Interviews: Sleeve Cannon

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Rock band, Sleeve Cannon, from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Kyle Tapia: It reminds me of a buff pirate.

Andre Velasco: Wait, Anton, don’t you know the original story?

Anton Terrell: Haha, yeah I was playing this 10 hour board game called Twilight Imperium with Christian, Trey (Abraham), and Emily, and some other guy I have never associated with again, and at one point, Emily had a cannon figurine, like a space cannon on her sleeve, and she was moving her arm and I was like “Look out, your sleeve cannon is going to fall.” And Trey was like “Dude, that’d be such an awesome band name.” And at that point, we were actively trying to come up with a band name, so we put it on the list with like 8 other band names. When push came to shove to decide on a name, that was the one Kyle and Andre were most receptive to.

Tre Pham: I think it’s a great band name. When you look it up, we’re on the first page, I think.

AT: Yeah, it’s hard to find original band names.

TP: Yeah, especially without being vulgar. I originally thought that it meant a sleeve of tattoos.  

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

AV: It makes me feel free to play whatever I want with other people. I feel like we’re not boxed into a certain category and what’s why I feel like we’re pretty open-minded in comparison to other groups. We’re writing what we like to hear. 

TP: Well, Andre, how would you define our genre?

AV: I don’t know. It’s hard to define. I say we’re like a little bit noisy, a little bit of rock, kind of bluesy, kind of funk, poppy, psychedelic, garage, some punk. All sorts of genres mixed together.

KT: I’m a little bit country, you’re a little bit rock n roll.

TP: Cock rock obviously.

KT: I always tell people we're psychedelic rock, but I know I’m wrong. And I say, “Well, my bandmates know this shit way better than me.”

TP: I describe it as garage rock, with elements of punk and psychedelic.

AT: Yeah, I usually say psychedelic garage rock.

TP: We’re very raw, in the best way.  

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?   

AT: Kyle and I did from high school. I met Tre and Andre through doing music. Andre responded to my Craigslist ad.

TP: I remember Sheilava played a show with Sleeve Cannon, and that’s how I met you guys. At the venue, Bubba’s Backyard.

KT: Tre, I remember you and I played guitar together at Bethony’s (Lady Chops & The Goddamn Jam) house show for like 45 minutes.    

4. Each band member's favorite band?

KT: As in We from Santa Fe. No longer active but so incredibly talented.

AV: I have too many favorite bands, but I’ll name one, The Pixies, they’re one of my favorite bands.

AT: Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Of Montreal. Too hard to pick just one. Favorite local bands are Big Bill and the Black Angels

TP: Vulpeck and Lake Street Dive.  

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

TP: Daylynn (my gf)

KT: You guys, I hear what you guys create and it inspires me to put some beats over it

AT: I would say everyday life situations that I can’t express through words, it’s better to express through songs. It’s cool to channel what I feel into songs.

AV: Other peoples’ artwork and films, which inspires me to create my own. I want to write something unique or something that isn’t there yet and collaborate with other people to make it a reality.  

6. Where was your last gig?   

AT: Sahara Lounge, pre-COVID. We also played Mohawk and Empire Control Room that same week (Bands for Bernie). Better times for sure.  

7. Where would you like to act?   

KT: Blues on the Green. 

AV: Austin 360. 

TP: Stubbs. ACL.

AT: NPR Tiny Desk and Roadburn Festival  

8. Whom would you like to feature with?   

TP: Jackson Brooks, he’s a synth wizard and he just got a keytar.

AV: Someone who can play a synthesizer or keys as a guest.

AT: Yvonne Lambert from the Octopus project on guest vocals and theremin. 

KT: A very talented local rapper, You F. Oh of the group FOCI.    

9. Whom not? 

AT: We love everyone. 

TP: We're the most inclusive band ever.  

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

AT: Yes, I have suffered from it. My advice is to ignore it and pretend that people aren’t there until you’re comfortable and use that energy or anxiety to get you energized.

KT: My bit of advice is performing in front of someone that you care about because they’re the ones you’re going to be the most nervous about. Your heart will race harder than it does playing in front of a thousand people. If you can master the confidence in front of the people you love, then you can play anywhere.

AV: I would recommend to keep practicing at it and then they will become more comfortable playing in front of an audience.

TP: I use to suffer from stage fright pretty bad when I first started, but I also can’t see anything four feet in front of me, so I just take my glasses off, and it’s pretty good.

KT: Also, in order to combat stage fright, you must learn to know how to do backflips. Instant crowd- pleaser.

TP: The pressure will make you get that flip.   

11. What bands have inspired you the most?   

KT: Blink 182. In pop-punk, drummers often have to fill the space that the guitarists and bassists aren’t doing. There are unique and intricate beats that are catchy, unique, and interesting.

AV: I’m inspired by the journey of Radiohead because they started out as an alternative grunge rock band and have transformed into acoustic rock/indie rock and then broke boundaries with a more electronic feel in their album, Kid A. I’m really inspired by bands that take a chance in doing something that’s so different from what they were doing before.    

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

KT: I think I ask fans for weirder stuff than anything they ask me.

AT: Honestly someone came up to me after a show and asked, “Hey, you know where to get coke, right?”

KT: Obviously man, look at you. You weren’t on anything during that performance?

AT: No way. Natural energy, maybe a few drinks.

TP: I got asked for a CD, and that was pretty weird for me.

AV: I was asked to walk someone back to her car.  

13. What do you think of your fans?

TP: What’s wrong with you, get your ears checked.

KT: Why us?

AT: Do you really even exist?

AV: Um, they’re pretty cool.  

14. What do you think of our site?  

AT: Pretty good site. It looks like it’s a lot of metal, hardcore, and punk; really well organized.

AV: It is a really well-organized site.

AT: Glad that they are giving attention to newer bands.  

15. Something add?

Favorite songs on the album:

AT: Wrecked & Unaccompanied

AV: Unaccompanied & Cave

KT: Unaccompanied & Leviathan

TP: Despot & Cave & Vault