It’s unfortunate that Louisville, KY doesn’t get the love and respect it deserves for musicians.  When you get a hard rock band with hints of metal and alternative, like Corprit Convict, you get a taste of what Reverbnation says is #1 in that genre here.  While the production value may not be the best they have the chops to make great music and have done so for a long time.

 

Jason Reed on vocals, Evan McEwen on drums, Brad Kessans on guitar and John Matthews on bass make up Corprit Convict. Starting from a 2 piece garage band to a high ranking group is no small feat. You might find hints of Mastodon and Chevelle and some might say Ozzy’s voice can be heard lurking in dark corners of Jason’s attack. No matter what you say you should definitely be able to notice the potential these guys have.

 

Their bio states they opened for National acts and have been fortunate enough to hone skills enough to record a full length album called “Resurrection”. So we’ll see what’s lurking in this group and find out what’s in store for them in the near future.

 

THE INTERVIEW

 

Daniel/HRM: Please tell me your name, what part you play in the band and if vegetarian spaghetti sounds appealing to you.

 

Corprit Convict: Vegetarian spaghetti????  What the hell is that?!?  Throw some cow or pork in there! 

 

Daniel/HRM: Honestly, I didn’t think hard on that question but after I asked it I did wonder what would taste good between two pieces of spinach leaves. Did that thought enter your mind at all?

 

Evan/CC: When you said “vegetarian spaghetti” I pictured a bunch of nasty, green noodles that looked about as appetizing as watching someone get eaten on the Walking Dead. 

 

Daniel/HRM: (laughs) Were you expecting a different question to start off with?

Corprit Convict: Not really, most interviewers start with that question.  

 

Daniel/HRM: I won’t get too whack here but it is fun to see personalities and sense of humor. So let’s get into a question most bands hate to answer but readers love to know. Let’s do it a fun way. Why did you choose that name as your band name? First tell a lie, then tell the truth.

 

Corprit Convict: Two of us worked for a company where we get caught selling trade secrets to their competitor and we both ended up serving 18 months in prison.  Corprit Convict is a commentary on how we all feel “imprisoned” by our day-to-day jobs, and the constant struggle to maintain and foster our creative side. 

 

Daniel/HRM: I read you started as a 2 piece in a garage and evolved from there. Was it a struggle or did things go peacefully and at your own pace to this point?

Corprit Convict: We never set out to start a band or write songs, but just to jam and have fun.  At that time, Brad had never even played with a drummer and I was just starting out on the drums.  The songs just began writing themselves.  So we started recording with a cheap 4-track and just kept building from there.  But, at the same time, trying to make a name as a hard rock band, in a time and age when all the country wants to listen to is corny-ass country music or thoughtless pop, is definitely a struggle. 

 

Daniel/HRM: I heard hard rock, definitely, but also traces of metal and a bit of alternative. What would you say is your dominant style? 

 

Corprit Convict: I think most bands hate labeling their music, and there are definitely tidbits from all kinds of areas of rock music in ours.  Every song we have has a different personality, emotion, and takes you to a different place than the one before.  You can mosh, headbang, and sing along to just about all of our songs.  In short, we’re a hard rock band that plays whatever they’re feeling, which stems from a multitude of influences. 

 

Daniel/HRM: Your album, “Resurrection”, how long has it been out?

 

Corprit Convict: It came out in the late spring of this year.

 

Daniel/HRM: Describe this album. Describe it as if it were the most awesome book cover.

 

Corprit Convict: This album resembles everything we feel is missing in rock music today.  Rock music has evolved to being either one extreme or the other; it’s either screamo thrash, or poppy weaksauce.  There’s no in between.  Few bands out now can make you feel a range of emotions with their music, and that’s all we wanted to do.  Make the listener feel something.   

 

Daniel/HRM: With this sound you’ve created, it helped you rank #1 on Reverbnation. That’s cool. As far as awards or nominations, do you have any?

 

Corprit Convict: Not really, but the positive feedback we’ve received from national acts, promoters and our fans is the next best thing. 

 

Daniel/HRM: What is the first single from this album and do you have any videos?

 

Corprit Convict: Stand Up is our first single, you can request it on 93.1 The Fox.  We have a music video for it online along with a ton of live footage.  Check out corpritconvict.com or our channel on YouTube.   

 

Daniel/HRM: Your bio states you shared the stage with some National acts. Who have you shared the stage with?

 

Corprit Convict: Taproot, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, Sunflower Dead, Endo, Ill Niño, Cyanide Sunrise, and Festival of the Damned, to name a few. 

 

Daniel/HRM: If lemonade was all you ever tasted when you drank all other liquids and the only way to stop this was to say the names of three artists you’d love to share the stage with, who would they be?

 

Corprit Convict: It’s tough to pick only 3, but probably Chris Cornell, Adam Jones, and Les Claypool. 

 

Daniel/HRM: Is anyone in the band a lemonade fan?

 

Corprit Convict: Lemonade is fine, but we prefer bourbon and beer.

 

Daniel/HRM: Do you prefer fans over air conditioning?

 

Corprit Convict: Absolutely, air conditioners don’t buy music.

 

 

Daniel/HRM: (laughs) What’s going on currently and your near future as far as music is concerned?

 

Corprit Convict: Right now we’re still gigging like crazy, but our main focus is the second album.  We’ve written the majority of it and are really feeling good about it. 

 

Daniel/HRM: Where can people go for more about you?

 

Corprit Convict: We’re all over the Internet; ReverbNation, Facebook, MySpace (for the 12 people still on there), SoundCloud, YouTube, Twitter and of course, corpritconvict.com.

 

Daniel/HRM: Is there anything else you would like to add?

 

Corprit Convict: Check out our music online or in person.  We promise you won’t be disappointed. 

 

Daniel/HRM: Here’s the last signature question. Let’s say that you enjoy rhyming. Yet, the fact that there is no rhyming word for orange aggravates you. To change this and make it work in your favor you invented an acceptable word that did rhyme. What would the word be, what would it mean and which song of yours best represents this situation?

 

Corprit Convict: Warange - [wawr-inj] – noun – to figuratively and/or literally break down barriers.  “Break it down” definitely embodies this. 

 

Daniel/HRM: Thank you so much for your time. I do wish you great success with this dream of yours!

 

Corprit Convict: Thank you as well, all the best.

 

Story and interview by

Daniel C. Morrison – Hip Rock Magazine