PAINTED DOLL is the new band formed by heavy metal legend Chris Reifert (Autopsy, Death) and comedian/guitar shredder Dave Hill (Valley Lodge, Cobra Verde).

‘Poppy psych with a serious sixties vibe’.

Please meet Dave and Chris.

 

DAVE ANSWERS

 

What was the biggest fun during the making of the last album?

 

On one of those days, I weirdly had horrible allergies where I had a runny nose and was sneezing nonstop. And I was recording with our friend Tom Beaujour’s prized 1963 Gibson SG, so it was fun watching him try to conceal how horrified he was at that the whole time even though I felt really bad about it. I don’t know how he got that thing clean when I was done. It must have taken a team of specialists in a lab somewhere. Also, Chris’ mom made me cookies, which were awesome! Thank you again, Mrs. Reifert!

 

If the budget was unlimited, how would you record the next record?

 

Chris and I would both dress in historically accurate Viking costumes and record the album live only we’d each be on a different mountain top the whole time. Also, there would be a build-your-own burrito bar and a guy who would make a fresh guacamole and stuff whenever we wanted. And every fifteen minutes or so, some smoking hot naked chick would ride by on horseback for no apparent reason whatsoever. Oh, and we’d do everything analog.

 

Is recording a record easier than getting it heard nowadays?

 

Totally. But fortunately, there are enough music freaks just like us out there willing to hunt down what they like.

 

The meaning of ‘success’ has changed over the years. When will the new record be a success?

 

The fact that we made the record is a success to me. That’s what matters to me- doing stuff. I don’t worry too much about what happens after that. Then again, if a dude in an El Camino rolled up next to me at an intersection while cranking our record and then after I look over at him, he just blew the red light and sped off down the road while giving me the finger, that would be pretty cool too. That’s the sort of scenario I like to envision when making a record.

 

 

 

 

Every family birthday, same story. Again, you have to explain what kind of band you are in. What’s the story this time for aunt Jenny and uncle Clive?

 

I tell them I have a band with my friend Chris, who also plays in a death metal band called Autopsy. It takes me about 45 minutes to explain what that means. When that’s finally over, I tell them Chris and I have a band called Painted Doll where we like to write catchy rock songs to glorify our lord Satan and then sometimes we get pizza or something afterward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHRIS ANSWERS

 

What was the biggest fun during the making of the last album?

The short answer would be jamming and recording with Dave. That would be accurate, but there’s other stuff too like the actual hanging out part, which is how this thing started to begin with. Eating lots of cheap (but good!) pizza, going to the bar down the street from the studio after recording, even though I don’t remember all of it. Haha! Little things like that. Tom Beaujour, who recorded the album was awesome to work with. He’s a great dude who knows his shit and had a ridiculous amount of cool instruments and gear at the ready. He also knows more about Cheap Trick than just about anyone else, so points for that. Overall, watching and hearing our crazy idea of a band actually come to life was pretty damn cool. Sometimes in life you find yourself in Hoboken, NJ recording the debut Painted Doll album and you think “Whoa! This totally fucking rules!”

At what point, during writing, rehearsing, recording, did you knew you were on to something special?

For me, before we even figured out what we were going to be or sound like, I knew it would be special. We’re both pretty busy and live on opposite coasts of the country to top it off, so the fact that we decided to go for it despite those obstacles confirmed in my mind that something definitely needed to happen and that it would be awesome.

The whole inception and creative process have felt pretty fuckin’ magical to me, from the crude home demos we traded to the few rehearsals we could squeeze in, to making the album and doing the live shows. It’s all been a blast and I can’t wait to see what we end up doing this year.

If the budget was unlimited, how would you record the next record?I think we’d do it the same way. Maybe with a little more time just to not be in too much of a rush, but not too much more as that can be a trap if you’re not careful. You can overthink, get lost in gear possibilities, lose momentum, overproduce, any number of things. It’s better to go for it while the iron’s hot and see it through. As much as I hate trying to beat the clock in the studio, it also adds a healthy sense of urgency that comes through in the listening. Sometimes you can hear a record and tell the band took 700 takes or whatever to get it down JUST right and that can be a vibe killer, ya know? We wanted our album to be tight, but it also needed some rock swagger to it.

Is recording a record easier than getting it heard nowadays?

That’s putting it mildly. Anyone can make a record these days with all the technology and whatnot that’s available, even at home, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a good record. Or you can make the best record in the world in the best studio in the world and it’s possible that no one will ever hear it. The biggest challenge is cutting through the glut of the monolithic everything that’s out there. It’s a big ocean of noise and with this internet thing, it can all be heard any time all the time. If I think about it too much it’ll freak me out so I just keep my brain to the grindstone and power forward with everything I got.

Every family birthday, same story. Again, you have to explain what kind of band you are in. What’s the story this time for aunt Jenny and uncle Clive?

The story goes as follows:

Aunt Jenny and Uncle Clive (somehow in unison): Sooooo, what kind of music does your band play?

Me: Well now, I just so happen to have a copy of the Painted Doll album right here on the dining table. I’m surprised you didn’t notice it sooner. Shall we have a listen? I’d love to enlighten you.

Aunt Jenny: That sounds lovely! I’m in the mood for something zippy!

Uncle Clive: Sure, let’s get nuts! And can you please pass the potatoes?

Me: Alrighty, let’s just make sure the volume is up as far as it will go and…….

(Just over 30 minutes later….)

Aunt Jenny: I need to get a clean soup bowl. It appears my face has melted off into mine.

Uncle Clive: Drools and mumbles incoherently, just like the end of every other birthday dinner.