Let me introduce you to ˈGranny the Matriarch of Metalˈ of Granny 4 Barrel she is not afraid to grab the Bull by the horns, on the ˈ’Year of the Bull Tourˈ,’ and I’m going along for the ride. Sunday, May 27th at 1720 Los Angeles, California on tour with Texas Hippie Coalition, Kobra and the Lotus and Brand of Julez. I had the pleasure of sitting down with the surrogate Granny of Metal before the show for a friendly chat.
As I enter the tour bus and around the corner, Granny is sitting there with her cane, all I could do was greet her with a smile, sitting directly across from her to start the interview. Granny 4 Barrel is based out of New York City, I was taken back by the southern drawl, as nervousness sets in, what comes out of my mouth, do you always have that accent? I must transcribe this, as she replies ˈWell darlin I’m in characterˈ as the giddiness came over me, we began.
I’m sitting here with Granny of Granny 4 Barrel at the club 1720 in Los Angeles, California.
Hello very nice to meet you.
Granny: Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Tammy!
In doing my research I read you started at a Halloween Party, a few years ago, what year was that?
Well, that was more than a few. It was about 7 years ago, alright? And, you know, it started out as, “I wonder what it would be like if a badass old woman fronted a metal band?” And now, here we are, 7 years later. I guess it’s working out!
It sounds like you’ve been together a few years; sorry to say I am just being introduced to Granny 4 Barrel; I’m sure there are others. Can you introduce yourself and give us a brief synopsis of the band?
I sure can! So, alright, it’s like this avant-garde, steampunk, shock-rock, psycho circus. So if you like theatrical heavy metal, with a hybrid mix of fiddle and electronics, you’re going to love this band! And you got to think of Granny as your surrogate metal granny that you always wished you had because that’s what it is.
Granny 4 Barrel released the single Freak Flag along with a music video, exciting concept; you have all walks of people in this video. How did this come about and is there a message you are trying to convey?
Yeah, I mean, you know, it came about because, really, that’s what we are. You know, I say this onstage, I’m going to say it tonight: The older I get, the less time I got, and the less time I got, the less fucks that I give about what people think. So, it’s about being authentic, and freedom of expression. That’s what we’re trying to get across: Non-conformity. And I do think I represent the rebellious spirit of rock-and-roll!
I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’ve got a little bit of the giggles right now, so I…
It’s alright! I mean, you know, it’s liberating!
Now, your song She Likes Guns, directed by Stormy Daniels how did this come about?
So, we’re on Mighty Loud Records. Now, the owner of that record label is Jesse James Dupree, the singer for Jackyl. Jesse’s friends with Stormy. So, before “Freak Flag” came out on the radio, “She Likes Guns” was going to be the first single, so last year, in L.A., one year ago, in like a couple of days, we were down here. We connected with Stormy because some people don’t realize that she does videos. She’s a cinematographer, and she makes rock videos. So, long before Stormy was in the news, we came down here, we did a video. And the song was ready to go, the video was ready to go, but then radio got sketched out because it’s the title, “She Likes Guns” is controversial. I mean, the song isn’t, I don’t think that it is, but they don’t like the title, so we said, “Why don’t we pull that, and release ‘Freak Flag’ instead?” So now, fast forward to a few months ago, and we said, “Hey! Guess who’s in the news lately? We got a video from her. How about we put it out?” And that’s where we’re at.
Were the guns real or props?
They were real guns, because, I mean, it’s “Granny 4 Barrel”! Real guns!
Beautiful women are toting guns that should get your attention.
I believe it should!
You’ve touched base on this prior, with all the shootings, and the talk of gun control is the forefront of the news, has there been any backlash on this video?
Well, I mean, as soon as you put the title “Guns” in something, there’s going to be controversy. But I can assure people when you listen to the lyrics of this song, this ain’t about killing people, innocent people, any people. It’s about a badass woman who’s taken down a villain. Now, you can choose to interpret that metaphorical, or physical, but it’s about the woman having the power. And one of the things I like best is when a woman gets revenge. And that’s the thread that goes through the song, “She Likes Guns.” “She’s armed in the bedroom; she’s packing at church. She’s got one in her corset…” Wait a second; I fucked up my own verse! “She’s armed in the bedroom; she’s packing at work. She’s got one in her corset when she goes to church.” And then the last stanza is, “Hammer to powder, powder to force, she’ll put down a villain on his villainous course.” I mean, that’s the lyrics to the song.
Nice!!! With two singles, two music videos is there a full album in the works?
There is a full album! It’s all ready to be released, right now. We’re just waiting for Jesse James…
Already out?
Yeah, well, I mean, it’s about to be out. Whenever the label says, it’s time.
Wheww I thought I missed something… And the name of the album?
It’s “Deal with the Devil: A Compendium of Wicked Sonic Schemes, by Granny 4 Barrel.”
Also, you have a violinist?
Yes, ma’am!
What does the violin bring to your music, or even the sound, altogether?
Well, you know, I’m fond of bluegrass, and I’m fond of classical. And I think the violin fits heavy metal perfectly. And it just gives us a little bit of a different palette. You know, we can expand and do things that you… not only can you do almost everything on a fiddle that you can do with guitar, but you can do the other stuff that you can’t do on a guitar. And when you see the maestro play tonight, you’ll know what I’m talking about. You got a 5-string electric Steinberger playing out of a marshal amp; you’re going to see what I mean. When he wants to sound like a guitar, and it does, but he can also switch over. And that’s how I like the diversity of that.
Thanks!! What can the fans expect tonight at the show, and make the others wish they were at the show?
Well, again: We’re all about freedom of expression. We got this avant-garde theatrical shock-rock Victorian-era look, we mix it up with a hybrid style of music, so you’re going to get shock theater at its finest, and Granny might even tell a story.
Only one?
On stage, that’s right! Well, she might tell a few. We got 30 minutes to pack it all in. Which you ain’t going to forget, let me just tell you. You come out tonight; you ain’t going to forget it!
You are coming down to the end of this tour with Texas Hippie Coalition and Kobra and the Lotus. How has the journey been?
You know, it’s been an awesome four-band package. I mean, the bands are fantastic. Every night’s a great show. We’ve almost been on the road two months now, and I’m sad to see it coming to an end, so I’m getting ready and talking about the next one.
Has there been anything that you’ve learned on this tour that, “Eh, okay, we won’t do the next time around?”
I mean, if I had one word, just “Patience.” Patience and Balance, two words! There you go. Have some patience and have some balance. Oh, wait, I got the third one: Be diplomatic. We’re dealing with a lot of humans here.
I never know how to end these interviews, I want to thank you very much for your time and thank you for waiting for me to get here!
That’s alright! I mean, there’s no problem at all.
I look forward to seeing you on the stage. As I said, it’s my first time seeing you, and now I know a little bit about you, I’ll also be photographing the show.
Well, I sure do appreciate you coming over to the bus and hanging out. Do you want to get a picture before you leave? Let’s do it!
Yes, I do, actually!!
Granny: Alright!
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