A little Night Music

Hey all! I know I have been away for a while..it's been crazy but I am back with a new interview that I hope you will really enjoy! ( ps..sorry for the weird white spot in the middle of the blog..can't make the little $%&&*** go away..)

So recently on Twitter I made the acquaintance of the enigmatic bassist for Crooked Fang Xan Marcelles. He's an interesting guy with plenty of secrets, who likes books, music and whiskey..A lethal combination and my personal kryptonite. He agreed to chat it up here on ye olde blog..so I hope we keep you amused..

S-Welcome Xan, before I get started with the questions why don't you tell us a little about yourself... Don't be shy. Oh and speaking of shy, how about a little bit about your writer Carrie too...

Right on, well my name is Xan Marcelles and I’m a bassist for a little band in Pinecliffe, Colorado called Crooked Fang. I live upstairs in a tavern called Pale Rider. Oh yeah, I’m also a vampire. Kind of always forget to mention that shit. Right now I’m featured in a short little teaser story written between Carrie and Nerine Dorman called Just My Blood Type, (download if you want, hell it’s free: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11810756-just-my-blood-type) but I got a real novel coming out next year where you get to come along with me on a crazy ride through my daily life.

Writer Carrie…oh yeah, Carrie Clevenger. She’s this weird woman that lives in Austin, Texas and came up with the early concept of me back in 2000. Yeah, I’ve been around for awhile, as you can see. Carrie has been featured in a few books and stuff, mostly short stories, and those are all listed up at GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3520560.Carrie_Clevenger She also has a site that has some of her old flash fiction back when she used to drop a new story every Friday: http://www.carrieclevengerstories.com/

Carrie cut her teeth on writing the hard way: By getting her ass handed to her in vicious critique groups. Since she didn’t finish high school, the art of writing was more like a grueling journey towards figuring out how to string words together that made sense and didn’t leave the reader asleep in their chair. Not to mention comma usage. She preferred horror writing but then she got stuck with me, and turns out I fall into the urban fantasy category (which sounds like suburban porn, by the way) so here we are.

S- ok more about you, when were you turned?

You make me sound like cheese. “So Xan, when did you go…bad.” Hush woman, and stop holding your nose. My expiration date isn’t for a long time. 1985 was the year of my demise. What can I say? Her ass looked good in red leather.

S-Your name...what nationality is it? Sounds slightly French...

It’s a stage name, can’t be walking around using my real name, else they’d ask why I wasn’t still back in the ground at the cemetery, you know? My real name is Gabriel Nez. I took my mom’s last name. Navajo, Diné however you want to say it.

S- mine is a stage name too. Luckily it's all legal now..

See, now you have to tell me someday.

S-doubtful

How long have you been a musician? Has it always been the bass?

Funny thing is, I used to work in commercial art. Sure, I fucked around on the bass, but nothing serious until I got dropped as a bloodsucker. Dad was trying to appease me (and keep me out of trouble) so he bought me a guitar. Only it was a bass guitar. I named her Betty. Old black Fender P-Bass. Anyway, after I turned, I was a little busy getting adjusted, for say, hell…twenty years or so? When I finally decided I’d had enough of the freaky business my kind likes dabbling in, I left and needed a job. I found an ad in the paper for a house band start-up. Playing the bass is like riding a bike, you might get rusty, but you’re not gonna forget two chords. Okay, I’m kidding. Anyway, I took that job, moved back to Colorado, (which was the state I died in by the way) moved into Pale Rider, and founded Crooked Fang, a cover band.

S-Ever thought about singing? Front man not your thing?

It’s been on the table once or twice. I don’t have the ego and the what’s it called? Charisma. I’m not flashy or sociable. And I might have a touch of stage fright on top of that. Besides. I love what I do now. I get to be on stage without facing the crowd so much. Focus on the frets and don’t fret.

S-Stage fright really... huh... have you ever looked in a mirror? You got nuthin to be shy about.

It’s not me I’m afraid of, just all those people. You know, getting hungry. Fucking up on stage. Even in a tinyburg like Pinecliffe…

S-Why Pinecliffe? How do you keep yourself busy? Isn't it kind of dull?

I like it dull. I’ve had enough of the fast lane life to last well, a lifetime! Being in a small town means nobody can sneak up on me because word gets around fast. It’s a sleepy place with a beating heart for rock there at Pale Rider. Plus, it’s fucking beautiful. I mean, really. Call it my retirement home.

S- Favorite bands? Why?

Let me give you a list:

Type O Negative – Why? Do you have to ask for these guys? Peter was a genius with music. The whole band had a tongue-in-cheek-and-fuck-you attitude that appeals to me immensely. They never took themselves seriously, never sold out, and neither should we.

Jimi Hendrix – He revolutionized rock and guitar methods and was gone far too soon to even realize his full potential. There’s a song for every mood in his discography. I love Hendrix’s music. Period.

Megadeth – I know, I know. Dave is a lunatic. But back in the day, they played great shit. An offshoot from Metallica, I’d say they stayed the same, whereas Metallica just kind of…got alternative.

Slayer – Duh. Tom Araya is amazing. The music is amazing. I’m amazed every time I spin their disc. Hard-hitting shit that is guaranteed to piss your woman off 90% of the time.

A Pale Horse Named Death – Sal Abruscato branched off from Life of Agony, and before that, Type O Negative (Bloody Kisses) and made an entire fucking album on his own. And it is fucking GOOD. Plus, he’s good to his fans. I’m won.

Nirvana – I arrived late on the Grunge scene, but when I first heard Nirvana, I wanted to know who the hell they were right away. So I get, “oh he’s dead, but yeah, it’s a Seattle band.” Seattle? Get out of here! But really man, Nirvana was dirty, garage band music that speaks right to your cerebral cortex. You’re riveted and buffeted by slashes of angst and self-loathing and loss. And the acoustic set took those songs and flipped them right back to digestible by common public. I bet the teenagers were pissed when Dad started jamming to “On a Plain”.

S- Even being here in Seattle, I never got Nirvana. I guess it's a Goth thing... Like other grunge bands; Alice in Chains and Soundgarden...Just couldn't fathom it...

(Probably because it was in your backyard. Local music has it harder I think.)

Johnny Cash, AKA, Man in Black – If I have to explain why, I’ll kick you myself.

Roy Orbison – I love listening to Orbison. His songs are like echoes of my own past experiences. He was a gentle man, with gentle songs of love and loss, and well I guess I’m showing a pattern here…

Concrete Blonde/Johnette Napolitano – Why do I love their music? It’s real. Johnette is a fucking goddess and she slings a big bass too. So hey, I might have a vested interest. Visually-oriented, great rock. Mankey…dude. He can fucking play.

And this is just a few bands that I love…hell I got a library of ten-thousand songs. Pick your poison. You should’ve specified a genre. Haha.
Just saying, I can go on and on and on and on…

S-Favorite book? Why?

Maya Angelou – I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It deals with racism and the struggles that people of color in general all face. Plus, I really love her voice in that book. It’s unapologetic and gritty enough to jolt you. Some of the stuff that happens in that story is unbelievable. Everyone should read it, I think.

S-If you could sit down for a drink with five historical figures living or dead (and yes they can be musicians) who would they be and why?

Five historical figures, hmm.

1. Jimi Hendrix – Nope, I never met him or even saw a single show. Just to talk to him would reduce me to a jabbering puddle of fanboydom. Even the fucking Pope couldn’t elicit that kind of response from me.
2. Jim Morrison – I want to hear what really happened the night he died.
3. Peter Steele – I want to thank him for enriching so many lives and giving me inspiration in my work.
4. Robert Johnson – I want to know how that deal with the Devil worked out for him. You probably have no idea what I mean, so here’s a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson#Devil_legend
5. Marilyn Monroe – Who the hell wouldn’t want to meet Norma Jean?

S-So tell us....what's next for Xan, what does the future hold?

Well, I got a book coming out in August 2012, (yes I know that’s like forever away, but hey, it’s before the scheduled end of the world) called Crooked Fang. It’s the story of how I figure out that maybe I’m not as dead inside as I think. A series of events stumble over my legs and land my ass in a lot of weird predicaments.

The sequel to Crooked Fang, called Pale Rider, is in production right now. It’s not quite done, but promises to be a little darker than Crooked Fang. Still, it’s a bunch of new lessons I gotta learn in order to make my way in the world. Being a vampire isn’t easy, I know that.

What I didn’t know was how hard it is to stay human.

S-it sure isn't is it?

Understatement of the year. Easier to just be one or the other, for reals.

S-Well Xan I just want to thank you for stopping by my little blog here. Next time I promise to come to Pinecliffe, so we can drink whiskey and talk music like proper folks.

Sure thing, remember we’re closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. And I’m always up for talking about music. Really appreciate the opportunity.

I highly suggest you all following Xan on twitter... @crookedfang....he is highly entertaining, and will school you on music and some other more questionable things. DO IT! You won't be sorry...

Oh yes and don't forget to download that free story, it's a fun read... here is the link again! http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3520560.Carrie_Clevenger

Carrie Clevenger and Nerine Dorman worked together on Just My Blood Type as you might know, but what you may not know, is there’s a new collaboration coming out soon, called Blood and Fire. X

*****************UPDATE***********************************
 you can buy Blood and Fire at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble .. Both Nook and Kindle formats available! It's one wild ride!

ALSO THE MOST EXCITING NEWS*******************************
COMING AUGUST 2012
Xan's book CROOKED FANG now has an awesome cover and blurb and I thought I would share it with you...




Sometimes a vampire's past can bite him in the ass.
 Xan Marcelles--bassist for Crooked Fang, vampire and full-time asshole, is content with his quiet existence in the backwoods of Pinecliffe, Colorado. But life at the Pale Rider tavern is set to become a little more complicated when he gets entangled with a feisty, blue-haired damsel and her abusive soon-to-be ex-boyfriend. To add to his woes, he’s gone from hunter to hunted, and his past returns to haunt him when a phone call draws him back to New Mexico. With the help of friends from his living past, he must get to the bottom of a murder, and figure out where he stands with his lover and his band, all while keeping one step ahead of his enemies. Hiding won’t be easy for him, especially with a mysterious woman dogging him every step of the way. 

Here is the e book cover~

 and here is Xan on the print cover... Nice eh???

Nerine Dorman’s author page: http://www.facebook.com/nerine

Crookedfang’s page: http://www.facebook.com/CrookedFang