The Warlocks: Sweet Sounds of Psych

The Los Angeles music scene cannot be discussed without mentioning the neo-psychedelic movement that has evolved over the last decade on the east side of the city. Bands such as Darker My Love, Sleepy Sun, Robedoor, Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel, Mystic Braves, Joel Jerome, Pocahaunted,The Entrance Band, and most notably The Warlocks, the Psych scene has flourished into a full fledge happening.

Back in 2001, I was contacted by Bomp! Records to photograph The Warlocks for their upcoming album "Rise and Fall" which came out later that year. It was a memorable day creating pretty shapes with seven people, especially in the midst of an earthquake! 

I am happy to present to you out takes from that shoot along with photographs I crafted from their gig at the Bootleg Theater in Silverlake earlier this month. I caught up with the incredibly kindhearted and extremely talented leader of the band Bobby Hecksher, who filled me in on what has been going on with the band in the last few years. Catching them live is quintessential, so I recorded "So Paranoid" which you can enjoy here.

Long live the sweet sounds of Psych,

Julie Green
February 28, 2015

JG: How did The Warlocks form?

Bobby Hecksher: We started in 1998 as a loose collection of friends at my house in Echo Park. We were really just fans of music and all naturally liked to hang out together. The Warlocks were sort of an accidental really. I was playing bass with Anton Newcombe from The Brian Jonestown Massacre. We met after the first incarnation of BJM broke up, pretty much after DIG! ended when everyone goes their separate ways. 

Anyways, I thought I would always just be a bass player but Anton was encouraging me to write my own songs. He would often jam with us and work on stuff. He is on the earlier recordings even. It started with JC coming over then Corey and then they brought Laura who just hung out with us at that point. Also Hunter was in the pictures among a few other weird peeps. Its kind of a blur really. Shows started happening and then we had a band. We went through many changes over the years before we solidified as 5 piece: Bobby Hecksher, John Christian Rees, Earl V. Miller, Christopher Di Pino & George Serrano. We are looking for a keyboard player and hopefully Tara (pictured) will stay with us.

JG: How has your band name been received by Grateful Dead and Velvet Underground fans?

BH: There has been really no comment, conflict or anything. I don’t think anybody cares really. Lots of people have used this name in one way or another and we all seem to get along. There is the Norwegian rap group which no one can mix us up with. Also the long defunct 80s metal band. 

JG: You have always had quite a large lineup. How do you manage to keep the band on track?

BH: It took many years actually. I try to be patient and understanding as possible. I’m always working on being a better leader. We’ve had the same line up for about 5 years now. We get along great. I find the key is know when to take breaks and try to always work out issues before replacing anybody.

JG:  It looks like you’re going on tour in May. Where will you be going and who will you be touring with?

BH: May 2-8 throughout the UK and Glasgow on the 10th with Black Market Karma and Enemies Eyes.

JG: Tell us a story from your tour with The Dandy Warhols.

BH: I’m not sure I can tell you a story! Yes we were that much out of control! The Dandys are really fun to tour with and I think we all got along great. It’s was perfect match musically and it seemed the crowds dug us! I’m trying to think of something PG but no, nothing comes to mind! Just imagine lots of wine (Courtney is a Wine connoisseur) hi-fi cigarettes, hi-fi sleeping medication, beer & thrashed hotel rooms! Ok? Happy?

JG: There was a 4 year break between “The Mirror Explodes” and “Skull Worship”. What transpired during that time?

BH: Well actually at that point the band had a lot of problems. Some of the members quit, moved or ended up in rehab. It was a pretty dark time. So I had a fragmented band between The Mirror Explodes & Skull Worship. We were in multiple lawsuits and we also had some Tax issues. Shit that comes with the territory I guess. Basically I just had to clamp down, roll my sleeves up and sort everything out. To add insult to injury I got burglarized which took me years to emotionally recover from. It forced me to move and be more careful with my privacy. So guess I just worked through it all and just dealt with stuff for a few years. Also the recession hit and wiped everybody out. Music was sort of put on the back burner for a lot of bands so that they could focus on survival.

JG: Why did you drop the double drum team?

BH: I absolutely love the double drummers. The problem is it's really expensive to tour that way. Hopefully we will be  in a position to explore this again someday. Also it's finding someone that will jive with George. I’m hoping plucky (Jason Anchondo) will move back to LA and come jam with us. He’s a blast to play with!

JG: Do you create art in other mediums?

BH: I’ve tried painting but I got bored. I would much rather play with new instruments. I do like to write stories but I’m not sure I’ll ever shares those!

JG: You seem to explore the space-time continuum in your songs. Is this a subject that fascinate you or does it just flow naturally from your consciousness?

BH: I guess naturally from my consciousness.

JG: What are you listening to these days?

BH: Oh god lots of stuff. Tame Impala, Melodies Echo Chamber, Dead Meadow, Primal Scream, Fad Gadget, Death In Vegas, Uncle Acid, Visage, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Kiss, John Maus, Ariel Pink, Jacco Gardner. Ha what a mess that’s just what's on todays iPod.

JG: Tell us a story about Bomp! Record's late, great Greg Shaw.

BH: The guy was a walking encyclopedia of all things rock and roll. It’s really tragic that we lost him at such a young age. He was certainly a man of mystery. I don’t have a really great like “party” story of Greg because he had a liver transplant and didn’t drink or party as much when I met him.

He was more like this cosmic guru to me and had a way to bring people together and making things happen. He always believed in bands and people. I still feel that inspiration flowing through me these days. I guess it’s why I sort of feel a duty to put on these LA shows with all these new bands. I’m going to try for once a month if I can. I’m trying to establish a community of good music which always leads to better things and new friends.

Sure there was weird shit too. He had all these weird relationships with girls that would often end up like an episode of cops. He would do things like call me in the middle of the night to break into his own Labels warehouse. I don’t think we were “breaking in” per say - I mean he was a part owner but him and Suzy were not getting along at that point. Let’s just say he wanted to avoid contact. Sure was strange though. We felt like burglars. It’s not like we stole anything we just got product for bands and used the copy machine. What else, hmm he dared me to sign our first contract in blood. Which I happily obliged!

JG: Where can we see you play next?

BH: March 7th at the Bootleg Theater with Dead Meadow, Feels, Drinking Flowers, and Death Valley Girls