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Hellbound for a new sound: Interview with LeRoy Virgil |
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Written by By Keith Sheffield
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Tuesday, 15 April 2008 |
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 At 26, Hellbound Glory’s frontman LeRoy Virgil is a self-proclaimed scumbag. The leader of Reno’s unapologetic country music band doesn’t have to go far to find others of his own ilk. One of his favorite dives to play, The Hideout, is just across the street from Virgil’s home. Scumbags abound in Reno, according to Virgil.
So much so, he branded Hellbound Glory’s new CD with low life tales and titled it “Scumbag Country.” Tahoe World Editor Keith Sheffield caught up with Virgil last week for a phone interview. For an hour, the two traded stories about iconic country music legends, how to out punk a punk rock band, driving through big cities, which places Virgil hasn’t been beat up at, and signing with a Sacramento-based punk rock label … But we don’t want to give away all the details. Want to hear a bit of Scumbag Country for yourself?
Then catch Hellbound Glory’s CD release party Friday, April 18 at the Crystal Bay Casino’s Red Room for a free show. The hootin’ n’ hollerin’ begins at 10 p.m.
On signing with a punk rock label
• We run in the same circles as psychobilly and rockabilly bands. A friend of mine is in the White Barons. He e-mailed that he loved the record. He saw us play in Sacramento. I just showed up down at the office one day with my acoustic guitar and sang for an hour. I figured that’s the way they used to do it, (legends like Johnny Cash) showed up with a guitar.
• It’s a common saying that Hank Williams Sr. was one of the first punk rockers.
• Kinda strange. I’m 26 years old, everywhere when I grew up it was the heyday of Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, Hank Jr. It wasn’t until my teens I listened to people like Waylon Jennings. You hear country music everywhere.
Small town life
• Ocosta, Wash., is very far removed (from Seattle). Ninety-five percent of Washington is small towns. Reno is like a big version of the town I grew up in. Big cities are not really my bag.
• Reno is definitely the town of scumbag country.
Country music for scumbags
• It’s a genre we can call our own.
• “Scumbag Country” says it all. We like to make sure we keep it as country as we can. There’s some slight rock n roll. You have to have a little bit of that drive. We try to keep it as country as we can. We don’t want to turn into Southern rock band.
• They wanted to be able to make their music their way. They showed the darker side of life. They stuck to their guns, developed a following. We kind of hope we’re doing the same thing.
How punk rock is your country?
• No matter how many times we play a gig, we get people who come up to us … “we’re into punk rock, we like what you guys are doing.” They’re hearing something in the music that talks to them.
• What it comes down to … it’s the lyrics. They’re simple songs. They’re stories about real shit that’s happened.
Scumbags on the road
• We’re on the Scumbag Country tour. Yeah we’ve done plenty of touring. We’ve never been farther east than Denver. The tour is coming along really well. Just booked a place in Wichita, Kans.
• Well you know, New York is definitely scummy. We’re going to bring the scumbag to the country. Never been there. I’m not going to do any of the driving. I’ll make our drummer do that.
• We were just there (San Francisco). I couldn’t handle it. There was a guy who said “you have to pay me to park there.” Or what? You’ll rob me if I don’t?
• If I had my way, we’d play the small towns everywhere. But you have to play in the big places like San Francisco.
 Get a job
• Self released one album. At first it was “shit, we just want to sell as many as we can. It’s a bad time for the music business. Shit, don’t think I got into this to make money. It’s my job to make music and play shows.
• If you come into this wanting to make money, there are a lot easier f***ing ways to make money.
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere
• I’m usually the one begging everyone to stay out with me. Everyone is like “get this guy away from me.” I’m out drinking, carousing, just one more drink.
Getting the band together
• Johnny Fingers came over. I loved his guitar playing so much. I told him “I love your playing, I’d love for you to be on it.” It’s great having him in the band. He’s a f***ing- genius on the guitar … and a true scumbag.
• Chico, Adam and I have all been in the band from the beginning.
• I can’t think of a better group of musicians I’ve played with.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 15 April 2008 )
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