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By MarQ Manner
Article originally from the "City Weekly" the news and entertainment weekly of Omaha, Lincoln, and Council Bluffs.
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Filthy Few serving up 'spazz-a-billy'
Friday, January 18, 2008
When I got the call that the Filthy Few had a new album coming out and that the band wanted to set up an interview to talk about that and this week's CD release parties, I had a good idea of what I was in for. There was going to be little chance of a straight quote, actual facts, or a humble assessment of their own music. What is known for sure is that the band will be performing two shows this coming weekend to promote the release of their new CD "Wealth And Hell Being." The first will be Friday, Jan. 18 at he 49'r with School Of Arms, and then the following day is an all ages affair at Shea Riley's with Bloodcow, the Clincher and the Jealous Lovers.
The band has been playing on and off for about 10 years now and while others have tried, no one has been as unpredictable and "shocking" as this band has been on stage during that time. The band plays what they call "spazz-o-billy," which is heavily rooted in rock-a-billy, punk, hard rock and old- school country. Three of the members were once a respected death metal band called Diabolic Possession and the technicality involved in playing that genre along with its penchant to do the unthinkable onstage is also evident in the band's music.
The band started out in bassist Steve "Tuco" Jacobs' basement with his brother and a drum machine they called "Bag Baum." The story goes that they then added a real drummer, Brian Dyer, and that vocalist Chad Lottmann just kicked in the door to become their vocalist. Lottmann points out that his feet are a size 13. Jacobs states, "We didn't want him in the band he just had bigger boots." The band played for a few years and made a name for themselves around town, but substance and alcohol abuse took its toll on the band and they split. With the substance abuse behind them the band reformed and finally made it to Warehouse Studios to record "Health And Well Being." I am sure that even while recording the band was putting on a show. Vocalist Chad Lottmann is known for not being able to stay in one spot for very long and Jacobs said, "He had to use a 40-foot cord in the studio. Chad could not just stand there and sing."
Lottman added, "There was no muff pad for me."
Original drummer Dyer left for an out of town job after the recordings, and now the band is rounded out by Dave Collins on drums and original guitar player Eric Hahn. When asked why they reformed, Lottman answered, "Love for the music. We had to spread the Filth. We had to create the lovers and make the haters." Jacobs added, "Jesus had 12 disciples to get his message out. We only have three and we have also have a message. We don't need to be as big as Christianity." Hahn then chimed in that he thought they actually should "shoot for Christianity." The rest of the band of course then agreed. When asked what they are actually shooting for the band said they would like to get a big tour opening up for a band like Nashville Pussy or the Reverend Horton Heat. The band would also like to "infect the all-ages crowd." Lottmann further explains, "We have played mostly 21 and over shows. We really want children. We want to make parents hate us." That shouldn't be hard for a band that when asked about the concept of their record stated that the first word on it is Lucifer and the last word is Diablo Ole. Said Hahn, "It starts with Satan and ends with Satan." Jacobs also added, "The name is 'Wealth and Hell Being.' I think my brother said that on accident once. It is about doing what you want to do and what makes you feel happy, even though it is not what is necessarily best for you."
The band is best known to date for their live shows, which includes costumes, onstage anarchy, and some of the best and most experienced musicians in town. Jacobs said, "It's just a wild and crazy thing and we don't fit into different genres, but our band fits in with many different types of shows. We do what we want." Lottmann wanted to focus on one aspect of the live show when asked about it: "I like to get naked on stage. I like to show my ding-a-ling on stage." He spoke of one on-stage incident in particular: "It was the year of the cock and I broke it out and someone performed oral sex on it." Jacobs added, "It will be on the DVD."