INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK
PHOTOS BY ROBERT FULLER AND TOM HALL
Coming straight out of the depths of hell, the Richmond, Va. band DIRT MERCHANT combine elements of psychedelic and stoner rock, along with the delta blues, which was one of the earliest styles of blues originating in the Mississippi Delta. The band’s lineup of voodoo children include vocalist and guitarist Jason Kusterer, bassist Buddy Bryant, and drummer Casey O’Farrell, and they will be releasing their second EP later this month. We caught up with O’Farrell, Bryant, and Kusterer to discuss their sludgy sound and name, their conflict with smoking weed in their song “Hell,” as well as details on their new album to be released on March 22.
Your music combines elements of psychedelic and hard rock, as well as blues. What prompted the decision to pursue this musical direction?
Jason: I’ve always been influenced by bluesy players. JIMI HENDRIX is a big influence for me. I’ve always like that darker, sort of bluesy sound. It’s always sparked an interest in me.
Casey: I agree with Jason about JIMI HENDRIX. Those guys and the people that were doing the “delta blues” style in a more loud, amplified way were really inspiring in the way because they were combining things that nobody was combining, besides in England. … It goes back to that and delta blues, basically. [We] just wanted to find a way to bring that to modern music but paying respect to both and just finding ways to be heavy aside from the standard down-tuned, chugging. Not that that can be good, but [out goal was] to find other ways to bring that kind of feeling to our music.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO WOLVES IN APESKIN
Did you choose the name DIRT MERCHANT because it reflects the sludgy sound of your music?
Jason: Yeah, that’s part of the reason. But the real reason was I went to a comedy podcast by comedian Doug Benson called Doug Loves Movies, and one of the things about Doug’s podcast is he does a game with nametags. One of the nametags was DIRT MERCHANT, and I thought it was one of the funniest things that I had ever [heard] (laughs). The way the words sounded together sounded so funny, but also sort of gross and filthy. We kind of wanted to be a filthier, sludgier, kind of dirty band. So we thought the name DIRT MERCHANT was appropriate.
Since forming in October 2012, your band has released a demo and an EP, Wolves in Apeskin, and both include your song “Hell.” Can you tell me what that song is about?
Jason: “Hell” is about how I’m torn about marijuana use. On the one hand, I love it, and it’s one of my favorite things. On the other band, it makes me fuckin’ so dumb, and it is so expensive and makes my mind dull so I can’t do as much as I would like to. … I like pot, but I don’t want to waste my time smoking weed instead of doing things that are important. So it’s just [about] that battle within me.
Casey: I think, in a sense too, it’s like grappling with a symbol of a vice and living a working life. You need to deal with certain things to get through, and it’s kind of dealing with the balance of the two and also finding time for yourself in there as well.
I understand that you are currently working on a new album. How much 
progress has been made on that?
Jason: It is completely recorded. We tracked everything; it’s completely mixed. We are just waiting on the master, and we are probably going to release it in the middle of March. More details are withstanding. [Update: The band has received the master copy of their album and will be releasing it March 22.]
Who did you record it with?
Buddy: We recorded it with Pedro Aida in Richmond, Va. He recently just finished his studio and started tracking bands. It’s called Audio Veritae. He also recorded some of PAPER TRAIL’s other stuff, and some of the other hardcore bands from Virginia Beach
Have you decided on a title for it?
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO DEVIL’S ORDERS
Jason: The new album is called Devil’s Orders. One of the lyrics in one of the songs on the new album is “The devil takes his orders from me.”
Casey: In naming the demo Devil’s Orders, it’s referencing that lyric in that it encapsulates that the CD is “devil’s orders” and that it was made under devil’s orders.
Do you have any upcoming shows that you would like to announce?
Jason: We are planning our EP release show, which will be in the middle of March when that comes out.
