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1.) We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed and very rockin’ band The Rockford Mules; greetings and salutations, gang! Before we dive into the proverbial Q&A mosh-pit, could you all say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive readers?
Erik: Greetings and salutations from the land of Dylan and Bunyan! I am Erik and I sing and play the guitar.
Ryan: I’m Ryan. I play guitar and lap steel.
Joel: Joel Habedank. Drums.
Craig: Craig. I play bass.
2.) Congratulations on the brand-spankin’ release of your amazing new album The Last Camaro which is set to premiere this coming November 24! Erik, this gem of an LP marks the first album from The Rockford Mules in over a decade. Has this new album been gestating and evolving during those ten years? If so, it was worth the wait!
It was not. Every song we have ever written and released (with the exception of 2) has shown up from us getting together. The songs are made up on the spot with all members present and involved. The time apart from each other allowed us to chase down other musical paths and needs. As with anyone, we changed as people over that many years. When we got back together those different people showed up in the new songs. The songs were written over a span of about a year. So they were nowhere in us 10 years ago. They are what reared their head as a result of time away from each other.
3.) Craig, who was the producer on The Last Camaro and what did the collaboration between band and producer look like in the studio?
From the outset, Ryan wanted to be the guy that shaped the final product. We always go into the studio with a very clear idea of what we are looking for, so there wasn’t much to it. We always track everything live, and come in well rehearsed. We recorded it over a weekend at Pachyderm which was awesome. It’s pretty easy to catch a vibe from that place. Ryan took it from there. We had it mastered by Ty Tabor from King’s X. Ryan is a huge fan, so that was kind of the last stamp on what is more or less his baby in terms of production. And he killed it, in my humble opinion.
4.) Ryan, we’re big admirers of the Honeydripper tune off of the new LP! What’s the VH1-Behind the Music origin story on this crackling little gem?
This song was several years in the making. We started on it a number of years ago and it got shelved during one of our “breaks” as a band. The original version sounded completely different. It almost had a dirty disco feel to it. As with all of our songs we don’t consider them done until we feel it’s perfect. The original version, while fairly cool, never struck us as being quite on par with our other stuff so we started tweaking it. It soon became this late night cruise down a dirt road at 80 mph tune that takes you through peaks and valleys. It breathed a bit more and had this really cool and spacious feel to it that made much more sense and felt closer to who we are now rather than who we were when we originally started writing it. Funny thing is we made all these changes about 3 weeks before we recorded it. I mixed the record and from that standpoint it might be the song that turned out the best…at least in my opinion.
5.) Joel, in your humble opinion what differentiates The Last Camaro from the Distinguished Competition on the 2023 music landscape?
The Rockford Mules have the advantage of longevity. We’ve been playing together for nearly 20 years, minus a couple for breaks, so in that time we’ve been able to really develop our signature sound. I think listeners will be excited to hear new tracks that remind them of old favorites.
6.) Erik, The Rockford Mules are a bonafide staple of the Twin Cities music scene. How do those particular roots inform the sound and the overall vibe of the band?
I don’t feel being from Minneapolis has anything to really do with what we sound like. That might be why we have had the success we have had. The vibe of the band I believe comes from its members and the dichotomy of characters that we are and the musical tastes we share and more often than not don’t share.
7.) Craig, with the November 24 release of The Last Camaro, can fans look forward to catching The Rockford Mules on the touring/performing circuit?
I’m sure we will be active in some form or another. We have jobs, kids, and families so a full on tour isn’t likely. But I’m sure you will see our name on some bills around the midwest. We love to play live, and I honestly think that’s where we shine the brightest.
8.) A question for all of you: Who inspires you musically?
Erik: Waylon Jennings, Drive by truckers, Hank Williams, LED Zeppelin
Craig: I grew up on metal. Metallica, Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, the usual suspects. As far as bass players go, Simon Gallup from The Cure, Bob Weston from Shellac, and David William Sims from The Jesus Lizard. I started as a guitar player, So I’m naturally drawn towards an abrasive, in the pocket approach.
Joel: Depends on the day. Today 10/31/3023 it’s The Misfits obviously.
Ryan: These days I love anything that has a 70’s vibe to it. I love sound and experimenting with different tones to inspire creativity. The Flaming Lips are great at this. Gritty guitar tones, soulful lyrics all make me want to create. Corey Feldman also inspires me. Not sure why, but he does.
9.) Ryan, how is The Last Camaro similar to some of the past music from The Rockford Mules? How is it different?
It’s similar in that our writing process has not really changed from day 1. It’s a collaborative effort with each of us really having our own voice and identity in the song. There isn’t one guy pulling the strings. It’s different in that I think we are older and wiser. We’ve always been a very honest band. We write from our experience and where we currently are mentally, emotionally, and musically. Closing in on 20 years as a band the older and wiser aspect has definitely seeped its way into our writing.
10.) Joel, any final thoughts you might like to share with our readers regarding the awesome new LP The Last Camaro?
Buy it, share it and we hope you all like it.
11.) Final – SILLY! – Question (for all of you): Favorite movie about the music scene – This Is Spinal Tap, Almost Famous, The Buddy Holly Story or Walk the Line?
Craig: I gotta go with Hard Core Logo. It’s this Canadian film from the 90’s about a bunch of aging musicians going out on one last tour. Kinda like Tennyson’s Ulysses! It is so spot on in how it captures what it is actually like to be in a band. Highly recommended.
Joel: That Thing You Do. If it’s from the list, Almost Famous.
Ryan: Almost Famous…hands down. So much to love about that movie. That could be an entirely separate interview.
