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PUBLISHED: 09-22-08
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With Psycho Akdov
It took the two of them five years to form the rest of the band because they were never able to find members who fit their hardcore/melodic sound. Now, they find themselves adding samples and percussions to their music as a way of standing out from the rest of the hardcore bands in Chicago.
Comprised of guitarist Tony Dattuco, vocalist Patrick Noonan, bassist Adrian Rodriguez and percussionist/vocalist Arthur Castillo-Psycho Akdov is a mix of different backgrounds and nationalities: Irish, Polish and Hispanic. But their love for music, South Side pride and putting on great shows brings them all together.
The Chronicle caught up with the band at Green Olive, 13501 S. Ave. N. Excited about their first self-titled demo release, they chatted about their music, influences and what the band is all about.
The Chronicle: How would you describe your music?
Tony Dattuco: It’s definitely hardcore. When people ask me what it sounds like I say it’s like we’re our own band, but if you put Primus, Rage Against the Machine, Pantera and Tool all in a blender-that’s us. Patrick Noonan: I don’t want to put a style on it. I would say it’s just metal.
Who are your influences?
PN: I’m influenced by the New York hardcore scene. Pantera and Zombie-a lot of the ’90s metal.
AC: I’m influenced by [the] music of Radiohead and Deftones. I try to bring a more melodic sense to Pat’s vocals. Pat has a really good hardcore voice for that type of music.
Who writes the lyrics?
AC: Pat writes about 90 percent of the lyrics.
PN: A lot of my stuff is very horror-movie- influenced and just, like, the darker side. I lived a really hard life, and it isn’t so much about singing about how you’re living a hard life, but how you get through living that hard life.
What’s going through your mind when you’re performing?
AC: When we’re on stage, we’re all totally different than who we are.
PN: It’s just letting out everything.
TD: I picture I’m in a crowd. Whether we’re jumping around or whether it’s a breakdown or going slow, our goal is to turn a bar gig into a concert.
Has anything crazy ever happened during a show?
TD: This guy, [Patrick], has broken microphones on his head.
PN: I’ve had concussions up there.
What does Psycho Akdov mean?
Adrian Rodriguez: Well we played around with “akdov,” it’s actually vodka spelled backwards.
AC: It’s an ingredient in certain drugs that makes you go crazy and you have no control over stopping the reaction of your body. That’s what we want our music to do.
What are your aspirations for the band?
PN: I want to show the world that not everything is nice; there’s dark stuff all over the place.
What’s next for the band?
PN: We’re planning our demo release party that should be sometime soon.
TD: We’re just going to keep working and blowing things up with our music.
To check out Psycho Akdov, visit Myspace.com/PsychoAkdov.
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