With a major-label distribution deal right out of the chute, Candy Butchers seemed destined to follow in the footsteps of other smart, song-focused, melody-driven, ’90s outfits like Ben Folds Five and Fountains Of Wayne before the proverbial window of opportunity slammed shut circa 1997. Since then, seemingly unflappable leader Mike Viola has kept plugging away, fending off adversity in his personal life (his first wife died of cancer) and overall public indifference to get his music out there, whether as himself, under the Candy Butchers moniker, on film soundtracks or elsewhere. Viola’s new solo release, Electro De Perfecto (Good Morning Monkey/Hornblow), is a slickly produced celebration of a versatile songwriter in his prime, one who deserves a little more love. Viola will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with him.
Viola: There is no competition here. The only reason for having a gas grill is if somebody you know is in the propane business. Just buy a Weber, buy some charcoal, get yourself a chimney starter, crumple up some newspaper (two sheets of the New York Times business section will do), fire it up and wait for the blazing tower. Then empty it into the Weber and wait until the coals are ashy grey around the edges. This will tell you your grill is hot enough. Make sure it’s so hot you can’t hold your hand over it for more than three seconds. Then throw your grate over it. Scrape the greasy remains off into the flame. Get a little olive oil on a paper towel and rub down the grate to prime it (the viscosity in the oil apparently does the trick, whatever). Then relish in the sound and smell as the oil hits the flame. The only moment better than the oil hitting the flame is when “The Blood Hits The Flame.” At this point, go ahead and make up your own metal song in your head and let it carry you through the experience. I’m thinking like Vandenberg or like Grim Reaper. Something bloody and full of itself. If you have a gas grill and want to justify its existence, go ahead and use it as a beer holder.
Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amR6Ee9QQf4
