Hayseed Dixie: "Queen's Brian May said he likes our versions of their songs"


  • Spanish version.

  • Before his tour in our country, Hayseed Dixie has spent a few minutes to answer several questions.
    Thank you for your time and been so kind to answer the questions.
    No problem. Thank you for asking them.

    Let's start talking about your new album 'Killer Grass', a killer album indeed! We could say that is like a whole 'Hayseed Dixie Experience'.There is a CD and a DVD, the DVD includes many videos and extras to experience with the tracks yourself. Tell us a bit about this, where did the idea come from?
    We thought it would be fun to make a bunch of videos this time. And we also thought it would be fun to let the listener make remixes of the songs. There is even one song, called "Love Cabin," that you must mix yourself if you want to hear it.

    Regarding to the tracks. What criteria did you follow in order to choose the covers you wanted to play in this album?
    We just decided to do all songs about killing and murder. That was the only criteria.

    Have you ever gotten feedback from the bands whom you tribute to? If so, were they happy? (Personaly I think some of the songs gain in quality with your covers)
    The guys in AC/DC said a lot of great things about us. Brian May of Queen has said he likes our versions of their songs. Gene Simmons from Kiss said, "This is great! I can't wait to get the royalty check." So at least Gene is consistent.

    In a personal level I was particularly impressed by 'Bohemian Rhapsody' as I consider that song as a very difficult one to play. Was it more complicated than the others or is it just my impression?
    You're correct. That was probably the most difficult song we're ever done. It took us nearly a whole day just to work out all of the different parts. And we weren't sure how we would play it live, but we've got it worked out very well now and we're playing it every night.


    Not only in your videos but also in your website there is a huge dose of sense of humour and fun. Are you in control of these areas as well? Who decides what to shoot and what to publish?
    We do everything ourselves and then give the finished stuff to the record company. Nobody tells us what to do. We all decide what we're going to do together, as we go along. There really isn't a master plan, and there never has been.

    And talking about that sense of humour, do you reckon that might be the secret of your success, combined, of course, with amazing musical skills?
    I think it's important that a rock and roll show should be fun. I like to think that we're all pretty good musicians, but we're really just trying to throw a big party every night.

    It has been almost 10 years since the release of your first album, 'A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC'. You haven't stopped touring and have got your 8th album out. Did you expect the great acceptance you have achieved?
    No. In fact, we didn't think we were starting a band when we made the first album ten years ago. We were just having fun. We keep touring because we don't really want to do anything else. We're really a bunch of guys who loved to play live music. I like our records, but I think you really have to see the band live to understand what we're trying to do.

    Are there any plans of celebration for the 10th anniversary of the band?
    No. Maybe there should be. I'll start thinking about it.

    That touring along the years include from the biggest Festivals to the smallest venues. What do you enjoy most the close contact with the audience or the big masses?
    I personally like to play to between 500 and 800 people the best. When you get an audience bigger than about 800, you start to play "at" them instead of "to" them. It gets a lot less personal. And when you have less than 500, it is difficult to build up a real energy level.

    You held Loopallu Festival in Scotland 2005 and it's consolidated since then. How was the origin of it?
    We really liked the spot in that little town in Scotland. Unfortunately, after we sold it out two years in a row, the town decided that they wanted to push us out and make Loopallu their own town festival. Which made us sad. Oh well . . .

    And what can we expect from this 'Killer Grass Tour'?
    We will play songs from all of our records. And we'll drink a lot of beer. And we'll play about 150 shows this year.


    How is the reaction of the European audience to the band?
    It depends on where. Some places like it more that other places. In the UK and Ireland, we do VERY well. We also do quite well in Scandinavia and Germany. Spain has been good. Not so good in France. Who knows why?

    Would you agree with the fact that you are contributing to music by making bluegrass more popular among rock fans and viceversa, hard rock music more approachable to bluegrass fans?
    Maybe. I think we are making people think about the banjo and mandolin differently. Which is very cool. Hopefully, some of the people who hear us will go do things with a banjo that we never thought of doing. That's what keeps music interesting. If everybody just followed the same model, nothing new would ever happen. If we're helping to push things along, then great!

    Now you are on tour until May at least but is there a second no covers album in the horizon?
    I don't know. That will depend on how many songs we write between now and the end of the tour. We never really plan for a new record. We just get together and see what comes out.

    Anything you want to add and tell to our readers in Spain ?
    We're all looking forward to seeing you again.

    Tx: Arancha R.