Vicar Blood's Inkarceration Festival Performance: Behind the Scenes

0:00 SPEAKER_00: What's up, Ohio? She treads with Rassanne here. And I am joined by Dan Gates with Vicker Blood, who I spoke with earlier this year. And I just wanted to have him back on because his band, Vicker Blood, they're gonna be playing at Incarceration coming up this, well, not this Friday, but next Friday. So, Dan, thanks so much for joining me again and coming back to talk about what you've got going on.

0:24 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, thanks a lot for having me again.

0:28 SPEAKER_00: So, what all have you done to get prepared for this?

0:31 SPEAKER_01: Well, like I mentioned the last time, we've been working on a full-length album. Um, unfortunately, that's not going to be out before the show, but we have put quite a bit of time into that. We're making good progress on that. So, aside from that, we've just been practicing and you know, we don't play a lot of shows. We did play a show uh probably a month, month and a half ago, two months, something like that. We opened for Unmerciful up in Cleveland, and that was fun. It was just kind of a way to get on stage, and uh it was only the second show we've ever played, so we just kind of wanted to get another one under our belt before we go out to incarceration and you know, play the big stage.

1:08 SPEAKER_01: Well, not the big stage, we're on the little stage, but you know what I mean.

1:11 SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but it's still it's a big deal, and it's so awesome because you guys are from Ohio, and you know, you guys aren't you don't live very far from uh where the incarceration festival will be happening anyway. So it's just it's just cool all the way around, no matter how you look at it.

1:27 SPEAKER_01: Definitely, we're definitely very excited about it. Really looking forward to it.

1:30 SPEAKER_00: Okay. Now, are any of you guys going do you plan to be in town ahead of time? Like Thursday night, there's a couple of different parties going on, or will you just plan to be here on Friday?

1:42 SPEAKER_01: I think some of us will be there, maybe most of us will be there Thursday night, and then a few of us will probably be there probably the whole weekend.

1:49 SPEAKER_00: Okay, nice.

1:50 SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

1:51 SPEAKER_00: Will you be camping out?

1:53 SPEAKER_01: We've got a hotel for one night. I think we're camping another.

1:57 SPEAKER_00: Um, we're kind of still a little bit of everything.

2:01 SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

2:02 SPEAKER_00: That's awesome. Yeah, I was talking to somebody too recently, and you know, a lot of the residents that live right across the street from the Inc. festival, they rent out their yards, you know, for people that want to camp.

2:13 SPEAKER_01: So Yeah, we did kind of explore that a little bit, and I think Veda has a friend. We're gonna camp Saturday night there, and uh it'll all work out. We'll figure it out. I'll sleep in my truck if I have to.

2:24 SPEAKER_00: There you go. As long as you can refer return for the next day.

2:27 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, exactly.

2:29 SPEAKER_00: So you guys are actually opening up the festival on Friday, and you guys are going on at noon? 1215?

2:36 SPEAKER_01: 1215. Um yeah, we originally were scheduled for like 11:30, I think. And then so now there is somebody on that stage before us that day. Um, and I think somebody starts on one of the main stages even before that. So uh we kind of thought we might end up being the first band of the festival, but it turns out we're not.

2:55 SPEAKER_00: Do you know who the first band is? I'm looking at the itinerary that came out, and it still shows you guys as being the first band, unless I could be looking in an old copy too. So there's Vicker Blood and then Jeffrey Nothing, and then Corpse Pile, Snuffed on Site, Entheos, Peeling Flesh, and Sangua Suka Bog.

3:15 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think if I remember correctly, I haven't looked in a while, but I think there is somebody that plays one of the maid stages, starts anyway, first, and then somebody plays the infirmary stage. So I think we're second on that stage now, if it still stands like that, because they changed the original set list.

3:30 SPEAKER_00: Right. And that makes sense if you're originally at 11:30, but now you're 1215.

3:34 SPEAKER_01: Yeah. So I think somebody actually does start at 11:30. It's just not us now.

3:37 SPEAKER_00: Okay. And uh are you familiar or do you have any contacts with any of the bands on the infirmary stage this year?

3:44 SPEAKER_01: Yes. I'm actually very good friends with the Sanguisoga Bog guys, and so I'm I'm excited to see them. I've seen them a handful of times. Um they're really, really good dudes. I've known Devin, the vocalist, for quite a while from past bands, and we played shows together. And then their guitar player, Drew, he's in a band called Mutilatriate out of Toledo, so I've known him for quite a while. Cody, well, he's the drummer, but he was playing guitar on the last tour, so I know him too. Not as well as the other two guys, but he's super nice guy, and yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing them.

4:13 SPEAKER_00: All right, awesome. And uh, are you excited to see any certain bands while you're there on Friday?

4:19 SPEAKER_01: Yes, I want to see Peeling Flesh. I want to see Entheos 2. I think, I think Cypress Hill's Friday, too, right? I think. Yes. I'm excited to see them. I've never been like a super fan of that band or anything, but because they're there and they've been around for so long, I'm I'm excited to see them.

4:35 SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I've never seen Cypress Hill either. So uh I'm glad that they'll be there on Friday. They are there. Let's see, Starset, they're a band from Ohio.

4:43 unknown: Okay.

4:44 SPEAKER_00: They played before Cypress Hill, and then Disturbed will close out on Friday.

4:48 SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

4:48 SPEAKER_00: So no matter how you look at it, it's just cool to be there and hear all the music, the metal, the people, the love, the vibes. And you know, it only comes around once a year. So when it comes, everybody's super excited.

5:00 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's one of those things that we knew about it for so long and we couldn't say anything. And then finally you're allowed to say something, and you say it, and it still seems like it's so far off in the distance, and then next thing you know, it's sneaking right up on you. So, but it's we're we're we're good. We we had a really good practice last night. We've been uh we've been practicing, we feel good. We're excited about it. Awesome.

5:20 SPEAKER_00: So do you have anything lined up that we hadn't talked about last time? Lined up for the rest of 2026?

5:26 SPEAKER_01: The only other thing we have right now, uh, we're gonna finish the album. That's gonna be top priority. We're waiting on a few things. Yeah, we're waiting on a few things from the studio before we can finish it up. And we're gonna get that knocked out. And then we're playing uh November 13th, I think it is, at Globe Iron in Cleveland. And it's with two old school bands that are reuniting, Ascension and Skipline. And both of those bands have members of Chimera. Yeah, and funny story too is back when I was in a band called Tun back in the 90s, we played with Ascension in Akron.

6:00 SPEAKER_01: And so I remember talking to Matt, the guitar player there. We we traded some things. I ended up with a shirt. I don't know if I gave him a shirt or a CD, but we traded something and I had a shirt. But yeah, they're a really cool band, more on the like the hardcore side, same with Skipline, but it should be a cool show because I I remember I'd never seen Skipline, but I remember my friends who are in hardcore bands back in the 90s talking about them, speaking very highly of them. And so yeah, that's gonna be another really cool show.

6:26 SPEAKER_00: Awesome. And you said that they're reuniting. How long has it been since they played?

6:32 SPEAKER_01: I think like 30, 30 years, maybe. Wow, yeah, it's been a long time.

6:36 SPEAKER_00: Wow, that sounds yeah, that sounds really cool. And that's happening in November.

6:40 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think it's November 13th. It's at the Globe Iron in Cleveland.

6:43 SPEAKER_00: Okay, sweet. I think a couple years ago, Chimera played at Inc.

6:48 SPEAKER_01: They did, I saw like two or three years ago. Yep. I think it was two years ago, I believe, because I was out there with my friends in the behest of serpents, and I I saw Okay.

6:56 SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there was one year where I didn't go all three days. It was probably when they played because I don't I know that they were at Inc., but I don't remember seeing them.

7:04 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, they're a great loud band.

7:07 SPEAKER_00: I bet you it's a day that I didn't make it.

7:09 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, maybe. Um yeah, I've seen them a handful of times. I saw them at the Cleveland Agora several years ago and really good band. I mean, you know, local legends from Cleveland. So yeah, they always pack them in.

7:21 SPEAKER_00: I know. I remember back in the day, I was always like, how do you pronounce their name?

7:25 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I've heard people say it several different ways. Yeah, Chimera, Chimera, Chimera.

7:31 SPEAKER_00: Chimera. Well, there's no doubt in how we pronounce Vicar blood.

7:34 SPEAKER_01: I've heard quite a few people say Viker, so Well, I could say that.

7:37 SPEAKER_00: Yeah.

7:38 SPEAKER_01: But not that's probably not a word that every everybody knows because I didn't know that word when Veda first presented that idea for the band. I had to look it up. I wasn't even sure what it worked. Yeah.

7:49 SPEAKER_00: Okay. Yeah, I wish um I would have reached out to her um ahead of time because I thought about it when it was too late to have her on with you today. But she seems pretty creative and funny at the same time.

8:00 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, she has plenty to say.

8:01 SPEAKER_00: Oh my goodness. And so you so it's okay, so it's you, and then there's Veda who does vocals, and then Charlie. Is he still with you on drums? Okay, and then is it uh Dan? No, who does bass?

8:14 SPEAKER_01: Steve Fernandez plays bass.

8:16 SPEAKER_00: Steve, okay, all right.

8:18 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and Will Bulldog plays guitar also.

8:22 SPEAKER_00: Okay, all right, nice.

8:23 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's a good group of people, definitely talented people, and uh it's it's it's a lot of fun to play.

8:29 SPEAKER_00: Well, you guys are definitely ready to play, and I've been seeing you practice a lot, and you're posting about it, so it sounds like it's um we're finally making some headway to get some good recognition.

8:40 SPEAKER_01: I keep posting about incarceration. I'm like, man, people are probably getting sick of me talking about this, but you know, we're just trying to, being that we're such a new band and we're trying to create a following for ourselves, you know, we're just trying to make as many people aware as possible and just hopefully get some people there to see us. I mean, that's the whole goal.

8:57 SPEAKER_00: Awesome. And what platform would you say you have the the most responses from your audience? Is there one over the other or it doesn't matter? That's a good question.

9:07 SPEAKER_01: I'm not really sure because uh Veda pretty much controls the TikTok and does most of the posting on uh well does all the posting on Instagram. And so I kinda I kind of just leave that to her and then most of the posting I do I just do on my own pages and then I'll tag the band or collaborate with the band or whatever. And and she does that with me too, you know, with uh the even with the band page, just collab with me on YouTube or all the platforms just so kind of goes out everywhere.

9:34 SPEAKER_00: Uh it seems like each platform is starting to kind of have its own use, you know, for when you're posting things. Not they they don't all work the same.

9:43 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I've been kind of feeling that way too. Um I do have my Instagram tied to Facebook, but I don't always just let it post to Facebook. Sometimes I'll post differently. Oh. And then sometimes I'll just let it go over to Facebook. But then, you know, like my TikTok, I'll I do stuff on TikTok that I don't do on the other socials. I've been trying to post on there more regularly. Um yeah, I started TikTok quite a while back and then I kind of dabbled in it, then got away from it, and then started trying to do it more regularly.

10:11 SPEAKER_01: And uh it's actually been kind of cool because I've interacted with a lot of people, actually got a couple of cool opportunities through it. Lots of people coming up to me when I go out to shows saying they've seen me on there. So it even though I don't have a huge following, it seems to be working.

10:25 SPEAKER_00: Yeah, people say if you do it consistently, which is at least once a day, that's the key. So I see you out there on TikTok. You're posting something almost every morning on your is it your front porch?

10:36 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I like to do the coffee on the front porch videos. Yeah. So yeah, I've been trying to be more consistent with that. And just because it seems, like I said, it seems to be working. People come up to me, they recognize me. And um, I I don't know if you saw, I recently had the Cleveland Browns reached out to me and I I'm getting to do some things with that.

10:54 SPEAKER_00: Who's just gonna bring that up?

10:56 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it was kind of funny. I actually got an Instagram message from the Cleveland Browns Instagram page, and I was like, Really? That's weird. Yeah, I was like, that's weird. And so when I was reading the message, it said they needed a guitar player, they thought I was perfect for what they needed, blah, blah, blah. And then I was like, Is this real? And so I messaged back. I was like, look, is this like a mass messaging thing? Are you because I'm like, why does it why would the Cleveland Browns be interested in a death metal dude?

11:22 SPEAKER_01: You know? And then I got home that night and I was checking my emails, and they had actually emailed me too. So I was like, oh man. Sweet.

11:29 SPEAKER_00: I guess I get it.

11:32 SPEAKER_01: Yeah. So I ended up going up and uh filming some video with them, and I thought that's all it was gonna be. And they told me it was gonna be a part of a video that they're gonna put on the big screen when the players come out onto the field. And then, you know, they invited me up for the opening day to see it on the big screen and everything. And then two weeks later, they messaged me again and they said, Well, we were thinking it would be really cool if you could actually be here and play. And the way I understand it right now, which I haven't really said this, I don't think, publicly, but just because it I'm not supposed to keep it quiet or anything.

12:03 SPEAKER_01: I guess stuff like this, it's just kind of kind of a big deal. So I like I almost hate to say it and then have it not happen. But what they told me is I'd be playing like a 30-second guitar solo, and then when the uh video kicks in that I'm a part of, I would be playing along to the music that's in the video. So I'd be a part of the video on the screen and I would be there in person.

12:21 SPEAKER_00: So Dan, that is so fucking awesome.

12:25 SPEAKER_01: I know. I called my dad right away. He's been a Browns fan forever, and so have I. You know, I was like, you gotta go to the game with me.

12:31 SPEAKER_00: That is so cool. I'm so happy for you.

12:33 SPEAKER_01: Thanks. Yeah, it's kind of nerve-wracking, but at the same time, I said yes immediately. I was, I mean, you can't turn something like that down.

12:40 SPEAKER_00: Yeah. No, would you turn it down if it was for a team that you despised?

12:44 SPEAKER_01: No, I mean, if the clean if the uh Pittsburgh Steelers asked me, that would be a little weird, but I'd probably still do it.

12:50 SPEAKER_00: Yeah. Oh my goodness. Yeah. Like you said, it would be pretty hard to turn down. So is the plan that they will play that with every game opener at home?

13:00 SPEAKER_01: I think.

13:01 SPEAKER_00: The video that you made?

13:02 SPEAKER_01: I think so. It's supposed to be like a hype video, you know, before they come out. So they're like scheduling me to play it like 12 45. The game starts at one, you know, so it's like I do my thing, they roll the video, and it's all only takes a couple of minutes, but still pretty cool.

13:15 SPEAKER_00: So you're gonna you will be there at the home opener playing live along with the video that you got to make with them.

13:23 SPEAKER_01: That's that's pretty cool.

13:24 SPEAKER_00: What an accomplishment.

13:25 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and it I guess the point in bringing this up was they found me on TikTok, actually. So I mean Okay, things happen, you know. Did they find you just through your personal postings or yeah, they said they needed they needed a guitar player and they player and they started looking and they they found me.

13:43 SPEAKER_00: Nice. Well, I've noticed too that you uh will put all educational content. Sometimes on your TikTok you'll mention you're like, here's a good band to listen to, so you make that suggestion, and then on your YouTube, you'll put out like the educational content and kind of like some reviews of equipment. And haven't you been picked up by some uh name brand equipment as well?

14:04 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I have an endorsement with solar guitars and SIT strings. And actually, I just made a video for about well, sort of about this the other day and posted it. And it's one of those one of those things where just trying to be educational, I guess, not I mean, as an older guy in the metal scene, not trying to tell anybody how to do anything, but just kind of share my experience. And I it's a video I've been thinking about for a while because I like to share that information, but it's also one of those things where I felt a little self-conscious about it because I I didn't want to come off like I was um Mr. 30 years in death metal and I know it all kind of thing, because I I didn't mean in mean it like that.

14:41 SPEAKER_01: And I did bring up the endorsement side of that too in that video, just kind of tell them because I get people asking me, and I sometimes feel like people think that like it's easy to to maybe not that it's easy to get an endorsement, but like just anybody can do it. And anybody can do it, but you need to put work into it so that uh, you know, because companies aren't gonna just uh give you stuff or give you a discount or whatever for nothing. It's a two-way street. So you have to be you have to be doing things and putting yourself out there.

15:10 SPEAKER_01: And so the video I made was like about that, about just, you know, kind of get over feeling self-conscious, even though I still struggle with it sometimes, and just put yourself out there and try and see what happens, you know, create opportunities. And uh yeah, so I made the video. I put it out there. I didn't really post about it on social media or anything, and it's not getting many views, but it's like, who cares? It's out there.

15:31 SPEAKER_00: Yeah. Well, and I feel watching what you do put out there too, it's you're very relatable. So if anybody were to say that you came across as like a pompous metal head out there trying to plug all these products and stuff, then they're they're really way off base because you don't give off that vibe at all. And I think you come across very humble, but you have some experience and knowledge that you want to share. So who wouldn't want to to hear from somebody who has been playing music as long as you have?

15:58 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I go to shows and you know, younger guys come up to me sometimes and they're they ask me questions, whether it's about things that happened in the past or just how I'm making my videos or whatever, and or just talking old school metal. And that's fun to do. I like doing that, and they seem very interested in it, and so that's why I I made that video. But yeah, you know, just trying to put some info out there. Yeah.

16:23 SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, maybe you can be a good example too for others where it's it's not all about being an influencer and you have to know your audience and what you do and give them the information that they're gonna find useful from somebody that's knowledgeable.

16:36 SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I don't know a lot, but I know a little. I know stuff. Some stuff.

16:40 SPEAKER_00: All right. Well, is there anything else that you want to say to Ohio before we see you on the stage at Inc.

16:48 SPEAKER_01: Well, I would say that if you have any interest in seeing my band at Incarceration Fest, be at the infirmary stage by 1215, because that's when we start. We will have some shirts for sale there. Um, aside from that, I would say just Vicorblood.com and keep an eye out. We'll have a brand new full-length album at some point this year. Don't know exactly when or how it's going to be released, but we're working on it. It's gonna be out there.

17:14 SPEAKER_00: All right. Ohio uh, you heard it from the 6th of Live. And first we're festival, 125.

17:28 SPEAKER_00: Yeah, thank you so much for coming on.

17:36 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, thank you very much for having me.

17:41 SPEAKER_00: All right, oh my god, we've got it first time.