OUTLAW NATION INTERVIEW

Since The Pier visitors have had the chance to grab a free sneak peak of Outlaw Nation’s new album, Blood Money, through downloading this week’s Pretty Girls MP3 leak. The Pier has tracked down vocalist/guitarist, Christian Simeon, to get some thoughts about the current state of play for Louisiana’s Outlaw Nation.

The Pier: What got you into playing this reggae/acoustic hybrid music?

Simeon: I think for all of us it was seeing Fishbone back in the 90's for the first time. It was a mind changing experience and we just gravitated towards that sound gradually. The acoustic thing came about organically from not wanting to play electric guitar all night and it just stuck.

The Pier: Pretty Girls is a pretty catchy first song from the album. Obviously you guys like chasing the pretty females?

Simeon:You know the girls are why we do this bro haha! If you can make a girl get up and groove to a good song, you pretty much have done your job.

The Pier: So where did the new album title Blood Money come from?

Simeon: It is a metaphoric vibe for what you sometimes experience in this music biz game. There are a lot of vampires out here sucking the blood from you and they know who they are. It's like they are doing the same thing mobsters do; extortion of sorts haha! So we took a lot of the things we have learned over the past three years touring the country and wrote songs about them.

The Pier: Where did you record this album and did any interesting stories come out of those recording sessions?

Simeon: Most were done in New Orleans, LA. We needed to give back to the city that was one of the cradles for music in America and we got a lot out of being there during this process.

The Pier: How was New Orlean's looking then? Is it on the improve?

Simeon: The recovery process is and will be a long journey for the city of New Orleans, but it is and will happen. The music is jumping in the Quarter like always and House Of Blues and other venues are bringing the top acts through like normal. From my point of view the cleanup process is still ongoing, so that gives you a vivid reminder of what happened daily. But bands are gigging, clubs are jumping, people are going to shows, so it's on its way back. Go to Mardi Gras next year and see!

The Pier: Do you write in the studio at all, or are you pretty much done before you go to lay down the tracks?

Simeon: Not really, most of the songs are written on the road or during off time at home.

The Pier: So any favorite tracks on the album, or ones with interesting back stories?

Simeon: We all have different favs. Mine are Pretty Girls, Babylon By Night and Smoked Out.

The Pier: Why are those particular songs your favorite?

Simeon: Pretty Girls is just so beach party ready ya know? I wrote this after a long night of partying with some VERY pretty girls haha! Babylon By Night is a kind of dark song about going out on the town with your crew and having all this stuff going down like; cops messing with ya, burning herb, rude boys wanting to fight, ya know all the dealings that go down at night on the town with your crew. Smoked Out well need I say more? A homage to the greatest herb on the planet - GANJA! We love it, you love it, Ganja rule de world.

The Pier: How do you think these new songs compare to your previous recordings?

Simeon: Well honestly, we spent a little more time trying to bring to life what we grew up on. We listen to a lot of reggae bands like Steel Pulse, Aswad and Ziggy Marley. I was not a huge Bob Marley fanatic per say musically. Ziggy and Steel Pulse have pushed the genre a little while still maintaining a roots vibe. So I gravitated to that initially.

Anyway we decided to not be so stripped down for this record. Over the last few CD's we kind of just did guitar, bass and drums with limited over dubs and what not. We wanted to do a full out production this time. We brought in keys and horns for this CD. We also tried on a few songs to be little bit more political against the system this time. So we raised our game both musically and lyrically. We’re just trying to grow for the fans of music. After all, this is for the fans of music.

The Pier: Is the CD coming out on Stoopid Records? How did that relationship come about?

Simeon: We don't want to speak on that just yet. We are going to let things happen in the manner in which they need to. But it will be released in November I will tell you that.

The Pier: Are you going to be touring behind the new album?

Simeon:Yes sir, we will be heading out for a short run in December and then blowing it out the water starting in February of ‘08!

The Pier: What's been some of your favorite touring memories so far and who would you like to tour with?

Simeon: Touring with any of the Silverback Music family has always been a blast. Slightly Stoopid are cool as shit and Kyle is my fucking BOY! Pepper, Fishbone and The Expendables have all been so freaking cool. Silverback music for life bro!

The Pier: Since it was one of your original influences, what was it like having the opportunity to open for Fishbone then? Any interesting stories from those shows?

Simeon: Angelo and the Fishbone crew were awesome. I mean what can I say we got a chance to tour with legends. They influenced us to get in this game ya know? So to be able to spend time with them and learn the craft of putting on a live concert with energy was amazing! They go balls out every night and that is what it's all about in my book. Man, seeing Angelo play that Theremin is crazy LOL!!! His stage presence is like a lightning bolt of energy and insanity.

Well, The Pier would like to thank Outlaw Nation for stopping by. Make sure you download Pretty Girls from the main page before it is gone. Click on the image below to be taken to the band's MySpace page.