CANE HILL plays Whisky a Go Go Dec. 16 and Chain Reaction Dec. 18 photo: Emily Bobrowicz
New Orleans heavy metal rockers Cane Hill will perform at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood on Dec. 16 and Chain Reaction in Anaheim on Dec. 18.
Named after an abandoned asylum in the United Kingdom, Cane Hill has steadily gained buzz for their aggressive metal riffs and Elijah Witt’s ferocious vocals.
Prior to releasing their self-titled EP in October, the band supported Blessthefall on the “To Those Left Behind Tour”.
Cane Hill is comprised of Witt, Bemo Barnett (guitar), James Barnett (guitar), Ryan Henriquez (bass) and Devin Clark (drums).
Concert Guide Live caught up with Witt to discuss the music scene in their hometown, recording their first EP and the benefits of being signed to a record label.
CONCERT GUIDE LIVE: How did all five of you originally meet? Were you childhood friends or did you meet later in life?
ELIJAH WITT: We all met through playing music in Louisiana. We picked each other out of other bands to form this one.
CGL: You guys are based out of New Orleans. How would you describe the rock scene in your hometown?
EW: The music scene in general down there has taken a pretty big shift towards EDM and Hip Hop. There’s still solid metal and rock shows, but the amount of venues (especially all ages) is disappearing more every year.
CGL: What would you say makes Cane Hill different from other metal bands?
EW: We aren’t regurgitating the same played out shit. We don’t go into the studio, or on stage for that matter, ever wanting to be “like” somebody else. Our goal is to make metal real again.
CGL: In October 2014, the band was signed by Rise Records. How beneficial has it been being signed to a record label?
EW: We’ve gotten opportunities we never would have been able to get on our own. Being independent in the metal or rock world isn’t as easy as it is in hip hop or pop.
CGL: What was the experience like of recording your first EP?
EW: Incredibly grueling. Over all we spent about a year writing and scrapping songs and then we recorded an entire full length just to scrap it into an EP. To us, we can always do better. We can always improve.
CGL: One aspect of being a front man for a band that I feel often gets overlooked, especially with metal bands, is the preparation that is attached with every show. Do you follow any specific routine or set of vocal exercises when you know you have a show coming up?
EW: Yeah I mean I do about 20-30 minutes of vocal warmups and I have honeys and coconut oils for my throat. I’ve torn my throat up before so making sure it’s taken care of is a must.
CGL: Have you ever received formal vocal training or has everything vocally been primarily self taught?
EW: It’s all be self taught or learned from other vocalists on the road with more experience. You get a certain personal ritual after picking up so many home remedies.
CGL: Can you recall where the band’s first show was and how it went?
EW: Our first show was the first show of the Up Close and Personal Tour with The Acacia Strain last October. It went about as well as a first show could go…
CGL: How have your live shows changed since that first show?
EW: We mesh better. We understand each other on stage more and we play better in general. We’ve all progressed our personal skill levels since that first show and it’s noticeable.