13 Questions with Prayer Line
Like a blood-red smoothie made of equal portions Misfits, Ramones, Duran Duran, Bela Lagosi, and John Carpenter, Prayer Line rock faces with dark hooks and macabre verse that leave you sucking meaty chunks through the straw. They caught my attention with their dark disposition on my first spin of their 2019 release, Drink the Blood. Sure, it was heavy hitting, with not-so-subtle lyrical nods to splatter films and generally horrific scenarios, but I also heard mindful compositions. The songs were sharp and efficient, and like most music I prefer, the album sounded old and new at the same time. This wasn't just loud and spooky Halloween music, and it sure-as-shit wasn't Here Come The Mummies.
I needed to know more, so I sent the group my hard-hitting musical survey. Jake and Phil from the band pounded out some responses just in time for the creep-up on Halloween, their split 7" release party with Vaderbomb at Kaiju on Friday October 25th, and the unveiling of a mysterious new drummer. It's been a busy summer for the horror-rock outfit, and they're ready to cut loose and unleash the grotesque and unmentionable on a live, dead, or undead audience.
13 Questions with Prayer Line:
1. What's the story with your name/ your band name?
JAKE: We started off as a joke really. We spent weeks coming up with a name and finally settled on Mechanikong. Then we wrote songs that weren’t a complete joke, surprising ourselves that we actually liked the songs, we realized we needed a more serious name. So the process started over and we eventually settled on Prayer Line.
...but calling a prayer line and getting us on the other end is pretty fucking hilarious.The idea of calling a Prayer Line is pretty silly, but calling a prayer line and getting us on the other end is pretty fucking hilarious. And we couldn’t find another band with the same name, so it seemed perfect. Our ultimate goal with the name is to be listed before all the mega churches when you google “Prayer Line.”
2. How long have you been together in the current configuration?
JAKE: Well we recently lost our drummer to an unfortunate on stage sacrifice (video link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ufyc4FzXd/). So we haven’t played a show in the current configuration. Oct. 25th, at Kaiju is our first show with a brand new mystery drummer. We sound like a totally different band now.
PHIL: Yeah, aside from drums, everything remains the same.
3. If your band was an egg laid by an animal, which egg laying animal laid you?
JAKE: I’m partial to the snake because, like the snake, you can trust us.
PHIL: I’d say a velociraptor because we’re a bunch of clever girls.
4. What are your top 5 bands, ever?
PHIL: As with anyone else, this list changes at any millisecond, but for me:
Minutemen
Oingo Boingo
John Frusciante (solo stuff)
Shipping News
Metallica
JAKE: I’m going to keep it heavy, and say:
Judas Priest
Amon Amarth
Ramones
Nirvana
Megadeth
5. Would you rather be a working musician in the era of social media and over sharing, or a working musician in the era of wooden computers.
JAKE: I’m not the type of person that thinks America used to be “great.” It would be nice if there were more ways to be a middle class musician, but I’m sure there were just as many struggles for musicians in the past. I can survive wherever I land.
PHIL: I agree, but I strongly dislike the way bands/artists limit the way they promote themselves and the shows they play – the majority of bands just put something on Facebook or Instagram and hope for people to notice. I miss the days of actual flyers and posters being handed out and posted up around town. I know some do still exist, but nothing like when I was a kid.
ON: Let's bring back pole flyering to Louisville... and the old Kinko's while we're at it.
6. What are your biggest musical influence(s) and why?
PHIL: Musically, I’m always inspired by John Frusciante, but while making music with Prayer Line I’m heavily influenced by the Misfits and Slayer.
JAKE: My biggest musical influences would have to be Nirvana and By The Grace of God. Those are the two bands that gave me the confidence to be a musician.
As far as what I’m writing now, it’s mostly influenced by the beauty I find in simplicity and the anger I feel every time I wake up in America.
7. Your fans: brooding nodders or 'bow throwing maniacs?
JAKE: Brooding nodders, but we invite more movement if you’re feeling it. At the very least, bang your fucking head.
The stage, in my head, isn’t really about the music. It’s just about making moments that people will remember.8. Stage rig rundown?
JAKE: We have two Boss Katana amps for guitars. Phil plays a Tele with a humbucker on the bridge pickup. Jake Miller usually plays an Iceman with a Bigsby vibrato. He has a plethora of pedals, the most noticeable on the album are the C9 and Synth9 from EHX. All of the key sounds on our album are from those pedals.
I play an ESP LTD F-415FM through a Mark Bass solid state head. I have a 2x10 and 2x12 cab. My pedal board currently consists of chorus, a Fuzzrocious “Cat Tail,” a phaser, and a green Russian Big Muff.” Our new drummer wears a mask and plays a keg of Miller High Life.
9. Is your zen spot the studio or the stage?
JAKE: For me, it’s the studio. I could live there. The stage, in my head, isn’t really about the music. It’s just about making moments that people will remember.
PHIL: Agreed – spending time with bandmates in the studio is the best.
Personally, I’d love a Grindburger sized Oskar right about now.
10. Would you rather fight 1 grizzly bear sized hamster, or 100 hamster sized grizzly bears?
JAKE: I could scare all of them away with my new bass tone. The real question here is, would you rather eat four Oskar sized Grindburgers or 1 Grindburger sized Oskar?
PHIL: Personally, I’d love a Grindburger sized Oskar right about now.
ON: Hungry now. Thanks.
11. Tour van stops for gas. You go inside and buy 1 beverage, 1 snack, and 1 random thing. What are they?
PHIL: A cup of black coffee, a pack of hardboiled eggs, and an air freshener because we fucking stink.
JAKE: Sugar free red bull, sprees, and a cheap pair of sunglasses to lose the next day.
12. Would your 15 year old self like your music?
JAKE: Absolutely.
PHIL: Sure, why not.
13. Favorite Louisville band that you are NOT in?
JAKE: I think Louisville’s heavy scene is the most interesting thing happening right now. I really like Volcandra and Blind Scryer. My favorite Louisville band is definitely Anwar Sadat though, and I’m stoked for their upcoming album.
PHIL: Jaye Jayle is definitely my favorite current Louisville band. I also love everything that Anwar Sadat has done, and I can’t wait to hear the new Tall Squares record.
ON: Wait.... Anwar Sadat has one on the way!?
FRI 10.25 // Prayer Line + Vaderbomb + Cutlass Supreme /// Kaiju
***Prayer Line / Vaderbomb Split 7" Vinyl Release Party***
FIN