The Grand Rapids band with a twist on death rock and a Halloween album release date made its debut for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered tracks by Coffin Problem, The Outer Vibe, The Change, The Alien Dogs and more. (Story, podcast)
Challenging Listeners: Bunny Villaire, left, and Veil of Tail from the Crypt. (Photo/Local Spins)
There’s an air of mystery about Tail from the Crypt, and singer Bunny Villaire wants to keep it that way.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
“Perhaps our songs are like riddles and spells in a way,” Villaire suggests of the Grand Rapids group that initially aimed to “mesh classical with rock ‘n’ roll and metal and goth” in a way that challenged listeners.
Halloween Band: Tail from the Crypt during Local Spins on WYCE.
“I’ve always cherished bands that took a couple listens – songs that had a thing to them that made you come back again and again. We wanted to interpret (the) goth, dark glam, post-punk thing our own way like the multi-faceted bands of the ’80s.”
That mystery even extends to appearance: Band guitarist Veil wore a black robe and mask – and didn’t speak – during Tail from the Crypt’s visit this week to WYCE-FM’s studios for Local Spins on WYCE.
“We feel like we’re a Halloween band and we fit well on Halloween,” Villaire offers, noting Tail from the Crypt plans to release its full-length debut album on Oct. 31. “But there’s a lot of things that differentiate us because it’s our take on the whole death rock, dark kind of stuff.”
Formed in 2013, the experimental and exotic “darkwave” band is culled from former members of well-known local bands Corrosive Kids, Our Dying Embrace, Wicker Basket and Aria Flame. The current lineup features lead singer and chief songwriter Villaire, guitarist Veil, keyboardist/vocalist Alicia Menninga and electronics whiz/percussionist Jeremy Ensley.
HEADING IN THEIR OWN DIRECTION — IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH
Perhaps even more intriguingly, the group is committed to bilingual (French and English) lyrics and a radically different approach to songwriting.
“The driving force behind the Tail would be a form of protest toward bands that sound the same, and the death of the storytelling in songwriting that was more prevalent (from the ’50s through the ’80s),” Villaire says.
“Our band is about being bilingual and challenging the idea that we need to understand a song for it to touch us. There is a problem with different race relations in Grand Rapids and elsewhere in the United States, and we want to try and break down the ignorance about different languages and treat the audience like it’s intelligent enough to listen to something that challenges them.”
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with Tail from the Crypt
On Friday, Tail from the Crypt brought that singular attitude to Local Spins on WYCE, performing duo renditions of the songs, “Tribal Necklace” and “La Dance De Sacrificial.” Listen to the interview and performances in the radio podcast here.
Bunny Villaire
In October, the band plans to release a full-length vinyl album, “Le Spectacle Sombre,” which follows a self-titled, limited-edition four-song EP that was released in England.
Recorded at Grand Rapids’ Amber Lit Audio by Matt Ten Clay, Villaire said the music is “very influenced by 1980s bands and experimentation,” with Veil unfurling “a lot of metal and New Wave in his approach” on guitar.
“You could say that we have roots in No Wave and the Dada art movement,” he added, noting that Tail from the Crypt’s live shows are particularly special. “One of the most unique things about our band is our ability to improve on the spot at gigs and come up with a lot of our catchiest songs just through the art of improvisation.
Veil
“As a group of friends … we are very well equipped with vibing off each other and spinning magic out of thin air.”
The band hopes to eventually tour England and Japan, as well as “play a bunch of shows around Michigan after our vinyl is released” while it continues to build an audience for its unusual songs. (It plays Firehouse Art Space on Aug. 13 with Naked Lights, Sojii and Ape Not Kill Ape.)
“Sometimes it’s hard to find our niche, but we love to just challenge people,” Villaire says. “We have our influences, but we’re going in our own direction.”
The 97th episode of Local Spins on WYCE also featured the debut of new tracks by The Change, The Alien Dogs, John Kite (this week’s musicians’ pick by Tail from the Crypt), Elroy Meltzer, The Outer Vibe (live) and Coffin Problem, as well as songs by The FuzzRites, Borns and Jake Simmons & The Little Ghosts.
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
