Mike Blaha (The Blind Shake/BLAHA/Shadow in the Cracks)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2017? (In order 1-5)
- The Stallion - The Dark Side of the Wall triple LP
- Chain & the Gang - Experimental Music
- Golden Pelicans - Disciples of Blood
- Hand and Leg - s/t
- Exploded View - Summer Camp Early EP
2. What band did you discover in 2017 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Got to rediscover The Make Up and Man or Astroman? in 2017 when we had a chance to play with them during a European Tour. Their live shows destroy so much of what is considered good today. Their sense of urgency is contagious. I don't always see that from popular current bands. I hope they understand that if you have low energy in your twenties, it's not going to get better with each passing decade. It's okay to be excited about what you do! You can wear a long, baggy Garfield shirt and still give a damn. Those don't have to be opposites.
3. How will you remember 2017? (In terms of music)
I'll definitely remember all the deaths. But I think from the aging demographic of rock legends, we'll see even more in 2018. Hopefully no more deaths of people as young as Lil' Peep. I don't know anything about emo-rap. It's sounds like it would be a laughing stock within 5 years, but it sucks that a kid made the death list of 2017. He didn't get to experience much in life. Must be devastating for his family.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2018?
A new BLAHA album and a new acoustic album as Blaha & Costello. A new Blind Shake single is coming out on God Unkown Records in the UK, too.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2018?
Hot Snakes new record due in the Spring of 2018!
6. For most, 2017 will be remembered as a year of political and social conflict. How does that cultural atmosphere influence your own music or artistic life?
I find myself not very active on Twitter other than to troll the president these days. I originally thought I'd use it to post shows about the new band and follow bands I like, but I'd rather make wisecracks to Trump fans to hurt their feelings and frustrate them. The political climate hasn't really directly made it into my lyrics, since I don't want to be limited by rhyming or meter or melody if I'm intent on letting my political opinions fly. But it definitely gives me a type of lone-wolf stress that is best released by creating music.
