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by Tony Pascarella Published: June 27, 2005
A friend of Vince's gave the band their zany name. He wrote a song called "Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer" about a fictional character. "It doesn't have anything to do with Zoloft the drug. What most people say that it means to them is--Zoloft the drug, which is an antidepressant, a mood stabilizer--it kind of destroys rock 'n roll because rock 'n roll is fueled by emotions like angst and anger, or even just super-happy. Zoloft will kind of mellow you out, and you need those things to fuel rock 'n roll." The band's current incarnation started around 2000 when vocalist Rachel Minton met Vince. While doing a show with My Chemical Romance three summers ago, Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer got noticed by Eyeball Records. Before long, they were signed to the label, which eventually released both their 2003 album Jalopy Go Far and their EP from late 2004 titled The Popsicle EP.They have a wide array of influences from The Promise Ring to The Go-Go's, as well as their former members, who include Anthony Green (Circa Survive, Saosin). "I think it's happy music, and those are happy kids. I think they're there for a good time, and that's good for us because that's what we want to do," Ratti tells me, on the topic of how the crowd is receiving Zolof so far on the Coast To Coast Roast Tour. They couldn't have picked better tour mates than Reel Big Fish and American Hi-Fi for that purpose. I asked Vince what Zolof's fans should expect them to play on this tour. "We're doing songs off [the self-titled album], we're doing songs off Jalopy Go Far and songs off the EP. So it's everywhere." Fans across the spectrum of Zolof's music should be pleased with their sets. The band always has fun on tour. "When we play, we're up there to have a good time because it's fun being in a band and we want to have fun and that's why we do it. We dance and make fools of ourselves. Ideally, it would be a big dance party every night." Vince tells a story about one of their more recent tours with June, when they had to stay in a haunted recording studio in L.A. "We were in California with [June] and we basically slept in our booking agent's parking lot for two weeks with them. They had a haunted recording studio there that we also stayed in. We were all freaked out about being there. Weird things would start happening. I had gotten poked one night. There was no one really around, and there was someone poking me. I found the next day that, 'Oh yeah, they poke you.'" For those of you waiting for word on the band's next full-length album, Vince was nice enough to pass the word on that as well. "It's going to be February or March of 2006. We're writing songs for it. It's hooked-based, happy rock music. Originally we started very indie rock but still melodic, and then Jalopy Go Far is very aggressively happy rock music. But the EP swung back just a little bit toward the indie rock side. This is a little bit toward the poppier side, but still being Zolof very much. It's very concentrated on the melodies." And of course the most important question of the interview, Vince answered with his trademark humor. "If I could be a flavor of ice cream, I'd be asshole-flavored. I'm an asshole. My bass player [Andrew Wellbrock] is telling me he'd lick me though." I have to admit, that's one of the more unique responses I've gotten. If you get a chance, definitely go out to a show and see this tour. All of the bands are high-energy performers, which usually equals one hell of a show. The tour concentrates on the east coast before moving across the southern United States, out west, and eventually north, finishing in Minnesota. Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer promises to be an awesome live act, and definitely worth your time. Tour Dates (with Reel Big Fish, American Hi-Fi, El Pus, & Punchline): 6/29: New York, NY (Irving Plaza) 6/30: Philadelphia, PA (Theatre of Living Arts) 7/01: Hartford, CT (Webster Theatre) 7/02: Rochester, NY (Water Street Music Hall) 7/03: Buffalo, NY (The Buffalo Icon) 7/05: Atlantic City, NJ (House of Blues) 7/06: Cleveland, OH (The Odean) 7/07: Columbus, OH (Newport Music Hall) 7/08: Pontiac, MI (Clutch Cargo's) 7/09: Cincinnati, OH (Bogart's) 7/10: Washington, DC (9:30 Club) 7/11: Norfolk, VA (The Norva) 7/12: Myrtle Beach, SC (House of Blues) 7/13: St. Petersburg, FL (Jannus Landing) 7/14: Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Revolution) 7/15: Orlando, FL (Hard Rock Live) 7/16: Atlanta, GA (The Roxy) 7/19: Ft. Worth, TX (Ridglea Theatre) 7/21: Tempe, AZ (Marquee Theatre) 7/22: Anaheim, CA (House of Blues) 7/23: Anaheim, CA (House of Blues) 7/25: Las Vegas, NV (House of Blues) 7/26: San Francisco, CA (The Fillmore) 7/27: Portland, OR (Roseland Theatre) 7/28: Seattle, WA (The Showbox) 7/30: Spokane, WA (The Big Easy Concert Hall) 7/31: Boise, ID (The Big Easy) 8/02: Reno, NV (The New Oasis) 8/03: Salt Lake City, UT (In The Venue) 8/05: Denver, CO (Universal Lending Pavilion) 8/06: Kansas City, MO (The Beaumont) 8/09: St. Louis, MO (The Pageant) 8/10: Columbia, MO (Blue Notes) 8/11: Minneapolis, MN (The Quest) 8/12: Milwaukee, WI (The Rave Bar) Related Links: Official Site | Myspace Page | Purevolume Site Tour Partners: Reel Big Fish | American Hi-Fi | El Pus | Punchline
Special thanks to Vince Ratti for the interview and Teeter for setting up the feature. To contact the author, click here. He will respond to all e-mail, hatemail included. If you are a publicist or associated with a band/label and would like either the author or any staff member to review your disc or conduct an interview, please use the same method of contact, and Tony will get back to you as soon as possible. |
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