Interview With…

Mindset Defect

Today we have an interview with Mindset Defect; one of Nashville’s up and coming bands.  Having crafted a solid live show and recording a very successful demo, Mindset Defect are ascending to new heights; recording a new EP and participating in some of the most successful local metal shows of the last year. With a big Cinco De Mayo show coming up at The Rutledge this Saturday, the time seemed right to introduce the uninitiated to Mindset Defect.

1. Please provide the back story to how the band was formed.

Mindset Defect was basically the formation of two groups of songwriters. Casey and Shields were hoping to maintain MINDSET DEFECT after the previous lineup went their separate ways and Josh and Scooty had been writing together since the breakup of PEAL;seeking to move forward again with a new project. It just fit naturally when we got the chemistry flowing, and the music was on a whole different level than our previous projects. We all share a common goal and vision of what we want to accomplish with the music. Besides, we have all been through a lot together and with a foundation like that it makes us a much stronger band.

2. What does “Mindset Defect” mean?

Our band name was actually just a couple of abstract ideas thrown together by a friend of the band! It has definitely taken on a meaning of its own however. To us, a "Mindset Defect" is when you tell yourself you're not good enough. A "Mindset Defect" is when you feel that you have to punish yourself for your mistakes. It is when you become infected with your outer circumstances and make decisions based on them.

3. How does Mindset Defect compare to the old days of playing with Peal?

Mindset Defect is a whole different beast. Musically, we are more aggressive and raw than PEAL was. But we still have the precision and melodic sensibility that we have always had in all of our other bands respectively. Those of us who were in PEAL enjoyed what we did, but the two bands are like night and day. We don’t want to get hung up on the past so much, because we have all grown so much as musicians. It’s cool that people still remember us from our old bands, but we want them to remember US as MINDSET DEFECT. This band is a true group effort. There is no “THE SONGWRITER”, or “THE FRONT MAN”. We are simply MINDSET DEFECT “THE BAND”. We each contribute to every song from the music to the lyrics and it is the input of all four members that turns a good song into a great song.

4. You have expanded your audience by performing outside of Tennessee. What’s one of your favorite road stories?

Our first “tour” really just consisted of two shows spread out across four states. We drove up to Pennsylvania for the Millennium Music Conference and scheduled a show in Louisville on the way back to Tennessee. This was in February when the northeast was getting hit with blizzards so of course on our way back we had to drive though a snowstorm in Ohio. We were doing 20 mph in 4-wheel drive almost the whole way through because you could only see three feet in front of the car. Ten ass-numbing hours later we pull up at the venue, pile out, throw our gear on stage and are rocking within 30 minutes. That was some serious road dogging it for us. We send out special thanks to the guys from Hyndsite for keeping some of the crowd there while they waited for us to show. ROCK

5. What has been the reaction of listeners to the Crisis Reborn demo that has received airplay on 102.9 the Buzz?

Actually the reaction has been great, way more than we anticipated. For us it was just a decision that “we need to put something out, like NOW”. So we took a little time between shows and hashed it out, all of it recorded in-house. We just kind of threw it out there to see how people would embrace it. There are about 300+ copies of it floating around now so someone must be listening to it. I have to point out though that it was a big deal for us to get nominated for a Buzzy award last year. We were a new band with a homemade demo going up against some serious hard hitters with actual CD’s. We didn’t really expect to win, but it was awesome that we got the nomination. Thanks fans.

6. When can fans expect the new EP to hit the streets?

Real soon; we have pretty much completed writing all the music and just need to do a little pre production and lyric writing to wrap the songs up. This time around we are going to be a little more deliberate with the recording process. We’re going to make sure that everything is exactly how we want it before we lay the first note. Expect between 5 and 7 songs, depending on how it all flows out. We have actually dropped our gig schedule down to about one show a month so we can start recording in May.

7. You seem to play a lot of shows with Destroy by Design and War Within. Is this a planned thing (ie. a movement)?

Not so much a movement. It is just the fact that those guys are all super cool, real laid back and there is mutual respect all around. On top of that, they are killer bands. We think that the styles compliment each other really well without losing the audience. Plus when people come out they can expect that all three bands are going to kick their asses all night. They have been really successful shows, so as long as ya’ll keep asking for it, we’ll keep putting em’ together.

8. What are your favorite venues? Least favorite?

We did love the Exit/In and the Mercy Lounge when we played there but our favorites are more about the people involved. Andy at the Rutledge has always been real supportive of us. In fact he pretty much gave us our first chance in the big venues when he worked out at Gibson so we will always appreciate him for that. He is comfortable booking us a killer night and just letting us run with it and we enjoy that kind of faith. Plus, the sound there is great, Frank rocks. 12^th and Porter is right up there too, Paula and Jennifer are seriously cool, and the sound and the vibe at that place are just awesome for rock shows. It’s kind of a hard sell between the two. Now the MUSE on the other hand, is a different story. They have big shows there and hire sound guys to bring in their systems and blow the roof off the place. When locals play, you get broken monitors, mic stands that you have to chase around the stage and they rarely have enough working mics and or cables for three vocals across the front. A little money on the sound system would go a long way in that place. We just never feel like we can capture our sound there.

9. The Nashville music scene has had its ups and downs. What is your opinion of its current state and what could be done to improve it?

We think the scene is stronger now than it has been in years. The old adage remains though, you have to “pay your dues” in this town before anyone is going to love you. It is going to improve when people are less critical and competitive with each other and realize that there are enough days in the week, and enough venues and enough people for all of us. Getting out, seeing shows and networking with anyone and everyone is the best way for a band to improve their situation. You won’t ever stand out by sitting in the corner.

10. Are there any local bands you’d like to play a gig with but haven’t?

Hell yes, we would love to play with all the big time local rock bands, it is just hard to coordinate shows like that. I don’t need to mention names because all of ya’ll reading this know which bands I’m talking about. But hopefully it will happen soon. You the fans should DEMAND IT.

11. GEAR-HEAD QUESTION: What are each of you playing through?

Ah, you had to go there. Well I’ll be kind of brief because anyone that has seen our shows knows that we have a ton of gear. Josh and Classic Case both play Ibanez guitars and they both use one Marshall half stack and one Mesa half stack each. Josh has a rack with a Marshall pre amp, a Mesa 50/50 and a T.C. Electronics G major for effects. Case uses a Boss Gt3 for effects into a Peavey pre amp and a Mesa strategy 500 power amp. Shields plays his Music Man Sub bass through a bass pod in to an SWR head pushing Peavey cabinets. Scooty plays Pearl Masters drums, zildjian & sabian cymbals and uses Roland electronics for our samples. We’ll be more than happy to go in more depth if anyone wants to shoot us an email on our myspace page.

12. You’re playing this Saturday for Cinco De Mayo at The Rutledge along with Unclean and After Elvis. What can people expect?

Total musical chaos!!!!… No, we are really working hard and hoping it is a great show and a killer party. None of these bands are going to leave anything to the imagination. If you are there to see a great rock show, then you’re going to get a great rock show. Plus, 5 bucks and drink specials…… people can expect for this to be THE party on Cinco De Mayo.

13. YOUR SOAPBOX: Anything you want to get off your chest?

What is it with that shadow boxing/karate dancing thing? I don’t get it.

Well, there ya have it. If you feel like hearing some loud metal this Saturday night while ringing in Cinco De Mayo, head over to The Rutledge to check these guys out. I’ll even be in attendance (don’t be afraid, I won’t bite……hard haha).

For more information on Mindset Defect head over to www.mindsetdefect.com or you can do the trendy myspace thing and go to www.myspace.com/mindsetdefect .

That’ll do it for this time.

Until Next Time, I’m out like the Predators in the first round…..again……dammit!

Chris “Uncle Daddy” Czynszak

To reach Chris Czynszak, e-mail at cczynszak@nashvillerock.net