26 Dec 5th-Dec 11th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Ending on a High Note Longtime Phoenix band No Volcano say goodbye with new album. BY TOM REARDON W hat do you get when revered local band No Volcano decide to unplug their guitar cables and pack up their drums one final time? A last album, the aptly-titled “The Last Drop,” and reflections on the end of an era. The band held a record release party/ farewell show on Nov. 29 at The Rebel Lounge, where they closed the book on No Volcano. So why are they hanging it up? “The show was booked as a record release, originally, but I made the hard decision to have this be the last show because I wanted to go out on a high note. We are at the top of our game, and I wanted to go out that way. I’m glad that everyone has been on board with it and no one was hurt by it. Live shows are not really what I want to focus on,” says singer/guitarist Jim Andreas, who has written the bulk of No Volcano’s songs over the band’s career. Drummer Chris Kennedy has been Andreas’ bandmate since he was 18, when they were in a band called The Hoodwinks that played venerable venues like the Sun Club in the late 1980s. From there, they were half of Valley legends Trunk Federation, shifted into Down With Buildings transformed into letdownright and finally became No Volcano. Kennedy offers a more blunt answer to why they are calling it a day. “It is sheer tiredness,” Kennedy says. “Jim wants to explore some other things and my wife, Susan, is ill. It is a lot of stress for me to keep doing this right now.” Bassist Karnes, who was part of the duo Lush Budget Presents The Les Payne Product (or one of the many variations of that name), is less convinced that the band is truly coming to an end. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” says Karnes. Lead guitarist Bill Goethe has a more philosophical reaction to the breakup. “This has been a really great opportu- nity to focus some energy on something positive for a few years. It’s been the best therapy you can come up with, so I’m gonna miss it,” he says. One thing is for sure, though: There is no tension behind the end of No Volcano. These guys truly enjoy making music together. It’s just time to do some different things. And some of the members have already started. Kennedy, who had a side project for a while called Kingfathand, may revisit some of the old songs he has written, as well as continue to work in the studio quite a bit. Kennedy has engineered and produced all of the No Volcano records, including “The Last Drop.” “The record sounds great. It is produced so well. I am more proud of this record than all of the other ones. Chris really nailed the production on this one,” Andreas says. The 10 tracks on “The Last Drop” are utterly delightful. Truly, this is as From left, Jim Andreas, Chris Kennedy, Bill Goethe and James Karnes are No Volcano. (Photo by Mike D) >> p 28 ▼ Music
