MATT DRISCOLL: FOREVER ADOLESCENT>>>

This week, in anticipation of www.myspace.com/hobolibido ">Hobo Libido’s sure to be rockin’ CD release show at Hell’s Kitchen, on Saturday, March 15, I interviewed Hobo Libido frontman Brandon Ballentine. His band will unleash Hornier than a Box Full of Hobos to the masses at Hell’s Kitchen, and the band’s irreverent, sexually perverse, booze fueled classic rock should go over quite nicely.

While I cherry-picked from the interview for Rock Rhetoric this week, here’s a look at everything Ballentine had to say.

(Pictures courtesy of Krystal Kerr Photography)

Weekly Volcano: You're releasing the debut Hobo Libido record. How long in the making is it? What can fans of Hobo Libido expect from it? Did it turn out how you'd hoped?
Ballentine:  Well, the recording/mixing process took us about 3 months.  Some of these songs go back 9 years, though.  “We're Not Leavin' 'Til We're Heavin'” for example, was the first song I ever wrote.  I think I was 15.  But some of the songs on the record, like “Love Cow” are only a couple of months old.  It's surprisingly cohesive.  I guess we just never grew up! 

WV:  What is the record called and how many songs are on it? Are you pleased with the recording quality?
Ballentine: The record is called Hornier than a Box Full of Hobos, the first line from our theme song, “Hobo Libido.”   We put 11 songs on the album, plus if you dig around a little you might just find some bonus stuff. 

We are very pleased with the production quality, actually.  That was a big concern - undertaking a full length album (having it recorded, pressed, and distributed) entirely independently, but our good friend, Dustin Baccetti, just happens to be a gifted engineer.  He always went the extra mile to make sure the end product was as good as it could possibly be and we think it really shows.  And he did it all for us on a shoe-string budget!  You can find him at www.myspace.com/myassstudios.      

WV: You're doing two CD release shows - one north, one south. Do you have a following in both places? Why do you think Tacoma receives you guys so well?
Ballentine: Yeah, we've definitely got a following in Seattle and Tacoma and we wanted to make a point of catering to both audiences but, in Tacoma more than anywhere else so far, people just seem to get what we're doing and it's great.  We put in a lot of long hours and hard work and don't always get much recognition in return, as is true of most musicians.  So when someone comes up to us after a show and says, "Thanks, your show made my week", that's what makes it all worthwhile.  That's why we love Tacoma so much, because we always know it's not going in one ear and out the other. 

WV:  Where would you like to take this record? What's your goal with it?
Ballentine: We mainly just want to have something tangible to give our loyal fans and, hopefully, something that will win over the people who previously didn't get us or just hadn't heard of us.  Our ultimate goal, though, is to take it on the road and let it pay for gas and cheeseburgers!  

WV: What exactly is a hobo's libido like? How does that fit your band?
Ballentine: Hobos are so horny they fuck hobos, and, if given the opportunity, I can't say any one of us wouldn't fuck a hobo! Pretty much everything rock and roll is inspired by sex or drugs or some combination of the two. Whether it's a serious song written about something I've experienced that's hurt me or brought me joy or just a joke about a love doll we saw in a porn shop that was shaped like a cow, we've taken that theme, injected it with amphetamines, greased it up with expensive lube, and run with it.

WV: Do you have anything special planned for the show at Hell's Kitchen? How have your experiences at the Kitchen been in the past?
Ballentine: Show-goers will witness an unnatural act.  That is all I'm at liberty to divulge.  One time we took a guitar with a dildo suction-cupped to it to the cow love doll I mentioned earlier.  "Love Cow" was inspired, specifically, by that particular cow so we thought it was only fair to give the cow some stage time. That was a Hell's Kitchen exclusive. Hell's Kitchen is far and away, our favorite place to play.

WV: What's in the future for you guys? Now that the record is complete, what's next? How will you spend '08?
Ballentine: We want to get on a label that will put us on tour.  Basically, we want to tour the shit out of this album and get our name out there.  If that doesn't happen by this summer, we'll continue doing the local club rounds, trying our best to put on a memorable show.  A long-time goal of mine has been to open for GWAR. I'm not ruling that out either.    

WV: If Hobo Libido had an official alcoholic beverage, what would it be?
Ballentine: Our own invention: The Gaping Asshole!  It consists of equal parts Sex on the Beach, Pornstar, Slippery Nipple, and Scotch Whiskey.  Served by the pail and guaranteed to give her "the gape"!  Seriously though, we drink enough Pabst to quench the thirst of a small army.  Wouldn't mind landing an endorsement deal with them. 

WV: Your rock is pretty straight forward. With all the artsy stuff that's popular these days, is that intentional? What kind of people do you hope to appeal to?
Ballentine: We just make the music we want to hear.  We grew up, primarily, on metal, punk rock, and 60's-70's era rock.  Those are just the sounds we like and I guess they show through a little in the songwriting.  At the same time, I generally write all the songs so, being a very blunt person, I don't think the music could help but be straight forward.  Who do we hope to appeal to?  Anybody and everybody who likes good old-fashioned, straight-up rock and roll.  Anybody who liked/likes Little Nicky, Tenacious D & the Pick of Destiny, American Pie, Metalocalypse, Family Guy, Tom Green, Sifl & Olly, & Mr. Show.  People who get that you can have something legitimate to say even though you also like to crack the occasional 'AC Slatering' joke.  What's 'AC Slatering', you ask? Look it up, it'll change the way you crap forever!