Kevin Martin & the HiWatts rock Amarillo for third consecutive year

By: Rachel Nelson

For Edge Monthly

Sorry HiWatts fans.
Kevin and the crew will not be returning to Amarillo for at least another year, according to front man Kevin Martin, commonly known for his lead role in the band Candlebox.

“We will be touring South Africa,” he said.

The band looks forward to seeing their Panhandle Pals when they return to Texas. “We’ve got a lot of love here in Texas, especially Amarillo,” Martin told spectators at Rock 108’s “Party on the Patio” held September 1 at Ruby Tequillas Mexican restaurant.

Although fans were disappointed to hear the news, many of them headed to the Midnight Rodeo to savor the HiWatt’s performance while they could.

“Fallen From the Nest,” a band out of Dallas, provided a rockin’ opening act. FFTN opened for the HiWatts in Amarillo last November for the first time and hadn’t played with them since until the September 1 show, said FFTN lead singer/guitarist, Dickey Rhodes.

The HiWatts began their Summer 2003 "Disturb Your Neighbor" tour in Amarillo, and has returned every year since.

“[Amarillo] seemed like the right place to start. Candlebox always did real well in Amarillo,” Martin said. “It’s kind of on the way to Texas,” he joked. “We like the way y’all say ‘y’all.’”

Spastic Australian band Full Scale put on an energetic performance following FFTN. Space, who is also Australian, compared the band’s sound to that of rock band System of a Down’s. Full Scale had a very political message to send. Some spectators agreed with their anti-war, FCC-hating views, but others booed in disapproval. With all arguments aside, however, Full Scale got the crowd riled up before the HiWatts took the stage.

A new face is among the HiWatts this time around. Terry Rowe, a long-time friend of Martin’s from Ohio, replaced former HiWatts drummer “Dish.”

“Dish just wasn’t cutting it,” Martin said. Martin added that there were no hard feelings about Dish’s dismissal.

Another slight adjustment was made to the band since last playing in Amarillo in Nov. of 2004. Lead guitarist "Space" is now an official member of the HiWatts.

“He just called me up and told me he’s ready to do this full time,” Martin said.

Space, formally of Australian metal band “Momento,” moved to America in April of 2003 where Momento shared a studio with Martin. “Kevin and I clicked,” Space said.

Space said he enjoys playing in Amarillo as well. “This place has always been great to us,” he said.

Three of the songs on the HiWatt’s first album, “The Possibility of Being,” were written by Space: “Telepathic,” “Enemy” and “If We Could.”

Space also writes music for Lindsay Lohan and Kelly Clarkson.

“I am pleased to be a fan of Kelly Clarkson,” he said. “She’s one of the artists these days who pushes the songs she’s singing as her own.”

HiWatts fans can look forward to the release of a new album this November. “Get Up, Stand Up” will be purchasable online at http://www.kmband.com/. “It’s a very political record,” Martin said.

Martin identifies himself not as a Republican or Democrat, but as a Humanitarian. He shares many of the same views as Bob Marley, he said.

The group's first album also can be obtained on through their Web site.

According to Martin, the artwork on the upcoming album is “pretty graphic.” One of the messages conveyed through the new album is people taking back control of the world, Martin said. Martin warns that there will be some uncomfortable pictures included in the artwork.

From Amarillo, Kevin Martin and the HiWatts loaded up and traveled to Abilene to perform a show on Friday night. El Paso was next on the agenda for Saturday.

From Texas, they will travel to the West Coast where Martin will marry his sweet heart, Natalie, of three-and-a-half years on September 17 in Los Angeles.

Fans can stay updated on the HiWatts’ schedule by visiting http://www.kmband.com/. Amarilloans can keep an eye out for a recording of “HiWatts live in Amarillo,” which was made at the show on September 1.

Edge Monthly's exclusive interview with Kevin Martin

Edge Monthly: So, what ever happened to Candlebox?
Kevin: We broke up in ‘99. We’d done 10 years as a band, the music was going in different directions, Pete and I weren’t getting along. I did one more tour with him and called it quits.

Edge Monthly: How/When did the HiWatts evolve?
Kevin: Colin (Bassist for the HiWatts) and I met in ‘99, but I was locked in a contract with Maverick Records for 2 years. In 2001, Colin and I started writing songs. Here we are 4 years and 2 records later.

Edge Monthly: Where are you from?
Kevin: I was born in Chicago and raised in San Antonio. My mother was an opera singer and my dad was a jazz musician.

Edge Monthly: Why do you call your band the HiWatts?
Kevin: It came from a Bob Marley song called ‘Bad Card.’ The lyrics go, ‘I want to disturb my neighbor and blow them to full watts.’

Edge Monthly: What’s your motivation?
Kevin: Music, that’s it. That’s all I have…. And the fans, people who love music.

Edge Monthly: What’s the best part about being in this industry?
Kevin: The fans. The people that love music and come to see you play. The ability to make music that people respond and react to.

Edge Monthly: What’s the worst part about being in this industry?
Kevin: How big of a business it has become. Music is the only art form that can move a country. It’s a business and it shouldn’t be.

Edge Monthly: When will the HiWatts new album be released?
Kevin: "Get Up, Stand Up" will come out in November of this year.

Edge Monthly: What’s your most memorable performance?
Kevin: There’s one show that’s really, really special to me. I was playing in Miami on Jan. 4, 2004 the day my father died. That will be forever.

Edge Monthly: What are your favorite things about Amarillo?Kevin: The people, Eric Slater… it’s just a great town. Everybody here shows us a really great time.
Edge Monthly: Tell us about the time your fans raised $8,000 for the HiWatts.

Kevin: That was pretty cool, man. We put a note on the web page (www.kmband.com) that we needed $8,000 to tour Europe and they sent it. It was a really, really huge thing for us.

Edge Monthly: Who are your most important musical influences?

Kevin: Odis Redding, Robert Plant, John Lee Hooks, Billy Holliday, John Lennon.
I met Henry Rollins when I was 13 years old. I went on tour with them in Sept. of ‘94. I was so nervous that I couldn’t even speak to Henry Rollins the whole tour. The last show was in Hamburg, and he came up to me and asked, “What’s your deal?” I told him, "You changed my life when I was 13 years old."

Note: Kevin met Rollins because he was knocked down and busted his head open at the show. Rollins helped him to the back where a nurse aided him. Rollins remembered the experience as vividly as Kevin did.

Edge Monthly: Do you and the guys ever get in arguments?

Kevin: Yes, we will discuss it over a cup of coffee the next morning.

Edge Monthly: What are your beliefs?

Kevin: I was raised Roman Catholic, and didn’t like those rules so no I live by my own rules. I believe religion teaches children discipline and respect, but is not meant to be oppressed or exploited. I will say that the Mormans and Scientologists are out of their minds. Any religion that is like a cult is oppressive. I have a belief in a stronger being. I don’t know if it’s Jesus Christ. I don’t mistreat people or animals. I live my life in a right way.

Edge Monthly: Do you have anything else to say?
Kevin: Come see the HiWatts!