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Show Thursday, March 7, 1996 C Randall's demeanor and quick wit belongs to a man who is lit MI Urn SHAN FOWLER III nuJ FtTFTl JTU HI B twitch Y KTlrn prir"" -- sure of himself, but remains humbled by his past Randall is the mastermind and " c keyboardist behind Sister I already survived roller-coaste- TVT Records late last summer. After signing with TVT, GK con- tinued to record new material, which was easy because they own their own studio. Studio work is a constant process for GK. "We are always working on new material," says lead vocalist Jeff Scheel. debut GK finished a self-title- d (released March 5) back in October, 1995. Since then, they have com-th- e pleted seven new songs and have no intention of slowing down. GK's even trying to get a portable studio put on their tour bus so they can record on the road. Despite all their studio work, GK still recognizes the importance of live shows. "The essence of being a musician is playing for a live audience," says Scheel. GK played to their first live audi snowbird. The change is partly due to sobriety and partly because of ' Randall's musical philosophy. For Randall, making music is about progression. Randall doesn't limit himself to a particular sound or vibe, he just makes what he likes; what he thinks sounds good. "I go into the studio with a blank tape and whatever's on my mind goes onto the tape," says Randall. He's influenced by everything he comes in contact with, which ranges from fellow musicians to the morning radio. Randall is joined on tour by guitarist Pat Sprawl (Skinny Puppy, Pigface) and drummer Kevin Temple pie they'll continue playing shows UJ If fy 11 Warzou). Since much of SMG's music comes from samples and instrumental loops, SMG is forced to depart from their recorded sound when doing live shows.. "If you want to hear the CD, stay home and listen to it," says Randall. "The live experience is with hopes that their Erst album is Judging from the national success of "Guilty," GK shouldn't worry. Scheel and GK aren't really worried, but they are also realistic. "We're a band bom of radio, so we understand it," he says. "One song won't make us the world's well-receive- d. biggest live draw." For those who didn't get tick6 Xtra Hard" ets before the show sold out, don't worry, SMG and Gravity Kills will be back in May. That time they won't be "X-9- forced to upstage the Mother Goose antics of Korn or the Rage Against the Machine stylings of the Deftones. ? rv as 0s- Jul v nr? i " BIKE E50ARD E3LADE 467.0992 Sandy 561.2626 703 East 1700 South 8801 South 700 East SJ--C much different." Randall likes making SMG sound different live. To him, it's another opportunity for musical progression. Live performance is also a chance to entertain and gain fans, even if it means spending more time and money. "I get paid to entertain," he said. "And goddammit, I'm going to earn my money." With this attitude, SMG is sure to outplay Kom and The Deftones. Gravity Kills, SMG's touring the partner, is also sure to outplay Deftones and Korn. .; future of guitar-drive- n GK ' started their career back- - ward: recording, receiving and a recording contract before touring. GK gained notoriety last year in St Louis when "Guilty" was put on a local radio station's compilation CD and received major airplay at radio-airpla- f cowwr DISKS 4 FOB $10 00 industrial I music. " graywhale cd Where SMG is the future of electronic industrial music, GK is the y the station. ; This success attracted a host of. labels. GK eventually signed with Sega !J o) Vy II . iJ 111 ence on Nov. 2, in St. Louis. They have since received a crash course in touring, playing 23 shows in 26 days on tour with SMG. They find that playing live is fun, but the rest of the tour gets monotonous. "I can see why people become drug addicts and alcoholics," says Scheel. "There's just nothing to do. Sometimes the biggest challenge of the day can be finding a laundromat." He asserts that this monotony isn't completely useless. If nothing else, it helps them put more emoboth live tion into their music and recorded. Until GK gets a portable studio, With only three records under his belt, he has of electronic industrial music. Burn, SMG's third album, is the first one Randall has done "clean and sober," adding that sobriety has had a dramatic impact on his music, "When I was recording The Torture Technique SMG's second album, I was more concerned with my next drug score than with the music," says Randall. "Being sober has allowed me to concentrate on music." Burn serves as a statement of Randall's creative force in sobriety (see CD review). The CD barely resembles 1994's The Torture Technique or 1992's Sins of the flesh. MM fPU Machine Gun. the "rock 'n roll" r, and returned as a beacon for the future UD ;: P nf red rM I ON OF INDUSTRIAL 5 ft ?:mmmmumiii $20 |