Interview With Jason Stollsteimer (Von Bondies) – Part 3
Photo: Ren Rox
The Von Bondies’ Jason Stollsteimer is no stranger to MCR, having recently talked to us about his last record, Love, Hate, and Then There’s You. In anticipation of his band’s show at Detroit’s Magic Stick this Friday, Jason took some time to talk about the past 10 years of The Von Bondies as that band winds down for the time being and he focuses on a new project, The Hounds Below.
Why the Magic Stick? When was the last time you played there?
It’s our 10 year anniversary. It’s been awhile… but old friends own it… and i started playing there back in 2000, in The Baby Killers. And the Stick lets me do what I want.
So The Baby Killers were formed 10 years ago?
Yup. First show was 10 years ago… 10 years with Don Blum.
That’s so long. Did you and Don hit it off as bandmates right away?
Ha, sure. Ups and downs like any real friendship.
He’s the only original Von Bondie left in the band after 10 years.
Yup. I started in the band as the bass player, before Don joined we had a different singer, very riot grrrl-style singing… It drove us all crazy, haha. I didn’t start singing for a year or two after we started.
So did the original singer quit or did you just swap positions?
We all kicked her out.
Is that when you became The Von Bondies or did you still play as The Baby Killers after that?
Still The Baby Killers. We turned into The Von Bondies around the time Don joined.
Don came from Mazinga, right? Was he in other bands too?
He was in tons of bands when I met him. I liked Mazinga a lot… they were the best party/house show band in Ypsi. But, funny enough I was not a big fan of Don’s drumming in Mazinga. I just loved his energy, untapped raw talent.
I think that energy really carries through in his contributions to The Von Bondies.
Yup, especially live. My favorite description of the original touring line up was from The LA WEEKLY. It said, “The Von Bondies’ live show is two ice queens bookending the orgasmic explosion that is Jason Stollsteimer and Don Blum”. We might not have been the best musicians but we had a good time.
That’s rock n’ roll. You do get that sense of juxtaposition in the band though.
I would have to agree.
Was that a conscious effort on your part, or did it just kind of work out that way with everyone’s personalities?
Well Don and I were the pistons in constant motion. I always wanted to have The Von Bondies be one big constant explosion… we never had that in the early years, but we do now.
So let’s talk about the present Von Bondies.
The best touring lineup ever.
It’s been a good tour, this past year?
Yes. We have never done this well in Canada. We had an idea of what the UK/US would be like. Also France was amazing, better than anytime before.
Any particularly memorable shows?
A show we did in the middle of France at a festival… it was in an area we had never been to and there was constant stage diving, crowd surfing and moshing. It reminded me of the 90′s when people would let loose and try to have as much fun as possible. Also the crowd sang along to everything, even the new songs.
Instead of just like, the typical hipster head-nodding.
Haha. Yeah. I don’t get it. If you’re young and you’re paying to see a band… and the band is even halfway decent… why not have a good time? It’s your money. I used to love crowd surfing. I’ve done it in Australia while on tour.. and in the UK back in the day. I just worried about my one guitar getting broke.
Haha. Rock n’ roll is better as a participatory thing. I’m sure it’s better for both sides if everyone is putting energy into it and having a good time. You literally have one guitar?
Back in 2003/04 I did. I couldn’t afford to bring an extra one overseas. Now I have two for touring. I have a bunch of weird, crazy guitars.
You have a brother who sells them, right? Does he have the hook-up?
He works at Hollywood vintage in LA. He’s the best, no matter how much I practice I will never be as good as he is on guitar. Thats’ why I concentrate on singing. No hook-up really. He keeps his eyes out for what I want. So far I have everything I want.
Haha. Do you use them for The Von Bondies? What’s your favorite?
My favorite for The Von Bondies is my Mosrite Celebrity one. It’s my first hollow body. But for my other band I play something different.
Are you referring to The Hounds Below?
Yes.
So what is the Hounds Below? You’ve played in that group previously, correct?
Roy Orbison meets… BRMC, I guess. It’s 6 people. I just sing mainly. We have a Facebook page if you need info.
I plan on releasing a 7″ sometime in October. We are playing with The Raveonettes and The Black Angels. Also on September 10th with the Black Hollies at the Majestic Cafe.
Cool. So many players, it can’t all be guitars. Is there piano as well?
There’s organ/piano. Do you know some of the members?
I do… Sean Lynch from 800beloved, Ben Collins from Lightning Love, Molly-Jean from The Decks, and Jeremy Freer from Freer.
Jeremy’s from The Juliets.
Oh, right. I think I can almost get a sense of what such a group might sound like… but we’ll see, I guess!
Everyone in the band has been a front person, either presently or in the past.
That’s interesting. Who were in the previous live version of The Hounds Below?
Drew Bardo, Leann Banks, Jef Fourner and the same drummer, Brandon. I like to keep the same drummer.
Yeah. So from forming a supergroup of sorts, as well as inviting newer bands like Lightning Love and Millions of Brazilians to open your shows, you’ve been very chummy with local bands lately.
Yup. There is always talent pouring out of the cracks of the state of Michigan.
“Scene” has been such a dirty word in recent years, though.
Yup.
So this last year has been a bit of an experiment for the promotional cycle for Love, Hate, and Then There’s You.
Haha.
It’s the first time you’re off of a major label.
Yes, but for the last week or so, I’ve been trying to decide what to do next. We have a few labels sniffing around asking about the next record, and some pretty cool managers also.
Are you leery? How’d the experiment go?
It was so so. I did better when I put out the live record myself. But I’m good at running a tight ship, label or band.
Do you know who Spinnerette/ The Distillers are?
Yeah I know [frontwoman] Brody well. Nice lady. I love her drummer from The Distillers… he’s a class guy. We both got signed to Sire at the same time.
Yeah, and you both jumped ship from Sire at the same time too.
Yup. It was a joint decision. When a ship is being run ashore. just jump off and walk away.
From interviews it sounds like it was the same story… of being stifled by the label. So do you think that age of big ships might be ending? No more $1,000,000 contracts? Or do you think bands need that support to be able to tour and get their records distributed? Having experienced both the major and the indie, what’s your take?
Well we had a great record deal. Yes, the $1,000,000 deals are not needed for rock bands. But tour support definitely is, if they want you to build a following as a new band around the world. We didn’t have any tour support for the first 4/5 years. Just for about 6 months. My song writing licensing paid for mostly everything.
Were you able to make it overseas without a major?
We went overseas two times before we were on a major. The first time we all payed for it. The second I covered the costs… don’t think the band back then ever knew that. We’ve been to Euro/UK 5 times and Australia 2 times, and the US 12 times and Canada 6.
Wow. So do you think it is possible for bands these days to get out there without the majors?
Yes, but not to sustain unless they start to catch fire. Some bands just find their fan base overnight. Some have to build it. It’s not about who you know… well, it’s about playing everywhere you can for about a year of touring at the start then deciding if it makes sense to go again. I mean it’s common sense if it’s worth it to tour. Give yourself at least a year, then decide whether to move on.
So is this really The Von Bondies’ last show?
We have more shows outside of Michigan. Like on Sunday we play with NIN, Cold War Kids, Mew and Pet Shop Boys in Toronto at The Virgin Festival. We are doing the main stage. We’re very excited. Then on the 3rd we play with Weezer in Kansas.
Will there be another Von Bondies record?
Well, if it makes sense. I have half of one written. But I’m doing The Hounds Below. I have a whole record ready for them.
The Hounds Below is the focus for the immediate future?
Yes.
Will that be self-released?
The 7″, the first one will be. After that I have a few labels interested, indie. I’m in no hurry. Molly-Jean helps me a lot in The Hounds Below with organizing. I’ve never had that in The Von Bondies. The band just like not having the pressure on them, and just have a good time. They are great musicians but when they sing it’s hard to do everything you can do on your instrument. But in The Hounds they just have to play and have fun.
Sounds cool… well I look forward to seeing The Von Bondies on Friday and The Hounds Below a bit later.
Thanks man.
The Von Bondies play at The Magic Stick in Detroit this Friday the 28th with 800beloved and The Juliets.
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