Alternative Cuts
Viva Voce Interview

Viva VoceWhat do you mean you've never heard of Viva Voce? Well, read on to find out more then check out the Viva Voce Official Site... http://www.vivavoce.com to get more information on this three piece from Alabama, USA.


Viva Voce are: Anita, Mark, Kevin


Describe your sound


Kevin: Sitting on a park bench and forgetting where you are.


How long have you been playing together and is this the 1st band you've been in?

Kevin: We've been playing together for about 3 years. Before that we were in local bands that always wound up playing together.


Where/How did you all meet?

Kevin: I met Mark at a local bookstore looking through the music. I asked him to come back to my house and record some stuff on a 4-track to some songs I'd written, we've been playing together in some capacity ever since. Mark and Anita met through mutual friends. I first met Anita at a Prayer Chain concert (incredible band by the way). Our bands always seemed to be playing the same shows after that. Coincedence? It was the beginning of a great relationship that would lead to playing music together, and lasting friendship. We got married about 2.5 years ago and have been playing together even before then.


What made you pick up your instruments?

Kevin: There was a teacher at my school who played the drums and all the kids thought he was the coolest. Sounds silly, but I've been playing drums ever since. Eventually boredom made me dabble with guitar, mandolin, and other stuff.

Anita: I grew up in a musical family and it just came naturally to rock once I hit 13.

Mark: I saw Kiss in the 4th grade and it looked like fun to be in a rock band... explosions, fire, lasers, make-up and loud guitars.


What are you currently listening to?

Kevin: Soul-Junk, Bede, The Danes, Mogwai, Built To Spill, some older Pixies.

Anita: The Danes, Pop Unknown, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo.

Mark: The Verve, Spiritualized, The Verve, Radiohead, The Verve and Bede.


Who have you supported or been supported by recently?

Kevin: We've supported Sunny Day Real Estate a while back. We also shared the stage with Luxury and Mike Knott recently. One band and musician that we completely respect and admire. We've been supported by too many bands to name. There have been an outstanding few that we've grown to know fairly well. One of them, a great band from the Portland, Oregon area, Bede, is definitely one of our favorites.


If you could be part of any era in music which would you choose?

Kevin: The baroque period.

Anita: The future.

Mark: I would choose the future because I think it would be exciting to see where popular music is going in say 50-100 years from now.


Have you ever hurt yourselves on-stage?

Kevin: I hurt myself everytime I'm on stage. There is always some blood-shed at a Viva show. I did almost have my eye gouged out by a band members bass in another band. Don't let anyone tell you rock music isn't a dangerous thing.

Anita: Sure... you know, the near death by electrocution happens occasionally.

Mark: Yes... I was in another band before Viva and Iwas playing guitar laying down on stage when my head was stomped on by another band member... ouch!


Whats the best live band you've seen?

Kevin: I saw R.E.M when i was in junior-high and was blown away. I don't know, it's impossible to pick a "best".

Anita: Sunny Day Real Estate is probably the best I've seen so far.

Mark: I've seen quite a few but I will probably name the Prayer Chain as the best.


Upcoming bands to watch out for?

Kevin: Soul-Junk, Bede, The Danes, Pop Unknown, Godspeed You Black Emporer.

Anita: The Danes, Pop Unknown.

Mark: Definitely Bede, also Kent, Travis, and The Autumns.


What were your first jobs and would you return to them?

Kevin: I used to work in a department store. I didn't like it much, but return to it? I don't know. What does it pay?

Anita: I used to work for a guitar shop. No, I'd never go back. The guitar "jamming" is unbearable.

Mark: No way man... I used to cut yards for cash and loathed it.


Any chance of touring the UK/Europe sometime soon?

Kevin: Hook us up with some promoters/contacts and we're on our way. I know that we'd all love to play Europe. It's just a matter of time and finances and hopefully we'll be able to work it out in the next year or so.

Interviewed by David Majors and Gordon Peppard

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