Secret Devil Tuning

Interview with Secret Devil Tuning

February 15, 2016

Describe your band, telling a little about it.  Secret Devil Tuning is a one man punk-blues band.

What are your names? / Who plays what? 

My name is Stephen Moore and I sing and play stringed instruments with my hands and drums with my feet.

Have members played with any other bands? Yes, I've in bands since I was 17. 

Do you write your own music or perform covers?  Has it always been this way? 

I normally write my own music but I've been known to play a cover every once in a while. 

What year did the band form? I started doing the one man band thing back in 2010.  I like it better this way because everyone shows up to practice.

Where is band's home? Wheeling, WV

What's your style of genre?  Appalachian Punk Blues.  Sometimes it can get pretty heavy. 

What inspires your music? really whatever mood I am in.

How often do you rehearse? once or twice a week

What gear do you guys use? and old bass drum, 8 string oil can canjo, 4 string tenor canjo, 4 string oil can dulcimer, 4 string sCrap iron lapsteel guitar. microphone mask 

Do you utilize a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? no. no real need for one.

Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? I just got signed to an Indie label in Germany called Mofo Music.. I have a 7" vinyl coming out in the summer and a full length coming out this fall  

What are your songs about? rabbits, cheaters, thieves, cars, evisceration and shitty jobs  

Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? me 

Do you start with the music or the lyrics? sometimes both

Do you compose in a certain enviroment? my car during my commute to work

Have you done any covers live? yes. "no sleep til brooklyn" " no more hot dogs" "war pigs" "last train to clarksville" "my war"

What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs? 6

What ages are most of your concert attendants? 20-50 somethings. I've never asked for ID.

Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary?  no, I write a set list but I rarely follow it 

Do you have a regular place you play live often? not really. I'll play anywhere and with anyone

What was your first gig like? it was in a small art gallery, too crowded, people were less than 3 feet from my bass drum. I was way too loud. 

What was your latest gig? 3rd fridays at artworks around town 

Have you had to cancel a gig? yep. cut my hand and needed stitches. no hand, no play

Where do you plan to gig the coming year? i have a show coming up in may at mountain moon coffeehouse.

When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? this year. I have T-shirts and soon will have stickers, buttons and a record

Where can people buy your merchandise? at a show or on my etsy page for my oil can guitar business.www.whatscanjo.com 

What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? if you are paying to download, I have no problem with it. somewhere music lost it's value, you can buy a song for the same price you can buy an app to make fart sounds with your phone.

How do you think the music industry have changed because of this?  music lost it's value, it's hard to find someone to pay to see a band, pay a band to play and pay for the bands music. 

Do you have any role models or idols? 

j marinelli, hasil adkins, hollowbelly, honkeyfinger

Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? both

What have been your biggest obstacles? myself

What advice would you give other bands or artists? just play and have fun. forget what other think. 

How do you get psyched for a gig? drive there

Do you have any new material? yep

What are your web sites? facebook page, search secret devil tuning

How can people reach you? secret.devil.tuning@gmail.com

YouTube Channel, Reverbnation, etc? I have a youtube.  I need to use it more 

What are your plans for the future? play out more

What is one thing even your biggest fans don't know about the band?  Being a one man band kinda scares me, the pressure is pretty high, if it's bad there is on one else to blame.

Do you have something to add?  2+2=4