“It’s what Ruben said, cosmic space dust!?” says
Eddie Glass, guitarist of the band Nebula, when asked to describe
the band’s sound. “My influences? oh, it’s hard
to say. I like rock music, like Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix...
acid?! Ruben Romano, drummer butts in- Nah, not really no, basically
I developed my own style using bar chords and the blues pentatonic
scale, my own version of it, layered with fuzz pedals and wah
wahs. It’s pretty simple blues playing with effects on
it.” Modest words coming from someone who can solo and
sing at the same time. My
first experience with Nebula was at Slim’s in S.F. I was
originally interested in seeing my idols Mudhoney for the third
time when I bumped into Mark Arm standing in the crowd. “Have
you seen Nebula?” he asked. No I replied. “You’re
in for a real treat my friend.” Wow I thought, if Mark
really likes them, then I can’t wait to see them. And what
I saw was nothing short of phenomenal. Here was a 3-piece band
rocking like they were Led Zeppelin. Eddie was spinning around,
playing blistering solo runs, stomping on his fuzz box, and
going wah wah crazy. The Zeppelin comparisons were more apparent
as Ruben,wearing a bandana, pounded his drum kit viciously,
which also includes a giant gong. I was instantly mesmerized
by the band, because the energy and vibe they gave out, stoned
me like an old friend. At last my prayers were answered by a
band that had the balls to play blues- oriented rock and roll
with solos that actually rocked you.
Enthralled, I had to meet them and ask what direction they were
taking their music. “We’ve become Sub-Pop losers.”
says bass player Mark Abshire. “I mean when you asked about
influences, I was heavily influenced by the earlier Sub-Pop
bands. Back then I was a little punk who was like yeah, I want
to play music and be on Sub-Pop. That was the cool thing for
me and after all these years finally being on Sub-Pop it’s
like, right on man! It doesn’t really matter now anymore,
it’s not the same thing. I think they’re trying to
bring back more rock bands and get out of the alternative stuff
they do.”
“Yeah like the Hellacopters and the Murder City Devils,”
Eddie added. So you recorded the new record with Jack Endino?
“Yeah so it’s even more like a Sub-Pop record.”
“We didn’t know that it was going to be on Sub-Pop
when we recorded the new record. It all just kind of happened.
Eddie had a connection with Jack through “Olivelawn”
(Eddie’s former band that Jack recorded) and they made
us a good deal that we couldn’t refuse.”
Asked about major labels and MTV Eddie answered, “You mean
wear leather and make videos?” No, that’s never come
up. I mean if we did it would be stupid to waste a bunch of
money to make a video when MTV doesn’t even play rock videos
anymore. You don’t have to compromise man. Look at where
we are in music history now. A lot people we know with their
whole deal going commercial ended up doing crappy stuff. I just
saw The Flaming Lips recently and those guys are pretty cool.
I like what they do with their stuff. You know they’re
comfortable. Mudhoney did it in a good way, now they’re
broken up, but still they had a good career. It’s a good
thing, working with what we’re doing and taking steps.
Starting on a indie label and then working our way up, instead
of being where we are now and signing to a major and have a
major telling us what to do. Cuz they decide if it’s commercial.
Ruben states,”that’s not what we have planned.”
“The tortoise beats the hare,” Mark added.
Nebula is a refreshing mix of rock music and psychedelic effects.
Although they are from San Francisco, the band has been touring
Europe extensively to rabid fans craving Nebula’s sound.They
have also played with the likes of Nashville Pussy, Hellacopters,
Unida, Roadsaw, Lowrider, and Queens of the Stone Age. Nebula
would love to be huge rock heroes someday, but for now they
are comfortable with what they’re doing right now. From
what I saw at Bottom of the Hill they are already a huge band,
performance-wise, and staying true to their music is what they’re
all about.
-Rob Woutila
-Bottom photo by Alex Obleas, top photo by Jenny McGee
My
first experience with Nebula was at Slim’s in S.F. I was
originally interested in seeing my idols Mudhoney for the third
time when I bumped into Mark Arm standing in the crowd. “Have
you seen Nebula?” he asked. No I replied. “You’re
in for a real treat my friend.” Wow I thought, if Mark
really likes them, then I can’t wait to see them. And what
I saw was nothing short of phenomenal. Here was a 3-piece band
rocking like they were Led Zeppelin. Eddie was spinning around,
playing blistering solo runs, stomping on his fuzz box, and
going wah wah crazy. The Zeppelin comparisons were more apparent
as Ruben,wearing a bandana, pounded his drum kit viciously,
which also includes a giant gong. I was instantly mesmerized
by the band, because the energy and vibe they gave out, stoned
me like an old friend. At last my prayers were answered by a
band that had the balls to play blues- oriented rock and roll
with solos that actually rocked you.