Cathedral City’s CIVX has been in a period of transition. After the departure of bassist and lead vocalist Nick Hernandez, guitarist Dillion Dominguez took over lead vocals, and Clay Samalin and his bass guitar joined the group. After taking a few months off, CIVX is back and has recently played at the Purple Room and the Coachella Valley Art Scene. Learn more at www.facebook.com/civxmusic. Samalin was kind enough to answer the Lucky 13; here are his answers.
What was the first concert you attended?
A Brian Setzer concert when I was 5. It was at an amphitheater in Santa Barbara. I just remember singing along and snapping my fingers to “The Dirty Boogie.”
What was the first album you owned?
Good News for People Who Love Bad News, by Modest Mouse. I got it when I was 6 for a Christmas present, and it has been my favorite album ever since.
What bands are you listening to right now?
Foals, Modest Mouse, Interpol, Oberhofer, King Krule, and Mac DeMarco.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
Trap and electronic-type music that would be played in the Sahara tent at Coachella. It is painful noise to my ears.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
I really wish I could have seen Foals and Cage the Elephant play together. That must have been a crazy show with wild energy.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Metallica when they were at The Big 4 (concerts with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax).
What’s your favorite music venue?
The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“Late Night,” Foals.
What band or artist changed your life? How?
Oberhofer, because it made me want to play guitar.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
Yannis (Philippakis) from Foals: “When will your next album be out?”
What song would you like played at your funeral?
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Good News for People Who Love Bad News by Modest Mouse.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra. Try being upset while listening to that song. (Scroll down to hear it.)