Jared DuBach
Daily Egyptian
The members of the Hateful Dead are so busy with work and school that the only time they have to practice their songs is when they're playing at a show in front of a live audience.
The band's lack of practice, however, does little to stop the Hateful Dead's heavy, full-blown sound, according to bass player, Josh Beckmann. The Hateful Dead, which performs at 10 p.m., Saturday at Booby's Beer Garden, consists of Beckmann on bass, Jared Mileger on guitar and Timothy Beaty on drums. All three sing, or scream depending on one's perspective.
Beckmann says that the band is proud of the fact that the Hateful Dead has managed to produce such a different sound.
"We just don't sound like anybody else," Beckmann said. "We also feel fortunate to have such a charismatic drummer."
According to Mileger, the Hateful Dead is "taking the punk out of punk rock."
Mileger claims that Slash, the guitarist for Guns 'n' Roses, created the initial urge within him to start playing guitar, but other figures such as Zakk Wylde have helped diversify his style.
"Anyone that doesn't like rock 'n' roll has something wrong with them," Mileger stated.
The trio has been playing together since 1998. According to Beaty, the reason the band was formed was because of "beer, boredom and chicks." Mileger said the real reason was for the love of rock music, and because it was convenient to start a band at the time. The group eventually garnered a reputation as being the band to call if another one backs out of a gig.
Now that it's gotten tighter as a band, the group has started headlining gigs of its own. But last Saturday, the Hateful Dead had to find another opening band after some uncontrollable circumstances. After giving up on finding a replacement, the members of the group did what they had grown used to. They opened for their own show. And after the second act finished its slot, the Hateful Dead played another set of songs to finish off the evening.
A fun fact about the Hateful Dead is that Tim Beaty actually strips down to his boxer shorts when he plays the drums. The reason behind this is that he gets drenched with sweat. Beaty says that when the band plays at Booby's Beer Garden, he is forced to wear squares of duct tape over his nipples. He said he was told that Carbondale has an ordinance that forbids the exposure of nipples in public areas.
The Hateful Dead has completed the initial stage of recording a debut CD. According to the band members, the music is done so all that is left for them is to lay down the vocals and produce a final mix.
Mileger, Beaty and Beckmann said they would all like to someday leave the Carbondale music scene behind them, but remain realistic in their goals. For them, it's just enough to play the music they love.
"I just couldn't see myself doing anything else," Mileger said. "Rock 'n' roll is my life."
Reporter Jared DuBach can be reached at jdubach@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
