Buried Inside released an incredible album last in, in Iconoclast, and their live show, which I witnessed for the first time on February 4, 2006, was jaw dropping. This interview was conducted with vocalist Nick Von Shaw, who had some very intelligent things to say, including some kind words for fellow Canadians Propagandhi.

PL: State your name.
BI: Nick.

PL: State an interesting fact about this tour so far.
BI: We lost a van. The van died in Memphis, TN, and within two hours we sold it for $150 and we're riding a cheap van.

PL: How does it feel to live in one of the biggest countries in the world?
BI: Geographically. Its good. I understand that the U.S. is trying to take some of our Artic territory.
PL: Yeah, when that shit melts, you guys are gonna be fucking rich. You'll have some nice resorts and stuff.
BI: Yeah, we'll have somewhere to flee when it all starts heating up. We can all start an exodus up north.
PL: Do you have trouble describing the style of music you listen to to people?
BI: We don't listen to a particular style. Like most people, I assume that people listen to a variety of things.
PL: When people ask me that, I always cringe because I'll explain it and they don't understand.
BI: Yeah, its problematic, trying to address certain oral sounds and using language to address that. I always say that music is constantly trying to fuck over the terms that are being used for it. If music doesn't do that, than inevitably it will get murdered by the terms. I have a lot of issues with language in general. Language appropriates something intangible and focuses it on something inparticular, and two things that are completely different can be symbolized by the same sign or word, even though they're two different things. The point being is that the whole thing is problematic.

PL: Do you think record labels will ever become extinct?
BI: Right now, it seems more than ever that record labels are becoming more valued; that there is a global change that independent labels can go a lot further. I work at a record store, and more and more, the top selling records-even the more commercial music-are more and more indie labels. It seems to me more than ever that they have equal opportunity with a major label. In Canada, a lot of independent bands are top names. We have a couple friends in a band called Arcade Fire that are pretty popular. In Canada, especially, they are a top band. They toured with U2 across Canada, and they're an independent band. The top band in the country doesn't have to rely on going with the four major labels. Maybe, its the furthest thing from extinct right now.
PL: Since you work at a record store, do you check out other record stores while on tour?
BI: I just check out used vinyl only. Everything else, I can order. Some things are harder to get in Canada, but certain things I can just order.
PL: Do you ever compare your store with other record stores?
BI: No. Its completely different. A lot of times, things are more expensive; not just because of the currency exchange, but things are a lot more expensive in Canada. Also depending on where you are; if you're on an island or up north, things are pretty pricey. That goes with food or anything.

PL: Which dinosaur do you think is the coolest?
BI: I was always into the-I'll describe it and see if you can get the name. It was turtle back with spikes and had a long tail that was kind of like a mace.
PL: Did it have three horns?
BI: Yeah.
PL: I think thats a Triceratops (though it may have been a Stegasaurus).
PL: Do you feel any pressure in having to write a follow up album?
BI: No. We play small shows and we don't really feel that our band is under a microscope or anything like that. Thats kind of off in the distance. We don't feel like a band like High on Fire, who have a lot of people into their band, and they have a lot more to live up to. I don't feel that we're in that position. We're more self interested than anything else.

PL: Whats one movie everyone should see?
BI: I would say "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia," especially if people are into stuff like Relapse Records and punk and don't know that movie. Its a movie that would appeal to people who like to see a lot of mass killing. It has a really great character.
PL: Whats a little known fact about Relapse Records?
BI: I don't know. What do people know about Relapse? I think that misconceptions that people think of when they think of labels is that they disattach the people that run it from the logo and what that label logo means to them. But, when it comes down to it, its just a few people that run it, and its just part of their daily lives. I'm amazed-I was there two days ago, and two of the people, James and Gordon, were standing together talking, and they were both wearing nice white button up shirts on this particular day, and they both looked so well put together. And, if you looked in the background of this visual image I have of them talking together, there's Nile posters. Its just funny that these two guys could look so conservative and be so friendly anf run one of the biggest metal, thrash hardcore labels in the world.

PL: Name one album, besides your own, that you think all kids should have in their collection.
BI: Well, this year, I've been trying to promote a Canadian band, Propagandhi. Their new record is Potemkin City Limits. They've toured the West Coast two months ago, but I think they'll be coming through in the Spring. I personally think that this is the best record they've ever done.
PL: I got How to Clean Everything when I was 15 and just getting into punk, so that one will always be my favorite.
BI: How to Clean Everything, when you go back and look at it now, sounds more like NOFX than I thought about then. I love that record too, but the new one is just-
PL: Its angry.
BI: Yeah, I don't want to give it a record review, but I'll just say that I recommend it, even though a lot of people have gotten back to me and said that they haven't gotten into it at all.
PL: That album has gotten the most criticism out of all their reviews I've seen.
BI: I haven't read any anything that people have written about it. The one thing I'll say about this as opposed to all their previous records: there's always parts of their other records that you'd want to skip. There's always a couple little things, but with this record, I love listening to every track.

PL: Do you have any final comments?
BI: Stay off our Artic Circle.
PL: Okay.
BI: I don't know. I've been away the last few weeks, and it seems like a lot of people here weren't as aware, but there was a national federal election in Canada about ten days ago, so I'm interested in getting back to see whats going on.
PL: I think the only reason I heard about that was because of The Daily Show. I think the Republican guys-the Conservatives won.
BI: Thats the thing. Canadian politics is not the same as U.S. politics. Just like the idea of anthropomorphization, which is looking at an animal with human characteristics. Its the same with the political landscape of Americans looking at Canada and trying to see things through their political system, which is very different than the Parliamentary system. U.S.A. Today headline was something like: "Liberals out, Conservatives Destroy," when really all they did was win the minority government. They have no power, but they have the leader. They got 123 seats and the liberals got 103 seats of the 380 seat cabinet. Its not a blowout one way or another, so its ind of misinforming how the media outlets like U.S.A. Today present it.
PL: Thats pretty much America.
BI: As much as I've said that people can be oblivious down here, its the same for us. We've been away, and we're going to Canada in three days to see what the hell is going on with our country.

Interview by: RF

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