Check out our recent interview with El Paso’s groove masters – Little King!
For the unfortunate few who don’t know who you are, would you mind introducing yourselves?
Little King: For sure… and God help them when they DO meet me.
I am just a dude with a guitar who is OCD when it comes to releasing albums. Learning other people’s songs never much appealed to me. I wanted to BE the guy someone was listening to, not be LIKE that guy. So here we are, 32 years or so after I got my first guitar, and I am churning it out.
I’d also like to say that I’m a business owner, a dad, and sports-a-holic, all of which are being egregiously disrupted by the current virus scare.
In the effort of getting know each other better – if you could be a sandwich, what sandwich would you be?
Little King: There’s a place called Baggin’s in Tucson, AZ. I spend many an altered day or evening there, and they had a Santa Fe sandwich which entered my consciousness forever. Multi-grain bread, Swiss cheese, sprouts, tomato, avocado, peppers, and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember. ‘Cuz altered, you know. But I have been a vegetarian for like 25 years, so if I was a self-sandwich, I’d go uneaten by the masses.`
Tell us about your latest release…
Little King: We released Occam’s Foil in late late 2019, and it’s been really well-received thus far. We are now charting on US College Radio and the press has been amazing. I think we nailed it (go to www.littlekingtunes.com for the whole story.)
There are 5 songs on the EP, and while they all sound like Little King, they are diverse enough to keep a 20 minute listening party interesting. A little of this, a little of that. You pissed? Listen to “Hate Counter.” You pissed at your Ex? “The Skin That I’m In.” And so on…
Have you had a chance to hit the road yet?
Little King: Nah… haven’t toured yet. We were getting ready to this summer, with a bunch of festivals and then shows to be booked around them, but when Coachella was cancelled, everyone stopped everything. I’ve already had shows in Nashville and DC cancel, so we are in a holding pattern. Taking the time to get tighter and write new material. Will announce show soon, though!
Have you got any crazy tour stories you can share with the world?
Little King: Okay, hide the women and children, though.
I’m pretty tame, dude. I mean, back in the day there was a lot of debauchery and sex/drug/rock and roll from my bandmates, but most of the time I’ve spent on the road was as a sober and married guy. I’m so pretentious that I actually care about my voice and performance, so I prepare for shows and tours like an athlete. Chill on that shit.
I’ve had drummers erupt on stage and throw their kick drum at me at the end of a show. That was fun. Was my fault, I guess. I did miss a cue! We had to cancel a show in Fresno one night because someone had shot and killed an extra at a hip hop video that had been filmed there earlier in the day. But those are about the only things I care to mention at this time. Wink wink.
Here at Upside Down Shark we discuss a wide breadth of pop-culture, including music, movies, TV, video games and the like. So with that in mind, if you could have a track featured in anything, whether it be any of the above on even a wrestling theme, what would it be?
Little King: I want “Hate Counter” in a documentary about the situation on the border in the USA. We recorded that song (and all LK albums) in the city of El Paso, which for the uninitiated is on the Mexico/US border. I wrote it in response to driving by the camps where children had been separated from their families who were crossing into the US seeking asylum and a better life. This also happened around the time of a mass shooting in a Walmart in El Paso, so it was driven by anger and exasperation. The music seems conducive to that kind of movie, too. Let’s do it!
Name one thing on your band bucket list…
Little King: That’s easy… I want to do a month long successful tour in Europe. I’ve been to Europe a few times and lived in the UK as a child, and I love it there. All of it. European audiences are responsive to our music, and so many of my friends in bands have had a blast over there. In fact, our drummer, Eddy Garcia, has played in every country in Western Europe and most of Eastern Europe and Russia as well. His band is Pissing Razors, a metal band with a good European fanbase. He’s also been with Overkill and Ministry, so he tells some great tales about Europe. Oh… if you want road stories, that dude is literally WRITING A BOOK about it.
What would be your inspirational quote to share with the world?
Little King: “Find your passion and full speed ahead.”
What does 2020 have in store for you?
Little King: Touring, another album, resuscitating my business after the impending devastation of the global economy, and trying to stay healthy. 2020 started off all fucked when Neil Peart died. No one really even knew he was sick outside of the band and close friends, and it’s kinda gone downhill from there. Hopefully things turn around… but it sure as hell is great fodder for another, darker record.
What’s your favourite shark?
Little King: Big fan of the Landshark from Saturday Night Live. Good shit. Honourable mention for the Dogfish, for which the most successful small business in my state of Delaware is named after (Dogfish Head Brewery).
Many thanks to Little King for sitting down to chat to us. Check them out here!
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