Los Angeles quartet Static X singer Wayne Static says the band’s fifth album, Cannibal, has a stripped-down and more metal sound.
Courtesy photo
WHAT: Static-X
WHEN: Doors open 7 p.m. Sunday, April 15
WHERE: The White Rabbit, 2410 N. St. Mary's
HOW MUCH: $20-$25
INFO: sawhiterabbit.com | Static-X, a mainstay on hard rock radio for much of the past decade, plays the White Rabbit on Sunday, April 15. Also on the bill are Otep, 2 Cents and Lokey. Static-X's latest album, Cannibal, is in stores now. Static-X lead singer/guitarist Wayne Static recently talked with 210SA.
210: Does it seem like Static-X has been around as long as it has?
WS: The funny thing is it seems like we just started yesterday. The last 10 years have just flown by, and it's crazy, but we've been together 13 years now. It's pretty wacky, but we're still having a good time. I don't feel any older, but maybe a little wiser.
210: Do you ever get nervous before going out on tour?
WS: For me, the whole touring experience gets more enjoyable every time we do it. We've gotten to the point where we can afford to make things comfortable, where we're not starving and freezing, going without showers and things of that nature — the things we did the first couple of years. I love it.
210: How is Cannibal similar to or different from your previous albums?
WS: For me, this is a new chapter for the band. The first two albums went hand in hand, and the last two records went hand in hand, but this is kind of another departure for us. The goal I had when we set out was to take things back to basics, to strip it down and get back to the heaviness that made us popular in the beginning. We wanted to go in a metallic direction, because I don't think we ever really embraced the metal side of Static-X.
210: You've mentioned AC/DC's Back in Black as inspiration for Cannibal. Why AC/DC?
WS: For me, I always think that's their standout record. They were popular before that, but I don't think any of their records quite had the same focus and production value. I remember the first time I heard that record, thinking, “Wow, when did they learn to play guitar solos?” Every song is slamming, and I love the way it's really dry and in your face, yet fat-sounding at the same time.
210: Onstage, you're the lead singer of a hard rock band, but you seem like a really reserved guy. Is there a split personality of sorts?
WS: Absolutely. I'm outwardly pretty reserved in real life, but my mind is always working. When I get on stage, I let it all out. I'm an entertainer, but I'm a businessman, and during the day, I'm going to deal with what I've got to deal with.
210: What can fans expect from the live show?
WS: We always try to hit stuff from every record and cover our entire catalog. We actually rely heavily on the old stuff, and we definitely have fun putting the set list together. The longer we're around, the stronger the set list is. I go see a band like Korn, and they play for like an hour and a half, and you can sing along with every song. I feel like we're almost getting to that point.
210: Does the music you listen to resemble the music you play?
WS: I don't really listen to metal anymore. I play it every day, and when you're onstage every day, rocking out, balls out, screaming and everything, you don't want to continue that. I want to chill out. Music has taken on a different role for me, and now it's time for me to chill out. That's probably why I don't listen to metal anymore.
210: San Antonio loves its hard rock music. Are you able to tell which cities appreciate the genre more than others?
WS: Texas in general tends to be pretty unruly and crazy. So anywhere in Texas, we expect to have a good time. I'm not sure why that is, but really for us, at this point, it's great everywhere.
Clint Hale | 210SA |
