CHIRP: The Chicago Independent Radio Project

Erik Roldan writes

CHIRP + Coach House Sounds Present: The Eternals

Damon Locks and Wayne Montana (currently) are The Eternals . The band has been fusing rock, dub and Caribbean rhythms into a sound that was once so hard to categorize, they made up their own: “rawar style.” This year, they released Approaching the Energy Field (Addenda Records ), garnering critical praise for evolving with the sound they pioneered in 2000. CHIRP is proud to present their session with Coach House Sounds, streamable and downloadable at coachhousesounds.com on Tuesday July 26th!

1. What the dumbest thing you’ve ever done in a basement?

Assumed that the water wouldn’t get any higher.

2. The Eternals have a long history in Chicago. Can you tell me about one time when you realized this was YOUR city?

Hmm…as a band? I think only recently. Our old band Trenchmouth always felt like outsiders (our label was out of Minneapolis) and The Eternals have felt similarly. After years and years of playing, we feel as though we have successfully graffiti’d the walls of Chicago’s musical landscape.

3. Describe a scenario where Eternals could be someone’s life coach and the top 2 life lessons you’d teach them.

Over the years, I think the band could be described as a life coach to other younger bands like Watchers or Jai Alai Savant. Whether they took heed is another thing all together.

Top life lessons for bands:

The music industry doesn’t care about you. It doesn’t know good music. Pay as little attention to it as possible.

The more universal you attempt to make something, the less personal. The more personal you make something, the more universal it can be.

4. Tell me about your CHS session—what did you like about it? Was there anything that surprised you or was spontaneous that came out in the recording?

I generally enjoyed the experience. The guys were very friendly and accommodating (thanks for the cookie and the use of the sunglasses).

During the performing of “Shadow Radio” I was so enthusiastic that I inadvertently knocked my sampler off my keyboard and it fell onto my vocal effects pedal and changed the setting. I really got into that performance.

5. What’s happening? What are your current/upcoming shows or releases?
We have a bunch of shows coming up this summer:

w/ Ted Leo at Fireside July 26th
Milwaukee Art Festival July 30th
Experiment Sound Studio August 27th

We are in the planning stages of doing a show at the MCA. That should be a lot of fun. We are also talking about playing The Hideout Block Party.