"It’s aggressive and energetic music,” says Wovenwar’s Phil Sgrosso of his new side band Poison Headache. “Something your parents would think is total crap, but that’s sort of the point.”
The busy singer/guitarist/bassist has had a hectic couple of years since Christian metal rockers As I Lay Dying renamed themselves Wovenwar, with Oh Sleeper’s Shane Blay as their new frontman. Members also took over operations at Brick by Brick in 2014, but Sgrosso still felt compelled to fill any free remaining moments of the day with collecting Iron Maiden memorabilia and developing Poison Headache, a hardcore-influenced hard-rock trio also featuring Andy Kutka (Internal Affairs) and Kyle Rosa (Longstay, Thieves and Liars).
Poison Headache’s self-titled debut album was recorded at the Pit (operated by Taylor Young) and at Sgrosso’s home studio. Released in June via Nuclear Blast Records/Metal Blade Records, a concert video for the track “Rot with Me” is currently streaming on their Reader band page. You can catch their show on October 13 at downtown’s House of Blues.
WHAT’S IN YOUR MUSIC PLAYER?
“Iggy Pop’s Post Pop Depression, produced by Josh Homme. I’ve been vibing a lot on this lately on Spotify, this is a real feel-good album. The style and swagger of Queens of the Stone Age, but with that sort of lounge-y vibe. Never really got into Iggy Pop, but I’m loving this album a lot.”
ANYTHING YOU WERE EMBARRASSED TO MENTION?
“I subscribe to this, like, ’90s R&B playlist on my Spotify. I listened to it once when I was driving with my mom. Took me back to my childhood, when all my mom and sister would listen to was stuff like Mariah Carey and Jon Secada.”
USELESS (BUT INTERESTING) TRIVIA?
“Turbulence can’t bring down an airplane.”
THE VOICE OF SAN DIEGO?
“Ron Burgundy.”
FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK?
“Monday. Everyone is back in work mode, so the bars and restaurants are mellow. That’s usually when I like to go out, when there’s nobody around.”
IF YOU COULD TIME-TRAVEL?
“I’d probably go to 1973, when Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon came out. What an incredible time for rock music.”
BEST AND WORST BAND NAMES?
“The Lone Rangers and the One-ders.”
GREATEST CONCERT?
“Roger Waters performing The Wall a few years ago at the Sports Arena. I took my dad to see it because he missed the real show when he was younger. He had to work, but met up with his buddies who went to the show. It was an incredible production and performance; we couldn’t believe what we had experienced.”
WHO DO YOU TAKE AFTER, HIM OR YOUR MOM?
“I think my mom. She’s very social and funny, so I try to be more like that, just have a good time.”
REGRETS?
“I’ve sold a few guitars that I probably shouldn’t have, but oh well. I can always get more.”
WHAT REMAINS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
“I just want to keep making music. I don’t care how, I just don’t ever want to stop. I think if I make it to be old and gray and can look back at a bunch of cool stuff I’ve done, that’d put a big ol’ check off the list.”
THAT’S IT?
“Oh yeah, and go to outer space.”
ANY FEARS OR PHOBIAS?
“Spiders and spider webs really suck. I can appreciate daddy long legs, though, because they kill bigger and worse spiders, so we’re cool. I’m a little scared of heights, too, but I’ve eased up on that through the years.”
MOST EFFECTIVE PICKUP LINE?
“My wife is pretty stoked when I make her coffee in the morning.”
IDEAL VACATION SPOT?
“Cabo. My wife and I usually try to go for our anniversary. We love Mexico — the food, the vibe, the weather, cerveza. We want to move there someday. Oh, and also Cabo Wabo. We love Sammy Hagar. And tequila.”
WORST LIE YOU EVER TOLD?
“I’m not that drunk.”
YOU MENTION DRINKING A LOT — TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST TIME YOU GOT DRUNK?
“I didn’t actually get drunk until the day after I graduated from high school. It was a high school party, a kegger, [with] people doing coke, a fight broke out, cops. None of it involved me, though. I was just chilling on some beers.”
THREE THINGS WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
"It’s aggressive and energetic music,” says Wovenwar’s Phil Sgrosso of his new side band Poison Headache. “Something your parents would think is total crap, but that’s sort of the point.”
The busy singer/guitarist/bassist has had a hectic couple of years since Christian metal rockers As I Lay Dying renamed themselves Wovenwar, with Oh Sleeper’s Shane Blay as their new frontman. Members also took over operations at Brick by Brick in 2014, but Sgrosso still felt compelled to fill any free remaining moments of the day with collecting Iron Maiden memorabilia and developing Poison Headache, a hardcore-influenced hard-rock trio also featuring Andy Kutka (Internal Affairs) and Kyle Rosa (Longstay, Thieves and Liars).
Poison Headache’s self-titled debut album was recorded at the Pit (operated by Taylor Young) and at Sgrosso’s home studio. Released in June via Nuclear Blast Records/Metal Blade Records, a concert video for the track “Rot with Me” is currently streaming on their Reader band page. You can catch their show on October 13 at downtown’s House of Blues.
WHAT’S IN YOUR MUSIC PLAYER?
“Iggy Pop’s Post Pop Depression, produced by Josh Homme. I’ve been vibing a lot on this lately on Spotify, this is a real feel-good album. The style and swagger of Queens of the Stone Age, but with that sort of lounge-y vibe. Never really got into Iggy Pop, but I’m loving this album a lot.”
ANYTHING YOU WERE EMBARRASSED TO MENTION?
“I subscribe to this, like, ’90s R&B playlist on my Spotify. I listened to it once when I was driving with my mom. Took me back to my childhood, when all my mom and sister would listen to was stuff like Mariah Carey and Jon Secada.”
USELESS (BUT INTERESTING) TRIVIA?
“Turbulence can’t bring down an airplane.”
THE VOICE OF SAN DIEGO?
“Ron Burgundy.”
FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK?
“Monday. Everyone is back in work mode, so the bars and restaurants are mellow. That’s usually when I like to go out, when there’s nobody around.”
IF YOU COULD TIME-TRAVEL?
“I’d probably go to 1973, when Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon came out. What an incredible time for rock music.”
BEST AND WORST BAND NAMES?
“The Lone Rangers and the One-ders.”
GREATEST CONCERT?
“Roger Waters performing The Wall a few years ago at the Sports Arena. I took my dad to see it because he missed the real show when he was younger. He had to work, but met up with his buddies who went to the show. It was an incredible production and performance; we couldn’t believe what we had experienced.”
WHO DO YOU TAKE AFTER, HIM OR YOUR MOM?
“I think my mom. She’s very social and funny, so I try to be more like that, just have a good time.”
REGRETS?
“I’ve sold a few guitars that I probably shouldn’t have, but oh well. I can always get more.”
WHAT REMAINS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
“I just want to keep making music. I don’t care how, I just don’t ever want to stop. I think if I make it to be old and gray and can look back at a bunch of cool stuff I’ve done, that’d put a big ol’ check off the list.”
THAT’S IT?
“Oh yeah, and go to outer space.”
ANY FEARS OR PHOBIAS?
“Spiders and spider webs really suck. I can appreciate daddy long legs, though, because they kill bigger and worse spiders, so we’re cool. I’m a little scared of heights, too, but I’ve eased up on that through the years.”
MOST EFFECTIVE PICKUP LINE?
“My wife is pretty stoked when I make her coffee in the morning.”
IDEAL VACATION SPOT?
“Cabo. My wife and I usually try to go for our anniversary. We love Mexico — the food, the vibe, the weather, cerveza. We want to move there someday. Oh, and also Cabo Wabo. We love Sammy Hagar. And tequila.”
WORST LIE YOU EVER TOLD?
“I’m not that drunk.”
YOU MENTION DRINKING A LOT — TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST TIME YOU GOT DRUNK?
“I didn’t actually get drunk until the day after I graduated from high school. It was a high school party, a kegger, [with] people doing coke, a fight broke out, cops. None of it involved me, though. I was just chilling on some beers.”
THREE THINGS WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?