On the heels of last months Declaration of Independence issue, it is only fitting to feature a hungry unsigned band from Los Angeles in our So & So Sez section. It was also one of the first So & So Sez features where the band almost sought us out, in a way. Find out how a subtle compliment made by Mindflower vocalist Randy Bates really made us want to interview him out of the thousands in Los Angeles.

What's it like, from your perspective, being a band in LA now? If I would have asked this question in the mid–80s, you'd obviously go, Its great, man! There's always a party at Gazarris and blah, blah, blah. Its swinging, its happening, its there. Well, things have changed. So, what's your perspective on things now . . . being an independent band, trying to make more of a name for yourself, I suppose? Doing the whole scene thing, when there's not much of a scene anymore, from my perspective. What's your take on it?

From my perspective. We came from Florida, originally. There were three clubs for us to play at in Florida, verses 150 different clubs we could play every single night here. So, it just blows away any other place I've heard of in the world. I know that Austin rocks, and I've done my gigs in Austin as well. But, to me, Los Angeles is the only place that's completely conducive to the rock and roll lifestyle. This city was founded on rock and roll, and its not going anywhere. Unless a tsunami comes!

A friend of mine wrote a song that (says): San Andreas cleared her throat / I heard tsunami laugh. A funny play on words. So, when did you come out from Florida?

I originally came out in 1988, and I stayed out here until 1993. And then I just returned January of 1998.

So, you were there before Nirvana kind of changed things for a lot of the industry?

I was here. I was kind of part of it. My band got a record deal around the same time as Nirvana. We used the same producer, Butch Vig, for our record, and we played the last two shows of the Nevermind tour with Nirvana. We were in Hawaii when Kurt and Courtney got married. They got married in Hawaii and did two shows and my band opened up for em. So, I watched it first–hand.

How has your music evolved?

Its evolved sonically. It's evolved lyrically. Its constantly evolving. I think its pretty much predestined for 2001. I'm sitting back and holding on to the reigns.

I remember when I played the disc, I really enjoyed the heaviness that was there.

Thank you very much. The songs were writing are even a little heavier. We finished recording our second record. Its much more sonic than our first record a lot more guitar, a lot more other instruments that sound like guitars: bass, for example, keyboards turned into chainsaws. We wrote that record in Florida. We wrote the second record in LA, and you can definitely hear the difference.

Hmm. What motivates you to play heavier music than, say, strapping on an acoustic and standing out front and doing the R.E.M. thing?

We could do that. Last night I was talking with my guitar player and writing songs. We write songs on acoustic that turn into the heaviest songs we have. The electricity is irreplaceable. Yeah, the sonics. Its throttling, because of the sonic of the bass playing. There's an intense, emotional drive to it. Its kind of a different emotional thing. I think, the stage and the big rock thing is very addictive. At least Im completely controlled by it. I have no other choice. I have to do it. If I don't do it, Ill go completely insane. I don't like being around myself if I don't play. Since I've been doing it (13 years), the longest break I've taken was a month and a half when I fractured my femur in several places. Other than that, I've been practicing and playing gigs, and going into the recording studio straight, since I was 13.

I think that kind of intensity and passion helps create great art.

I hope so. It makes me wonder, ya know, if great art will ever be commercially viable. I mean, just creating your art. Its few and far between that art true art becomes viable. That being the case of Nirvana, and all that stuff. Like magic, it happens.

I understand that you're independent right now. How do you survive as an independent band in Los Angeles?

Day by day. Its just the way it goes. Id rather be here and starve than be comfortable in the lap of luxury, living in Florida on the beach. Its useful being able to play to play all the time, anywhere. We play with big bands. I never would have had that chance to play with Nirvana if I hadn't been here, and that's the bottom line. Its about putting yourself in the right place at the right time, and forcing the issue, you know? If I was sitting in Florida as a life guard on the beach, I never would have gotten to make that trip and do the last two shows of Nevermind. They were number one. We got to work with Butch Vig, who went from doing Smashing Pumpkins Gish record to Nirvana's record, to our record, to L7s record. Which, to me, is history; and I wouldn't be able to do it anywhere else. Maybe in Austin, I don't know...

So, do you guys have day jobs, or do you just gig around to keep money coming in?

Gigging, and everyone works in computers. Im managing the band, and all the other guys are web designers and working computers. We do our own website. It keeps it going.

What do you think of Jesus Christ?

Jesus is cool with me, man. I love Jesus Christ. He changed my life. I'm in a band with one . . . my guitar player is a Christian, and three guys are Jewish in the band. Its wild, because I sing about Jesus, and I have three guys behind me that don't think of Him in the same way that I do. They support it, but I think its cool. I think it'a good union.

Wow.

You know, someone that's really going to sing hardcore Christian lyrics, thats really into it; its really hard to not do it with a bunch of Christians, you know what I mean?

Uh–huh.