(For more info on the band, check out http://www.myspace.com/paikspace and http://www.beyonderrecords.com/. For the complete interview, check out http://bandsontherise.blogspot.com/)
If you’ve see them live, you’ll know that not many bands can do what Paik does on stage every night. The sheer magnitude and ear bleeding velocity of their music will make you appreciate the quieter moments in their set. And believe me, the enduring silences they can conjure in addition to those caterwauling walls of noise are equally affecting. For over a decade now, Paik has put out some of the most daringly noisy, cathartic music that reaches far back into your mind: this is life changing stuff, like the first time you heard Kevin Shields make his guitar sound like an elephant. Drummer Ryan Pritts recently took the time to answer some questions about the band’s music and some of his best concert moments of the past.
Hector Mojena: For our readers, who is in and has been in the band throughout the years and how did you guys get started/meet?
Paik: Our original lineup was Ali Clegg on bass and me (Ryan) on drums with Rob Smith on guitar. She left the band in 05 and was replaced by our friend Anthony Petrovic who is the current bassist. We have done shows here and there with fill-ins as well when he can’t fly out.
HM: What bands/artists have been big influences on your sound? To these ears, there's definitely this swirling shoegaze sound, like My Bloody Valentine, but with a real wide open, unhinged sort of dynamic, like Can.
P: Definitely MBV is a fave, but influences range all over the map for all of us. It’s really hard to explain without going into a novel...
HM: I have your Magnesium Fire DVD and I really dig the projections you guys use in your live shows. How does the band usually come across these bits of footage and assemble them into what we see live? A lot of the cuts between different footage are pretty jarring; how does that play into the performance and influence the sound?
P: Well, I collect old 16mm films, and have used a lot of that imagery in cutting the projection videos; generally I just seek out very mentally intriguing stuff that causes me to really think and/or pay attention. This is the basis or criteria that I look for; it is not synchronized, yet always seems appropriate for what ever songs we're doing. We just want to give up a real psychedelic experience for the viewer as that is what really fuels our personal musical interests and endeavors.
HM: How often does the band tour or would like to tour? What venues, cities, etc. are you most excited to play? Also, what have been your favorite touring experiences collectively? I for one would have loved to have seen Paik and BRMC in the same night.
P: We don't have a set schedule for touring really, especially in these lean times. We prefer to accept invites to festivals, tours with bands we know/ like, etc. That way it always seems to be better received; supporting Stephen Malkmus' Face the Truth tour was a really fun time, and also doing tours/shows with BRMC (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club). But for sure, the highlight of Paik’s existence would be the Terrastock festivals we've played and the friends we have met through playing them. Hands down!
HM: How did you get to play Terrastock and how was your set received?
P: We were invited to our first one in 2002 and have played them all since then. Phil McMullen is the most incredible person in
the music world today for his perseverance in continuing this great event on a semi yearly basis. It is much like a family reunion in that the friends you never get to see because of living all over the world all assemble for three days of psychedelic music. You just can’t mess with that.
HM: What sort of equipment do you all use live to create the enormous walls of sound heard on stage
P: Basics really: large, high powered amplifiers, and speaker cabinets, and a really large drum kit.
HM: What is the process of putting together a song like for the band? Are most of the tunes conceived as jams or is their a song already written before-hand?
P: Usually it starts from a song someone brings as a complete piece or a sketch, and we flesh it out to wherever it goes from there. We've never been a jam band.
HM: What are the favorite songs to play live?
P: Phantoms, Satin Black, Dirt for Driver, Monster of the Absloute, lately. Favorites change and are created though, so its hard to really be very specific on that one.
HM: Last question. What future tour dates does Paik have planned? Miami maybe?
P: We have no dates in the book as of yet. Europe is on the radar next though. Look for that as it takes shape sometime in 09. Be sure to look for all our solo projects playing shows in our respective areas of the country: Rob Smith-Dark Red (Detroit), Ryan- Bolmongani (North Carolina), Anthony - E-Zee-Tiger/Drums (San Francisco).
