As an interviewer, you ideally want a singer or a guitar player (someone who's involved in the writing process) and someone who's an original member of the band (so that they can speak to the whole history of the band). So when I reached out to StormWarrior and was told my contact would be bass player and new member Yenz Leonhardt, I was a little concerned that it might not be a good interview. Ironically, he was a fantastic interview, one of the best I've done in 2010. Part of the reason I enjoyed chatting with his so much, was because he gets it. And I always find it very cool when the musicians get it. With that said, here are two questions from the forthcoming interview (hopefully Glenn and Deron won't mind this unofficial micro-tease):
Greg: So in September, you guys will be playing the next edition of ProgPower. This will actually be your third trip, as you've been here with both Savage Circus and Iron Savior. What have you told the STORMWARRIOR guys to expect from this festival?
Yenz: Yeah... I could just tell them, when the idea arose, people started saying, "Oh America, the dollar value is so low... and customs and papers." And I said, "Relax, these people are so cool. It's just like the people we know here." The community built up around ProgPower, it's all very nice people. People that you can really stand in the corner, drinking beers and talking for hours with, everybody in the whole hall. So I just told them to relax. And we want to pay this hospitality back by doing a great show over there. That's really how it is.
A later follow-up...
Greg: Earlier we touched on the fact that you've performed at ProgPower twice. I'm curious, for you personally, was one of those performances a more enjoyable show? Any memories or thoughts about those experiences that stick out?
Yenz: I have to say both times I was really amazed how cool the sense of community is there. That you can just go and talk to anybody. It feels like, "Let's go have a drink and talk about Heavy Metal or Rock n Roll, or whatever." They're all good people, everyone is in the know. Nothing there is superficial or anything. It's just a very cool... like a vintage Metal feeling there.
Greg: So in September, you guys will be playing the next edition of ProgPower. This will actually be your third trip, as you've been here with both Savage Circus and Iron Savior. What have you told the STORMWARRIOR guys to expect from this festival?
Yenz: Yeah... I could just tell them, when the idea arose, people started saying, "Oh America, the dollar value is so low... and customs and papers." And I said, "Relax, these people are so cool. It's just like the people we know here." The community built up around ProgPower, it's all very nice people. People that you can really stand in the corner, drinking beers and talking for hours with, everybody in the whole hall. So I just told them to relax. And we want to pay this hospitality back by doing a great show over there. That's really how it is.
A later follow-up...
Greg: Earlier we touched on the fact that you've performed at ProgPower twice. I'm curious, for you personally, was one of those performances a more enjoyable show? Any memories or thoughts about those experiences that stick out?
Yenz: I have to say both times I was really amazed how cool the sense of community is there. That you can just go and talk to anybody. It feels like, "Let's go have a drink and talk about Heavy Metal or Rock n Roll, or whatever." They're all good people, everyone is in the know. Nothing there is superficial or anything. It's just a very cool... like a vintage Metal feeling there.
They made a fantastic EP and a pretty good full length.
