Arlington, Texas thrashers TEJASMOSIS released “Diatribe” EP June 25th, 2013 via The Metal Den Records and have been playing shows throughout their home area of DFW in Texas and are planning to get out and do more touring across the country once their new full length “Uneasy Pieces” releases on July 25th, 2014. They aren’t trying to be just another Pantera ripoff neither, this band can stand on its own and they win fans over because of that. If you want some balls to the walls, rocking metal music, TEJASMOSIS is your band.
The Metal Den’s Randy “Rocket” Cody has conducted an EXCLUSIVE interview with guitarist/vocalist Jeff Miller of TEJASMOSIS for TMD’s loyal following of DEN HEADZ all across the globe!
ROCKET: Where were you born and raised?
JEFF: Hellbound in Ft Worth, Texas – used & abused in good ol’ Arlington!
ROCKET: Do you recall your first rock concert?
JEFF: Kiss at reunion arena in 1985 or 86 – been a long time and allot of brain cell murdering ya know? Like a ton of kids I had never heard music that loud!!! I knew this was for me.
ROCKET: When did you first start playing guitar?
JEFF: Late 1985 – age 15 – a kid gave me a Ted Nugent Double Live Gonzo record at school and up to that point I was all about jazz trumpet. I wanted to swing in big bands like in the 40’s. When I heard that roaring guitar I knew what I had to do. Bye Bye big band swing, hello Damage Inc.!!!!
ROCKET: Who are some of your biggest playing influences?
JEFF: That would be my 3 headed father, the unholy trinity of Hetfield, Mustaine and the incredible and criminally underrated Scott Ian of anthrax. They taught me how to play guitar like I wanted to. Take all that and put it in a blender with Dime and there ya go. The newer influences I am under are Mark & Wille from Lamb Of God, Jim Root of Slipknot and the Mastadon dudes. They have no rules and I am hypnotized by their playing. It’s strange to be changing this far into my playing but I want to keep growing as a guitar player and songwriter.
ROCKET: How did you first get hooked up with the Tejasmosis band?
JEFF: When Tommy & I were all of 15 or 16 years old. He was the shit at school and nobody could match him on a guitar, kinda like today. He let me – a nobody – play his red Dean baby Z at his house and he gave me my first complement about my playing. That really got me focused. We started hanging out together years later and became brothers through playing guitar. He lived with me for a while and we were just consumed with our style of playing and the dream was born. We could hear it and we wanted to force the world to hear it too.
ROCKET: Let’s talk about the new album your band is going to be releasing in July entitled “Uneasy Pieces.” What can the fans expect from the new material?
JEFF: I think this album is just flat out MORE of everything. We have been working very hard on just stepping everything up. We wanted to keep the wild ass Tejas mojo going but in a more cohesive and sharply focused way. We seem to change with each album. The goal is always to write something that interests us as players while progressing as a unit. I feel this is our most complex and uniquely Tejasmosis material to date.
ROCKET: How did the song writing process work for the new album?
JEFF: Sometimes it will begin with just a riff, sometimes a riff just pops out and the drums kick in and everybody can hear it breathing. I’ve pulled lyrics that have sat in my notebook for years on this one. If one of us is going through some shit, that can inspire a song. I actually wrote lyrics first on one of the songs and that is a first for me. The process can differ but the journey is always fun.
ROCKET: What kind of guitars are you playing live and in the studio?
JEFF: My trusty SG’s and teles are my main go to’s but I just scored my fantasy guitar, a Gibson flying V. I can’t wait to record with it!!!
ROCKET: What kind of amp rig?
JEFF: Still using my Randall RX120 stack. That sucker can and has taken a beating and still brings it.
It’s a cheap model but it sounds like me and I love em’.
ROCKET: What is your favorite Tejasmosis song to play live and why?
JEFF: I think it would be “MEGA”. It just feels like you wear it more than play it. Singing and playing it at the same time feels completely natural. And I love Megadeth so its two jolly’s for the price of one!
ROCKET: What are some upcoming shows for Tejasmosis?
JEFF: Check our sites for dates! We are always adding new shows!
ROCKET: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
JEFF: In a studio with my guys pounding out Tejasmosis music I cannot even comprehend or conceive of yet!!!!
ROCKET: Thanks for rocking this out with me. Best of luck with your music. Any last words for the fans?
JEFF: Thanks for all the kick ass support and please come out and see a show or at the very least buy our music which is available at The Metal Den Records and all music sellers online like iTunes and Amazon!! See you on the road!!
http://www.tejasmosis.com
https://www.reverbnation.com/tejasmosis
http://themetaldenrecords.com
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