The Real Mothman
By Matthew Toledo - 2/5/2002
There is a new Hollywood horror flick currently showing at the theaters which is named after a local band. Well, not really. However, the founder of one of Southeastern Ohio's longest lasting rock bands did get the name from the same source of inspiration as the writers of the Mothman Prophecies. Todd A. Martin founded the band Mothman in 1990 and named the group after the rumored Mothman. Ever since it's inception Mothman has taken a decade to explore all the varied corners of rock music. They've touched everything from roots to rockabilly, grunge to punk, Appalachian to folk and all other niches in-between.
Todd recently self-produced a new Mothman disk entitled "Harmonic Convergence" just months after producing "1157." The contrast in style between the two disks is yet another example of Todd's voracious musical appetite, devouring and processing all the music and poetry he can get his hands on.
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AMN: First off, where do you live?
Todd: Portsmouth OH
AMN: Have you always lived in Portsmouth?
Todd: always
AMN: I've known of your band, Mothman, since 1993 or so. How long have you been performing in Athens?
Todd:We got started in 90, it was probably about 91 when we first played the Union, we did well for a couple of years in Athens (had a following in the early 90's) and we're back to being kinda of unknown now in Athens
AMN: When you say we, who do you mean? I gather that you've worked with a lot of musicians under the Mothman name?
Todd: We have had a lot of friends come and go in the band, families, careers, changing musical viewpoints have been some reasons. But it has given the project many new points of perspective. Chuck is the 19th bass player
AMN: Geeze. That tops Spinal Tap's drummer record. But when it all comes down to it, Mothman is your puppy, No Todd means no Mothman, right?
Todd: Yes, it's very much like Spinal Tap--it's a goofy movie, but all those things happen to real bands. It's not a solo project. I don't care for those much, I love to be surrounded by other artists. But I do have to say that I have been the one that has kept the project alive (ha, ha too long as some of my peers have commented, Adam Gee of the Schaefers)
We haven't made much money, fans have come and went, shows are hit and miss, but still the band is the most rewarding thing to do that I can think of.
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AMN: Over the last decade, Mothman has explored a wide variety of musical styles. I've heard you play Contry-fried Rockabilly ("Make Me Feel Like A Woman"), folk-jam complete with bongos, and on this latest disk it seems that you guys are returning to the heavy guitar sound. Did I hear some grunge in this disk?
Todd: Yes, some Grunge overtones now and then. Some of our friends were completely bored out of their skulls with the mellow acoustic CD (1157) So, I promised we would record some rock ASAP. Also, I just bought a digital guitar modeler and it has allowed me to record nice overdriven guitar sounds in my studio- something I've never been quite able to capture.
AMN: I'll ask you a little more about your studio in a bit, but first, tell me more about the latest Mothman disk, Harmonic Convergence. Is it going to be used in the upcoming Mothman movie soundtrack?
Todd: Well, we've missed on the big movie. I bugged the Director of the Mothman Prophecies, and he returned a couple messages but we didn't make the soundtrack. The CD (Harmonic Convergence) does not really have a theme. Our bass player Chuck Queen is into the Stoner Rock Sound i.e.; Queens of the Stone Age, Karma to Burn etc. and he influenced the writing of much of the material - detuned heavy blues rock kinda stuff. There's a tribute to the local spooky place - Moonville, and rock-rap tune sung by our drummer Dave, an Emo sounding song , so it's all over the place
AMN: You got the name of Mothman from the same monster legend this new Richard Geere film is about, correct?
Todd: That is correct. It all supposedly happened near where I live.
AMN: Tell me how you recorded your latest release?
Todd: We usually record drum and bass tracks at the Recording Workshop in Massieville and then I bring the tracks home and add the rest, after I mix, they go back to the Workshop to be mastered. I use the little Roland recorders, but I'm upgrading now to a 24 track recorder. It's all very lo tech--Harmonic Convergence" was mixed with 6x9 car speakers.
AMN: What is the digital guitar modeler. Is it basically like the POD?
Todd: Yeah, it's kind of the cheap version of the Line 6 pod, only $99 from Digitech. It's very stripped down, but it does sound like some of the best amps you've ever heard. I used it live now and it's really nice for that, but plug it into a recorder or a board and it really shines. I fought guitar technology for a long time and lugged around the big tube amp, but I have to say that this little gizmo sounds much better.
AMN: You do have some extra-fat sounding guitars on the tracks Sugar Face and the instrumental Thesbian. Are you overdubbing yourself a lot in the studio or does Mothman have a second guitarist again?
Todd: It's all over dubs, we're down to one guitar. I did have Steven Thomas do a tasty lead on Poverty Ridge though- he's great.
AMN: Mothman has over 40 songs between this disk and your other recent release 1157. Do you write most of these songs?
Todd: Save one or two, I do all the writing. I have a bunch of poet friends and they will contribute lyrical ideas here and there. I love writing music, but still struggle coming up with decent vocal melodies. And I think that is the elusive key that makes a memorable song.
AMN: How large would you say the Mothman catalog is today. Over a hundred songs?
Todd: There are over two hundred, but most of them are "throwaways". I'm always inspired by a band like Golden Earring, who I think are great. But they've only had two great songs- Radar and Twilight- and a gazillion albums! But I'm still think that's a good batting average. If someone taps their foot to one song on a Mothman album, I think it's a success.
AMN: Having your own "home studio" probably makes it a lot easier to get a song on tape quickly
Todd: Yes it does, have an idea in the middle of the night, just turn on the gear and jot it down. It's nice and with technology as it is, just about everyone can afford decent gear these days. I think the Internet and technology in general have given small bands great freedom and opportunities.
I'm still quite shy in the studio when it comes to vocals, so I much prefer to do them at home where I can take 100 takes if necessary. Sometimes it is!
AMN: OK, with all of your years of experience, is there any piece of advice you can tell new bands and artists that you wish someone told you when you were getting started?
Todd: Yes, You have to believe in your own work. It's the only thing that will sustain you. If you don't believe that you're doing something worthwhile, you're wasting your time, and possibly others.
AMN: I could probably tap your brain for advice on hundreds of other topics. You should write an article for the AMN sometime. Anyhow, lets wrap this up with what I like to call the speed round. I say something, you reply with whatever comes off the top of your head. Ready?
Todd:OK
AMN: If you were forced to wear leopard striped or bright purple bikini underwear, which would it be?
Todd: Leopard, I'm organic ya know.
AMN: Portsmouth: An hour from Athens or an hour from Cincy?
Todd: 1.5 from Athens 2 from Cincy
AMN: Slap-n-pop bass or Slap-n-stop-it-already bass?
Todd: slap n pop if the strings are clean, otherwise play it safe.
AMN: The Simpsons Vs Ren and Stimpy in a bar fight. Who wins?
Todd: Let's make love not war, I envision the porno version of that duel
AMN: Ok, then. We'll stop right there. Before we end this, let the readers know when and where the next Mothman gig is.
Todd: The Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce actually set us up a gig at a restaurant there! We're doing a benefit for Autism in Portsmouth in about a month, 1/25 Doc's w/ PSD in Portsmouth, Still trying to get gigs in Athens and Columbus! Check the mp3 page for listings if you're interested.
