COUNTDOWN TO THE METAL SUCKFEST: ULTRAGEIST’S JUSTIN WAALAND
The Inaugural Metal Suckfest is almost here!!!! Twenty bands will DESTROY The Gramercy Theatre on November 4 and 5, PLUS there’s an awesome, five-band pre-party at the venue the night before, making this THE can’t-miss hang of the year.
Tickets are on sale now right here, and you can hit up the fest’s official website for more info on the shows, including the complete line-up. In the meantime, we’re counting down to this weekend of chaos and debauchery by speaking to one member from each band on the bill. We continue today with guitarist Justin Waaland of Ultrageist, whose music you can check out here.
Read our chat after the jump. And don’t forget to check back in the coming days and weeks for interviews with more of the musicians participating in this awesome event!!!
What other festivals have you played before, if any?
We have played Bamboozle the past two years, and the most recent SXSW. We also celebrate Festivus every year
What was your best and worst festival experience (as a performer, not as a fan)? You don’t have to name the specific fest if you don’t want, we’re not trying to get you to burn bridges.
A particularly low moment happened on our way to Bamboozle one year. The back windows of our van exploded, sprinkling glass shards all over our freshly open Subway sandwiches. A pretty inconvenient event to happen to hungry people. On the brighter side, at the Booze this year, we were able to work an impromptu tag team match in the lucha ring before doors opened. A high point not only in festival terms, but life in general.
Any tips to fans for having the best possible festival experience?
Be open to leaving your comfort zone and watching a band that you’ve never heard of before. You never know who will surprise you. Also, wear socks. Long ones.
For people who are too stupid to read the poster,, which day is your band playing Suckfest?
On the second day, Saturday, November 5th, 2011.
Can you tell us anything about the set your band is planning for Suckfest?
Which band or bands (besides your own, duh) are you most stoked are gonna be at Suckfest?
Honestly, I’m pretty excited to see just about everyone on bill, but I’m probably going to cry while watching Cynic. There was also a good four year period where I didn’t miss The Red Chord in NY, so I will certainly be getting weird in the crowd for their set.
When you were first contacted about appearing at something called “Suckfest,” were you at all concerned that you were being propositioned to appear in a porno movie?
Concerned? No. Disappointed when it turned out not to be a porno? Biggest understatement of the year.
Is it awesome or weird that Axl Rosenberg’s parents are coming to Suckfest?
It’s awesome! Unless, it’s weird… I love parents.
On a scale of one to ten, one being a freshly douched vagina and ten being your balls at the end of a performance, how badly will the Gramercy Theater reek of B.O. by the end Suckfest?
You know when you just say “fuck it” to showering and laundry for a month in the summer, but you say “fuck yeah” to playing lawn games and bike riding with your friends all day, everyday? And the whole time, you’re barefoot or wearing sandals, and your feet look like Jerry Lawler’s right before the “Kiss My Foot” match with Bret Hart at the 1995 King of the Ring? Then, right before a couple of your best friends have had just about enough, you actually smell yourself, and it takes you a minute or two to come to terms with the fact that your body can even be capable of such bromhidrosis? Then you have to give these long, heartfelt apology speeches to everyone you care about?
Yeah, I love that.
I can’t wait for that ten, and to bask in it for as long as possible.
Finally, how bad is Suckfest gonna suck?
Oh it’s going to suck, but it’ll be a glorious, beautifully thick suck. And we can’t wait to suck it along with everyone.
Read other entries in the Countdown to The Metal Suckfest series here.
