The Big Takeover has interviewed more than 50 of the roughly 70 bands playing at next month’s Psycho Las Vegas festival. But only one of them (so far) has attested to witnessing concertgoers overtly having full-on sex during one of their concerts. That lucky (?) band is L.A. Witch.
Lead guitarist Justin Anthony Maranga explains why it took so long for the band to play Psycho last year — and how the festival kicked the hard-rock quintet back into gear.
We connect via Skype with longtime 1349 guitarist Idar “Archaon” Burheim, who granted us his first extensive interview about the black-metal band’s new record, single and performance at the upcoming music festival.
We catch up with the grindcore band’s frontman, who is stoked to see his pals in Ilsa and Devil Master — and attempt to follow the Misfits after their headlining gig they’ll play at the festival earlier the same night.
The frontman of the spaghetti Western-obsessed band gifts us with the zaniest Vegas story we’ve published so far, and more outrageous anecdotes ahead of Spindrift’s performance at the festival next month.
The reunited doom band’s drummer reveals what Warhorse have in store for Psycho, why they’re feeling no pressure about their much-anticipated performance, and the bevy of bands he’s amped to see perform in Vegas.
Obsessed frontman Wino previews his band’s first performance at the festival and chats about their “long struggle,” new bassist — and King Solomon enslaving demons to build a castle.
We touch base with Kelly Finnigan to talk about his funk-soul band’s excitement to play at a heavy-rock festival, his plan to “kiss some hands and shake some babies,” and whether the psychedelic-music fan has actually had experience with psychedelics.
We catch up with frontman and guitarist Ben Bloom to ask how on earth an eight-piece funk/soul/R&B/Afrobeat band from Seattle made it onto the bill for this year’s hottest heavy-rock festival in the U.S.
Teddi Tarnoff, frontwoman for the electro-pop indie-rock band, tells us how special it is to be the only hometown act playing at the Vegas gala — and to be making the first major festival appearance of their career.
The jovial legend shares amusing anecdotes about his ex-wife, almost getting hit with flying objects while opening for Guns N’ Roses in late 2017, his upcoming appearances on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and having “lots of problems that involve repetitive damaging behaviors.”
On the eve of their final five U.S. shows, the post-punk trailblazers reflect on their surprise second act
Frontman Jeff Walker, one of the best-humored musicians we’ve interviewed for our Psycho Las Vegas preview series, speaks about how Carcass are leaving their Spinal Tap stage props at home and much more.
The multi-hyphenate musician opened up about his lack of familiarity with the festival and whether he thinks he’ll fit in. He also recounted an outrageous story involving the Flaming Lips, grandparents and an alien blow jobs.
Following on from the release of Berths, and riding the crest of adoration, Julie Lynn of Slowness took time out to answer a few questions about the album
The hardest working musician on the scene Ashton Nyte talks about his past, the present, and what the future holds for both his solo work and The Awakening.
Frontman Todd Fink shares his gratitude for the Faint to be included on such an unlikely festival lineup and also reveals that the band will heavily mine its recently released Egowerk (Saddle Creek) during their performance.
We caught up with bassist Jay Bentley during a tour stop in Denver to pick his brain about the festival, why it’s a “no-brainer” for the punk-rock legends to play it, and find out how his dirty pajamas got into an exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
We catch up with the Cincinnati rock band’s lead singer, who gushes about the band’s long history with the festival, explains what sets it apart from the rest — and embarrassingly reveals how she blew a chance to hang with Alice Cooper.
Opeth’s frontman candidly talks with us about the Swedish progressive-metal’s festival-closing appearance the festival, his disdain for Offspring and Nickelback, and why he still gets stage jitters 30 years after forming his band.
Frontman Kevin Starrs, a.k.a. Uncle Acid, reveals the acts he’s most eager to see at next month’s heavy-rock festival — and also tells us about the “hammer attack” his band has in store for it.
The blackened-doom trio’s frontman tells us what makes Psycho distinct, why you probably won’t be seeing him in the pool — and, with some coaxing, what stands as his best Vegas memory (so far).
“So I was teaching music to kids and that was how the healing process began. I thought I was done playing music, but once I started treating the PTSD, anxiety, and depression that followed with talk therapy and EMDR trauma therapy, the songs started slowly coming out again. This was the only way I saw results in my improvement. Eventually I started playing shows again and before I knew it, the anxiety started to lessen the more and more I played.”
With classic metal vinyl at her fingertips and Judas Priest in her heart, Kim Galdámez will keep concertgoers alert by spinning throughout the festival, which is five short weeks away.
Lead guitarist Darkest Prince sheds light — or darkness — on the punk-minded black-metal band’s performance at the festival, and allows us bow down to our new Master.
Jean-Paul Gaster, drummer for “America’s quintessential rock and roll band,” took some time before heading out on tour to praise Wino from the Obsessed, spill secrets about how Clutch determine their set lists, and divulge why he’s especially excited to see Carcass at Psycho.
Vocalist/guitarist Gabriel Franco discusses the goth-rock/post-punk band’s much-anticipated performance at the festival, his plans to rely on a diet of milk and pasta for the show (?!), and what he plans to do with the band’s earnings in Vegas (take a wild guess …).
We chat up the “heavy magic rock” band’s vocalist, Johanna Sadonis, about chilling with the frontwoman of influential and like-minded band Coven, and how to beat the Vegas heat in the middle of the summer.
“Vio-lence has not played a large festival like the Psycho festival, so for us to reunite as longtime friends and musicians and be given this opportunity is verification that we did the right thing by reuniting,” vocalist Sean Killian told the Big Takeover.
We chat with the crusty death/doom-metal outfit’s drummer about playing in Vegas for the first time, which other bands he’s eager to see perform, and bringing blasphemy to the already-depraved Sin City.
We talk with singer/guitarist Stephen McBean about his psychedelic band’s new album, Destroyer; playing the kids’ slot machine in casinos; his favorite memories of past Psycho festivals; and more.
The avant-garde artist Cellista speaks to Kevin Burke about her latest album Transfigurations and how she effortlessly blends ambient noise with slices of hip hop, classical music, and alternative pop.
We chatted with all three members of the Motorhead tribute band about what made Lemmy great, whether go-go dancers will join them onstage and what other bands they’ll be worshipping at the festival.
We caught up with the psych-rock band’s vocalist/guitarist, Greg Meleney, to discuss why he refuses to watch YouTube clips of Danava’s first Psycho show, why he loves playing in the heat and why bands shouldn’t use set lists when they perform in concert.
The frontmen for the bands, Stuart Braithwaite and George Clarke, talk about what they’d most like to hear each other play at the festival, their favorite songs by their respective bands — and the possibility of a collaboration between Mogwai and Deafheaven.
We recently caught up with George Clarke about why his blackgaze band wasn’t an obvious pick for the predominantly metal festival; the wild success of their recently released B-side, “Black Brick” — and his new hairstyle.
We talk with the beloved post-rock band’s founding guitarist/vocalist, Stuart Braithwaite revealed part of the reason why Mogwai went vegan and how he’d like their spectacle at the festival to measure up to a Britney Spears show.
“I take time between releases because that’s how long it takes me to write and record – about 3 or 4 months per song. Also, there is so much music out there, I don’t think we need a new release from me every year!” – Chris Cohen
The Satanic doo-wop duo from L.A. talk about what they have in store for their Sunday show at the festival and their “connection” to none other than Sammy Davis Jr.
The prog-metal quintet’s frontman spills about what made their first U.S. show “overwhelmingly good,” expanding from a quartet to a five-piece and which bands they’re stoked to see at the festival.
Bassist Aaron Rieseberg reveals what the celebrated doom trio will play at the festival — and that Yob’s next album could be its last.
The Jasmine Minks speak to Kevin Burke about their past, their present releases and the future of this highly influential outfit.
Singer/guitarist Jason Shi and drummer Scott Key spill about killing it at the blackjack table, remembering (and not remembering) Alice Cooper’s set from Psycho Las Vegas 2016, and transcending into psychotic states of mind.
Guitarist and founder Tony Campos shares a long list of bands he’s eager to see perform at Psycho, how he expects to lose his hearing there and his band’s plans to “burn the festival to the ground.”
Adam Gerard and Steve Stapleton of New York Band Earnhardt speak to Kevin Burke about their new album, their influences and all things Americana
Grails experimentalist and Om drummer Emil Amos says he prefers LSD over roulette — but is still making the trek to Vegas, since this year’s festival is looking so damn good.
“There have been several waves of people moving away to LA, etc. because they get evicted or simply can’t afford to stay anymore. We love San Francisco so much and even though it’s changing every year, we don’t want to give up on it as it still has a scene of very talented artists and musicians. We are just waiting for this bubble to burst, at least a little bit but, sadly this is happening everywhere right now in different ways, so all we can do is adapt and keep doing what we do.” – Galine Tumasyan
One of the most brutal acts on a festival lineup, the death-metal band’s guitarist chats about burning through wads of cash in Sin City, finding a random hype man for their gig and their drummer’s plans to try out his new stand-up material.
Nashville’s “cosmic riff” connoisseurs chat about going (for) broke in Las Vegas, floating in gin and tonics in the festival’s pool, and the “psych-punk rodeo” they have planned for this year’s installment.
Widely considered to be the most talented avant-guard musician in Chicago, Lamont gushed so hard over the festival that it made us reconsider whether we were the most amped heavy-music fans who will be attending.
