Interview - Boiled In Lead - 7.18.08
Welcome back, we're glad you're here!
Back in May, we did a review for Boiled in Lead’s awesome new CD, Silver. We liked it a lot, and wanted to talk to the band about it a little bit. Luckily, they agreed, so we sent them up a set of questions. Todd Menton, vocalist and player of several instruments, returned these fine answers.
Celtophilia: So, you guys have been a band in one form or another for twenty years. How do you keep things fresh and interesting after that long?
Todd Menton: We only play tunes that have already blown one of us away as an individual. Those tend to be the tunes and songs that excite the band.
Celtophilia (From Mike): I love Silver Carp, but it definitely seems a little out there. How does a band decide they’re going to record a song about carp?
TM: Because it is, in fact, out there. Plus it rocks like a son-of-a-perch, if I do say so myself…
(Note: He’s dead on about Silver Carp. It does rock like a son-of-a-perch.)
Poor guy... I hope they paid him a bonus.
Celtophilia: Which CD do you guys hold up as the definitive Boiled In Lead production, and why is that one special to you?
TM: I’d say Silver, since it displays our current sound while bringing back classic elements. Like carp.
Celtophilia (From Bonnie): I seem to recall reading that Death on Hennepin was inspired by events in real life, but now I can’t find that tidbit. (Should have bookmarked.) Is that the case, and what is the story behind the song?
TM: Not a true story, but a reworking of the ancient ballad Death and the Maiden. Death meets a pretty young girl who tries to talk him out of taking her. As in real life, it never works. All must ride the Lincoln.
(Also this from the author John Van Orman:Aside from my having actually spent time drinking at the Uptown Bar and living and hanging out in the neighborhood, the events in Death on Hennepin are not based on specific real-life events. The sentiments of the song releate to real life, of course.)
Celtophilia: How many five year olds could Boiled in Lead take in a fight? No, let’s make it more interesting and less morally wrong. How many ZOMBIE five year olds could Boiled in Lead take in a fight?
TM: Stop it. You’re making me hungry.
And there you have it, ladies and gents, a little insight into creating of Silver, how a band keeps on coming up with material after two decades, and Todd Menton eats zombie five year olds! What more could you possibly want to know about this awesome band? If you happen to think of anything, you could always take it up with them personally at their website, www.boiledinlead.com or their Myspace page.
Lastly, don’t forget to check out the Celtophilia Review of Silver.
Slainte,
Mike & Bonnie
July 18th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
lol first, I misread his last name and thought his name was Tod Mention. Then I thought I read ‘Silver Crap’, then when I read it right and got ‘Carp’ I still didn’t understand and had to google and make sure I was right in thinking of the fish.Of course, I still don’t get it… they sing about fish?
July 19th, 2008 at 3:08 am
fragileheart -
They do indeed have a song about fish. It’s called Silver Carp and it’s a rather ominous sounding rock song. About carp. I liked it a lot, but now I’m afraid to swim in the lake - writing reviews can be a dangerous hobby.
(They don’t sing exclusively about fish, the rest of the c.d. covers a wide variety of topics including your more traditional themes like sex, and death. You know, fun stuff.)
Slainte,
Bonnie
July 19th, 2008 at 6:34 am
I have much sadness that they don’t have any songs available on Rhapsody. But Rhapsody has at least heard of them and put them in the same category as U2. So I automatically like them even without hearing them. I still want to hear them though.
Time to email Rhapsody again.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:14 am
@fragileheart - yep. It’s a song about carp. Big ol’ grass eating veggie fish. Kelly would like ‘em, I bet.
@ Kelly - Head over to the review we did (now that I’ve fixed the link). There’s a Reverbnation widget at the bottom of the review, and you can listen to the condensed version of the entire CD. It’s kinda cool. There’s also several full length songs available for listening to.