In the case of the Ar-Kaics, “garage” is more than a genre signifier.
The Virginia rock veterans weave together wooly strands of psych and proto-punk in the same garage tradition that’s been simmering since the 1960s. And true to form, a look back at the group’s prior output includes — in addition to a pair of LPs — a smattering of 7-inch records released on a variety of labels, such that a scroll of the Ar-Kaics Discogs page feels a little like flipping through 45s at an especially well-curated vintage store. The band, whose members are spread out across the Commonwealth, even has its own compilation of singles and rarities, 2020’s “Ar-Kives Volume One.”
The garage isn’t just metaphorical. The third Ar-Kaics full-length, “See the World on Fire,” was recorded at the Dojo, the Great Falls, Virginia garage-apartment inhabited by singer Johnny Ward. A photo of the Dojo on the album’s cover immediately invites listeners into the sylvan setting where the eight new songs were tracked.
Yet a spin through “See the World on Fire” leaves the impression that the Ar-Kaics are pushing outward against those familiar garage walls. While the album maintains the genre’s fiery ethos and fuzzy guitar tones, longer song lengths (nearly 10 minutes in the case of the closer, “Never Ending”) and masterful engineering and mixing (the handiwork of Nick Anderson) add up to a more studied and definitive sound than what you might hear on a “Nuggets” comp.
Ahead of an album release show that’s planned for Sunday, May 12 at Get Tight Lounge, Style Weekly spoke via email with Johnny Ward, getting his take on the making of “See the World on Fire,” the state of the Ar-Kaics union and the label partnerships that are poised to have vinyl variants spinning throughout the United States and Europe.
Style Weekly: What have the last few years been like for the band? How closely connected is everyone despite living in different places?
Johnny Ward: It’s been more sporadic than when we were all in the same zip code but maybe more focused… Pretty much just trying to get the record where we were happy with it and now trying to remember how to play it. [Guitarist] Kevin [Longendyke] does the DIG! record shop in Leesburg and I work there a few days a week so that keeps us running into each other.
What was the time frame for recording “See the World on Fire”? What else was going on in life around that time?
Naturally a few hiccups along the way… Talked about doing it at Daptone [Records] in New York City again but they ended up selling off the mixing board so that was a no-go. We tried to get time at Montrose in Richmond but Adrian [Olsen] packed up and moved his operation west to Los Angeles. Finally decided to track it at the Dojo where everything was written, making the most of our last resort mobile studio inspired by [the Rolling Stones album] “Exile on Main [Street]” without the tax evasion, French beaches or harder stuff. Hired our friend Nick Anderson to engineer, and then recorded it over two weekends at the end of the summer. Then the mixing was done remotely, sending files around over the winter back in 2022 [and] 2023.
How did the partnership between the Feel It Records label and DIG! Records come about? What has that enabled that you hadn’t yet done and/or couldn’t do before?
Sam [Richardson] from Feel It is an old pal and we’ve admired the label from the get-go so it was an easy decision when he offered. It simplifies things some to be partnered up. [Bassist] Tim [Abbondelo, also a freelance writer for Style] runs the record label arm of DIG! out of Richmond, so the arrangement allows the band to be involved, but not feel like we’re just tooting our own horn too much. Selling yourself short is still selling yourself, so we’ll take any help we can get. Similarly, Bachelor Records, who are based out of Austria, are releasing the album in Europe and saying mostly nice things about us.
Can you describe the Dojo? What sort of vibe do you try to set when you record? What are some unique aspects of that setting?
It’s the garage apartment where I live and we play. It’s nestled in a patch of woods. Not bothering anyone if it’s loud. Warm lighting seems to help when it’s time to roll tape. I feel spoiled not having to travel anyplace before getting tuned up.
There’s a sense of urgency that sinks in while you’re listening to this album. Was that something you were hoping to convey? Is there anything in particular you hope listeners walk away with?
Some alarm bells seemed to go better with this particular goulash … Hotter than hell and nothing to sop it up but a brimstone biscuit. No real message but people deserve the truth. Might as well love your neighbor. Now’s the time. Please help.
In terms of track length, “See the World on Fire” gives songs a little more room to spread out – almost 10 minutes in the case of “Never Ending.” Was there an intentional effort to build songs out?
There was more cold storage for some of these songs and maybe that brought up some different shapes. Putting things down and coming back seemed to make the arrangement decisions easier. We gave ourselves a pardon for time served and good behaving, so we tried out some abstract expression.
What are some of the most significant ways that writing and recording have changed over the lifespan of the band? What are some of the ways in which releasing music in 2024 feels different?
The recent songs were built piece by piece and recorded as demos before learning to play them live. In the early days it tended to be reversed, with songs coming together more from how the band sounded playing them live. I think that generally there is more freedom for musicians now, because we’re influenced by what we hear, and there is more access to music. Maybe a downside of that abundance is you get new music that’s old by the time it is heard. We’re making music intended for an audience to hopefully get around to before it’s all over.
The Ar-Kaics will perform at Get Tight Lounge on Sunday, May 12 alongside Dorthia and BIG NO starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18.19 and can be purchased at gettightrva.com. To hear and purchase “See the World on Fire,” visit thearkaics.bandcamp.com.
