Opening a Vain with Jacki Stone

VAINS OF JENNA 2010 (PHOTO BY KIRSTI ANNA URPA) 

http://kirstianna.carbonmade.com/ STYLIST: Jazzie Ourian

By indrid13

I recently had the pleasure to once again talk to the amazing Jacki Stone, drummer for Vains of Jenna about all of the incredible music the band plans to unleash in 2011. If you’ve never given Vains of Jenna a listen, there’s no better time than now as the band is beginning on an exciting new chapter in their already legendary career!

When we last talked, Jesse was new to the band, and things were still in a formative state. Now that you have had time to gel as a unit, how has the creative process been flowing?

JACKI: It’s been great man… Jesse is really kickin’ ass and the band is on fire. It’s been almost a year now since Jesse joined and we are rockin’ it.
Nicki and Jesse have been working on a lot of new stuff that I think will be awesome!

You recently put out a cover of Cee-Lo Green's "Fuck You" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXMAlKO14CU). What made you choose that particular song, and what challenges did you face in putting the Vains of Jenna style on the song?

JACKI: I think it’s a great song and it’s fun to play. We wanted to do something different and I guess this is just that. It wasn’t that hard to get the VAINS OF JENNA vibe in it, we pretty much found it and made our own thing of it in a matter of hours.

You are also filming a video for "Fuck You". What will the video be like?

JACKI: The video was shot a little over a month back by director Blake Bogdanovich. It’s being edited right now and should be out in the beginning of March. It’s a classic rock n’ roll video, but with some great weird footage as well… I think you all are going to enjoy it!

You're new CD "Reverse Tripped" is in stores soon. Can you tell us a bit about the songs on the album?

JACKI: This is a cover album. It’s got 14 songs on there, with classic rock n roll and of course the “FUCK YOU” song. It was a great and fun process making this one.

Producer Adam Hamilton was fantastic to work with… can’t wait to get it out in stores. This will happen on April 5th!

Not only will it be released on a CD (http://www.amazon.com/Reverse-Tripped-Vains-Jenna/dp/B004OCCL8E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1299085079&sr=8-1) … it will also be available on vinyl (http://www.amazon.com/Reverse-Tripped-Vains-Jenna/dp/B004OCCLBG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1299085079&sr=8-2)!

Where did you record the new album, and what was the recording process like for the album?

JACKI: It was recorded at Palm Ranch Studios, Woodland Hills California. Like I said before, this is a cover album, but we worked with the songs a lot to give them as much justice as you can do when doing a cover.

Tell us a bit about your touring plans for 2011?

JACKI: We are planning on going out on a US tour in May –June. We are heading out by ourselves for May and then hooking up with a bigger band in June… you will soon see who. The plan is to tour as much as possible… go out again in July and August then maybe take the touring to Europe.

Is their anyplace you want to tour that you haven't had the opportunity to?

JACKI: We were in Argentina and Brazil a few months back witch was amazing… I would love to go to Japan for some shows… Australia and Mexico too.

What is the best way for the fans to get to see you in their town?

JACKI: They should request us on their local radio stations, get the word out about VOJ, in parties and clubs… that way we can get interest from venues to book us. To find dates for our shows you should go to our Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/VAINS-OF-JENNA/77210915994), Twitter (http://twitter.com/vainsofjenna), MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna) etc.

Speaking of fans, I am always amazed at how accessible Vains of Jenna are to the fans when they come to a show (everything from signing merch, to just having a conversation). As a fan, I really appreciate that from a band. How important do you find such interactions?

JACKI: It is very important. Without our fans, we would be nothing… we wouldn’t be able to tour or record albums. So to meet fans and hang out is an important fact.

Any parting words?

JACKI: Be ready for VAINS OF JENNA on the road! The cover album is called “Reverse Tripped” (http://www.amazon.com/Reverse-Tripped-Vains-Jenna/dp/B004OCCL8E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1299085079&sr=8-1) and will be in stores in April, pick up a copy!!!

And just so you guys know… we are also working on new material so a new original VAINS OF JENNA album will be recorded after many months of touring this year!

They Can Never Die: An Interview with Vains of Jenna

By indrid13

When we last spoke to Vains of Jenna, they were getting set to release their second CD, The Art of Telling Lies. Since that time, much has changed with the band. Jacki Stone, Vains of Jenna’s dynamic drummer fills us in…

Since we last spoke a lot has happened with Vains of Jenna. Can you bring us up to speed?

JACKI: Wow, yeah a lot of things have happened. As you all may know, we have a new singer. His name is Jesse Forte and replaced our former singer/ rhythm guitarist Lizzy DeVine.

Everything happened very fast and all of a sudden we were in Europe touring with the new line up. This includes another member too, Anton Sevholt. He’s official now in VAINS as the new rhythm guitarist.

We toured all over Europe between April and July this year, recorded the new song “We Can Never Die” and shot a music video for “Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead 2010 mix”.

Now we are heading back to the states and are ready to hit the road, record again etc. etc.

How was Jesse selected to join the band, were there open auditions, or was he someone you had jammed with previously?

JACKI: He was the first one on our minds when we started looking for a new singer. Over a few days we got MANY emails with guys who wanted to join the band but Jesse was the only one we jammed with and it felt great from the beginning.
We had never played together before but we played at the same club once in L.A when he was in his old band.

How have the fans reacted to Jesse?

JACKI: They have been great! In Europe they welcomed him and Anton with open arms wherever we went. The five of us has yet to play together in the states so we will see how that goes now… I’m very excited.

Can you tell us a bit about the concept behind your new music video, "Everybody Loves You When You're Dead"?

JACKI: You know… I can’t really explain… it’s a video were you gotta think and form your own opinion of what is going on. But it has something to do with death, hehe.

Where can fans go to get your new EP release?

JACKI: You can get it from iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/vains-of-jenna/id198836161) and order it online from us at our website (http://www.vainsofjenna.com) , myspace (http://www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna) and facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vains-Of-Jenna/17289385249).

You are on tour right now, where will you be heading?

JACKI: First we played at the Starline in Fresno on Oct. 1st and the day after we played at The Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood.
After that we will be playing around in California and going up and down the westcoast… Vegas, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Texas etc.
In late October we’re gonna fly to Argentina and Brazil and play our first ever shows over there…

That will be very cool.
As always we will do everything to tour as much as we can!

Can you give us any info on your upcoming covers album, and your new album of original material?

JACKI: The cover album will be recorded pretty soon. Maybe even in October. Songs from Elton John, Pink Floyd etc. will be on there. Stuff that we grew up with, you know?
Then we will record a NEW original album sometime next year. I can’t wait to have more of the new VAINS OF JENNA material recorded and out there!!!

Any parting words for our readers?

JACKI: See you all on the road soon!!!

All photos by JP White

10 Questions: An Interview with Vains of Jenna

by indrid13

Sweden’s Vains of Jenna appeared on the scene in 2005, and quickly shook up the rock world with their rough Sunset Strip sleaze-rock sound. In the years that followed, they’ve played major tours with the likes of everyone from Poison to GWAR! Recently I had a chance to ask Jacki Stone, Vains of Jenna’s amazing drummer, some questions about this awesome band! Read on!

Let me just say thank you for keeping the spirit of the Sunset Strip
rock scene alive and vital. Can you tell us about your upcoming album?

JACKI: Thanks man! We are very excited about the new album. We finally went in to a real studio for this album and worked with Brent Woods, who produced the album. He’s the one that we did the “Enemy In Me” recording with back in 2007. This new record is a step forward for us in the band. We have all got better as musicians and songwriters. The songs are way “bigger” and have more work behind them. You’ll find that the new album is not just raw rock n roll like the old VAINS OF JENNA stuff; it’s got pop, funk, and rock songs with some cool darker lyrics. You'll never know what to expect from us...we write and play whatever we want...doesn't matter what kind of genre it might be.

What is the recording process like for a Vains of Jenna release?

JACKI: Before, we did everything on our own. We recorded all our stuff in the rehearsal studio, or like we did for “Lit Up/ Let Down”, which was recorded in a cabin in Sweden over a week’s time. This time Nicki and Lizzy wrote most parts of the songs, and JP and myself came in with our straight ideas. This recording process was something totally new for us. For once we had a real studio and a producer to help with some tweaks in the songs.

What are some of your musical inspirations and favorite albums?

JACKI: There are soooo many bands and musicians that inspired me. I remember knowing all of the songs from Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” album when I was like 6 years old… then I really got into Nirvana around ’94. I like pretty much everything in music… I like old school hip-hop, classic music, punk, pop, funk, rock etc. etc.
For drumming I believe Dave Grohl and Keith Moon are two of my all time favorite drummers… Not so sure about a favorite album…



A lot of the songs on Lit Up-Let Down seem to be biographical in nature. Do you find it easier to create songs with a grain of truth to them?

JACKI: I think it is for sure. Stuff that you have, and are, experiencing at a time might be best things to put down on a piece of paper. All songs come along in different ways… you can be happy at the time you are sitting with your guitar, drums etc. but still you make the heaviest and most angry song you ever wrote, you know? Lyrics can definitely be the same way. But I think writing about experiences and how you see things in the world, and feel at the time, are great to express in your music.


What would you say has been your favorite live gig to date?

JACKI: I have done a lot of cool shows!!! I really don’t have a favorite. Some club shows have been amazing… some small, dirty, smelly bars have been really cool… and playing arenas was absolutely fantastic!

When I saw you guys perform it was in a large venue in upstate New York, and you easily commanded the stage and made the audience take notice. Do you prefer to play larger venues or smaller clubs?

JACKI: Playing huge places like that is really amazing! That was a dream come true! And we are aiming to come back to those places. But, I like club shows as well. You’re close to the crowd and it’s awesome when they are screaming and jumping around... that is a sweet feeling! I don’t mind playing wherever… just as long as we can play LIVE. That is what we love and why we are in a band… doesn’t matter if it’s a small shitty place with 5 people or an arena with 10,000 people.

I know the same year that I attended that gig, you did shows with Cradle of Filth and Gwar!! How did the audiences at those shows respond to you?

JACKI: We kicked ass every show! The response from the crowd was actually really good... It was great seeing GWAR and Cradle of Filth fans going crazy every night. We play such different music than those bands, so for us to win over a crowd like that was really cool!



Are there plans for a nation wide tour to support the new release?

JACKI: We are heading to Texas for a 2 week run starting Aug. 18th and after that we are talking about putting a tour together in the Midwest and East coast this fall. The plan is to do what we’ve always done… playing around the whole country as much as we can.

With the massive popularity of music-based video games these days is there any chance of some Vains of Jenna in Guitar Hero?

JACKI: Haha, that would be cool!

Any final message for our readers?

JACKI: Our fans kicks ass!!! Thanks for all the support! Be sure to check out our myspace page www.vainsofjenna.com and our twitter and facebook page to get new updates on the band. The CD will be out in the fall so keep your eyes and ears open for that!!! It will all be promoted on our web pages!!!