Band Profiles Vol. 22: THE ESOTERIC & UNITED STATES Feature by Jordan A. Baker
THE ESOTERIC
Name and Position in Band: Stevie Cruz - Voice
THE ESOTERIC sounds like: Our new record Subverter, which is out now. You can check out some of the songs at various places online and we are also playing many shows the rest of this year and into the next. The live setting is the best way to experience the band I would say, but we feel like the records speak for themselves.
The best thing about our label (Prosthetic) is: How personable and sexy they are. The dudes are always available and they work their asses off, and their asses are way hot too.
When we're not playing shows, we're doing the following: I usually DJ at night and am in the process of maintaining my wicked mustache. Corey continues on with his extensive research and quest for Bigfoot. Eric likes to wear his juggernaut suit and spend time with his pet hippo Winky. Marshal I'm sure is on mystery call and/or stalking Peter Murphy. Anthony dwells in parts unknown doing who knows what. Just a bunch of ordinary guys trying catch up on some sleep, I guess.
If we could tour in any kind of transportation vehicle, it would be: Skycars, they are kind of like what The Jetsons got around in. We would all have our own and just convoy around through the air touring with the most ridiculous routing ever. Skycars are the future!
The best album in 2006 thus far is: To be honest I have been really selfish and am still listening to our new record, I'm sure it will wear off and I can catch up on some new music. We just toured with MOUTH OF THE ARCHITECT and their new disc is amazing and the songs crush live. The new record by ROMAN NUMERALS is awesome as well. Their vocalist Steve Tulipana who also fronted SEASON TO RISK did guest vocals on Subverter.
Band that last gave me a feeling of chills is: THE EVENING EPISODE
In one sentence, our first show was like: It was like a bolt of frickin' lightning!
Favorite Dischord Records release: I can't choose one but three would be:
1. MINOR THREAT - Out of Step
2. FUGAZI - In on the Kill Taker
3. MAKE-UP - After Dark
Television would be better if: ...If a few giant corporations with a lame agenda did not have control over programming.
Favorite place to waste time on the internet: I don't have too much time to waste these days so when I'm on the internet, I'm usually trying to stay on top of emails but sometimes I'll endlessly search something and discover all kinds of cool sites, but it's endless and random.
THE ESOTERIC's stint on the 2005 Warped Tour was like: .Being in "Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome." Good times, hope to do it again.
Your first thought after the fire destroyed the band home was: There goes the neighborhood? Ha! Oh yeah, damn. Honestly I didn't think at all, I was just in shock for a while and then we went on tour and I just tried to focus on playing shows and stuff cause it can get overwhelming thinking about it too much.
We chose "Subverter" as the title of our new album because: Much of the new record is about completely destroying everything. The way the songs were put together and the sounds we used and just the whole process was very different than anything we've done before. The lyrics have subversive themes like overthrowing tired beliefs and undermining scenes; some are about ideas and change and others are about the end of everthing. We thought the title worked really well and I like the way it sounds.
THE ESOTERIC
When we're not playing shows, we're doing the following: I illustrate and look at shoes a lot and think about how to be consistent.
