
Reese Van Riper will be playing at Maxwell’s on Feb. 10 as part of the Tiny Giant Winter Beach Ball. Their latest album, Ghost Oil Revival, is available now. For more information, go to facebook.com/reesevanriper.
