Page 34 - ROCKNATION ISSUE 27

PAGE 34 ROCKNATION ISSUE 27
100 WATT SHINE

VOODOO MOONSHINE

Hello Brian David Detmers with 100 Watt Shine and welcome to
Rocknation.Let’s start off with your “Self-titled” CD. Please tell us
about some of the tracks.
The opening song, “No Stars in L.A.”, was written about the 2009
Grammy’s in Los Angeles. I was staying with Jimmy Jeff Marso, who wrote
the music, and all over the L.A. tv stations were stories about Jennifer
Hudson and her return to the stage after the brutal murder of her Mother,
Brother, and Nephew in 2008. I imagined a conversation before she went on to deliver that gut-wrenching performance, a conversation with some one in
her entourage, and her replying to them as if she were talking directly to her mother, instead. Jimmy had written that “disturbing” music beforehand, and
this topic begged me to use it. The title is in reference to not being able to see the stars at night, for all of the flood lamps whooshing back and forth in the
sky. “New Orleans” is a ghost story. I wrote that song in San Diego, some years back, after a conversation with a co-worker. We were having a smoke,
and disillusioned about how our lives were turning out in Southern California, we both decided then and there, to go back to our respective homes; his,
New Orleans, and mine Sioux Falls, SD. I opted to use his story rather than mine, because what better city for ghosts, than New Orleans, LA?
“As the River Flows” was written by Jimmy Jeff musically, and I wrote the lyrics about not giving 5cents for what other people expect of you. It is an
“I Did it My Way” sort of lyric that I had written in Seattle, WA during a stay at a friend’s, Joe Ravenscroft. Joe writes books, music, and plays piano and
organ marvelously. He and Jimmy Jeff and I spent a tortured week up there, just writing and laying down demos. We came away with some good stuff, in
spite of our indulgences.
Who did the music and lyric writing for this release?
Jimmy Jeff Marso wrote the music for “Hangin’ from the Moon”, “As the River Flows”, and “No Stars in L.A.” from his home in Los Angeles. He worked
downtown and recorded with a who’s who of artists from the 1990’s through his departure in 2016 to Austin, TX. Of course, Point Blank wrote “Oh,
Nicole” and the remaining six songs were a combined effort of 100 watt shine members. I wrote all of the lyrics and melodies on all songs, except for
“Nicole”.
Where did you record these tracks at?
The album was recorded in its entirety at Cathouse Studios in Sioux Falls, SD. It is no longer there, as I am to understand.

If you had to tell someone what your music sounded like, what bands would you mention?
That is a tough question. Since we write together, we draw on our own personal influences. Combined, they would be Stone Temple Pilots, Tommy Bolin,
The Allman Brothers, Aerosmith, Rush, and Led Zeppelin.
What national bands have you played with?
This band doesn’t tour, just records. We have done some local events, and recorded for SDPTV (South Dakota Public Television), but the local music
scene in Sioux Falls, SD is pathetically dismal for original artists. From the Midwest, individually we have been in several cover bands that opened for
a variety of 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s artists, being midway between Minneapolis, MN, and Omaha, NE. Currently, Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow) is lending his
guitar and arrangement expertise for our second album.

Your band did a killer cover of the song “Nicole” by the band Point Blank. What made you pick that song?
Collectively, we are all fans of select Southern Rockers. I had asked the guys to cover this song, because I thought it was a lost gem, and I really wanted
to put a Tommy Bolin twist to the instrumental break. Craig “Gumby” Olson put such a wonderful vocal performance into it. He was a new-comer to the
band at the time, and now is the featured lead vocalist for our second effort. We will finish laying tracks later this week at Warehouse Studios in Sioux
Falls, and from there we will begin mixdown.
Thank you for taking time for this interview and any last words to the fans?
Thank you, for giving us a listen! If you find yourself enjoying our music, you will love the record that we expect to release in 2021. You may contact us
through our Facebook Page, and I always answer questions! Peace!

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