https://www.high-endrolex.com/18

Red Beard Wall Premieres “Tell Me the Future of Existence” Video

Posted in Bootleg Theater on June 12th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

red beard wall

Empowerment through sludge? Maybe. It’s as good a bet as anything I can give you, for sure. And Red Beard Wall make a fairly compelling case with The Fight Needs Us All, from which the new video for “Tell Me the Future of Existence” comes. The question the song is asking, “Can we destroy the world to save it/Or do we worship it to raise it?” feels particularly relevant for a reality that has changed shape multiple times over since Argonauta Records released the album in Feb. 2019. Remember how simple things were when we were only locking kids in cages? Ah, those were the days… also of horror.

Anyhoo, I have no doubt that by now you’ve dug into The Fight Needs Us All one way or the other, and in so doing, taken at least a core sample of what it is that the band’s founder, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Aaron Wall has on offer in red beard wall tell me the future of existence lyricsterms of blending sludge with more aggressive groove-style chugging. His rasp reminds of Kenny Bones of Negative Reaction and his oft-intertwined clean vocals almost speak to a rawer Page Hamilton — at least to my child-of-’90s-aggro ears — but for what’s essentially a one-man outfit with George Trujillo playing drums live, there’s more than enough subtlety to the changes from one moment to the next to hold fickle listeners despite both the scathe and the relatively barebones production that, one suspects, does little to encompass the full tonal breadth Red Beard Wall bring on stage, despite lacking no impact in itself. That is to say, when the bounce of “To My Queen” hits into the nod, I’d imagine that standing in front of the speaker cabinets it might sound like oblivion, and intentionally so.

And if one has to go out, there are certainly worse ways. “Tell Me the Future of Existence” appears late in The Fight Needs Us All, between “Reign of Ignorance” and the closing title-track, and if the theme is having something to say, Wall certainly passes muster. As Wall explained in his recent days of rona and notes again below, a new Red Beard Wall album is in progress to follow-up The Fight Needs Us All, though perhaps since touring would seem to be something of an impossibility, perhaps it’s all the better that the still-current full-length gets the excuse for a revisit that the new video provides. Aside from the message of the song itself, which, again, is nothing if not an apt description of the times in which we live, even as those times seem to morph daily into unforeseen surrealities, and the visual accompaniment given in images of mass protest and rallying for righteous causes, the track rocks. That always helps too, as far as I’m concerned.

More to come on the new Red Beard Wall when I hear (of) it. Until then, enjoy “Tell Me the Future of Existence” below, followed by a few words from Wall himself:

Red Beard Wall, “Tell Me the Future of Existence” official video premiere

Aaron Wall on “Tell Me the Future of Existence”:

“As we record and put finishing touches on the new RBW album, we thought it very apropos and vital to release this video/song to the world. While it was written over two years ago, it speaks to NOW more than I could’ve imagined. We humbly ask ALL, to listen, stand up, and ACT. Revolt. Revolt. Revolt. Revolution is ours. The Fight Needs Us All. ALL LOVE. ALL RESPECT. ALL HAIL!!!”

Red Beard Wall, The Fight Needs Us All (2019)

Red Beard Wall on Thee Facebooks

Red Beard Wall on Instagram

Red Beard Wall on Bandcamp

Argonauta Records website

Argonauta Records on Thee Facebooks

Tags: , , , , ,

Days of Rona: Aaron Wall of Red Beard Wall

Posted in Features on April 8th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.

Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.

Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan

red beard wall aaron wall

Days of Rona: Aaron Wall of Red Beard Wall (Plainview, Texas)

How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?

It has been a definite shock to the system! We’ve had quite a few amazing shows cancelled, including SXSW. Our rehearsals have been put on indefinite hold, due to the fact that drummer Brent Standifer is located six hours away. We’ve just basically had to adapt to a completely new way of operating. Our mindset basically has gone from a regular band, to more of a focus on being a social media content creator, merch salesman, etc.

The silver lining, I suppose, is we now have the time needed to focus on getting the next album done, and hopefully released much sooner than anticipated. We’re doing our best to be chameleons and adjust and adapt. Constant forward progression, no matter circumstance. That’s the motto. Now and always.

Brent, mine, and our families’ health are good so far. We’re doing our part to slow the curve, so we can get back out there, and bring the people what they want and in turn ourselves as well!

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

I live in a rural, somewhat unpopulated area of West Texas so our rules are pretty lax as of yet, in this immediate area. I and my family are being proactive and sheltering in place. Gotta do my part even though the restrictions aren’t as tight here at this point. Brent lives in the San Antonio area so their restrictions are much stiffer. Such a weird time.

How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?

Its affected our peers in so many ways! Our promoter buds, our venues, staff, and musician friends are struggling. So many are service industry peeps. Feels like the rug got pulled out from underneath us. We’re all just trying to figure out how to make things work and get by until we can get back to doing what we do. It’s our whole life, it’s who we are at the core, so it’s been extremely difficult. We just have to help each other, in any and all ways possible. Especially now, but ALWAYS!

What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?

What Red Beard Wall wants everyone to know is… Brent and I are here for the community. We are all about love, gratitude, and positivity. We come with hope, good vibes, and anything tangible or helpful we possibly can. We are extremely accessible to ALL. Holla if you need us. We are always willing to lend an ear, or to give words, and actions of encouragement. Be safe! Stay healthy! ALL LOVE. ALL RESPECT. ALL GRATITUDE. ALL HAIL!!!

https://www.facebook.com/redbeardwall/
https://www.instagram.com/redbeardwall/
https://redbeardwall.bandcamp.com/
www.argonautarecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords/

Tags: , , , , , ,

Red Beard Wall Set Feb. 22 Release for The Fight Needs Us All

Posted in Whathaveyou on October 19th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

red beard wall

Texas sludge rock outfit Red Beard Wall will release their second album, The Fight Needs Us All, early next year through Argonauta Records. The one-man-in-the-studio/live-two-piece released their self-titled debut last year through Argonauta and would seem to be getting a push for the follow-up, which will be issued on CD and LP both, each with different covers — left and right below, respectively. As to what the album will hold, Argonauta promises tight songwriting and weighted tone, and after the first record I have no trouble believing it, since that album seemed so much to be about Red Beard Wall establishing sonic parameters from which to build outward. I guess we’ll see Feb. 22 how the next stage in that process plays out.

Here’s the label’s announcement:

RED BEARD WALL announce brand new album

Hot and fresh on the heels of his 2017 critically lauded and extremely well received blistering slab of a debut, the one man cacophony of heavy RED BEARD WALL is back!

The bearded wonder of sludge returns with his highly anticipated sophomore beast of an album titled ‘The Fight Needs Us All’, set to be released on February 22th 2019 with Italy’s rising label Argonauta Records!

Red Beard Wall was born in 2016 on the dry, wind swept plains of West Texas, out of a desire to channel his angst and frustration with the insane reality that surrounds us. With a hyper focus on heavy, hooky and to the point songs, RED BEARD WALL delivers riffs with devastatingly heavy tones, vocals melodies that soar, alongside blistering screams of disillusionment. Creatively it’s all the bearded one and only, Aaron Wall, with the mighty George Trujillo on drums rounding out the live beast that is RED BEARD WALL. Influenced by the sounds of such as Floor, Helmet, Torche, Cavity or Nirvana among countless others, RED BEARD WALL has now unleashed the tracklist and album artwork for his upcoming second album ‘The Fight Needs Us All’! Coming as Digital Download, CD and Vinyl formats, the album pre-order will start soon.

The tracklist will read as follows:

1. Come on Down
2. To My Queen
3. Ode to Green
4. Reverend
5. The Warming
6. Reign of Ignorance
7. Tell Me the Future of Existence
8. The Fight Needs Us All

Says the RED BEARD WALL’s Aaron: “The Fight Needs Us All is everything Red Beard Wall. It is heavy, dense, fire flashing. It is heart, soul, love, and passion. It is anger, joy, sadness, exhilaration. It encompasses war, peace, and social degradation. It is the proudest artistic moment in my life, thus far. ALL HAIL!“

Stay tuned for many more bearded news & updates to follow soon!

https://www.facebook.com/redbeardwall/
https://redbeardwall.bandcamp.com/
www.argonautarecords.com
www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

Red Beard Wall, Red Beard Wall (2017)

Tags: , , , ,