Metal Anarchy

Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “new music showcase,” the feature where I introduce you to bands that readers of this site may find interesting. This time I have an exclusive Q&A with Strong Like Bull.

METAL ANARCHY: Tell me a little about your band:

STRONG LIKE BULL: A friend of the band would always say it after we had been drinking for awhile. His reply to How’s it going? Or How do you feel? “Strong Like Bull!” We’ve made it into a drinking game at shows and fans like to yell it out. When you hear “Strong Like Bull!” take a drink, take a shot, or whatever you’ve got.

Forming the band:

DAVE: I started by calling Shawn as I had played in a band or two with him previously. After he was interested, I called Jake. I knew those two would make an amazing rhythm section. I had always been a lead guitarist in bands previously, but I knew Nevin was really getting good. He was my next call. I wanted to sing and not play guitar. We started out learning covers to just gel. We also started out as more of a metal band, and it fit both Shawn and Jake’s background well. However, as my vocal range started to expand about a year in, we added some AC/DC and received a killer response. We kept going in the direction the music led us and followed that path as we began writing. As we release more songs, I think fans will be able to recognize our own sound as a band.

SHAWN: I got a call out of the blue from Dave. He kicked around the idea of starting a new project. It surprised me when he said he wanted a new challenge and only wanted to sing. He knew a drummer named Jake, that had metal experience and thought we would fit well. I knew the guitarist Nevin, from previous projects. We all got together and the rest is history.

JAKE: I remember Dave kinda casually throwing the idea at me, just something fun if the right people were available. I’m thinking this is sounding pretty good, Dave’s one of the best guitar players I’ve seen around! He said, “I’ll just be singing, no guitar.” Well, I have never heard him sing before but I already said yes, lol, so I guess let’s do it! A month or two later we’re jammin some Metallica, A7X, FFDP and people are digging it. These are some of the best musicians I’ve ever played with, so of course, things are going good. Then a year or so in Dave found another octave I think, lol. We started to try some AC/DC, which was quite a step away from what we were doing, but the crowd told us immediately with singing every word with us, to cheering and dancing, that we were heading in the right direction. We knew then that it was about making that connection with the crowd that we wanted.

NEVIN: Yeah when Dave approached me, I was still in my second band I’d ever played with (a local cover band). At the time I was just gigging for the hell of it and put some extra cash in my pocket. When we got together, Jake Bauer was the only member I hadn’t really spent much time around, but we gelled instantly. As for our sound, I think we just started out wanting to fill the void in our area for some hard rock and metal tunes, but one thing led to another and we started writing our own stuff. People liked it. We enjoyed writing it. Why stop there?

METAL ANARCHY: Who are your main influences?

STRONG LIKE BULL: DAVE: Hard to narrow down…Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, KISS

JAKE: I’d say old school Metallica really got my adrenaline pumping. Then some White/Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson during my highschool years (still love em btw). Godsmack really had some great drum rhythms that really gave me a different perspective on the use of the drums. Danny Carey from Tool is a drummer I am in awe off.

NEVIN: Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd, Devin Townsend, Black Label Society, and Lamb Of God.

SHAWN: Metallica, Megadeth, GnR, Black Sabbath, and AC/DC no specific order.

METAL ANARCHY: What is your latest release and why should readers of this site check it out?

STRONG LIKE BULL: DAVE: “Live While You Can” is straight up rock n roll inspired by classic rock from the 70s on up to now. My voice gets compared to Bon Scott’s often, and that is a huge compliment. I dig the early AC/DC albums! The melody and guitar playing has that traditional rock feel, and yet, Shawn and Jake (bass and drums) really gave the track a modern rock drive with halftime sections and double bass powering the outro solo section.

JAKE: Double kick baby!

NEVIN: Do you like to party and have a good time? Check out our stuff. If you know what a “bender” is and have ever been on one, then check out our stuff. If you like good ‘ol fashioned ass kickin rock ‘n roll, then check out our stuff!!

METAL ANARCHY: What can people expect when they go to your live shows?

STRONG LIKE BULL: DAVE: Straight up Rock N Roll and good times!

SHAWN: Expect to have shots with the band.

JAKE: To come party with the band!

NEVIN: Loud noises, a lot of alcohol, and plenty of memories to go home with!

METAL ANARCHY: Where do you see your band heading in 5 years?

STRONG LIKE BULL: DAVE: We would like to be continually releasing music, making new fans, and playing bigger shows.

SHAWN: I think we will continue to grow as a band. We are constantly trying to challenge ourselves.

JAKE: As long as I can play music and share it with others I’ll be happy.

NEVIN: Hopefully plenty of more shows, maybe a tour somewhere in there? And plenty of new tunes to come!