So, how did you all first link up and decide, “yeah, let’s start a band”?
Steve Cardenas: Me and my brother Dave were kinda playing together since the beginning. There’s been different variations of this band along with name changes. This line up in my eyes has been the longest and best version of RAHWAY. The RAHWAY sound is complete. As far as I’m concern.
Nick Hade: Rahway shared a show with a former band of mine and a little while after that their guitarist DC gave me a call. Apparently, they needed a new singer, so I auditioned, and it worked out.
Chigger: Well, the brothers David (guitar) and Steve (drummer) actually started this band. There was one other bass player and many other singers. I was playing in a different band when I met them, but we always stayed in touch. David and I started jamming on a side project together and when their bass player left, he said to me, “Why don’t you just join Rahway?” He played me the songs with the new singer Nick and one song that caught me ear was a song called Yesterday. I was sold and the rest as they say is history! Then for some reason they kept calling me to bring Chinese Food to rehearsal like I was some Chinese food delivery guy. Jerks!
David Cardenas: We were in need of a bass player, ours was moving out of state. Like he said, we had a side project going, so I asked him to join. Well, I actually told him he’s joining (laughs), and we decided “hey man, let’s really kill it” and we did just that.
Who were the bands or artists you grew up blasting that made you want to do this?
Chigger: For me, it was and always will be Motley Crue! Today, not the band they used to be, but growing up, I wanted to be Nikki Sixx! I’ve interviewed him a few times myself and he’s still my hero! I also loved Metallica, Skid Row, Pantera, Guns N Roses and Kiss!
DC: Interestingly enough, it all started with Johnny Cash, but Zeppelin, VH, AC/DC, and Crue definitely on volume 12.
Steve: Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, The Beatles
Nick: Chris Cornell in Audioslave, David Draiman of Disturbed, Chester Bennington in Linkin Park, Metallica, those were some artists and bands I blasted but I can’t honestly say they made me want to do this.
What’s the one song you secretly love that fans would never expect you to
admit?
Chigger: Motley Crue’s ‘Home Sweet Home!’ I’m not a ballad guy, but that song gets me every time!
Steve: ‘I Got a Name’ by Jim Crocie
DC: The Leon Russell/Ray Charles/Willie Nelson version of ‘This Song is For You’.
Nick: Probably any of the rap songs I like, people don’t typically know I was raised on rap and rock.
If someone’s never heard your music, how would you describe the vibe?
Steve: A powerful raw catchy groove.
DC: Ten tons of hook, foot stomping, energetic, and catchy.
Nick: If Alice in Chains and Velvet Revolver gave birth to a band, we would probably be performing in that same circuit.
Chigger: We’re fun, heavy, gritty, dirty and fun! Yes, I said that twice on purpose
because when you see us live, we’re Double the Fun!
Do your songs usually come from personal experiences, or more from just
telling stories?
Chigger: I would defer to our drummer Steve and singer Nick on this one. I think these songs are more storytelling than personal experiences, but they would know best since they write most of the lyrics. I just write the meat and potatoes!
Steve: Mostly personal experience.
Nick: For me it would be both, typically depends on the song. We have all been through quite a few hair-raising moments in our lives and some really heavy stuff so that sort of makes each of us who we are. With that said, who we are is expressed in the music we write, which sometimes can be in the form of a story itself.
DC: I would agree, definitely both, but all from the heart.
If your band had a signature drink at the bar, what would it be called and
what’s in it?
Chigger: The Cheech and Chong! It will be a marijuana tea mixed with Red Bull. You wouldn’t know if you were coming or going! To be honest, half this band is in recovery, so I doubt we would have any drink at any bar.
DC: Nose spit. Cause your gonna laugh so hard whatever you’re drinking is coming out of your nose. Scotch, definitely scotch.
Steve: Overdrive, 3-parts Jack Daniel’s, 1-part Black Haus. Forget what your plans were, you’re doing this now. (laughs)
Nick: It’d probably be called a Slumlord 18 and be made with all sorts of things that are not made for the human body like acetylene. (laughs)
What’s the weirdest or funniest thing someone’s ever shouted at you during a show?
Steve: The drummer looks like Ron Jeremy. (laughs)
Chigger: Yeah, our drummer looked like Ron Jeremy! Which he did at the time! Only much much much smaller in the wee wee department.
Nick: The story behind that is, we did a show with Puddle of Mudd once and one of the ladies in the back of the crowd was screaming “RON JEREMY!!!!” Until I finally heard her and realized she was saying that to our drummer. (laughs) I believe we have it on camera but I was like “you sayin our drummer looks like Ron Jeremy!?” The crowd practically died laughing, then laughed harder when she responded, “but does he have the size!?!” Good times! (laughs)
DC: Nice belt. Is that a Marshall? Inside joke. Definitely, throw me your underwear. (Laughs)
If you weren’t playing music, what completely random job could you see
yourself doing?
Chigger: I have a Masters Degree in Public Relations, so I would hope I’d be a Director of Communications somewhere. By the way, are you hiring?
DC: A Primeatoligist
Steve: DJing, maybe a sound guy
Nick: Working construction projects for high end corporations or blue collar contractors and anything in between. I like being a part of something huge and helping to build things, kind of like my time here in Rahway.
Biggest grind of being a band — what’s tested you the most?
Nick: Knowing I do this for the love of music and that there is no honest money in the system.
Chigger: I would have to say having the money to do what we need or do what we want. If we had unlimited finances, I think we’d be unstoppable!
DC: Waiting. Simply all the waiting. Waiting for sound check, then waiting to go on, blahhhh.
Steve: Trying to get 4 guys on the same page when it comes down to making decisions. Rock Venus treating the bands like shit after the band just sold out. (laughs) It’s like “You’re welcome we brought you business today, can you please treat me like an asshole now?” (laughs)
What should fans be most excited for right now — new music, crazy live
shows, surprises?
Chigger: To come out and see us live! We’re such a fun band to see perform and we want you to become a member of our family at our next family reunion.
Steve: I think as of now, more live shows, more growth, possibly more radio play.
Nick: Fans should be pumped that we are adamantly trying to perform everywhere they are so they can meet us in person after we get off stage! We also give away free merch while on stage to our biggest fans of the night as well so that’s something to look forward to as well!
DC: All of the above, but man o man, what a show. Kick ass loud live Raw dirty Rock n Roll!
