It’s time to discover what will be one of your favorite rock albums of 2008: Get Used by Los Angeles’ own The Vacation, which was released digitally on May 20th. Get Used is the answer to our rock n roll resurrection prayers. From the dirty ballads to the raging guitar solo’s, The Vacation know what rock n roll is about and we recently got a few minutes with frontman Ben Tegel…
High Voltage: Introduce yourself, your band and your role in the band.
Ben Tegel: Hi, my name is Ben and I’m the singer in The Vacation. Pleased to meet you!
HV: What does “rock n roll” mean to you?
Ben: Rock N Roll means driving fast in an import with no A/C down a
lonesome highway on a spooky hot August night, the words she said
turning over & over in your mind like a deranged hamster in a tiny
carnival wheel.
HV: What’s your favorite thing about being onstage?
Ben: When I forget that I’m onstage, you know what I’m saying?
HV: Your new album, Get Used, hit the online stores on May 20th.
What’s your favorite memory from the writing or recording process of
this album? Maybe a moment you just knew you had written something
stellar?
Ben: I wrote a lotta the words while I was walking my dog, Niko, in the
neighborhood around my old apartment in Silver Lake. It was very
peaceful, a lotta nice flowers & cactus gardens. I was able to call
forth the lyrics to the songs in this environment.
HV: If you could be any other member of your band The Vacation, who
would you be and why?
Ben: Hmmm…I guess I’d be our bass player, Dutch, so I’d know what it’s
like to be Dutch for a little while, as long as I could eventually go
back to being myself, ‘cuz I don’t know how long I’d survive in
Dutch’s shoes. He has those Viking & pirate genes in him from way
back.
HV: What’s something you can’t shake from your thoughts right now?
Something you’d like to vent about? Maybe someone that’s all over the
news you’re tired of hearing about? Or even an environmental issue
that needs action?
Ben: I’m tired of hearing about Obama. Don’t get suckered. A little advice
from Mr. Pete Townsend: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Don’t
get fooled again.
HV: What are your Top 5 albums of all-time?
Ben: Not in order, really:
The Stooges – Fun House
Captain Beefheart – Trout Mask Replica
Tom Waits – Rain Dogs
Dr. John the Night Tripper – Gris Gris
The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
HV: Anything else you’d like to add? Feel free here.
Ben: If you’d like to find freedom, your instinct may be to try everything.
This will only work for a little while. Eventually you will have to
put limits on yourself. Through limitation, the mind is able to
visualize & achieve beauty.