IMN/92.3 FM/NUVO "Artist of the Week" February 9th, 2005
Devil to Pay heading back on the road
by Ryan Williams
"We played in South Bend at Cheers Lounge a few times, one of which was with a band called Mr. Evil. They did this whole Marylin Manson thing, with the makeup and the leather trenchcoats. They had a girl onstage for the last song who was chained to a pole, the guitarist was grinding his headstock across her cooch and pulling down her G-string. then we went to the hotel afterwards and I guess they were having a big party. Eventually the singer and bassist got into a fight, blood was spilled, and the cops came and took some people away. They all got kicked out of the hotel, and we slept through it all."
Devil To Pay singer/guitarist Steve Janiak has heard enough rock and roll stories to come up with some good ones on demand. The former frontman for Indiana veterans Neurotic Box and the Pub Sigs has been working with his new outfit for a few years, enough for the band to develop its own identity and garner national attention.Drummer Chad Prifogle is quite happy about the notice their debut release "Thirty Pieces Of Silver" received from across the states. "I think my proudest moment was being on the college metal charts for thirteen weeks, peaking at twenty seven." That happiness is lessened a little bit by other circumstances, however. "It was also a pretty surreal moment too, because we were being played all over the country but not in Indianapolis . Our radio stations rarely support local music which is unfortunate because there are a lot of good bands in Indy."
Devil To Pay's sound might not fit on the local airwaves, but Janiak draws on an impressive pedigree of groups acknowledged for their greatness (and heaviness). "Our music is like classic 70's blues based rock, like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Budgie, but mixed with the influence of 90's 'grunge', like Soundgarden, Nirvana, the Melvins, etc. If you had to be technical, we fall somewhere between Stoner Rock and Doom Metal. Most of our comparisons have been to Kyuss, Sabbath, Roadsaw, C.O.C., Alabama Thunderpussy, and Karma to Burn."
The band hasn't been shy about taking their music to the masses, either. Janiak lists gigs in "Mesa , AZ , Portland , ME , New Orleans , LA (mostly for the after party), and Austin , TX " as particularly memorable ones for the group.
Ready to make new memories with Devil To Pay is guitarist Bob Bridges, who joined Janiak, Prifogle, and bassist Matt Stokes late last year. Prifogle says the new guy is working out well. "We've all known him for a long time, so we knew we would work well together. The new stuff we are writing is coming together nicely. Bob's guitar work compliments Steve's perfectly. Bob is also a little crazy, so he fits right in." Speaking of writing, Prifogle adds that the process is well underway. "Our goal is to have at least twenty songs to take to the studio with us. Last time we had ten, recorded them, there is the album. This time we want to be able to pick the best stuff and still have some leftover for compilations and other projects."
Following the studio time, Janiak says the group is heading back out on the road. "We'll probably wait until our album is done and ready, break it up into a few week long runs and spread it out." Indiana 's next chance to catch Devil To Pay is at Birdy's on February 12, along with Mantis, Gogglesphere, Burnout, and Black Mountain Creeper.