Worcester’s Bottlefight Brings Rock and Passion to Central Mass

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Photo courtesy of Bottlefight Band Aids

Both while interviewing and listening to Worcester's very own "loud, rude, sleazy" rock n' roll band Bottlefight one word came to mind, namely, passion, pure, unhindered passion.

"Music is everything man. It's rebellion but it's so much more. It's magic, it's a whole other world. It's god, it's the devil, it's an orgasm. It's everything man," says the local band.

The group features Chris "Mongo" Lewis on drums, Aaron "Warhead" Barnes on bass and "Cyanide" Steve Cummings on guitar and vocals.

"As far as how we met? God, the devil and sprit of rock n roll conspired together and decided to spit in the dirt, blow us some breath and bring forth Bottlefight to the masses," they say.

What unites them is an intense love of rock that can hardly be understood let alone described by a layman. They don't like to label themselves, but if you must one often hears elements both old-school punk and 80's thrash and even a few hints of power metal. But for sure, no matter what label you choose to give it, the music is fast, heavy and uncompromising. The instrumentals and the vocals strike you with an unmatched ferocity, and live audiences can't help but become entranced by the over-the-top performances.

"I want it to be a spectacle man, I want it to be an escape, I want it to transcend daily life. I want to bring people into another dimension. I want them to lose themselves in it, I want them to lose control," says drummer Chris Lewis.

"It's my lifeblood man, it's reason the rock n roll gods sent me to this planet. I mean, when I'm on stage I'm not even a person anymore, I'm an explosion, an energy, the music's just erupting from me. To stand in its way would be a death sentence. It's why I'm here. It's a need, a hunger, it's my nature. I love it, I crave it, I need it. I am the music and the music is me."

With an innate desire for rock n' roll already within them, inspiration can come from anywhere and relatively easily, as they explain.

"As far ideas, they can come from anywhere really, something that happens throughout the day, a fight you have, lust or any of the other seven deadly sins. You could be inspired by a horror movie or a porno movie. Sometimes songs just come to me out of nowhere and they're like, already written before I even pick up a guitar, all I gotta do is play em," says Chris.

They have written a number of songs using the latter method, and a few of them have even become band favorites.

"Fat Bag and a Bottle of Whiskey" happened that way, It's Alright from Sex, Death and Whiskey happened that way, and our newest one ”Six Middle Fingers" happened that way."

The aforementioned album, Sex, Death and Whiskey, was released in May of last year. They will be returning to the studio in late Spring/early Summer to start a new one, and for the future they plan on continuing on the same enthusiastic, head bangin' path.

"We've been busy writing and the new stuff is slammin' so keep an ear out for that. And come on out to the shows cause they're getting bigger, better, badder and more over the top all the time!!!" they exclaim.

"We're just going to keep it rolling man, we want to play everywhere on the planet and bring as many people into our rock n roll world as possible. We'll never compromise, never back down and we'll always bring real, raw, straight up rock n roll to the people who want to hear it."

Look out for local concert dates in the near future at the Hotel Vernon and Ralph's Diner in Worcester, The Red Onion in Templeton, and Silk City in Florence. They will also be traveling up to New Hampshire and even Buffalo, New York.

For more information on Bottlefight and hear some of their music please find them on Facebook or MySpace.