Alligator Blood- “He looks like a raving lunatic, yet he’s making sense.” ~ Howard Stern
Interview conducted on June 14, 2020
By Dan Locke
Alligator Blood lineup is former Prong drummer, Dan Laudo, who also worked with Mike Riggs in Scum of the Earth and had a brief band experience with Trent Reznor in high school. On bass is a multi-instrumentalist, Angel Campbell, who stepped aside from her first love of drumming to take on a new challenge and lay down a different kind of rhythm.
The band’s first album, “Alligator Blood” drops March 2020.
Band Members
Tyler Lawson – Vocals
Kristian Roloff – Guitar
Angel Cambell – Bass
Dan Laurdo – Drums
What is your upbringing?
Tyler Lawson – I was born in Memphis Tennessee and grew up in New Palestine Indiana. Pretty country. If you’ve ever seen the movie varsity blues, that pretty much sums up the town I grew up in.
How did you discover music?
When the Nirvana and Kurt Cobain became popular, I was just a little kid, I saw some of the videos on MTV and the rest is history. Nirvana is Music
Tyler you are from New Palestine, IN. Did you go to check out any of the local bands from Indianapolis?
Yeah even though I was from the country I started to mingle with the inner-city bands. In those days it was pretty typical to have these basement shows and backyard shows. The underground scene was actually pretty popular. Shout out to the Emerson theater!!
Why is one of your favorite quotes “If it’s not a rapper that I’ll make it as … I’ll be a fucking rapist in a Jason mask”?
Well apparently, they give you Grammys when you say stuff like that.
How did you start the band?
My original punk rock band pretty much disbanded, I started singing in this cover band In Las Vegas called Smashing Alice. Kristian was playing guitar in that band and I showed him some of my demos. And we started a band.
What was your first performance at like?
My first performance personally… that was a big deal, was at a place called Indie’s music house on the east side of Indianapolis. It was a little record store and it was fucking packed. People outside waiting to get in. I was so nervous but I remember having a fucking awesome show.
How the band did get its name?
“This kid got alligator blood” Rounders … Between the kick-ass poker term and the fact, it’s also a Bring Me the Horizon song. It just seemed perfect. So, Alligator Blood it is!!
Tell me about your debut album featuring the single “Deck of- Hectic”?
I didn’t write that song, but if you are referring to “Death of a Heretic” … That Was one of the first songs Kristian wrote the music and I just wrote the lyrics. I like writing lyrics over his style. Kristian is a great all-around musician and I couldn’t ask for anybody better!
What is your favorite track on the album?
If I had to choose a favorite, I guess I would choose “Done”
How do you stay healthy while touring?
I personally always try to eat good and I stay active. Like to jog. Bring some dumbbells with.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Digital vs. vinyl? I personally like the digital stuff; it makes music way easier to get in it’s just a whole different platform. Things will always continue to change in every industry. Go with it and don’t get stuck still playing Cassette tapes LOL. I will say I do miss going to a record store and buying a CD. The booklet, the artwork, those were the days.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
Black Lives Matter!! If I may quote MLK “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
What song from the past is in your mind right now?
I’ve been bumping murder was the case by Snoop Dogg today. That song is hard as fuck.
And what is the meaning that song means to you?
It is real as it gets bro. It’s a different time with different people.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
On the selfish side think I’m like everybody else. I’m pretty bummed that we’re not playing live. But public safety comes first and this will pass. And I hope everyone out there is staying safe.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
We actually just wrapped up on a new single. In the process of doing an album at the moment.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Kinda LOL. Resident Evil came out with remakes of the second and third ones. I played those which I thought was super dope. Took me back to my childhood a little bit. My only complaint is, remake the first one!! what the fuck!!
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. And you guys are doing live streaming concerts. How is that going? How is the fan enjoying it?
We actually got asked by a big company out in Vegas called AV Vegas To do a live stream for their concert series. I couldn’t ask for a better environment and a better group of people. We had a blast and the concert went extremely well in my opinion. I don’t know if we’re gonna be doing much more than but we might. You can catch the performance on our Facebook page and website.
You have also released 2 videos within the last month. Done and Rock Devil. Which video is the best and why?
And we’re actually going to release a video for “dance” next week. I don’t really have a favorite one. I enjoyed making them all.
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
No
First, it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally, Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until the fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it may be the end of the music fest for the next couple of years? I don’t think it’ll be a couple of years. It’ll be 2021 before things will be back to normal. Public safety comes first and like I said before I hope everybody staying safe and remember this will pass.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
I think it’s a pretty cool idea.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Already done with music and moved onto my acting career. 😉
Anything you would like to say in closing?
Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us. I hope you enjoy the album and we’re releasing a new album for 2021. And just remember if you think you’re not good enough to play an instrument, that’s a lie, you are always good enough and it’s never too late to start a band and pick up an instrument.
