With influences that range all across the musical spectrum from honky tonk to mariachi to Elvis, TOTIMOSHI are doing something that is rarely seen in the music industry… originality. TOTIMOSHI’S “never try to impress” attitude has helped them stand out in a world where genres and labels make or break a band. The trio has flocked to LA like every other struggling musician in the US, but their passion is what keeps them striving.
Where does your passion for music come from?
I don’t know where the passion comes from, it’s innate I suppose. All I know is as long as I can remember I’ve been affected by music in the most extreme way. I used to get pissed at people at parties for talking while there was music playing- or at least albums that I’d put on. I realized early I wasn’t a “party dude” because of that. When I was a little kid I was really into the singing cowboy movies – Gene Autry especially. I used to sit on my porch and make up my own cowboy songs. I’d hum a part then another one, then attach them and sing them all together, by the end of it I’d usually have a beginning, middle and end. Something about that empty cowboy on the range sound amazed me. I think that’s why we always try to have at least one acoustic song on each record. Later on it was ELVIS and THE BEACH BOYS then it was HENDRIX and ZEPPELIN, by Junior High it WAS MAIDEN and AC/DC. That’s when I picked up the guitar.
Did you have a musical upbringing?
No. I came from a real working class family – as in dirt-poor working class. My mom was a field worker (she used to take me and my big brother to pick so we could learn the value of hard work), and my father worked at the local cement plant. Neither of them played music but both loved music. My mom was into Mexican Northern music. TIGRES DEL NORTE, that kind of stuff. She was from Matamoros, Mexico on the Texas border. My dad was into honkey tonk and mariachi. He was Chicano, born in Utah and raised in central California. He was into MERLE HAGGARD, BUCK OWENS – basically the Bakersfield sound. (The town I grew up in was 30 minutes from Bakersfield). He was also into VICENTE FERNANDEZ, stuff like that. My little brother became a professional mariachi for a while. My big brother was really into drawing, painting, and even writing poetry. He’d always win first in whatever local art contest would go on. So in that sense, because of my brothers, I grew up in a real artistic household.
What is your first musical memory?
Playing a fake guitar for my grandmother. She was 100% Otomi Indian from Guanajuato state in Mexico. I remember her dark skin and white hair. She gave me a baby guitar. I used to sing a song called, “Estas Guarachas,” for her. I used to dance and sing for her and she’d give me a quarter. She died when I was 3. Strangely enough that memory is imbedded in my head as vivid as if it would have happened yesterday.
How did you and Meg Castellanos come together?
I couldn’t find any musicians interested in what I was doing so I asked Meg if she would try. I started teaching her bass parts and the rest is TOTIMOSHI history.
Do you think you will stay a trio or eventually add more members?
The band will forever stay a trio. If we can afford it we might take a keyboard player or another guitar player on tour but the band itself will remain three.
How have you changed musically over the past decade since the start of the band in the late 90’s?
We’ve matured. We’re more into adding harmonies and weird sounds than ever before. We give ourselves more time in the studio now as well. Mysterioso (our first release) was recorded in two days. Tracking first day mixing second. Ridiculous! It makes me want to re-record that. I was never happy with that record. What I heard in my head was way different than what came out. The new record really represents the maturity we’ve grown into. Each song was really allowed to develop – I credit Toshi Kasai (producer of Avenger) for that. He has a little studio in his room and we got to take our time because of it.
If you could go back in time, what would you have done differently involving the band?
I would have taken more time with Mysterioso. When I listen to that record I just hear basic parts. It should have been the under painting to a larger work. I also would have not signed Monoli to Devil Doll/This Dark Reign records. That record was really personal, it was homage to my father who had passed away when we were writing it. Everything else we’re happy about. The Volcom people are nice as ever to us and I really like At A Loss.
Since TOTIMOSHI’S sound is all across the spectrum…. What genre would you classify the band in?
I would say we’re a rock band. Growing up I never really heard much of a difference musically in the SEX PISTOLS or JERRY LEE LEWIS- same basic energy. To me they both represent good rock and roll. It’s based on a three bar chord progression- same with HENDRIX. I mean listen to THE BEACH BOYS then listen to the RAMONES and tell me they didn’t evolve from the same basic idea. I see the difference lyrically and in terms of wardrobe and attitude, but add a little distortion and “Fun Fun Fun” sounds like every RAMONES song ever written. Our songs span the spectrum of music because our tastes span the spectrum. Colors are there for use and if it’s been put into the universe why not use them! I love heavy music a la MELVINS or MASTODON, but I also love CURTIS MAYFIELD and ZZ TOP. I grew up on HENDRIX, TIGRES DEL NORTE, VICENTE FERNANDEZ and MERLE HAGGARD. Shit! What does anyone really expect? Anyways, yeah, we’re a rock and roll band.
How would you describe your sound for someone who has never heard it before?
A great rock and roll band that’s heavy and melodic: metal sometimes, dark always, lyrically mystic and phonetically engaging.
Did you find being from a state that overflows with musical talent an obstacle?
No, I found growing up in California a blessing. Like I’d said previously I grew up 30 minutes from Bakersfield home of MERLE HAGGARD and BUCK OWENS. The other direction was Lancaster, which is where FRANK ZAPPA and CAPT. BEEFHEART were from. Then an hour and a half was LA: THE GERMS, BLACK FLAG, all the Desert rock scene, SST, even MOTLEY CRUE and VAN HALEN! I’ve never seen it as anything but a blessing. Meg (bass) is from Massachusetts and Chris (drummer) is from Missouri. We never had problems getting shows or noticed. We’ve toured with MASTODON, HELMET, MELVINS, HIGH ON FIRE, FLOOR, and a lot more bands we love. We consider ourselves lucky.
What are some of your favorite bands from your hometown, Oakland, CA?
I’m from Southern California. I moved to Oakland in 1990 and we all now reside in LA right by where I grew up. When we lived in Oakland we lived with HIGH ON FIRE. They were our bros and still are. I’d say HIGH ON FIRE, LAUDANUM, NEUROSIS, and BLACK COBRA. We like those guys a lot.
Why the relocation?
We left Oakland because we got tired of the crime. It’s a real bummer of a city. We had really good times there – made real special friendships, but honestly it’s an incredibly corrupt city with huge problems racially and economically that don’t seem to be going away. We got burglarized twice and had a really good touring van stolen and stripped. It just got to be too much.
Freakiest experience on the road?
On our first tour we had a nice pretty girl offer us a place to stay. We slept over and she had this dreadlocked dude with her. I thought they were together, turns out he was just over partying. Anyways, she blew him and he (because he had a girlfriend) freaked out and tried to kill himself. I got up that morning and overheard the pretty girl on the phone telling his girlfriend to come pick him up. “You don’t know me but I’m a friend of your boyfriend, just come get him please.” Well, I had to shit real badly. I got up and went to the bathroom and there was blood everywhere. Walls, toilet seat, floor, and mirrors – I mean everywhere. The bad thing was there was no stopping my growing tail. So I took some toilet paper, wiped the seat and commenced delivery. When I finished I flushed and there was no water! So, there I was in a bathroom with blood everywhere and now a toilet bowl full of my brown babies. Needless to say, I rustled everyone to get the fuck up and out and as I was leaving I noticed a crew working on the water lines outside the house. The girl got in touch with me a few years later. The dude was fine – cut his wrists the wrong way, but she was horrified by the whole day. How’s that for a tour story?
What are TOTIMOSHI’S plans for the rest of 2011?
We just finished our summer tour. I’ll be teching for THE MELVINS in Europe till November. We’re planning on doing shows in Cali when I get back and a full US tour in Feb of next year. Then more touring followed by some more touring. Thanks for having us!
Go ahead and read that headline twice. Really take it in.
brilliant. thanks for posting.
Very cool! I like the poop metaphors.