June 2, 2023

The Evolution of We Kill Cowboys: Their Heaviest and Most Ambitious Sound Yet

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On this episode Brian is joined by Alex and Jono from We Kill Cowboys.

 

They discuss their new music, including the release of their song "Pink Codeine". The conversation also includes some banter about the weather in South Africa compared to Ireland.

They talk about the band's evolution towards a heavier sound, their recent signing with Mongrel Records, and their experience working with a new band member. Jono also shares his experiences attending concerts in South Africa. The episode concludes with a discussion about their future plans, including a tour in Europe.

 

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Transcript

Brian (00:04:27) - Guys welcome back. Well, Lexi, welcome back. Jono welcome for the first time. How's things?

Lexi (00:04:34) - Yeah, good to be back. Good. Thank you Brian. How are you?

Brian (00:04:37) - I'm good. I'm good, thanks.

Lexi (00:04:39) - Fantastic.

Brian (00:04:40) - And Jono, how are you?

Jono (00:04:42) - I'm good, I'm good. Just came, uh, rushing in from the cold. We, we are just starting winter here in, in South Africa and it's getting very cold . It's, I came rushing in going, ah, I gotta make eight o'clock. But I made it. I made it. I'm here. So life is good

Brian (00:04:57) - Now. Is it true, is it true when you guys say cold, that's still like an Irish summer to us?

Jono (00:05:03) - Yes,

Lexi (00:05:04) - Yes. I was about to say, we talking to Irishman , it's like, please you keep turnings on your cold .

Jono (00:05:10) - We are pathetic ninnies when it comes to the cold, but it's still cold, you know, ,

Brian (00:05:15) - I could imagine. I'd say when you think it's cold, I'm probably still walking around in shorts. .

Lexi (00:05:20) - Exactly.

Jono (00:05:21) - .

Brian (00:05:23) - So we have a few things to talk about. You have new music coming out. I'm excited to hear it. It sounds unbelievable. So today you release pink coding. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Lexi (00:05:35) - John, do you wanna take this one? My dude,

Jono (00:05:38) - So  Lu Max. So, so I particularly, I I've got a very, I've got a very sort of close connection with this song, um, on a couple of levels. Uh, one is that she, she jokingly says she wrote it about me and my drug problems, , um, and  actually, I dunno, I dunno how much she's joking to be honest. I think she did actually write her about me. Um, and uh, the second, the second one is that it, it, um, certainly as far as my memory goes, uh, it's one of the first songs where I kind of rarely flexed a little bit from a songwriting point of view. Um, and took the, the raw stuff that, that Lex had brought in and, and really changed it quite profoundly and had to argue my case rather vociferously. Um, but, you know, it, it was kind of a, it was a moment in the band where I think, uh, uh, a deepening of the trust between me and Lexi kind of happened when, when, you know, when we had our, our little sort of tiff abut how a song could or should sound.

Jono (00:06:49) - Um, and, and I managed to convince her to go along with, with my, with my ideas. Um, and it, and it, and, and, and I think it, it kind of marked a, a, a real point in the band where things are like, oh, okay, there's a, there's, there's something to be said for what happens when we, when we decide to listen to one another and work with one another and compromise for one another, you know, towards a song. Um, and then it's just, you just heaviest fuck man. Like, strata. It's just like unbelievably God awfully heavy. Like when the chorus drops, it's just like, whoa. And I like that, you know? And it, and it's cool to have been part of creating something that, that even now, you know, I've listened to it a bunch of times, obviously. Um, I still listen to it every now and I'm like, fuck, hey, that's a big noise, you know? And, and that's cool.

Brian (00:07:41) - And you know, your sound has evolved into a heavier sound since you started. Fans can't deny it. , it obviously comes from you Danja.

Jono (00:07:52) - Yeah, it's, it's interesting cuz we've got a, we've got a, we've got a drummer who's a metalhead, right? So, uh, he's just heavy. Um, and it's just about having gotten to know one another more and more. We we're, we're we're just, we don't seem to be drawn towards playing heavier and heavier, heavier. Um, and then it's so funny watching, watching us pull something heavier out of the band and, and Alex turns into an excitable little school girl .

Lexi (00:08:18) - Yeah. And no, I get, I get real pumped up. I think, I think, you know, cuz it's that whole thing of just, it's like letting the music evolve naturally between, you know, the different people in the band. Instead of trying to like, control, you know, how you think you want to sound or what you're trying to put out, it's like, Hey, fuck, let's just let go and let's just, let's just let the, the people, the fucking all of us just create this stuff. And it's kept, there's no, there's no like, preconceived idea anymore of, of like, this is the direction. It's like, let's just fucking write man and see what happens. So that's been, that's been amazing. And naturally that's just becoming into a heavier sound, you know? So it's, it's super

Jono (00:08:52) - Exciting. And I think I genuinely do feel that this, this, this tune was, you know, in as much as it's the first tune we were releasing that is like heavy, there was a watershed moment on a, on like a, an energetic level in the band of getting to that point where we, where we, you know, allowed ourselves the, uh, the the, the heaviness where we went, okay, cool. We're we're gonna, we're gonna let ourselves be this big, you know,

Brian (00:09:19) - I have to ask, how heavy are you going to end up going? Like, can people expect like some sort of like black metal song from you guys in the future?

Lexi (00:09:29) - Swedish death medal ? Yeah, I think, dude, honestly, I think we are just naturally progressing into space where we are just riding heavier stuff. And it's, it's not to say it's like metal or fucking doom, it's just, it's, it's everything. I mean, I think just because like Johno was saying, you know, there's like metal, you know, drumming influences and Johno comes from a very heavy, like blue, but also rock and roll background. And I come from the punk rock background, so, and like, like with Donnie joining us now, our new bass player, it's, it's, he's got his whole own element. So I just feel like we have a lot to express and it's just fucking fun playing heavy music, you know, like, you just wanna play loud shit. It's all you wanna do. And it's just, it's coming out and it's really fun and I think we all feel it on a very deep connected level and it's just real, which is sick. So expect heavier stuff. My dude for shout

Brian (00:10:17) - . Brilliant, brilliant. And you guys have, uh, recently signed with Mangle Records. What does this mean for the band going forward?

Lexi (00:10:24) - Um, I mean it's, it's, you know, it's, it's all under the sort of same umbrella with just music, um, with S T F D, you know, it's the same sort of umbrella I think. I think just with Mongol we just kind of, we, we, we are more suited to be with a label, like just kind of supports heavier bands, um, you know, obviously evolving more into that sound. It just made sense to kind of join up with them, um, you know, which has been absolutely amazing. We love working with Warren. He's our dude. But you know, Kev with the folk, Dan is still part of the team, still part of the crew. So we all work together really well. And I think it's just kind of like everyone just, honestly, it's, it's an amazing family set up and everyone is, is doing the work and they're fucking dedicated and, you know, the sky's the limit really. So I think it's been a really cool adjustment, but it also, it's been a very organic, easy kind of flow and it just, it's, it's, it's I think just trusting where the band's going and trusting the right people that are with us with the same vision and then, you know, just see what happens really.

Jono (00:11:19) - I think there is a lot to be said for, um, certainly from my point of view cuz I, I tend to be the real petant and, and dad figure in the band. Um, Warren's like years of experience, particularly in pr and I think his, his absolute passion for, for heavy music, um, you know, just makes it a, makes it a, a perfect fit where maybe, um, you know, the, what what often makes for a successful band, uh, as I can see is, is people within the band having various strengths that they can bring to bear around the industry stuff. One of the things none of us particularly love is the PR side of the world. So to have a guy who happens to be the, the dude running the, the, the label who's sort of, uh, a work special, uh, specialty over the last 20 years is pr it's just like such a sigh of relief really, um, because it means that thing that we used to stress about, it's just like, okay, cool, that's getting handled by somebody who's a real pro. And it also, like from my side, I'd, I'd, I've always thought of myself, so in, in South Africa we, we have the, the English and the Afrika speakers, right? And I'm a I've, I've always called a variously referred to myself as a half-breed or a mongrel mixed works for me. Um, some sort of Nly Street dog, you know? I like that. I like that.

Brian (00:12:53) - Yeah. Yeah. It's a good match. So it's a good match. And I suppose, you know, like you were saying, having a guy that is an expert in PR frees you guys up to just focus on the music.

Lexi (00:13:04) - Yeah, yeah, for sure. For sure. And I think, think I just, sorry, sorry, you go.

Jono (00:13:10) - No, no, I insist.

Lexi (00:13:12) - Oh, golly, golly. Why thank you sir. , um, yeah, , I mean, it's just

Jono (00:13:18) - Interviewer man, .

Lexi (00:13:24) - I just think it's like obviously Warren's expertise, you know, and obviously like we started off with S T F D and you know, it's, it's just the natural evolution and it just, it's kif because, you know, we could focus on the writing and then, you know, the artwork, all that kind of cool, fun stuff and, and just know that everything else is handled and then there's amazing communication I think that is just so vital with, you know, anything in life. But, you know, when it comes to this kind of thing, like having that open communication and for everyone to be on the same page, you have to have the same vision is just like so vital. And when people are excited about what you're doing and then they work with you as well, that's just changes the game, you know?

Brian (00:14:01) - Yeah, definitely. Definitely. You mentioned the new basis. You've had a lineup change since we last spoke. What happened and what was it like trying to find a good fit?

Lexi (00:14:13) - Fucking bass dude, , I mean, you know, they just break your heart, they lead you on and they just fuck right off .

Brian (00:14:20) - I thought that was normally drummers.

Lexi (00:14:22) - I know we spoke about this last time, last time we spoke about the drummer situation. Yeah. But you know what, like our, our old base is mad. We, like, he's in Germany working for Warwick Base and we are so proud of him, and it's just incredible. And we loved, you know, he was such a, a amazing, integral part of the band. Um, and, you know, definitely was like a stress when, you know, we were so pumped for him when he got that job. And of course, you know, it's like, oh, you know, we, we are gonna miss a friend and like a, a band mate. And also that whole thing of like, you know, who's gonna come into your band. It's also about the connecting with someone, like, besides them being a really good musician, you have fun. It's like you're family members. So that for us is very important with this band that we really care about the people that come into our space and like who we create with.

Lexi (00:15:04) - So that was always a bit scary to go like, fuck, you know, and who, who, who comes in now? And we did, we did an audition thing and we said, Hey guys, we need a basis. What's up? Like, hit us up. And you know, Donnie was one of the dudes that got hold of us and he comes from a small town, you know, up in South Africa, um, and he just moved to Cape Town and he didn't really know anyone. And you know, he, we were just like, who's this dude, man? Like, we don't know who this guy is because of course, in any like, you know, Cape Town and it's like this in like, you know, bur all those kind of cities, you like musicians all know each other and it's like recycling our musicians through bands, right? And here is this dude who like, we don't know, no one fucking knows. And he came in for the audition and it was just like, wow, okay, this motherfucker knows what's up. He is different. There's something about him and he just, he like him and Jonna, I mean, Jonna, I think you were just kind of like having it all blushing crush for moments when you guys started playing together.

Jono (00:16:03) - Well, so, so here's my thing. I mean, it's, it's, I obviously, yes, the, the friendship thing is, is important, but I'm, um, you know, I'm, I put the music first. If I can speak to somebody on a musical level, the the friendship and the relationship will take care of itself as far as I'm concerned. Um, you know, if we can speak to one another at that sort of deep soul level, I'm, I'm not concerned about the nature of a friendship, you know,

Lexi (00:16:27) - That's how we balance. That's going, dude, you see, you, you like the hardest, I'm like the softie. So it's like a little fucking cool balance, bro.

Jono (00:16:35) - Yeah. And, and Donnie walked in and I mean, obviously subsequently we've got to gotten to know one another a little bit more, but you just walked in and, and was astonishingly adept. So I mean, okay, I I I play lead guitar in the band, right? But my, my, my real interest is, is again, heaviness is not fun and flashy lead guitar playing heaviness is fun in like, crushing grooves. You know, the slower, the better as far as I'm concerned, or the slower, the heavier. And because because I, I come, you know, we, we come from South Africa, I listen to a lot of African groove and it's different man. Like, there's a weird field that we got going on on this continent, and a lot of people don't access that. Certainly sort of people in our, in our kind of immediate environments, they're just not listening to that kind of music.

Jono (00:17:28) - This cat walked in on the one riff we have that no one's been able to play properly. He walked in and played that groove heavier than I can play it. And I went, Jesus. And this is a groove. I wrote , you know, this, this is one of my sole intentions, uh, sole, s o u l intentions that this guy comes in and goes, okay, right, let's make this really heavy. And I, that's just when we were playing, she's dead. Like, yeah. And I was just like, what the fuck? Who, what, what is this? You know? And, and you know, I'll be very straight. The dude looks pretty unassuming and that's about the biggest understanding I can make. Um, , you know, he's this like small weedy dude with like little nerd coke bottled glasses and like super quiet, super fucking chilled. Doesn't say much, like, has a really offbeat sense of humor. Put a bass guitar on this dude, and he is like, heavier than God, man,

Lexi (00:18:27) - . And I,

Jono (00:18:29) - And I, and I just went, when, when I heard that and I heard him like, lock into that groove, I just went, well, okay. Like, no question, you know? Then I had to fight with Alex and Andrew, but that's normal . Um, and, you know, subsequently, I think we've all kind of agreed that that that he was the, the, the right option. Um, yeah. And what, what's been amazing now is, is um, getting into like getting in, like now the tricky bit is like, okay, now we rarely gonna get to know one another and let's a write together. We first record together. So, so, so he, he's featuring on Pink Kaine, but that song had been written to a large degree. So he's, he is recorded on that. Then it was cool, let's write together where we've had some kind of teething issues. But I think we kind of, we are onto a good pluck now. And then of course next week we, we climb on a plane and we go tour, uh, we go tour up north, uh, in South Africa and Johannesburg and Pretoria for a few days. So it's kind of like, okay, cool. You know, like, we've not done the bedding end now. Let's see how, how it really works. You know, that's all quite exciting as like right now things are quite exciting.

Brian (00:19:43) - Yeah, I can imagine. I can imagine That'll be the real test though, when you go on tour together, see if he can survive, you know, if Ali come back.

Jono (00:19:51) - . Yeah. , I suspect, I suspect that we are gonna find out that we all pale in comparison to the weirdness that is Donny .

Lexi (00:20:01) - I, sorry, . I love you do .

Jono (00:20:06) - He's, he's, he's an interesting cat man.

Brian (00:20:09) - Yeah. Yeah. And you have an upcoming ep. I know it might be early days Yes. To start sharing some news on it, but what can you tell us about at this stage?

Lexi (00:20:19) - Heavier. Definitely heavier. Um, you know, it's, it's the stuff that we've been playing live and we've got a lot of really, really great feedback on, you know, these like newer tracks that we've written. And so it's, it's definitely like, and also us finding the right dude to track with, um, and record with who really, you know, he did Pin Coine Flores Saru, and he's really understands our sound and how to work with the sound. And so we are really, really pumped to be tracking these next songs because they, they've definitely gone a much heavier kind of like fucking, I don't know, like grunge, psych rock and roll, like a bit of metal vibe and to, to think about going into studio now with, with this dude that understands what we're trying to do and has worked with a lot of like, you know, uh, fork and all those dudes. So it's, it's kind of just, it's, it's exciting. So, I mean, yeah, I, I say before the end of the year we'll have that EP coming out, a lot of music videos and it's gonna be careful. It's gonna be cool to see, you know, sort of how people, uh, take it, you know, and respond to it. And yeah,

Jono (00:21:23) - What I, what I think is, what I think is going to become, um, apparent very quickly as soon as you listen to, to Pink Coen is there's been, um, a marked, uh, step upwards in just the overall delivery by the band of our songs. And that goes through now we've got a bit of experience in studio, our songwriting chops are better honed. Um, we have a producer who's a guitar rock oriented producer, um, who's, who's gotten involved with our sound and uh, you know, this is a guy who's I do have a good time is, is turning Big amps as loud as they go, . And that works for, for me, you know, and I think Lexi quite likes Lexi quite likes the loud guitars these days as well. I do,

Lexi (00:22:19) - I do.

Jono (00:22:23) - Um, so it's just, there's, there's a, there's, I don't wanna, I don't wanna be so bold as to as to promise a quantum leap, but there's a definite like, big step upwards on all fronts with regards to, you know, the approach, the sound of our records. And, and I think also, um, the, um, the, the ambition of our songwriting, you know, um, we, we taking things, we taking, we, we, we still haven't found any like mental limitations, you know, we still willing to do stupid shit, which is what I refer to as like, you know, adding an extra bar head, just, you know, for fuck sake,  .

Jono (00:23:07) - So yeah, I think there's um, you know, the new, the new ep, I mean, it's weird cuz we've been playing these songs for a year now, it's just like new ep. It's like, oh God, we are like, as far, we are already writing EP number three. You know, we've started writing by third EP already. Um, which is, I mean, God, to be working at a pace like this, you know, in a band is just the best thing. But yeah, the next one that's gonna come out, you know, it's, it's gonna be, it's gonna feel like a, like a big step up recordings wise, I must say. I mean, Lex, we haven't even talked about this, but, um, I'm quite curious to, to kind of find out what the, what the feedback is gonna be between our much more produced and layered recorded sound as opposed to our obviously, you know, limited by two guitars, bass and drums, very raus live sound, you know, that's gonna be, that's interesting, interesting feature of the next couple of months I think,

Brian (00:24:06) - You know, obviously it's concerts that made us, you've been on before Lexi, so we have to talk about a bit about gigs. So since the last time we spoke, can you tell us about what gigs you've played? What's maybe the best ones?

Lexi (00:24:20) - Oh man. I mean, the last time we spoke we were brought up play with the Nudies, the new goals, um, which was incredible. And since then we've played again with them after that. Uh, you know, dude, honestly, we, we've, we just feel very grateful because we've, you know, as a band that is relatively new, we are really just trying to push the limits and be very open to playing with different genres. So, you know, you're playing like, like metal shows with metal bands and then also opening for, you know, quite prolific African bands, um, you know, that, you know, didn't play for 10 years and had a bigger reunion show and like paying sold art shows, opening for them. And I think to be, you know, to, to be asked to open for those kind of bands is, is really amazing. Um, I mean, you know, I can go on turn and like next month we are playing with the Narrow, which, you know, is a, a pretty big South African band that's was around from when I was like a teenager.

Lexi (00:25:13) - So I, I definitely, I feel like I'll, I'll kind of, the way that we've booked our shows, we've obviously done the smaller club shows cause that's important for your stamina as a musician and just to kind of get, you know, all that traction. Um, but we've definitely had these really incredible, you know, shows at amazing venues, you know, opening for these much bigger bands. And that's definitely, you know, given us like confidence sp to like believe in ourselves and keep pushing the boundaries and to also be like, the fucking sky's the limit man. Like, you know, Europe's coming, fucking Ireland's coming, we doing this shit. So it, it's been very cool.

Brian (00:25:48) - Brilliant, brilliant. And Jonna, you weren't here the last time, so I have to ask, what concerts have made you, concerts you've attended? What are some of the best?

Jono (00:25:59) - Oh, uh, .

Lexi (00:26:02) - Brian likes to ask those hard questions. Do you, Brian gets right in there.

Jono (00:26:06) - It's not, it's not a hard, the question is, is is easy to answer though. The, the, the gigs come to the top of my head very quickly. Um, the problem is it's going to like possibly fuck whatever u2, the 360 degree tour that I got to watch in the Cape Town Stadium is the best rock and roll gig I've ever seen in my life. Hands down, you see that Lexi's just like going, oh my God, God, oh my God, no, no,

Lexi (00:26:36) - They know this shit, dude. I mean, I might, that's, I fucking get it.

Jono (00:26:40) - Um, the other one that was, that was, that was quite um, quite, that had quite an impact on me. And when I say impact it, it it, it hit like a, like an 18 wheeler juggernaut was, um, getting to be right like on the, on the stage line, um, of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band in a, in a, in a 20,000 seat auditorium. Oh man. Um, when they toured South Africa and I didn't know Bruce Springsteen's music, I didn't know the E Street band. I just got given a ticket and I was like, cool man, it's Bruce Springsteen, it's like the 19th wonder of the world. This is gonna be cool. I went with my cousin who I'm super close with and we got there early cuz she'd, she'd found out like amongst the like total Bruce Springsteen freaks. Like if you get there five hours before the show and you get the first 400 bracelets you get in the, in the pit.

Jono (00:27:35) - So we went and did that and we cued for like five hours and then I was on stage and like, pretty much, I think Bruce Springsteen may have sweated on me . Um, and like Tom Morere was, it was that tour that Tom Morere was doing, you know, so like, here's me, I've never heard fucking Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band and here they are in front of me. I'm right on stage and it's, the only way I can describe that band is that it it's the sound of a jagonal, you know, two and a half hours of unrelenting raw power. It's crazy. Um, the other one that, that was a big one for me, um, growing up, I listened to Muse a lot. I was a classical pianist all throughout my school career and a quite like a coral singer. So like listening to Muse was quite a big deal.

Jono (00:28:26) - They toured South Africa just as they like, as part of their world tour, um, promoting, uh, black holes and Revelations. So they were really like right at like, they were on the up like, but breaking, you know, breaking is like the band they are now. And I got to see them on that tour and that was insane cuz I was a huge band at the time. Um, so that was, I mean that, like I'm, I've got shivers now. Um, and then at the same gig, and I think this one's worth mentioning as well, it's probably the only one that's really relevant in terms of, of the sound of this band. Um, but again, an artist who I didn't know anything about outside of two songs, those being, uh, black Hole Sun, and uh, be Yourself. And then Chris Cornell walked onto a stage in front of me in, uh, Kennelworth and 15,000 giddy South Africans and opened his mouth and started singing Coach .

Jono (00:29:26) - Oh, what the, is this noise coming outta this face? Like that, what the fuck? I didn't know. I, I couldn't deal with it, you know, I, I didn't know what to expect. And then I heard the Voice of God, you know, coming out of Chris Cornell and I was like, okay, cool. You know, um, . Yeah. And, and then like, I guess also like on a, this is a conversation we could go on all day. So I'm gonna say one more thing, which is, um, I'm very fortunate in, in my life done here in Cape Town South Africa, that, that my parents started a, a, a business about 14 years ago. Uh, they have a small independent like, uh, live music venue in Cape Town and I've gotten to experience the cream of the South African musician crop and some internationals, in fact, um, come and play some incredible intimate gigs at our venue.

Jono (00:30:30) - And I, I mean, sit down, we call them sit down, shut up and listen gigs. Um, you know, and just to, just to have, you know, like the Nude Girls for example, an Carsten's, the lead singer, he comes and sits there on a stool for an hour and a half with his acoustic guitar, um, and just plays through like a bunch of songs that he is written to 50 people who quiet as a mass. And those kind of, those kind of shows on the opposite end of the, of the spectrum are also like incredible, you know? Um, and especially somebody like Anna, you know, you go from on the one hand opening for his like crazy scary rock and roll band, the Spring Rock nude girls to like watching hi to like getting to hang out to them backstage at my parents' venue and like him having kittens about the state of his voice cuz he's man alone on stage with an acoustic guitar and just go like, man, it's always so cool just finding out that musos are just like everyone else,  .

Jono (00:31:27) - Um, so yeah, I mean I'm a, I'm a lucky boy. My, my whole life is, is very much in and around music and musicians 24 7. Um, but certainly those, those big, those big gigs. And then, and then another one that deserves a men mention, um, because I'm really fucking excited and shooked up now after that bar of Chocolate, um, , um, is the, the Counting Crows just cuz I love them and they're such great songwriters, you know, and Adam Duritz is such a great singer. I watched him again a month ago and I, like, I just sat there and like the sound was bullshitting the venue we were in and couldn't fucking hear the guitars, but like, just, I just went, okay, nevermind that, I'm just gonna listen to the fact that Adam Duritz is a fucking great singer. And I listened to a dude be an amazing singer for two hours and I was just like, this is great, you know? Yeah,

Brian (00:32:19) - Yeah. Geez man. I'm seriously jealous over some of them gigs. Like seriously, they are great gigs. I have to ask though. Have, are you guys, or have you guys played your parents' venue yet?

Jono (00:32:32) -

Lexi (00:32:34) - We're too loud. We're way too fucking loud.

Jono (00:32:39) - Yeah, literally we are too. It, I mean it's, it, it's hilarious that that comes up. I was, uh, I was with my family last night, it was my uncle's birthday and we're all around having dinner and somebody asked the question, they're like, oh yeah, Jonna, so we see your bands like doing quite well and stuff. When are you gonna play the alma cafe? And I just look over at my dad and he's just like,

Brian (00:32:59) -  .

Jono (00:33:02) - He just shook his head. He's like, he learned and I know and we just laughed and then we then we have to try and explain to the people. It's like, no, we'll actually cause permanent hearing damage if we had to play in that venue because it's so small, like people would get hurt

Lexi (00:33:17) - , you know? Yeah, yeah.

Brian (00:33:20) - Oh man. Maybe in like 10, 15 years when you go through like a, a softer phase, you can play like acoustically there or something. .

Jono (00:33:30) - Look, I'll tell you, I'll let you in on a little secret. Um, Alex is a little country bumpkin, like you won't believe.

Lexi (00:33:38) - Oh shit. .

Brian (00:33:41) - Go on.

Lexi (00:33:42) - Truth. That's the truth. ,

Jono (00:33:46) - It's actually, it's actually funny enough, it's where, it's where Alex and I first connected was, uh, around like folk music and, and acoustic, uh, indie folk and country. Um, we sang harmonies together, um, eight years ago. That's where we met one another the first time. Um, and then this project, I'm sure you, you would've shared with, with Brian, the, the, the project actually started with doing a like a, an alt an alt country dark folk kind of solo project. Um, and then she made the mistake of phoning me and asking if I'd play electric guitar with her. I was like, cool, but that means you're getting like Led Zeppelin involved

Lexi (00:34:23) - .

Brian (00:34:27) - Oh man. You destroyed her dreams is what you're saying.

Jono (00:34:34) - Cool. Yeah, no, we just, I mean show it was very cute actually. She's like, oh, do you think you could, you could copy some of the pedal steel lines that, uh, who, who is it? Um, Richard,

Lexi (00:34:44) - Yeah,

Jono (00:34:45) - Richard Case, uh, play it on the, on the album. And I'm like, we could do that or we could just start a rock and roll band.

Lexi (00:34:52) - .

Jono (00:34:56) - I think it was pretty much like quote unquote That's what I said. Yeah.

Lexi (00:34:59) - Hundred percent  and

Jono (00:35:01) - Uh, yeah and here we are.

Brian (00:35:04) - Well thank God for, uh, for you two guys meeting like that and for you saying let's start a rock and roll band. And before I let you jump off then, I know you've spoke about the upcoming ep, stuff like that. Is there any future plans in the pipeline right away that you want to share with the listeners gigs, anything?

Lexi (00:35:24) - Well, yeah, I mean we'll be in, we we doing a little tour next week, um,

Jono (00:35:30) - Saturday, Alex

Lexi (00:35:31) - . We're on Saturday , which

Jono (00:35:37) - That energy, it's ridiculous man. ,

Lexi (00:35:41) - I mean next week is gonna be great cuz you're playing with the like big bath, the black Cat bones, Evers, Naman, um, rough Magic Boy, woo, portrait boy, acid Magus, like so all the Mongol bands you're playing with the label bands and just doing some really cool shows and enjoy Berg and Ka,

Jono (00:35:57) - We're playing a drag show,

Lexi (00:35:58) - We're playing a drag show. That'll be cool. Cool, cool.

Lexi (00:36:02) - And yeah, and then at the end of the month and then, I mean honestly dude, we just fucking working on Europe, like we will be there early next year. So that's kind of the, the big thing now we're doing is just, yeah, I was just really planning to come to Europe, um, getting all our ducks in a row for that and then just really going okay, cool Europe twice a year possibly, you know, getting on a plan and not coming back home for a, for a fair, fair amount of time. We'll see. But that's where the vision is.

Brian (00:36:27) - , I love it. I love it. I'm actually, uh, for next year I'm planning on like going to mainland Europe and covering concerts over there so hopefully like the universe works out that I can get to one of your gigs and cover it.

Lexi (00:36:41) - So we love that. I think meeting in person, having a beer we can like sit and chat about cool shit man, we'll be right.

Brian (00:36:47) - Yeah, yeah, exactly. I think after two appearances now I think the third one has to be in person, . Yeah. I feel

Lexi (00:36:53) - Like my friends now .

Brian (00:36:54) - Yeah, exactly. Exactly right. Well guys, thanks a million for jumping back on again and good luck with the new music. I can't wait for everyone to hear it.

Lexi (00:37:04) - Thank you Brian much love my dude.

Brian (00:40:18) - Hey guys, I really hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please rate and review us on iTunes and Spotify and if you are interested in signing up the Band Builder Academy, use the link in the show notes below and enter the code concerts and you'll receive 10% off. So until next time, keep rocking.

Brian (00:40:43) - Hey, hey, what are you guys still doing there? The show is over. It's over. You can go home. Go on. We'll see you next time. We'll be here. Bye.

 

We Kill CowboysProfile Photo

We Kill Cowboys

WE KILL COWBOYS is a Cape Town based, Four Piece, Psychedelic Cowpunk Band, the brainchild of Tattoo Artist and singer-songwriter, Alex Muller. The initial project was born out of the 3-month lockdown of 2020 when Alex had the time to rediscover her musical roots and put together a collection of songs for her first solo EP, entitled Let it Burn. The EP was recorded by long-time friend and fellow musician (and legend in the Cape Town underground scene) Jon Shaban at STFD studios. A record deal with STFD and Just Music swiftly followed and, with lockdown restrictions easing, thoughts soon turned to turning the EP into a live prospect.

While the EP had reflected the more melancholic isolation of the lockdown experience – sparse arrangements, built around acoustic guitar and Alex’s plaintive voice, a gut feeling was compelling her to seek a bigger, more electric sound. Approaches were made to good friends from years gone by in the scene and soon enough, the group gathered in the live room at the label office to spin some shapes. Things exploded from there with the band drawing on their varied influences, spanning Metal, Punk, Rock n Roll, Country, Western Classical, Indian Raga, Folk, Blues and a host of other genres besides. Lyrically, Alex delivers a raw, uncompromising and anti-establishment polemic, drawing directly from her lived experiences in the music scene and the world at large. 

We Kill Cowboys is raw energy. We Kill Cowboys is having a good time. We Kill Cowboys is about flipping the bird to conformity while sipping on some ice-cold Lemonade...