Episode 20: Gravehuffer

Joplan, Missouri's Gravehuffer play what I like to call "Psychedelic Heavy Metal Monster Music". That's my best attempt at describing this unique and adventurous band, comprising vocalist Travis McKenzie, guitarist Ritchie Randall, bass player Mike Jilge and newest edition, drummer Wes McNeely. Ritchie, Mike and Wes join the show to share their tales of life in a DIY band, booking tours, travelling the country, building relationships, strange crowds, dangerous roads, sponsorships, the importance of the merch table, various on-the-road hijinks, as well as some history of the band. Given the band’s eclectic mix of styles, it shouldn’t be too surprising to hear the guys talking up everyone from Frank Zappa, to Godflesh to James Brown. Check out the band’s most recent release, the live album Mile High Live (and also enjoy Travis McKenzie’s between-songs banter). The band’s last studio album …Depart From So Much Evil features a sprawling, multi-part, twenty-two-minute closing track, which I love, so it had to go in the episode at the end. We also play a little game of "describe the hard to describe band". So if you want to hear their thoughts on Celtic Frost, Faith No More ... and more(!), come this way.Thanks for reading (and listening) to Whatever Comes Next. Subscribe for free and help be crawl out from obscurity one fingernail at a time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tomosman.substack.com