Q&A:

Incubus member going solo with trio

November 17, 2008 by Eric Loy 

Some people don’t believe in breaks.

Incubus bassist Ben Kenney (left) is on the move with Ashley Mendel (center) and Sekou Lumumba (right) promoting his new solo album. The trio will be stopping in Vegas at the Beatles Revolution Lounge on Nov. 23. Courtesy Photo

While the rockers from Incubus have taken a yearlong hiatus, bassist Ben Kenney, formerly of The Roots, is spending his free time touring for his third solo album since 2004.  Solo album is an understatement for this musician – Kenney performed every instrument on the disc and recorded and mixed everything himself. 

Kenney will be playing at the Beatles Revolution Lounge in The Mirage on Nov. 23, so we caught up with him to talk about his solo tour, Rebels basketball and Joe the Rock Star.  

Rebel Yell: How’s the Incubus hiatus going?

Ben Kenney:  Pretty uneventful.  Like most hiatuses, nothing’s happening.  [Laughs]

RY:  There’s been some rumors of getting back together in late 2009.  

BK:  Well, we’re actually planning on getting together in about a month to work on some song ideas and bug out because Mike [Einziger of Incubus] has the break from school.  So, he’s going to come by for a little bit and work on stuff, and then he’s got to go back and nail his second semester.

RY:  I know what that’s like.  On to your stuff, this is your third solo album you’re currently touring with.  What’s the satisfaction you get from solo work that’s different from your work with bands?

BK:  Well, the solo stuff, it’s much different.  It’s a lot more work… It requires a lot more output because I gotta be every musician in the band and then be the producer and engineer.  So, it’s more intense in certain aspects.  It’s more difficult in others, and in other aspects it’s easier.  It’s just kind of a different thing, you know.  I think no matter what I was doing, I would want to continue to do that because it’s different, it’s not at all the same for me.  

RY:  You play every instrument on your album.  Is there a specific reason behind that?  Do you feel you can express yourself best through that?

BK:  I started doing this when I was really young.  My older brothers had built a recording studio in my parents’ house, and I was just a little too young to really be involved in what they were doing… but they let me use the gear, and I enjoyed playing all different instruments.  So I just learned to do it myself.  It’s very centering, you know.  It’s a different kind of experience.  It’s not a social experience.  It’s very internal and very personal.  

RY:  So what do you do during your live shows?  Do you move around on instruments?

Kenney:  Nah, nah, I just play guitar and sing, and I got a really good drummer and a really good bass player, and we play as a trio.

RY:  So you’re headed out to Vegas on the 23rd.  What have been your impressions of Vegas in the past?

BK:  Vegas is interesting.  I don’t really know the history of Vegas too intensely, but it is a place that kind of grew out of the sand.  It seems to have its own unique personality as far as cities go.  It’s very fast-paced and very in-the-moment, and there’s a lot of possibilities [laughs] all the time.  You never know who you can bump into, or what could happen… and that within itself kind of raises the excitement of coming there. 

RY:  I was checking on your blog, and last week you chose to comment on Obama’s win.  Do you consider yourself political at all?

BK:  Well, I’m very interested in what happens to my country.  I’m very patriotic, and it seemed like a good time to pay attention to what’s going on, but I don’t really like to get too deep into politics because I’m a much better musician than a politician.  

RY:  We actually had Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the office a couple weeks ago, and he was here in support of the Obama campaign.  Do you see musicians being able to fill that role of a political activist?

BK:  I think musicians are about as valuable as a political activist as construction workers are.  I don’t think there’s any more value or less value just because someone can sing a song.  I think we all are citizens, and we all want to see what we think is best happen to our country.  [Because] some people’s voices just happen to get heard by more people doesn’t make them more righteous.

RY:  Closing up here, do you follow college basketball at all?

BK:  No, it’s too confusing because there’s so many different subdivisions and little separations, and one team doesn’t play another team, and then you have like a bunch of different finals at the end of the year.  I just can’t keep up with it.  It’s hard for me to consistently get to watch the next play let alone follow leagues.  

RY: That’s understandable, but I’m going to an opportunity here.  Would you be willing to endorse the Runnin’ Rebels, our basketball team, as your college team this season?

BK:  Um, well… nah I couldn’t do it.  I couldn’t do it.  Because I just don’t know what they’re about.  [Laughs]

RY:  That’s fine, but I will have to say that this interview is over.  [Laughs] But good luck with the rest of your tour and have a good stop in Vegas.

BK:  Sweet, thank you.