Lead singer of The Wild, Dylan Villain, took time to speak with me about their current tour, and their music. There was such a passion coming from him about his music when we spoke, it really gave me a sense of what The Wild is about. They’re a passionate, hard-working band taking old-school values with them on the road.
Read on to learn more about The Wild, and what it’s like to be a rock musician, and check them out on facebook to find their tour dates and their latest album.
Side Stage Magazine: I’ve been listening to the album in my car, and your voice sounds so much like AC/DC!
Dylan Villain: You know, I’ve heard that once or twice, so I appreciate it! I’m glad you like it. It’s always cool to reach new people with our music. It’s nuts! This record, two years later and we’re still touring it. It’s a great feeling.
Are you guys working on a new one?
Yeah. It’s been hard since we’ve been on the road so much, but there’s definitely a lot of new stuff cooking right now. We’re excited about the direction we’re taking and the approach we’re taking to writing the next set of songs. But it makes it challenging when you’re on tour, you know? A lot of bands in the past have written records on the road. It totally has that side of it that can be inspiring, and we’ve definitely felt some of that, but really getting down to a song and finishing it start-to-finish and all the finer details, I find that stuff happens afterwards. It’s been a great year, it’s been a really busy year on the road, but like I said, it’s difficult to finish some things, but the stuff we have started for the record is really really exciting.
That’s exciting! I feel like being on the road would be really distracting trying to focus on just one thing.
Yeah, exactly. And there’s just lots of factors, lots of road blocks, if you will. I don’t even care if you’re not somebody who parties and you’re totally sober, it’s taxing. It’s hard enough to be putting your body through that-not getting a lot of sleep, and eating right. It’s just hard. There’s not a lot of time. I don’t ever really have a lot of time really. By the time you get there, load in, do a sound check, you’re kind of like getting a shower or whatever the hell you’ve got to do, and getting press, then it’s time to go on. After the show, you’re meeting people and signing stuff. I’m definitely not complaining in any way, cause it’s what I love and wanted. I love it! And I love all the stress it’s brought us, but to find time to do anything else is different. It’s even hard to make plans even. You know so many people in these cities and it’s hard to meet up. The only time you really see anyone is at the show really. That’s just what it is and how it goes.
I just read something this week about the change in the music industry, especially with streaming, it’s more difficult to get people out to these live shows. So someone put a call saying “hey, if you’re a fan of music, go support your artist,” and then I was talking to an artist a while back too and they said that’s their biggest support is people going to their shows, even friends and family. He said people are just “eh, we’ll see you whenever,” so I totally get that.
Yeah. It’s totally true! I think that we–all the guys and all the bands on the front lines–we all know that that’s the case. It’s like it was. Times have definitely changed. Being a good musician anymore, it’s not enough. You’ve got to wear a lot of hats in this business to keep it rolling and to make an impact with your fans and supporters in general just to keep it rolling. There’s just not enough in the industry really to facilitate those– We talk about writing a record on the road. There was times back in the day, sort of their come up scenario, they’ve got a bus and they’ve got a recording studio back home and a crew to do their things to set up and take down. At this level, it doesn’t really exist. Right now it’s all about doing it yourself and saving money and staying on the road. All these things we’re talking about right now, all these “negatives” if you even want to call it a negative, to me it doesn’t even matter. Someone could stand in front of me and tell me till they’re blue in the face that everything I’ve done up to this point is a bad idea, or it won’t work out, or “this could happen, and this could happen,” or whatever, and it doesn’t really matter to me. It never has. Anyone who’s really worth their salt as a musician will tell you the same thing. It’s who I am, there’s no changing it. I can’t change who I am. It doesn’t matter all the horror stories or all the negative things, or the possible “coulda beens,” and it doesn’t matter, cause if you wake up everyday being who you are, I guarantee it’s a better look than being something you’re not.
Yeah, definitely! When I was reading your bio, something you were quoted really stood out to me. You said “I feel that for every thousand bands out there, you’ll find maybe ten that believe the things that they’re singing about.” Which, I can see that. It seems that some people think the musician’s life is so glamorous and they don’t see the behind-the-scenes of how much work it really is and to be able to put in that much work to really pay off, you have to have SO much passion. If it’s something you’re willing to do for free, that’s something you need to pursue.
Yeah, I mean it ties into exactly what we were talking about. If you got into music to make money, you’re in the wrong business, first of all. Second, you’re wrong anyway cause at the end of the day, when all things are said and over, or whenever you’re old and dead, however you want to look at it, the thing is, the music in life–art in general, movies and paintings–that’s all that’s left of you. How does that stand up to the test of time? That’s one of the main reasons that nowadays, I don’t really feel that people are giving a shit enough about that. They just, I don’t know, I hear all these bands, and I’m not naming names and shit-talking directly, but I hear all this stuff and I just don’t believe it. I just don’t buy it. I don’t know what changed, I don’t know what made that happen. Even the more lesser known bands of the 60’s and 70’s, you kind of listen to that stuff and think there’s something a little more honest and true about it and the conviction is there. Whereas now, I don’t know if it’s a combination of the internet making everyone a superstar, or what, but I feel like there’s more clout you had to gain on your own back in the day. You only had one shot to get a record made back in the day or to go on a tour and play in front of the right audiences, if you were good enough. You had to really have something where your songs were good enough, or you had a crazy enough live show, you put in enough time, effort and energy and passion into your project that it got you the recognition you deserved. Whereas now, it doesn’t take a lot to start getting a following online or whatever like that. And I think some of that has to do with some of the stuff that’s out right now, and I just don’t believe it can do anything past a year or two. Even in the next 10 years–I look back to stuff that was done in the early 2000’s and some of it I’m just like “Nope! I’m not even doing it anymore.” I just feel like the shelf life of things is a lot shorter.
Yeah, I see that. There’s one thing by gaining a following because of talent and passion, and that’s going to be the long run. Then there’s people who are marketing geniuses, so they can put something together and work real hard, let’s say for a year, and know how to reach the masses quicker. But I feel that “the harder the journey, the greater the reward” you’re going to reap and it’ll just last longer and be truer and keep you humble, and that’s the test of time.
Yeah. At the end of the day, you’ve got to get it done the best way you know how. If one thing is getting it done for someone else and it’s working for them and they’re happy, that’s great. But I don’t know, there’s something about I don’t feel like it connects to me. If it connects to other people, that’s great! But for me, it doesn’t feel real and connect to me.
I do feel, though, that rock has a type of honesty more so than other genres. I always equate it to the punk genre years and years ago, it was kind of underground and everyone that identified with it was a mifit. But it’s created a huge culture now where it’s OK to be a misfit and I feel like rock in general is more honest, because it’s so accepting and it’s just raw emotion and you’re just like “Yeah I know what it’s like to feel like that and screw the world if they don’t agree with me.”
And you know what, there’s nothing wrong with that at all. Despite what I just said about the newer stuff and just not getting that or what I think really, if it connects with you or anyone else, bottom line, if they enjoy it then nothing else really does matter, you know? Rock’s just taken a bit of a different turn over the last few years. A lot of the newer stuff, I don’t really get, but that doesn’t mean it’s not doing what it’s supposed to do or helping people or making people enjoy it, and at the end of the day, that’s really what music’s all about in each genre. It’s about that escape, or feeling part of something, or just letting it make you feel good in any way, even if that means making you feel sad for a bit and just get emotions out at any time, in any genre, that’s a positive thing.
Absolutely! So I wanted to talk about your tour with Steel Panther. That just started, correct?
Yeah! We’ve been on it, well, this year has sort of been the year of Steel Panther and The Wild. We’ve been on several shows over the years, but this year we’ve really stepped it up. This year, it’s broken up into different segments. We’ve done a bunch of Canadian stuff with those guys, and this September, we’re headed on our first leg of the American run. Which, I think there are sprinkled in a few Canadian dates as well. And then after September with them, we go on a quick break, and then head on out with them again in October. The tours been a lot of days with Steel Panther, but it’s been broken up into different segments.
I saw that you guys just did Sturgis. How was that?
It was awesome! You know, definitely always viewed that being a band that sounds like that, and a guy that rides a motorcycle and knowing Full Throttle Saloon and being a fan of Jackyl since I was young, and all of that, just knowing about that whole thing, there definitely was a lot of times thinking “That would be great if The Wild could play anything at Sturgis.” And it was awesome to do that with our friends in Steel Panther. It was great and definitely the right audience for us, you know just a bunch of rowdy dirty bikers and an open pit, it was just awesome. It was us, Molly Hatchet, and Steel Panther, so it was a hell of a bill!
Actually, to give you a little side story about that– our drummer was in the hospital the night before we were supposed to leave and none of us knew. We all woke up to a text saying “hey, I’m in the hospital, they don’t even know if they’re going to release me.” So we were kind of like “what’s going on here?” So we came up with a plan and we went down and got him out of the hospital and drove something like thirty-something hours to Sturgis, played the show. Hung out for a bit and watched the Molly Hatchet show and the Steel Panther set for a little bit, then got back in the van, drove straight back to Canada another thirty-whatever hours, dropped him back off and then went right back home.
Oh my gosh!
Yeah. That’s the kind of shit that happens with this band all the time. And it’s just call it “luck” call it “stupidity,” I don’t know, it just always happens and we’re the band that just gets shit done. We just love this shit so much, you know?
Yeah. That’s crazy, though! That is one of those things that just shows your passion. When you find that passion, you have to do it. No matter what cost. You know, I love photography and if I ever go for a long period of time without it, I get cranky and I get almost an itch until I whip out my camera, so I completely get that for any creative thing the need to just do it.
Yeah, and I get that, because that’s who you are. That’s what makes you you. And in addition to that, it’s hard sometimes for other people who aren’t creative types to get that. But until you have something really consume you, cause I don’t imagine you just got into photography just last month,
Yeah, it’s been a few years.
So until somebody has something that’s consumed them from the time that they were young, even if they’re getting into it sort of later in life, but you knew likely for a long time that you were into it, it’s hard for anyone to understand cause it’s really what defines you as a person.
Yeah, it definitely does. I’m looking forward to the tour. I’m in North Carolina and you guys are coming to Raleigh, so I’m hoping to catch that show.
Yeah, no doubt. We were there at Carolina Rebellion. It was awesome, it was a good time. And yeah, we’ve got a few shows with Steel Panther around there. That show in Carolina Rebellion, we were the first band of the day and we were right by the gate, or close enough to the gate, and the crowd just poured in and we just ripped and it was sick. After that show was great. Everyone in that area, in the Carolinas and in the South really just gets what The Wild is about as a band and they get the sound. They loved it, man, and we never forgot that. We’re definitely really excited to get back there and do it again and play there again.
So, I can hear some influences in your music, AC/DC was prominent, Guns and Roses, I even heard a little of ZZ Top in your music. What are some bands that you guys identify with and really take inspiration from?
You knocked off the main ones really. It really starts with the blues and I think any real rock and roller would tell you that, but it’s our sound in particular, and all of rock really starts with that where we start with a blues base and tempo and swings and structures, the riffs and the singing style and all of that. That’s really where it goes with us. AC/DC, ZZ Top, Motörhead’s another big one. Everything good rock and roll, and a lot of punk rock too with us, you can hear in some of the songs for sure. “Roadhouse” or “Party till you’re dead” we tapped into our love for punk rock and put it with a bluesy rockabilly thing and turned it even louder. That’s really what The Wild really is. We’re looking forward to doing more of that on the next record. Wild at Heart’s been great, but on this next record, I want to go back to how things started with the band and dive into that sound all over again. We’re not like the band that’s mysterious about what we look like and what we sound like. What you see and what you hear is what you get. We wear it on our sleeves proudly, because we know who we are. Like I said before, that’s the kind of stuff and the kind of sound that registers with me. We don’t hear enough of it anymore, so somebody’s got to do it. We’re happy to be those guys.
You guys are from Canada, right?
Yeah! We live in British Columbia. People always ask us where we’re from or where we live, so I just say British Columbia, that’s where the mail goes. We’re never really home anymore. We’re always on the road. Now that things are popping for us in Europe, it’s been amazing to go over there. We’re really stoked to get back over there.
It’s kind of funny, Americans, the way we view Canadians is that you’re just really polite, but it’s amazing. The rock that comes out of Canada is really wild and not at all how we think of Canadians. So, right on! Keep doing that!
Well, until you meet us, if you meet us in person, we’re all good polite people, but the truth is, the reason I feel people say that about Canadian bands is cause we like to party and have a good time. So whenever we’re in America, or Europe, or Canada, we all just want to have fun together, so that’s why most Canadian bands are nice. We want to have fun and have a good time. We’re appreciative too! We’re from a different country, so when people are digging what we do, we really appreciate it too.
That’s funny too. It is a different country, but you’d never know. I mean, so many of our celebrities are from Canada, and you’d never know. Canada is like the same place [as America]. We all have the same ideals.
Yeah. We are different. We’re similar in a lot of ways, but we are also different. You’ll meet assholes from Canada too. Good people and people who are shitty are everywhere, no matter where you’re from.
Yeah! I’d rather have the stereotype of being polite and saying “sorry” than of being an asshole.
Yeah. You know, the politeness is one thing, the hockey is one thing, but you guys really need to get hip to poutine. We gotta get you on the poutine!
Oh my gosh! I want to try it, but I’m not going to make it until I try it authentically.
Yeah, that and the beer is stronger. We will take poutine and strong beer. That will be our thing.
I don’t know if you’ve seen Super Troopers 2 yet.
No, I haven’t’! But I’ve heard a lot about it.
Yeah, the first one was my favorite, so I was a part of the crowd-funding. When that one released, I think it hit the nail on the head of how Canada and America sees each other. It just goes back and forth where they were making fun of each other, and I think it bridges that gap perfectly.
I grew up on the border to Minnesota, so I live on the West Coast now, but when I was a kid, i grew up in Ontario like right close to the border of Minneapolis. So I can definitely can appreciate the back and forth tripping that used to happen. Us playing hockey against Americans, or American kids coming and fishing in our lakes. So I can appreciate that for sure.
Well, I think that’s everything I wanted to talk to you about today. I’m looking forward to seeing you in October, and thank you for your time today! And i’m excited to see what you guys are gonna do!
Yeah! You should definitely come say hi and introduce yourself at the show whenever you see one. It’ll be cool. I can’t wait to get back to playing, it’ll be a good time!
Yeah! Will you be at your merch table?
Yeah, we’re actually super good about that, making sure we’re back there after the set, signing stuff and meeting people, having a beer and a good time.
I’ll definitely say hi then! You have a great day! It’s a holiday weekend for us, so I hope you guys get to have a holiday too.
Well, everyday’s a holiday for me! We’ll see you at the show!
