In a RECENT EDITION of PULSE we introduced to Chilean psychedelic stalwarts La Hell Gang, who have already in their short time together gone through some evolutions of sound from raw, swaggering rock’n’roll to fuzzed out and freaky psychedelia. Based on this interview, it looks like that’s not where they’re stopping either.
I caught up with vocalist/guitarist KB Cabala. Have a read below and find out what the band are up to at the moment, where they plan to take their sound next, and the many recommendations they have for you all to get indulging your ears in.
Hello there, and how are you?
Hey, we’re alright, in NY. Tonight we play at Glassland for a Mexican summer showcase.
How would you describe what La Hell Gang are all about? For our readers not in the know.
La hell gang is a power trio from Santiago of Chile. We started in 2009, after a break with my first band Cindy Sisters.
You released your second album Thru Me Again this year, and there’s a definite change in direction to your debut album Just What Is Real. Was this a conscious decision, or a natural evolution?
Yeah there’s some changes in the composition; I started to use different tunes, and more sounds to create the wall of sound, thru guitars and few synths. Just exploring. I also got another project called  “Chicos de Nazca” , there I used a lot of that sound, more travelling, exploring. I think the next album will back to our first raw sound.
What would you say some of your biggest influences are musically?
I started to make music when I was kid, after listening a lot of Hendrix, Â the blues of Spacemen 3, the blow sound of the Stooges, the minimalism of Velvet Underground, Jesus and Mary Chain. In my youth I also listened a lot to Loveless of My Bloody Valentine, I love that harmonic wall of sound. Or Boards of Canada in another way.
Aside from the band, and music, what else gets you guys going? Any big passions or inspirations?
In my way, I just think about music and my bands ( la hell gang and Chicos de Nazca). Nes (drummer) also has a record label in Chile called BYM Records, it’s growing all the time.
Sarwin (bassist) also has some works aside from the band.
You’re touring at the moment, how’s it going and where is it taking you?
Yeah we are touring right now, we started in NY and going down to California. Then we go back to Chile, to record a new stuff. It’ great for us cause I was living in Berlin, and we didn’t play together for a long time, so now we are making the machine work again.
Are there any contemporaries of yours you’d recommend our readers listen to?
I like an Australian guy called Roy Montgomery , and one of my best friend is making amazing music, called the Psychedelic Schafferson Jetplane, you have to check it! I like Psychic Ills and Wooden Shjips as well.
What’s the music scene like in Chile? Particularly for bands with your sort of style and sound?
There are many bands on BYM Record, that you can check, like Holydrug Couple, Watch Out!, Follakzoid, the Ganjas , Chicos de Nazca, the Psychedelic Schafferson Jetplane,
Is there a master plan in place for La Hell Gang? Taking over the world?
We are easy on the way, things come and go, I don’t like to pretend nothing, just the things are what they are, but we are planning new album for Mexican summer, and all the best vibes and keep it real.
One more for the road, if you had a pet vulture that was especially cultured, what would you call it?
A pet vulture could be called as Cederik.
Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.
