Early Listen: Richmond’s Camp Howard Unveils "Cañón"
Photo by Becca Schwartz
Virginia’s Camp Howard grew up within the Richmond music community, playing house shows and DIY spaces like Strange Matter. Made up of high school friends Nic Perea, Wes Parker, Matt Benson and Brian Larson, the group, while independent, has grown on their own as an indie rock band. In 2016, the four-piece released their self-titled debut album, written through out high school and their early college years. The following year, the group released their “Juice EP” through Egghunt Records, setting them off on an east coast tour. Over the past two years they’ve been working on their second full-length record “Cañón”, which is due out this Friday, October 18th, 2019. Flowing between English and Spanish, the band unveils a new level of maturity in their songwriting.
You can listen to the full-length before its release on Friday below, along with an AMA between the band and their fans.
Is cereal soup?
Brian & Wes: Cereal is not soup.
Matt: Cereal is like a dessert gazpacho.
What does your collaboration process look like? Who writes lyrics/ tunes/ etc?
Wes: Nic and I usually come up with songs, or little pieces of songs separately and bring them to the band as a whole to work out the kinks. Whoever writes the initial idea usually dictates where the song ultimately goes and also writes the lyrics.
Nic: It really depends on the song. Like Cañón for example just came out of nowhere during a practice. I think Brian was playing that drum beat and we all just started playing along. We took a voice memo of that initial idea and liked it enough to gradually make it a full song. On the other hand, sometimes Wes or I will just write a full song with all the parts and record a demo. If it’s good enough, we’ll bring the demo to life in the full band setting where everyone will add ideas/ make adjustments. It varies.
Have you ever heard of Updog?
Photo by Henry Archer
Matt: What’s up dog. Heard that joke before.
What are your hobbies outside of music?
Brian: Growing plants, rock climbing.
Wes: Painting, skating, metal detecting.
Matt: Cooking, making cocktails, making moonshine, and disc golf.
Nic: Cooking, playing/ watching soccer.
What are you guys gonna be for Halloween?
Brian: Ash Ketchum for Halloween.
Wes: I’ve been thinking about being Freddie Krueger just so I can wear a cool striped shirt. I kind of hate Halloween but I love costumes.
What is your favorite TV show?
Nic: Recently, Los Espookys.
Wes: Seinfeld or Adventure Time.
Brian: Pokemon.
Which was your favorite song to make on this record?
Matt: Surprise, all the overdubs were really fun.
Brian: Favorite song to make was “Cañón”.
Wes: “Don’t Say Shit” was probably the most fun I had writing-wise. But as far as the actual studio-time fun goes, I think I enjoyed Low Calibre the most.
More Spanish songs?
Nic: Ahuevo. There will be more songs in Spanish.
Go-to karaoke song?
Wes: I did “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder last time, terrible choice— way too hard to sing. If I had to do one right now i’d sing Hanging on the Telephone.
Nic: I tried Weezer last time, that went ok.
Favorite cereal?
Wes: My favorite cereal is probably Great Grains. Secretly dank cereal that I think is underrated is Cracklin’ Oat Bran. Guilty pleasure— Reese’s Puffs.
Nic: I second Cracklin' Oat Bran.
Brian: Favorite cereal is Life.
Matt: I like granola.
Do you all have a Hispanic background?
Nic: I do— I was born and brought up in Mexico City to a Mexican father and Spanish/ American mother, but the other guys do not have a Hispanic background.
Photo by Henry Archer
Favorite or most memorable state/ venue/ show played?
Matt: Our first show with Stone Temple Pilots in Atlanta. Also the last show at Strange Matter.
Brian: Favorite venue was that haunted place in Niagara Falls (The Rapids Theatre).
Wes: There are so many, it’s hard to choose. I remember a Halloween house show in Harrisonburg that was wild/fun.
Nic: I have so many fond memories from playing Strange Matter.
Where did you guys record the album?
Camp Howard: We recorded with Adrian Olsen at Montrose Recording in Richmond, VA. Adrian also mixed the record there.
Who played that solo on “Surprise”?
Matt: Nicolas Perea ripping that solo on “Surprise”.
Nic: It’s true. It was the first “guitar solo” I ever wrote/recorded I think? That and Placid are the only two I’ve done.
Drink of choice?
Matt: Gin and Tonic.
Nic: Whiskey or Tequila.
Wes: Miller Lite in a can.
Brian: Yerba Mate.
What’s “Swimming” at Night about?
Nic: Swimming at Night is a song about letting go of fear.
Will you guys come and play in the UK?
Wes: We will probably come to the UK at some point.
Nic: I hope so. It’s just difficult for us since we book all our own shows ourselves, and traveling is expensive. We want to though, it’d be a dream come true. It’d be really ideal to get offered a support tour in Europe. Hopefully someday soon!
Worst fear?
Brian: The ocean.
Nic: Flying and sharks stress me out. Worst fear would probably be surviving a plane crash in the middle of the ocean and then getting eaten by sharks.
Wes: Losing my mind.
Keep up with Camp Howard.