Interview with The Creepshow by Emmanuel Paige

The Creepshow is  a Canadian rock band that specializes in psychobilly music. Their style of music is a cross between punk rock and rockabilly with a nice groove that will have your foot tapping to the beat while sending shivers up and down your spine. Their songs are both melodic and harmonic and invite the listener to sing along. The band lineup includes Sarah "Sin" Blackwood on lead vocals and guitar, Sean "Sickboy" McNab on upright bass and backup vocals, The Reverend McGinty on keyboards and backup vocals, and Matt "Pomade" Gee on drums.

They formed in 2005, lost Hellcat [founding member] when she became a mother and decided she couldn’t tour and be a mom at the same time, and her little sister Sarah “Sin” took over the lead spot up to the present date. They have toured throughout Canada , Europe, and recently in the USA. They all love what they do and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Their first album "Sell Your Soul" was released in 2006 to great acceptance by the media and fans worldwide. They've toured extensively ever since, and now they have a new album "Run For Your Life" due out in stores on September 2, 2009 and they are already out on tour with the new material. Make sure to find out when they are in your area and go see their show.

Macabre Cadaver caught up with Sean and Sarah recently in a Q and A session to get the lowdown on their recent activities, which include tours, album release and opinions on music, guitars, and movies.

Official website: www.thecreepshow.org

Macabre Cadaver: When did you decide that you wanted to be a performing musician(s)?

Sarah: When I heard music for the first time and later found out you could make a lot of money and have your photo in all the magazines . . . be a rock star!

No. kidding. I wanted to sing since I was little, and when I learned about rock and roll music I wanted to be a part of it somehow. I learned guitar. . . kind of. Ha!

Sean: I've always loved music, even as a little kid. For some reason , I loved the sound of the saxophone, and really wanted to learn, but in my crappy high school, the music program was full. I then changed schools, and became friends with a bunch of people that played guitar, and drums. . . . So they all taught me some basic guitar. Then, because there was no bass players in our group of friends, I bought a bass! And joining a band was easy, because I was the only bass player!

Macabre Cadaver:  Who are your biggest musical influences?

Sarah: My Dad always. Aerosmith and Beyonce. Right now . . . ha. I love old country and rock and roll music. I have a lot of influences that range from classical music to hip hop. It's a big sea out there!

Sean: Mostly bands like The Clash, Rancid, Dead Kennedys, Johnny Cash . . . basically anyone who makes timeless music, and works hard to get where they are.

Macabre Cadaver: How and when did The Creepshow get started?

Sean: We had our first practice in March of 2005. It was really hard to find musicians that had even heard of psychobilly, so it took years to actually get this band to even be able to practice. We wanted to have a very unique sound, and add keyboards, so I called an old friend who I used to be in a ska band with in the late 90's (The Rev. Mcginty), and we were lucky enough to find Matt Pomade on the internet! It took us a long time to get enough songs together for a fill set because we were busy with other projects, but finally played our first show around halloween that year.

Macabre Cadaver:  What is your favorite horror movie?

Sarah: Nightmare on Elm Street 3. Dream Warriors!

Sean: It keeps changing, for the last little while it's been Shaun of the Dead . . . I like the zomb-com's!

Macabre Cadaver:  What is your favorite horror novel?

Sarah: I only read gossip magazines . . . ha-ha. If US WEEKLY and IN TOUCH wrote Horror Novels, I would say they are my favorite. Right now I am reading HOUSE OF HILTON (as in Paris Hilton), does that count as a Horror Novel?  Maybe . . . ha!

Sean: I don't read much but I am really into the DEXTER books right now.

Macabre Cadaver:  I like your cover of “Pet Semetary” by the Ramones. This is a pretty big song for music and horror fans alike. Did you feel like you were stepping on sacred ground when you covered this song?

Sean: I don't think any song is sacred ground. . . . We like taking songs and totally changing them to our style. . . . That's how cover's should be. Some people don't like that, some people do. . . . Can't please everyone!

Macabre Cadaver:  You’ve recently signed with Hellcat Records. How did that come about?

Sarah: It has been a year in the making actually. We played with RANCID in August 2008. The best day of our lives . . . or mine anyway. And after that we chatted with Tim and Lars for a bit. They seemed to genuinely like our band. A few months after that right before a European tour, we got word that they were interested. It took a whole year of going back and forth between our Canadian Label and Hellcat. Paper work MANIA and all that businessy stuff, yadda yadda yadda, and then finally it was a done deal. And we were allowed to tell EVERYONE our secret and it was the best thing to know it was signed and FOR SURE!  So we danced. Like happy ballerina's in the night!

Macabre Cadaver:  Do you see this as a stepping stone to bigger and better things in the future?

Sarah: I do. I mean, there's only so much anyone can do for a band. We are really hard working and that is a lot of the reason where we are where we are . . . that and the fans. There's A LOT that goes in to moving up and on in this industry. It will definitely be a stepping stone. I am mostly excited to work with a bunch of new people, and just make our family/machine bigger, better and stronger.

Macabre Cadaver: You’re sound is polished enough that you could land a major record deal someday. Can you share your visions of the future for The Creepshow, say ten years down the road?

Sarah: Tragic Kingdom . . . ha-ha. No, we really just want to keep writing records and touring our asses off until we can do it comfortably as a living. We never talk about major record labels or deals. I personally have NO TRUST in big labels. Especially now-a-days. I have watched SO MANY of my friends go down that road and they are all working at gas stations now, or clothing stores or bars . . . they were given hopes of a big record, $300,000 later, they have a shelved record and the constant story of it coming out in "another 6 months" FUCK THAT! I want to write records now, and have them come out NOW, and be on tour and playing shows NOW! Major labels will fuck you in the ass, and then drop you in the street and if they don't, they will make you huge, and take ALL your money anyway. Fuck that. 

Sean: Hmm, we don't really think too far ahead, or take ourselves to seriously. As long as it's still fun, we'll still be doing this. . . . And we've been having a blast so far! As for major labels, we're not too concerned with that. . . . We are very happy  where we are right now on Hellcat records (US/Japan/
Australia), stomp records (Canada), and peoplelikeyou records (Europe/UK).

Macabre Cadaver:  If you had to pick your favorite of these two musicians, Alice Cooper or Marilyn Manson, which would it be?

Sarah: Marilyn Manson. . . . Sorry Ace.

Sean: Oh my god! Alice Cooper by a landslide

Macabre Cadaver:  If you were stranded on a deserted island with only one CD to play, what would it be?

Sarah: Sarah Blackwood "WAY BACK HOME"

Macabre Cadaver:  Which of these two writers do you like the best, Stephen King or Stephenie Meyer? There is a controversy going on between these two, King called Meyer out and said she couldn’t “write worth a darn” and I just wondered what your thoughts were about that. I’m a longtime King fan, so I’m biased, but you won’t hurt my feelings either way.

Sarah: My favorite writer is Tom Robbins. So what does Steven King have to say about that?

Macabre Cadaver: You’ve recently started touring to support your new album, “Run For Your Life,” due out on Oct 27 via Hellcat Records. How’s the tour going?

Sarah: Did we ever stop touring? Ha. I can't believe the record has already been out for as long as it has. In Canada and Europe it's been a year! The USA JUST picked it up! So, touring has been crazy, long, up, down, fun, amazing, intense, smelly, broken, loud, shower cryful, massive, sickly, cloudy, dirty, slutty, powerful, quiet, fun fun fun, outrageous and fucking insane all in one . . . this has been our last year.

Macabre Cadaver:  Can you share any candid moments from life in and out of the studio, or on the road?

Sarah: We are actually starting this tour to do WEBISODES. So we will record EVERY moment of this tour and edit it to the best of our ability to expose and embarrass EVERYONE in the band. There's no such thing anymore . . . Ha-ha.  We're like one big fat married couple but there's 4 of us . . . ha.  Keep your eyes peeled though for those WEBISODES!

Macabre Cadaver:  Is The Creepshow wild or reserved on and off stage? If you had to compare your shows and off stage life to G.G Allin or Flock of Seagulls, where would you say you live between those two contrasts?

Sean: On stage we are usually pretty wild. We don't take shits on stage and throw them at people like G.G. but we definitely pride ourselves on a very entertaining live show! Offstage, we are pretty reserved . . . most of the time, unless we've been drinking.

Macabre Cadaver:  Since we are focusing on the horror genre, what scares you the most real [non-fiction] or fiction?

Sarah: REAL! Hands down.

Macabre Cadaver:  Do you like Edgar Allen Poe or H.P. Lovecraft? Which writer do you think wrote the scariest stories?

Sarah: They both have great names, it's hard to decide . . . ha

Macabre Cadaver: What is your favorite brand of guitar?

Sarah: GIBSON!

Macabre Cadaver:  Which guitar player do you think is better, Jimmy Hendrix, Joe Satriani or Esteban?

Sarah: I'll have to ask my friend Ace. He is a guitar player . . . hold on I have him on the phone . . . definitely not Esteban . . . Better player over all is Jimmy.  If there was no Jimmy there would be no Satriani. Jimmy is a legend. I agree with him.

Macabre Cadaver:  Would you like to add anything extra?

Sarah: If we're playing in your city PLEASE come out to the shows and hang out with us!  And as always . . . NEVER drink chocolate milk before you go to sleep, it WILL ALWAYS give you nightmares!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Austin@epitaph.com

THE CREEPSHOW TO MAKE YOU RUN FOR YOUR LIFE THIS FALL

Punkabilly Creepers Sign To Hellcat Records With Plans To Release New Album In October

August 26, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA.  – Hellcat Records is proud to announce the signing of Canada’s loudest psychobilly punkrock band The Creepshow, and plans to release the band’s second album Run For Your Life, for the first time ever in the US, on October 27. 

Lock your doors, turn out the lights and say your prayers because The Creepshow is back with a fiendishly fresh new joint that’ll leave you trembling and begging for more.  A follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut, Sell Your Soul, Run for Your Life delivers 10 country-tinged punk rock shockers straight from the underworld.   From mournful rock n’ rollers to scream-along boot stompers to raging punk fueled anthems, this record will cure what ails you. The infamous Steve Rizun (Protest The Hero, The Flatliners, Ill Scarlett) returns to the producer’s chair to capture the intensity and energy that has made The Creepshow a worldwide cult sensation, offering it all up in an ear-scorching orgy of sonic bliss.

Gasp in terror as the seductive Sarah SIN lures you into her web of heartbreak, betrayal and revenge with her sultry and entrancing vocals.  Dance to the primal rhythms of the nefarious Sick Boy on upright beater -bass and the devilish Matt Pomade on his demonic skins.  Kneel at the altar of the Reverend McGinty as he converts the masses with his hypnotic and dastardly hellspawned keys.
Formed in 2005, The Creepshow have already shared the stage with now-labelmates Tiger Army, Rancid and The Unseen, and by teaming up the world’s premiere pyschobilly/punk label, Hellcat Records, their ghoulish potential is limitless. 

Dare to delve into the dark and alluring world that is The Creepshow this fall when they tour the US just in time for the year’s most sinister celebration.   

Run For Your Life Tracklisting:
1.    The Sermon II
2.    Rue Morgue Radio
3.    Demon Lover
4.    Run For Your Life
5.    Buried Alive
6.    Take My Hand
7.    You'll Come Crawlin'
8.    Dearly Departed
9.    Rock 'n' Roll Sweetheart
10.    Long Way Down

The Creepshow Tour Dates:
Oct 9 – Club Diablo – Buffalo, NY
Oct 10 – Small’s – Detroit, MI
Oct 11 – The ESJ – Indianapolis, IN
Oct 13 – Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL
Oct 15 – Lakewood Bar – Dallas, TX
Oct 17 – Rock Bottom – San Antonio, TX
Oct 20 – No Man’s Land – El Paso, TX
Oct 21 – Chaser’s Nightclub – Scottsdale, AZ
Oct 22 – Beauty Bar – Las Vegas, NV (w/Peacocks)
Oct 23 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA (w/Tiger Army)
Oct 24 – Gillman – Berkeley, CA
Oct 25 – Arcata Theatre – Arcata, CA
Oct 26 – Studio Seven – Seattle, WA

For More Information:
www.myspace.com/TheCreepshow
www.hell-cat.com

Press Contact:
Austin Griswold
Epitaph Records
(213) 413-7353
Austin@Epitaph.com