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I think that more rock bands should have DJs, because they got the goods on the band in a subterranean way. They have the insider take without the hard protective shell that say the lead singer or other pronounced musicians in the band might incur. Plus, they just say really off-the-hook stuff.
As it turns out, I had the opportunity to interview the illustrious Chris Kilmore aka DJ Kilmore of the band Incubus. He's the dude with the killer dreads and always sporting a signature precocious smirk.
Before the album "A Crow Left of the Murder," there was "Morning View," and before that there was "Make Yourself," which is about the time that, along with a few other fans I'm sure, like to refer to as, "The Awakening." It was during this era in 1999-2000 when people starting catching on to Incubus when their album "Make Yourself" made waves with "Pardon Me," "Stellar" and of course, "Drive."
"Make Yourself," would mark DJ Kilmore's entrance with the band. He had recently signed on with the band after their previous release, "Science," when their former DJ was fired due to "creative differences," and Kilmore was hired as the replacement. As to Kilmore's thoughts on the switcheroo he explained, "They called me up sort of out of the blue. I tried out, and we just sort of clicked as people. My DJing was good enough for them, and now here we are, seven years and three albums later."
First things first, Kilmore and I talked about the title of the new album, "A Crow Left of the Murder." Upon researching, it has been understood that a murder was a group of crows. Kilmore went on to explain the crow left of the murder was a symbol in itself when it came to understanding the present state of the band.
"I just feel that the most important thing is the crow that's the lone crow. That's sort of the meaning of the album - us trying to separate ourselves from the rest of the groups out there."
The first two songs released off "Crow," "Megalomaniac" and "Talk Show on Mute," have produced some controversial music videos which have some thinking that the band has taken a turn down a political road. When approached with the notion, Kilmore mentioned, "I think it's more important that people listening to the music make up their minds and interpret the songs how they feel. I think that's the great thing about Brandon [Boyd], our front man, because he's an extremely well-versed writer, and he can directly talk about an emotion that he's having but at the same time leave the ends open."
The type of music Incubus plays stretches from one end of the electromagnetic spectrum to the other. From saucy, electrostatic grooves like, "Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)" off "Science," raging scream-tracks like "Pardon Me," to sweet, methodical piano ballads such as, "Here in My Room," off "Crow." Incubus reveals their penchant for various styles on each of their albums. So to try and classify these guys would be like trying to define pi.
Early on in their career some people made that mistake and deemed them nu-Metal, a misnomer that I'm sure the band wouldn't mind living down. Talking to DJ Kilmore helped to make light of this situation.
"I would say we're a rock group? Maybe an alternative-rock group. It's hard to classify something that we make, because it really doesn't come from any genre, so it's sort of hard for us. I think that the metal category is sort of insulting a little bit, because if you listen to our music there's not too much metal in there."
All and all, Kilmore suffers from complete coolness. His is a genuine personality, and he has no qualms about being the DJ. He loves what he gets to do on a daily basis and realizes that. He sees the simplicity in things even in reference to himself.
"I'm sort of just the vinyl guy," he says. Where most DJs these days are catered out to hip-hop, he's a rocker. He says, "Being a DJ in a rock group is cool. It's a little more free; there's less boundaries." His role is a unique one, and he takes it very seriously. "I'm sort of like a dry sponge when it comes to music, because I soak up everything. That's how I am. When I go into a music store I'm dry; when I come out totally wet, I'll be into everything ... I think being a DJ, part of your job is to be that sponge, to soak up as much information about music as you can," he explained.
Did I find out what was behind the smirk? I think so. DJ Chris Kilmore, in the flesh. Not some megalomaniac or a sponge, but the real deal. A person like you or I who happens to be in a rock group. So the next time you see him spinning up on stage wearing that precocious smirk, it's just because he's loving life. No more, no less.
Incubus will perform at the Frank Erwin Center with special guests The Walkmen on Wednesday, Sept. 15.
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