16 August 2006 -

EXCLUSIVE Interview: KillGordon
Chuck Norton, DeadJournalist.com

After releasing the Early EP, Kyle Gordon decided his solo act, KillGordon, needed an infusion of musicians. After adding a bassist, Cyrus Shahmir and going through a series of drummers, the band finally hit the studio with drummer Daniel Britt to record a new album.

Focusing on a sound that mixes of classic rock and folk, KillGordon performs regularly throughout the Atlanta music scene. For more information on the band, visit their Web site: www.killgordon.com or their MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/killgordon.

Kyle Gordon recently took time out of his schedule for this exclusive DeadJournalist.com interview.

After starting out as a solo act, KillGordon is now a band. How as this change affected the band's music?

KG: When I started KillGordon it was just me and my acoustic and a bunch of unpolished songs. It got some plays in Europe but I didn't really know how to properly promote it so it went largely un-noticed. I'm a better songwriter then I was a year ago, as I will be a better songwriter then I am now in a year. So the songs are getting more textured and fully realize.

When I met Cyrus Shahmir, he and I immediately began working on bass lines to finish the songs I already had. Cyrus is a big part of our sound in terms of equipment and the final polishing of the songs. All of us have veto power, but so far we haven't had to use it yet.

What has been the band's biggest challenge this year?

KG: Finding a drummer that's worth a shit musically. We went three months without a drummer when our SE Performer Magazine cover came out. It really put a stop to our buzz. Those three months were a non-stop headache for me having a series of dismal practices trying out drummer after drummer trying to find the right guy.

Finally we found Daniel Britt, a drummer out of Alabama, living in Atlanta going to school for music. He picked up on our sound quickly and has really added a nice element. He hits hard, which is wonderful for us.

You're currently in the studio working on a new album. When do you hope it will be released?

KG: It will be ready by mid-autumn It's going to have 11 songs ranging from MC5-like rock and roll to Violent Femmes acoustic stuff. When we finish doing overdubs and vocal takes then we'll start to consider the actual date. It's going to be fantastic.

Are you planning on touring once the new record has been released?

KG: Yes. We are currently looking for a booking agent ... cough, cough. We really want to go to Europe and Japan. We think they'll get us over there.

What do you feel is the most important part of a Kill Gordon performance?

KG: Our energy. It's like an angry love affair, with no weird body fluids involved. Well, maybe blood from time to time.

Having performed in Atlanta for several years, including your time with the Booze, have you seen a shift in the local music scene?

KG: In 2005, some really amazing bands started to become better known, taking the spotlight from bands that really didn't deserve it. 2005 is when I started hearing the name Souvus Radio around town - also the Judies and All The Saints. Bands like Snowden were finally starting to see some success and the Black Lips (already local legends) were about to take Europe by storm after years of being on the scene.

I really believe that Atlanta has some of the most interesting rock scenes around the country. I've seen a lot of what the US has to offer and Atlanta's fucking way cooler then anything I've scene in the north or west.

It's a shame that Atlanta is primarily known for its Hip Hop, cause that shit's getting OLD. It's just a bunch of dudes screaming over a beat at this point, as where in LA - and California in general - is so engulfed in the Emo craze its disgusting. NYC has always had amazing bands spring out from there all the time but in general it's an over saturated market.

In short, Atlanta is the Seattle of 1991 waiting to happen.

Flashback to 1996, to whom were you listening?

KG: The Cranberries first record Everyone Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, Weezer's Blue and Pinkerton, The Beatles, Nirvana, and R.E.M.'s Monster.