Municipal Waste - June 2009

Written by Natalie Perez Monday, 15 June 2009 16:34

Interview with

Tony Foresta (vocals) and Dave Witte (drums) of Municipal Waste
Reflections of Darkness: The name of the band MUNICIPAL WASTE is interesting to say the least and sounds as if there is a story behind it. Where did the name come from and what is the story?
Tony: Well I guess it’s on the side of a dump truck and the name MUNICIPAL WASTE was really big, and Ryan was riding through town in D.C. and saw the name on the side of the truck. Thought it would be a good name for a thrash band. Which I think it is and fits our band really good dirty guys.
Dave: The town trash.

RoD: Can you briefly summarize how the band formed and what you do in MUNICIPAL WASTE?
Tony: I sing; we started New Year’s Eve 2001 so we’ve been around for a long ass time, switched up the rhythm section.
Dave: I played drums and joined later on in 2004.

RoD: Your lyrics are infused with heavy detail and raw emotion. What is it that normally gives you inspiration when writing lyrics and is there a concept behind the music you create?
Tony: I don’t know we try to write, the last record was a party themed album so the last record was about drinking and partying. So we try to create our own storylines. There are certain things we sing about like fantasy stuff relating to the 80’s horror themes and social issues that piss us off.
Dave: I don’t write the lyrics but read the lyrics, we’re not a political band by any means, shoving down anything down people’s throats just rant on what we want.

RoD: ‘Sadistic Magician’ is your newest music video; can you give a brief summary on it?
Tony: We did that like a year ago, here in L.A. this guy Jeff approached us with a video idea and we didn’t even know the guy and he came up with a concept. A lot of our stuff is influenced on 80’s horror. He really dug our band and he really wanted to create it that’s why there is a lot of cheesy acting on it.
Dave: I think it was his idea, to do an 80’s metal type of theme sci-fi theme.

RoD: How did this free show at the Knitting Factory come into effect?
Dave: Scion contacted us they’ve wanted to do it well over a year now but our schedule is too intense that we hadn’t really commit to it so we finally had a time to get to it and they have a great track record of putting on great shows like that and it should be really exciting it’s maxed out to capacity looking forward to it.
Tony: Should be a rowdy one, there is going to be a lot of people there…

RoD: You guys were on the No Fear Tour with Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, God Forbid, Children of Bodom, what was that and what were the reactions to being the openers every night of the show?
Tony: It was awesome we hadn’t done a 6 weeker for a while, made some friends on it. We played a bunch of places we’ve never been too either. Played a parking lot of a flea market, rondo rink, so many crazy places we played while on that tour. Chicago and Canada shows were awesome. Seriously the hockey arenas playing music there threw wood over the ice and had a rock show.
Dave: We would rotate on/off with God Forbid each night.

RoD: ‘Massive Aggressive’ is the upcoming album, what can fans expect from this album in comparison to your older material?
Dave: They can expect pretty much I wouldn’t say the same thing the lyrics are well written and have a lot of energy to them. So fans shall not be disappointed.
Tony: I think it’s my favourite one I know I say that about every record but I really do believe because I listen to it all the time and I don’t do that with anything.

RoD: What are the upcoming plans for MUNICIPAL WASTE for the rest of 2009?
Tony: On tour, TOUR OUR ASSES OFF!
Dave: We’re going to be busy, on tour, over the next 2 years. Do another video.

RoD: How has MySpace and the internet impacted your band and do you think downloading helps or hinders the artists?
Tony: I think downloading music helps as far as getting music out to other countries. It doesn’t help on if you plan on playing music and making money. I never really thought I’d make money by playing music anyway. So it doesn’t really bother me. But I think it helps getting your music in Thailand and other crazy places. Like South America, people there would not know who we are, we get mail from people from Mexico and all over Asia and places I wouldn’t even expect to see. People love our band that rules it helps. It doesn’t bother that people download music.
Dave: I think it’s a great option and be able to check it out our band and if they want to go out and buy the record.
Tony: Think about when you were younger when you’d go and buy a record and it would suck. Or get music by tape trading stuff like that.

RoD: What is the toughest lesson you ever learned in the studio and on the stage?
Tony: To not drink in the studio, not this band though one of my first bands I was really drunk and I was really nervous, I would listen to it and clench up and hate how bad it sounded.
Dave: I guess for me to learn from the studio is to practice and make the songs stronger and I’ve benefited from that.

RoD: What bands would you like to tour with and who has been your favourite to tour with this far?
Tony: I have a list; I’d take Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, because I think they rule they are awesome. I’d like to tour with  Dinosaur Jr. who else would be really cool I got a list just can’t think of it now probably Slayer, Motörhead the no brainers of course.
Dave: I have long list.

RoD: Every band has its musical influences. What are some of the other bands and artists that have greatly influenced you guys and your music?
Tony: It’s hard to list, mid to late 80’s and then all the 80’s all the way around.
Dave: I don’t think there is a main band; it’d have to be a music category than a band. I think there would be a time frame from the 80s.

RoD: What's your reaction when/if a fan told you a very meaningful statement such as "Your music changed my life?" Has this ever happened to you?
Tony: I’d punch them in the face. It is amazing and then you punch them.
Dave: It’s an amazing compliment. When you’re presenting it like that it’s amazing.

RoD: All of that passion that you play with must be tough on you physically. How do you prepare for the physical demands of a tour?
Tony: I ride bikes a lot, ride my ass off every day. My knees are shot though man.
Dave: I drum a lot doing a lot of extra playing but have gotten a little lazy.

RoD: Anything else you'd like to add?
Tony: Come see us on tour we shall be playing somewhere near anyone lives who reads this…
Dave: It’s exciting for us we’ve been playing a lot of stuff for a very long time, plan to play the new stuff very soon.

{jos_sb_discuss:21}

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