(photo Unsteady Freddie 2008)

Name: The Octomen

Genre: Surf

Geographical Area: Upstate NY

Interview by email with Rattlesnake Ralph on 3/4/08

1. What is the current line-up of your band?

Rattlesnake Ralph on guitar, Darin Rose on bass, and newcomer 21 year-old Marky P. on drums.
 

2. How and when did you get started with your band?

We formed in '91 as a blues band called 61 North and then again in 2005 as The Octomen.
 

3. What bands or music have influenced you most?

Everything, all genres of music.

4. What is the breakdown of cover vs. original material in your live shows and/or recordings?

We started off doing 3/4 covers and 1/4 original but lately we've been 100% original.

5. What recording have you done?
 

Quite a bit back in the day but now The Octomen are working on a debut CD entitled OCTOPHONIC!
 

6. What kind of gear do you use?

I use a Jazzmaster through a re-issue reverb and into a 1965 Silvertone 1485. Darin uses a Highway 1 Precision bass through a 1973 Earth amp.
 

7. What is your band’s favorite food/beverage?
 

We like Cracker Barrel whenever we get the chance - eggs and hamburger.
 

8. How do you get gigs?

Beg, steal, kill, anyway we can. Up until now we would just answer all inquiries we saw on the NESMA forum but we now have some local gigs pending in our area.
 

9. What are the difficulties you find playing your kind of music in your area?
 

Nobody has ever heard of it until we say "you know, Pulp Fiction  music" then they say "oh yeah, cool". Most clubs it seems are afraid to take the chance on a band with no vocals.
 

10. What positive attributes does your band have that sets you apart from other bands (of any genre)?

We wear green polo shirts. Ok we write and perform all of our own material.
 

11. What have you found to be the single most effective promotional tool you’ve used to further your band’s musical path?

We wear green polo shirts. OK - Myspace is no doubt the single most effective promotional and networking tool available to anyone.
 

12. What’s the most interesting performance experience you’ve had?

Playing before 250,000 people at Woodstock/Bethel 94'.
 

13. What do you hope to get out of being a NESMA member?

Broads, booze and money. So far we've made some really tight friends and tons of contacts.