Tango Down guitarist Scott “Rif” Miller

by Derric Miller
– Managing Editor —

Tango Down guitarist Scott Miller caught up with Hardrock Haven to discuss their brand new album Charming Devil; the ornate and high-class (with beautiful models) photo shoot resulting in the killer artwork; specific tracks like “Too Many Roads,” the title track and “Nothing But Rain;” playing MelodicRockFest 4; and a whole lot more.

HRH: Hey Scott, been a while. Thanks for checking in with us all at Hardrock Haven.

Miller: Wasuuuuup Bro. My OTHER favorite Miller! Very happy to be here. Always dig speaking with you and the Hardrock Haven faithful.

HRH: Well, Tango Down has a new album out, Charming Devil, the second with lead singer David Reece. Have to say, that title track is one bad ass composition. Why’d you guys go with the title Charming Devil for this release?

Miller: Well I have to give credit to our label for that one. John Kivel had called me one day and said we going to call the album CHARMING DEVIL. He said he had this whole concept for the artwork and that it would be a big production. Also, he wanted me to write a song that we could call “Charming Devil.” As we never had an actual title track before. So, being that this concept was a big production, what better time than now to have an actual title track. So no pressure to deliver or anything!! I gave John the music and thinking he was going to send it off to Jace, he actually came up with a big portion of the lyrics upon hearing it. Who knew! Then he handed it off to our bud Scott in Crossing Rubicon who helped flush it out a bit more, than Jace Pawlak came in and did his song doctor voodoo doctor thing he does so well. BAM! Title track.

HRH: As with all Kivel Records releases, the artwork/liner notes is impeccable and interesting. Tell us a little bit about the photo shoot for this release. You actually took those photos in a museum, correct?

Miller: Like I said, it was a big production. No matter what size label you are. The fact we are on Kivel and they did such a big production was exciting, and made it even more impressive. Plus the whole day was a lot of fun. It was a LONG DAY! However the scenery wasn’t too bad, if you know what I mean! When John Kivel told us his idea, we honestly thought he was nuts. Even up until we started shooting, we thought he was nuts! But he and his team blew it away. Kent Miller is an amazing and creative force. I gotta say, it was impressive and I’m glad we were a part of it. The whole shoot was two and a half months of planning, with a crew of about 25. That included band, photographer, assistants, models and even a catering!

The location is a museum, but was once a person’s actual mansion. I talked to the curator while we had some down time. A lot of impressive history behind this place. There was one room we wished we could have shot in, as the walls were all leather. 100 year old leather walls. They don’t even let sunlight in this room as they are worried it will destroy the walls. So alas, no flash photography, and no us even stepping foot in the room past the door way. Kivel couldn’t even talk them into it. Was fun watching him try though.

The models had some ungoldly crack of dawn meeting with hair and makeup at a salon. So I think the band got off a lil’ easy. The crew were setting up around 9 a.m. at the location. We went into wardrobe, models arrive from salon via limo and we begin shooting about 10 a.m. Somewhere around that time. All I know was John and Kent were being quite militant about time. The shoot lasted until 5 p.m. The museum actually closed itself off to the public for us. People thought we were filming a movie there! Afterwards Kivel took everyone out for dinner to this really cool Polynesian restaurant. So the fact it snowed in April is due to JK treating 25+ people to dinner. HA!

HRH: It looks like you have a pretty strong writing relationship with Jace Pawlak, who had a hand in writing and co-writing a lot of the songs on Charming Devil. Does your relationship go way back? How long have you guys been writing together?

Miller: That is a chocolate and peanut butter combo if there ever was one! When we were doing Damage Control, we had this one song that we were at a loss for. John suggested we send it off to his guy Jace. That song became “Step by Step.” From that moment on it was clear Jace and I just click. We are these opposites that seem to mesh. Identity Crisis, we stepped up his involvement. We were seeing we were on to something, so by the time we geared up for Charming Devil he was practically a full on band member as far as I’m concerned

HRH: One of my favorite songs on Charming Devil is “Too Many Roads.” When I first heard Jace’s version a few years back, I thought “This could really be a country hit.” You guys took it 180 degrees from that; it sounds like a big Arena Rock anthem now.

Miller: Twice now I have actually told Kivel that I DEMAND something. First time was when I heard “Corners of My Mind.” He was considering it for another one of his acts. Lucky for me it wasn’t a problem getting it, as the guitarist in that band didn’t like the song. His loss, MY gain! Jump to Charming Devil, Jace presents “Too Many Roads,” and again I made my demand be known that I must have this song!! He didn’t argue. I agree that this could be a country hit. Jace just has that special something. Of course, we couldn’t make it country and took it to where we roam with our sound. So of course big arena song it was.

HRH: What was the process like, taking it from kind of a subdued, mellow song to a bigger, more expansive rock track?

Miller: Well the song is already there. It is just your approach. A good song will sound good no matter what genre you present it in. In the end I just played it the way I play. In the end it’s just me being me.

HRH: For fans who have been around for a while, there’s a song called “I’m Done Lovin’ You” that was previously recorded on the release Damage Control. It definitely sounds different, considering Reece is on vocals this time around. Why’d you guys choose to re-record, update and put it on this release?

Miller: OK … I knew you were going to ask this question. First off, I’m glad you dig it. Kivel told me you thought it was taken to a new level. Well that was the intention and goal we set out to achieve. We always loved that song, it is a great song. We also wanted to put it back in the set, but the only way we could with a clear conscious was make something old new and have David assimilate it. Of course raising the bar at the same time. Not saying the previous version was bad. We just improved the brew and it’s mighty tasty.

HRH: When I got to “Nothing But Rain,” I couldn’t help but think how the song sounds a bit like Whitesnake, especially with Reece’s bluesy, throaty opening vocals.

Miller: Ya think!? We approached this tune 100% with Whitesnake in mind. It’s a big fave with some of the guys in the band. It is designed to let the bluesy side of David out. Mission accomplished I think.

HRH: And then I read the lyrics and wanted to put immediately pop some happy pills because “There’s nothing pure I can’t stain” and “Waiting at the end of my race is nothing but rain” are both cynical, depressing ideas. Hope you guys are checking in with the songwriter Jace and making sure he’s doing OK … just saying …

Miller: HA HA!!! The man lives and works in Disney … I think he just likes to visit the dark-side now and again to balance himself out. However we will have someone do a wellness check on him to play it safe. LOL.

HRH: The band just played MelodicRockfFest 4 in Arlington Heights, Ill. With some of your label mates, like Adriangale, Bombay Black etc. What was your favorite part of the whole festival?

Miller: It was a blast , because it was a party amongst friends and like-minded people. Seeing all of these great bands be appreciated was a fantastic time for me. Seeing some of my label brothers Adriangale, Madman’s Lullaby, Maxx Explosion as well as my boys in Bombay Black. All was right in the world. So that and connecting with the awesome fans and people amongst the community was great for me. Hanging with my people in the Melodic Mafia. Honestly better than a High School reunion

HRH: How’d the new tunes go over playing live?

Miller: GREAT!! At least I think they did. People seemed to embrace the new material. That was the consensus at our meet and greet. Which we were told was one of the three longest meet and greets that whole weekend. Took a full hour of meeting everyone and signing stuff. Was pretty humbling for me

HRH: Then you guys turned around and hit Skullfest 2 and Wolf Fest II. Got any stories or fave moments you can share with us about playing those two festivals as well?

Miller: NOTHING I can repeat.

HRH: So what’s for the band? More touring, either here in the States or maybe going overseas to Europe?

Miller: Just media push on the album at the moment. Getting ready for the holidays. Actually writing as we speak. Have three new tunes that I’m demoing this week. Killer stuff in the realm of Charming Devil.

HRH: Thanks for your time; always a pleasure catching up with you Scott! Is there anything I left out that you’d like to leave with our Hardrock Haven faithful?

Miller: What can I say, other than thank you for allowing me to keep doing this again and again. Thanks for being there for us and appreciating what we do and create. Without any of you there is none of us! You are why we do this. I also want to give a shout out to all the websites, promoters and journalists that have embraced our new album with such open arms. Also props and love to Ty Sims, Erik Johnson, Jace Pawlak, John Kivel, Vic Rivera, Kent Miller and Brooke McKaig. ALL of which were a huge part of making this album the success that it is proving to be. Thank you.

Online: www.tangodownband.com