Is there a rancid smell coming from your stereo cabinet? With Steve Albini, Thurston Moore, Frank Black and Bob Mould all pushing past middle-age, one has to wonder if rock and roll, and certainly indie rock has crept past its shelf-life. While The Rattlesnakes have yet to prove they have the staying power that will push them forward into their "golden years" with platinum senior citizen rocker cards, they may be just what your parched ears need to get you through that post-milenium slump.

But, the Rattlesnakes aren't going to be the flavor of the month for the in-the-know, indie-r-than-thou sect. Favoring swells of rock guitar chording that strike from the tightly woven bass lines and drums that cement powerhouse eruptions from a stunning vocal madman over the faux-retro wanking and tongue-in-cheek delivery of most of their contemporaries, one has to wonder if anyone has even told the Rattlesnakes that rock and roll is the "new" grunge.

If you've been missing the slithering sounds of raw, naked aggression, and pure indie rock and roll mayhem like I have, there is danger lurking in Southern, California. And, good God, it has never felt so good to get bit. The Rattlesnakes enigmatic singer Nathan Buckley takes a few minutes to discuss plans for their next venomous record, finding a label home, and natural selection.

Interview conducted via e-mail by Timothy Anderl. Photos by Aaron Farley, John @ Headline Records, and John Southern. Courtesy of therattlesnakes.com.

Name: Nathan Buckley (vocals)
Band: The Rattlesnakes

BW: Who are the members of the Rattlesnakes and what are their weapons of choice (instruments)? Under what circumstances did the band form?
N: The Rattlesnakes are Nathan Buckley (MIC), Eric Buckley (GTR), Candice Getten (GTR), Aaron Owens (BSS), and Watson (DRM). I met Eric when he was born because he is my brother but didn't really like him until he taught himself to play guitar. Aaron and I met in seventh grade and traded comics, magazines, and music. In high school the three of us started messing around with music and found a drummer. We played two shows, and I moved away to Yosemite to find myself or whatever. Candice and I spent a lot of time together in high school, and Aaron recruited her to play guitar while I was away. I came back from the woods and started yelling into the mic full-time. Everything fell into place and in 1998 we decided that we wanted to press a seven-inch record with a band called the K-nobs. Then we met Watson, recording a split 12" with his band, the Switch. A year later, we started playing with Watson because our old drummer wanted to move to Guam to be with his wife and daughter.

BW: What split records have the Rattlesnakes participated in? What advantages are there to teaming with another band to produce this kind of release?
N: Split records are a lot of fun. When bands are poor, they can pool their resources and make something great. It is like having a baby only without the diapers. Sometimes you argue over its future, hair-cut, and clothing; but, in the end, you are happyand make disgusting animal noises at it.

BW: When was I, Explosion! recorded? Has there been a good reception to the record?
N: I, Explosion! was recorded in last season of 2001. It was best of times; it was the blurst of times. The record has been well received, and we are proud of the little guy. Once someone told me it was too orange; someone else told me they put Trojan Horse on a mix-tape they gave to a girl.

BW: Do you feel like comparisons to The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Rocket From The Crypt, The Hives, etc. are warranted?

N: I can understand why people make the comparison. People have a tendency to want to organize and categorize. It makes things easier to understand. It's an easy way to process information, and you can't really blame anyone for it. When I hear our music, I hear the Rattlesnakes.

BW: Should The Rattlesnakes be tagged as part of the "rock and roll revival" movement that the media is touting?
N: No. We are not a "rock and roll" act. Most of us don't know anything about rock and roll. The Rattlesnakes make music they like and pay very little attention to the world around them.

BW: I've heard that you have another full album of material ready to go. Is there any truth to rumors that Alex Newport (At The Drive In, The Icarus Line, The Pattern) will produce it?
N: We do have an album ready. It's our best yet. Alex Newport has done some amazing work, and we sent him our stuff to see if he would do amazing work for us; and unless someone in a suit kills us all, we will probably be recording with him in a few months.

BW: Have you been offered record deals with any indie or major labels? Who are they? If you turned them down, what was your reasoning? Have you found a home for your next record?
N: We have had a few tempting offers from independent record labels but have yet to find a home. We live to make music, and don't want to limit or loose our ability to do so in a hasty decision. Major labels have approached us and talked with us but have yet to put out an actual "offer;" they were probably nosing around for the next $10,000,000 garage act and thought we were only worth $9,000,000.

BW: Can you give us a heads up on the UK compilation with The Donnas, Hot Snakes, Icarus Line that you will be submitting a song for?
N: The comp is called The New Rock and Roll Volume 3 and will be released in a few months. The line-up isn't set in stone yet but most every band on it is incredible.

BW: Aside from recording, what are the Rattlesnakes plans for the next six-months?
N: We are organizing short tours up the west coast and throughout the southwest. In June, when my brother finishes "college", we are going to hit the road and stay on it for as long as possible. We were made to tour.

BW: Have the Rattlesnakes ever ventured out of the southwest?
N: We have only toured through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and played an anarchist benefit in Nogales, Mexico, only, it was anarchy and none of the bands actually got to play. Later, it rained. Then we had to carry our equipment on our backs while crossing the border. I got really sick. It was awesome.

BW: Didn't you play SXSW last year (do you have plans to be there again this year)? What was that experience like?
N: Yes. SXSW was a life-changing experience for all of us. We drove for twenty four hours straight, played three shows in two days, and drove another twenty four hours back to Los Angeles. It was all very last minute and was our first time outside of California; it was then that we decided we should always be on tour. The Rattlesnakes have nothing but their music and want to live like nomads.

BW: Is there a typical on-stage Rattlesnakes performance? What should people that come out to the clubs expect to see during your set?
N: A lot of sweating, dancing, and volume.

BW: What is the strangest thing that you've seen happen in the crowd during one of your sets?
N: These two dance-crazed, maniac girls started making out while dancing. Later, they gave up on the dancing and just kind of laid on top of each other while we played. Maybe they were friends or something. I don't know.

BW: Is performing or recording your material more important to you?
N: Personally, I live for our live show. Nothing sounds or feels better to me. I feel like an emotional conduit between our band and the people listening. I don't think; I just sort of mentally vomit all over the place. Recording, however, is just an opportunity to recreate and document this experience; but it is nice to give your music what you think it deserves and make it accessible to the rest of world.

BW: If you were to have drinks with any other rock singer who would it be? Who are some great rock bands that you've already had drinks with, and did the drinks have umbrellas?
N: Once, John Reis called me on the telephone and told me he was putting together this thing called the Hot Snakes. He said a lot of nice things about our band and asked us to play two shows with them in California. We did and had the opportunity to meet and talk with them. I mean I grew up listening in envy to Rick & John break ground while I was still learning how to play a bar chord. It was all very amazing for me.

BW: What is one record that was released this year that made you shake it?
N: Tallahassee by the Mountain Goats.

BW: Recently read on CNN about a dude in the SW that caught a rattlesnake. He was showing off in front of his friends and picked the rattlesnake up to kiss it. The snake bit him right below the mustache. What would you do if a man with a mustache grabbed you by the neck and tried to kiss you?
N: Natural Selection can really be a beautiful thing sometimes.

BW: Do you have plans for world domination? If you do, what is your first logical step toward making this happen?
N: No. We don't want the world. The bastards can keep it.