SCOUR the Black metal kick ass band fronted by Pantera’s Phil Anselmo made a rare US performance in Baltimore MD. Before taking the stage Empire Extreme got to talk to Bassist John Jarvis about the show, among other things.

Empire: How’s it like doing this rare US Show?

JJ: yep it’s the only US show this year, we wanted to do a warm up gig so since it’s easier to fly out from this side of the country we decided to jam out around here. Do a show in Baltimore which me and Adam live here, so it works out good for us. I get to sleep in my own bed.

EE: How’s it like working with Phil, were you nervous any since he’s such a metal icon?

JJ: No luckily I have jammed with him before with my band Fulgora. We collaborated together and did some recording with us, he signed us to HouseCore Records a while back. I got all of the nerves away back then. It’s still exciting, all kinds of emotions at a Scour Show. It’s been like a dream come true.

EE: How’s it like working with your brother in the band?

JJ: We Of course have been jamming together our whole lives. When Jesse left the band, Adam was the first one to come to mind to replace him. We were lucky he was available. When Phil first started the band, he wasn’t sure if I was in the band or Adam was in the band, and he said “Which Jarvis is in the band?” ( John did a perfect impression of Phil’s voice) He was happy that he had us both in the band.

EE: Did you ever get a chance to meet Vinnie Paul?

JJ: I talked to him on the phone actually in the year 2000. My roommate his older brother was a DJ in St Louis, they would play Pantera regularly and Tool. Vinnie called in and took questions from fans. Since we knew the DJ and he knew we were huge Pantera fans, he asked us if we wanted to ask him a question. We asked him “Who would he rather bang? Monica Lewinsky or Hillary Clinton” He come back and said “ Mandy Moore” and that was his answer. I’ve done shows with him before with Hell Yeah. I wouldn’t say that I knew the guy, but it was a tragic loss to Music. Hit me hard like DimeBag.

EE: How is Scour different from other projects you have done before or Phil has been in?

JJ: For me it’s the only Black Metal type band that I’ve been in. It’s different from all my other bands. Phil is more knowledgeable about Black metal and music in general than I am. He knows his shit. It’s very different.

EE: I seen that you’ve been working with Pig Destroyer.

JJ: Yeah it’s always a blast to work with those guys. We got a new album coming out September 7th. It’s the first one with bass for Pig Destroyer. We got a lot we are doing with them.

EE: I saw you’re doing a project called China Girl that you’re doing vocals for.

JJ: Absolutely, China Girl started with a guy named Dennis Sanders he use to be in a band with Wes Borland from Limp Bizkit. Dennis was a fan of Scour and was posting reviews and stuff. One day I noticed that Chino from Deftones liked his post, he put me in touch with him and then Dennis was like do u want to start a band with me. I’m in a lot of bands and didn’t want it to sound like any of my other bands. We recorded it in LA and it’s been a blast, hopefully I can put it on stage someday.

EE: A buddy of mine sings for a cover band called Penntera and you came on stage and did a song with them recently.

JJ: Yes, I met the guitar player from Penntera, the Pennsylvania premiere Pantera cover act. I met him at Metallica’s soundcheck. We did some shows with my Sepultura cover band Clinched Fist and it was only natural to come up on stage and do a song with them.

EE: Any new Scour material being worked on?

JJ: We just recorded Drums over the weekend, for Phil’s 50th Birthday. Once that gets finalized we will work on bass and guitars. Phil says he knows where he wants to go vocally and with the lyrics. So we are getting ready for our next EP.

Scour came out and just destroyed it, the band sounded amazing, and Phil looked and sounded better than I’ve seen him in years. Phil was interactive with the crowd and seemed legitimately excited to be there. It was good to see him with passion in his veins. The Jarvis Brothers Adam on drums and John on bass, were kick ass. Those drums were just non stop and full force. The band played songs off of the 2 eps the band has out so far and added a few covers as well. Scour covered Bathory’s Massacre as well as 2 songs from Pantera with Slaughtered and Strength Beyond Strength. The show was great and even though the crowd wasn’t full, everyone who was there was enjoying Scour play and getting rowdy like a metal show should be. Scour will be back next year for Maryland’s Death Fest and I advise not to miss Scour destroy the stage once again.

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Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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