The Explosive Rocking Reveries of Chapter XIII

The Explosive Rocking Reveries of Chapter XIII

Chapter XIII has arrived upon our local Los Angeles music scene and they are ready to rage!  Unleashing their own slamming brand of rock and roll, Chapter XIII recently devastated The Viper Room and are gearing up for even more explosive live presentations in the future.  Let’s get to know the guys in Chapter XIII before they crash into the big leagues.  Read on…
Introduce yourself, tell me what you in do in Chapter XIII, and how long the band has been together.
Nicky: They call me Nicky Spades and I play lead guitar.
A.C.: I’m A.C. Killson and I play the bass.
Scott LaBeaux: Scott LaBeaux and the other guitar player in Chapter XIII.
Gary: My name is Gary and I sit in the background and hit stuff.
Jack: And I’m Jack Vandort front man of Chapter XIII.
Nicky: Well the concept of Chapter XIII began, I’d say mid to late 2017 when myself, Jack, A.C. and Scott began laying the groundwork for what would later become the band.
Jack: We actually have known each other (Spades and I) for a couple years when he came out here from Chicago, met up started talking about what kind of project we’d both want to be in. Then later A.C. who’s been best friends with Nick and longtime band mate from back home came out and joined us.
Scott: Then I came into the fold…
Nicky: Well funny story I actually knew of Scott even before I met Jack but wasn’t till later when we decided to get a second guitar player that I reached out to him to get him on board.
Jack: Yeah that’s right.
A.C.: THEN is when we went on a long search for the right drummer to get it all going. Which is when I reached out to Gary. Interestingly enough it was actually Nick who heard of him first but initially dismissed him due to him feeling like he (Gary) was not too into the idea of the band.
Gary: WRONG B*TCH!
Band: *Laughs*
Scott: It was a stroke of luck, a game of chance, if you will, that Nick and I crossed paths…
Nick: Calm down there Edgar Allen Poe haha! I went to a salon and saw a dude wearing a Crüe shirt and he had a pretty dope man-bun too!

What are your impressions of the local Los Angeles music scene and how does Chapter XIII fit into the scheme of things?
Scott: My impression of the local LA scene is there is talent yet there is a missing component, a need and a hunger for a visual and audible experience which Chapter XIII tries to bring to the table any chance they get.
A.C.: I mean, is there a scene? If there is, I don’t know much about it and with all due respect to the local bands, we’re not looking to fit in. We’re looking to create a bigger picture.

Select two Chapter XIII songs and what inspired the lyrics.
Jack: One is my favorites has to be The Play from front to back. But more importantly because of the lyrics. I feel everyone, can relate to them unfortunately. It’s about being in a relationship where both parties know it’s over but for whatever reason can’t hang it up whether it’s being comfortable in the current situation or being afraid of the unknown.
Nicky: My favorite song lyrically is probably Nine Lives. A good friend of mine fell into heroine and felt as if he was invincible, but in the end it all caught up to him and he became a shell of the person he used to be and lost everything. The song explores addiction and the downfall of those who think they actually are “in control” when in reality it’s the other way around. They become a prisoner of the drugs and begin walking blindly the tight rope of their own lives.

How close is Chapter XIII to writing and recording an EP or full length album?
Gary: Closer than skin tight spandex on a hot summer day in LA.
A.C.: Agreed. Stay tuned!

What could one expect from a live Chapter XIII show?
A.C.: Expect to see a band who goes out and leaves it ALL on the stage.
Scott: A band who takes no prisoners and makes damn sure you go home remembering our name.
Nicky: Expect the unpredictability and beauty of rock n’ roll in its purist form.
Gary: Pure unrelenting energy and musical sex.
Jack:… Haha everything and anything pretty much!

How did your show at The Viper Room go and what were some of the highlights?
Nicky: The moment the curtain opened you could feel the electricity in the air. We had been away from the stage for a while and coming back to such a high octane crowd was the perfect way to establish our return.
A.C.: I agree. From the smoke machines, to the lights and of course the sound I must say this show was everything we had been working for. The audience never let up and got louder and louder as the set went on.
Gary: It was by far one of my better onstage experiences, and I’ll never forget hearing the crowd going nuts, even at some points hearing them sing along.  Can’t beat that natural high.

If Chapter XIII could open for any band either now or from the past, who would it be and why?
Gary: I think Greta Van Fleet would be awesome to play a show with, I feel like they have the same goal we do, to pump some new life into good ol’ Rock and Roll
A.C.: All That Remains. I think the two bands together would put on a kick ass show.
Nicky: Man that’s a tough one, probably Avenged Sevenfold for me. Just because in my eyes they’re the last great rock band – almost like the bearers of the torch.
Jack: My list could go on and on but for the sake of this interview and everyone reading it I would say Ghost. Not only to sit with Tobias Forge and just pick his brain on a business level but also to put on a show that kids in our generation unfortunately have not seen outside of old YouTube videos of arena rock bands.
Scott: I would love to share a stage with Mötley Crüe circa 1983. For their exciting theatrics and for their unforgettable performance.

If the music of Chapter XIII was a donut, what kind would it be and why?
Gary: Definitely custard filled, I think there’s a lot more than meets the eye to us, and you can tell something is going on but you’re not quite sure what you’ll get till you take a bite. Also I just really like custard filled donuts.
Nick: Probably a glazed donut…
Scott: And a bottle of anything!

If there was one thing you would like a listener to remember after hearing the music of Chapter XIII for the first time, what would it be?
Jack: Chapter XIII is, and always will be, a band you hear with your eyes.
Scott: Always remember that as long as there is Chapter XIII rock n’ roll will never officially die!
Nick: All of our songs were written with real and raw emotions. All the hard work, blood, sweat and tears made this band who we are and what our sound is about.

What’s up next for Chapter XIII?
Jack: Nov 21st…

Any final words of wisdom?
A.C.: I’ve made some bad choices; you don’t want no wisdom from me.
Gary: Get out more, go to shows, meet people, enjoy life and love each other.
Scott: The greatest sin is doubting yourself.
Nick: When it doubt. Whip it out.
Jack: Always follow your dream.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Jack Lue)

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