Chess Wars is the newest rock n roll force, calling “check mate” on eardrums across America’s Finest City. Check out our feature and interview with the band. We spoke with the boys about writing, who they would never open for, and the new record PEACE. Break out your razor blade suede’s, and get ready to cut some rugs to shreds with Chess Wars.
 

 
Chess Wars was born out of a long-standing request made to singer and songwriter Dustin Lothspeich. Al Howard of San Diego’s own The Heavy Guilt had told Lothspeich that he needed to cover “Hard Times” by Baby Huey for awhile, and that dream became a reality at the Al Howard birthday party show at Soda Bar back on February 26th. The song was in fact covered, with Lothspeich on guitar and vocals and Jake Najor on drums, accompanied by Mr. Howard himself on tambourine.

Not long after, Howard had another request for the boys. With an upcoming show for Howards newest project set for April 11th at The Void, he contacted Lothspeich and Najor. “(He) suggested that Jake and I should ‘get the ole band back together’ and play the show too,” says Lothspeich. He continues, “Life is weird.”

Dustin Lothspeich and Jake Najor are in no way strangers when it comes to San Diego music. Lothspeich, who recently was named as one of San Diego’s Best Guitarists by SoundDiego, currently writes for and plays in Boy King and Old Tiger. Jake Najor bangs the skins in The Styletones, Lord Howler, Rebecca Jade and the Cold Fact amongst numerous other projects.

The beginning to the Chess Wars story is something most of us may find hard to imagine. From what started as a “Hey, you should play this show” scenario, emerged a brand new rock-funk & roll force within the San Diego music community. In what seemed like mere weeks, the boys have written and recorded a 9 track record and solidified multiple live dates around America’s Finest City.

The debut record PEACE, out now, is a solid 9-track showcase of the boys’ deep song writing ability and musical talents. Lothspeich proves yet again just how strong a grasp he has on a style of funk and rock n roll that existed long before he, or most of us, ever did. PEACE brings to life a style of gritty rock, that in 2013 stands in a class all its own.

Chess Wars puts on a display that ranges from smoky lounge rock to steamy, danceable bedroom funk. Lothspeich’s fiery guitar tones and on-point vocals mend perfectly with Najor’s soaring backbeat. From the title song “Peace”, with its dark and heavy, thumping-guitar tones to the full powerful chorus that, to borrow some of the lyrics, will blow your mind before fleeing the scene.

They drop it down on track “Do Better”, a steamy funk ballad that chugs along softly, but is filled with the same attitude that spans the entire record. A real sweet, pajama party-of-two style jammer. The attitude kicks up a notch in the classic rock rager, “Relax”. The track fires off with classic guitar riffing, which builds stronger and stronger through out the whole song until it bursts into the energetic finale. Of course, the debut record wouldn’t be complete without their rendition of the long requested “Hard Times”, which closes the record in ultimate fashion.

PEACE is available now on the Chess Wars bandcamp page
or at any live show coming soon. Do yourself a favor and pick up it today! TBZ!
 

 
Seeing as how you both have multiple, previous music projects, where did the idea for Chess Wars come from?

It was kind of a fluke actually. We got together to play a cover of Baby Huey’s “Hard Times” for Al Howard’s birthday party show back in February. Awhile later, he was booking the debut show for his newest band (Rebecca Jade & The Cold Fact), and suggested that Jake and I should ‘get the ole band back together’ and play the show too. What started off as a one-song-at-one-gig thing turned into a new band with an album and shows. Life is weird.

How have both of you managed your time when it comes to having multiple active bands in San Diego?

It’s really not too hard. Calendars are our friends. We don’t have to practice much, and the shows between bands are spread out. If one of our bands books a show, we just don’t book shows on that date with our other bands. It’s really that simple. We get together when we can and it just works.

What was the writing process for your record, PEACE?

A little bit of this and that. Pulled a couple tunes (“YBCHT”, “Landmine”) I wrote for Old Tiger, and either reconfigured or started writing around them cuz they fit with what we’re doing. I’d had sketches for a couple other songs too but most of what ended up on the album was written in the studio right before pressing “record”. We could’ve spent more time refining the songs, or re-writing lyrics, etc – but it was just so much fun keeping things spontaneous. Most of what you hear on the record is Jake and I basically playing the songs together for the first time, and that’s rad to us.

When it comes to writing for multiple projects, how do you find yourself switching mindsets from one project to the next?

It’s pretty easy. When I write, I don’t set out with a particular band in mind because that’s when you start forcing things. Old Tiger is more old school pop. Boy King is darker, heavier – more manic and usually a lot more technical. Chess Wars is simpler, fuzzier and funkier (basically because of Jake) – so when I write something, I can figure out which camp it falls into pretty quickly.

What are both of your favorite tracks off of the new record?

Jake: “Peace” because it came together so quickly, and the chorus is so huge and powerful.
Dustin: “Evil” because I love the lyrics, and that chorus is the shit.

Where did you come up with the name Chess Wars, and the name PEACE for the new record?

We were just having fun. Naming a band is always a crapshoot because 1) all the great names are always taken (or used by a guy playing shitty acoustic guitar in his bedroom to his cat) and 2) they’re all gonna sound stupid no matter what. I started cracking up thinking about chess nerds getting into actual physical beat-downs over games. You know it happens. PEACE was just a logical name for the record, considering our band name (and it also might be an inside joke).

Chess Wars came together quite quickly, from formation to full record and shows lined up. How did the Chess Wars dream become a reality? Did everything go according to plan, or were some punches in fact rolled with?

It was incredibly easy. We knew we had a show on April 11th so we just got to work. Truly a case of “Hey, wanna play next Thursday?” “Yea, sure.” And then after we got together at the studio, it became “Hey, we should use your 4 track and record an album on Monday.” “OK, cool.” We had one practice and the next time we got together, we recorded the first half of the album. A couple days later, we recorded the second half. We’ll literally have our album on CD by the time we have our third rehearsal together. That’s crazy.

It would appear that Chess Wars formed the evening of Al Howards birthday party at Soda Bar, where lots of musician friends collaborated to create a great evening of music together. How do you feel about collaborative projects, and how important do you feel they are when it comes to our musical community?

I think it’s great. As a musician, you should always be looking for ways to improve. And you will always learn more from other people that you ever will on your own. Take that to the bank. I was stoked when Jake wanted to be involved with this thing because he’s such an amazing musician. It’s also important to be good friends with whoever you’re playing with because it’s all about having fun at the end of the day. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for better friends to play music with.

If you could open for one group or person in history who would it be and why?

Led Zeppelin. And then, we’d find out that they’d asked Jimi Hendrix to join the bill. So we’d end up opening for Led Zeppelin & Hendrix. No explanation needed. It’d be forever known as “THE SHOW” because all other rock concerts would be little girl tea parties in comparison. Then we’d just hang it up because there’d be nothing left to do. Game over.

If anyone, who would you never open for under any circumstance?

Jake: Mumford & Sons.
Dustin: Sammy Hagar.

What are your guys’ favorite chess pieces?

Duh, the Queen. We love the ladies.

What can we expect next in the near future from Chess Wars?

Shows and more shows. We got the hard part (recording) out of the way. Now we get to have some fun.

Please finish this sentence… You should pick up Chess Wars’ new record, PEACE, because…

It won’t sound like anything else you have.