by Rick Florino
LINKS:
“Why would you want to have any boundaries?” Bobaflex singer / guitarist Marty McCoy refreshingly inquires. That being said; innovative, dangerous, and groundbreaking bands border on extinction in the current musical climate. Pre-packaged puff dominates the charts and many bands succumb to industry pressures to simply conform. However, every so often bands like Tool, Pantera, Clutch, Mindless Self Indulgence, System of a Down, and Slipknot arrive on the scene and completely shatter every rule in the book. West Virginia’s Bobaflex stand poised to turn rock and roll upside down and re-write the rule book for the next generation.
Their new TVT album Apologize for Nothing, showcases 12 extremely diverse songs that keep the listener guessing with every sudden tempo change and tonal shift. In some ways, the record could be an anthology of timeless styles of rock, covering the entire spectrum of sub genres. Tracks like “Better than Me” and “Guns Ablazin” oscillate between metal, funk, hip hop, classic rock, and even a little jazz, to concoct the most fun fusion in years. “Bullseye” packs a groove that could ignite a mosh pit or a dance floor, while “The Guardian” paints an often cinematic portrait of heroism through some solid melody and metal. The album closes with the ethereal, yet heavy “Rescue You,” a perfect ending to the record’s unpredictable aural journey.
With a keen sense of humor and welcoming demeanor, Marty allows insight into Bobaflex’s vibrant brand of rock. Unfolding Bobaflex’s audio landscapes, Marty states, “Bands like Pink Floyd, the Eagles, and Kiss had everyone in the band singing. There’s a little bit of old school flavor to us because our songs aren’t just the same guy screaming about the girl that broke his heart five years ago.”
Marty continues, “We’re more of a rock band. It’s about all of us; everybody sings and does their own part. Everyone’s an individual in the band and each song is approached by a different vocalist. The album has its own life because it’s not all the same sound.” That life has the power to reinvigorate the entire music scene as well as inspire kids for generations to come.
Marty pinpoints the source of his band’s a unique, upbeat, and poignant style. He explains, “We’re from Mason, West Virginia, which is a tiny, little town and there’s no scene there. We didn’t find out about the metalcore scene until we were out playing. There was nothing around, no one to sound like, and there was no one to tell us how to write. We had to do it all on our own. That’s why I think we have such a unique sound.” Then that boundless nature comes alive in each song on the record, providing an intriguing listen that’s rare these days.
The individuals all have their place within this electrifying sound, though. Marty describes the importance of their musical roots and the song, “Everyone in the band has different influences that come out. I always thought that it didn’t matter what kind of music you wrote as long as the song was good. I’m a big fan of the song as a whole. We were never worried about sounding like anyone else as long as the song was good and people wanted to hear it and sing it back.” The band plans on building this connection to the audience further and cementing it as they grow together as songwriters.
Bobaflex’s greatest merit lies in the fact that their songs evince eye-popping edge through musical diversity. Vocals switch from high falsettos to power groove yells all in one verse. Providing a personal look at their vocal approach, Marty says, “Shaun (Vocals / Guitar), Jerod (Bass), and I sing every song. Every other line it switches. There’s not really a lead singer and we switch constantly. Our bass player has a phenomenal voice and he’s the high pitched falsetto guy.” Very few bands can pull off such an approach, but Bobaflex master it. Moreover, through time signature shifts and some great riffs, their music mirrors the vocal range to create one cohesive vision within each song.
The writing process remains completely organic and natural for the band individuals as their diverse sound encourages team work. Marty says, “Everybody writes. Shaun and I come up with most of the lyrics, but everyone else will chime in. We all just get together, lock the door, and just go for it. There are so many good ideas that come out and we just pick the best ones. We try to write every song to stand out and not be just filler. All of the members of the band are individuals and songwriters.” Eschewing inflated rock star egos, the band posits their own unity in writing and moreover the song as a whole.
To enlighten metal’s masses to their sound, the band hit the road
all summer on Megadeth’s first annual Gigantour. Reminiscing about
the tour, Marty says, “Gigantour was great. Dave Mustaine was nothing
but class. We weren’t worried, but we knew it was going to be a
battle. We were the first band out of nine, and no one’s heard of
us, but it went really well. You would see the people’s faces, and
they’d cross their arms at first, but they’d be into us halfway
through the third song.”
The band shows a tangible credibility and appreciation for the audience and their peers. Marty, states “We were really fortunate to be on a tour where everyone was this nice. Dave Mustaine’s the nicest guy I’ve met in the industry so far. He would eat dinner with us, and he was accessible to everyone. It was the easiest and the most fun tour that we’ve ever been on. It was really smooth, and it was sad when it was over.” Bobaflex definitely stood out alongside their straight-up metal touring partners, while adding a fresh vibe to the tour.
Bobaflex have no fear of making music that they enjoy. In today’s climate of musicians espousing depression and sadness, Bobaflex provide a refreshing break. Marty laments, “The fun, outrageous, crazy rock band is gone! Rap blew up so big because rap is now about fun, dancing, and girls. Now rock’s either about crying or demons. What happened to the fun crazy rock guys you could look up to it? Guns ‘N Roses and Motley Crue made me do what I wanted to do when I was a kid. What happened to the fun side of music? Now it’s kids in jeans that are too tight. Who wants to be depressed, angry, and pissed off all the time? What happened to the rock band that could bring the fun into it? It’s either some guy growling or some guy crying about his girlfriend. C’mon man you’re in a rock band get another girl!”
Bobaflex have a sense of humor and they have fun, while making music that does have meaning. Many bands these days try too hard to make a statement or point rather than being natural. Marty and his band mates remain true to themselves, have fun, while creating some touching tunes. For instance “The Guardian” derives some inspiration from Officer James D. Niggemeyer who helped save lives during the tragic shootout that ended the life of guitar hero Dimebag Darrell. About this song, Marty comments, “It’s more of a superhero kind of concept, but that police officer definitely served as inspiration. I wish I could’ve met Dimebag, because he’s one of the guys that caused everyone to play guitar.” Bobaflex show a reverence for the bands that preceded them, while channeling the energy of many recent bands. Marty states, “System of a Down taught me you didn’t have to have boundaries, you can do whatever you want, if you put it together cleverly and just write a good song that’s all that matters.” Make no mistake about it; Bobaflex’s latest release is full of good songs that elevate rock and roll to new heights of experimentation.
Moreover, Marty provides his perspective on the current resurgence of interest in guitar playing. He comments, “To me Rage Against the Machine and Tool brought the guitar out to me. I loved how Adam Jones and Tom Morello brought a different style to the guitar, but now bands like Avenged Sevenfold have brought the old school style of playing back and the kids experience it new.” In addition, Marty stands poised to leave his own mark on the instrument through an extremely clear style of playing and mastery of tones that stay in your head.
About the band’s new home on TVT Records, Marty says, “TVT’s great. It’s a lot of younger guys, a real family atmosphere. The band believes in each other and we’re going to do whatever we can to get to the top. We found management that feels the same and TVT comes along with the same vibe. They’re going to stick it out and see what our career is going to be like. Everyone works hard for the band.” With some strong support, the band remains on the path to truly succeeding in a scene where heavy music continues to gain popularity.
Marty comments on the cultural significance of the heavier, more dangerous bands that currently succeed in even such a safe music climate as the current one. Marty observes, “I think it’s great. Music has definitely changed and these bands are the new rock. Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold and Lamb of God are now the new badasses. 5 years from now the new heavy shit is going be so crazy. We’ll look back on these bands as just rock, and to me it seems more like rock. We need these bands to come out and show kids there’s more to life than the radio and these underground scenes can blow up. They do blow up because they’re good. I think it’s great that Lamb of God is huge, because it shows that you can do whatever you want, and if you’re good at it people will like it. It shows the intelligence of your audience, and some people will refuse to be spoon fed radio hits. Enough fans together can make a band like Lamb of God huge.” Moreover, the more that Bobaflex enter the public consciousness, they’ll more than likely catapult to the forefront of heavy music.
Marty also ruminates Bobaflex’s position in the current mire of metal that has grown so popular. He states, “I hope that we’ve got a place there, and that we’re able to make our mark, but I know we’re going to either way.” Marty proceeds, “Our sound is definitely different and everyone says, “I’ve never seen so many singers.” Yea, you have. It’s just been a long time, look at the Beatles and the Eagles, and Kiss. You’ve definitely heard it before. It’s just been a really long time.” Ultimately, through drawing inspiration from classic rock as well as their contemporaries, the band explores many aspects of powerful music. The scene remains starving for a band like Bobaflex that explores the dynamics of life and feeling, through an unpredictable and personal style of music. In the end, Bobaflex remains driven to create rock on their on terms and they’re ready to shatter any boundaries ahead.