Sacri Monti skate, but they’re no skate band

With their debut self-titled album out this month on Tee Pee Records, psychedelic hard-rockers Sacri Monti add their multicolored musical fug to the city’s heavy-transcendence scene. They come approved by professional skater Riley Hawk. Guitarist Brenden Dellar and keyboardist Wenskay took some questions over email.

How did you begin playing music in San Diego?

Evan: When I was 13, me and all my buddies at the time were all getting into it. I never really ended up playing in a band until high school, playing with Dominic Denholm (Monarch). But when I really got into the music scene we were going to shows all around San Diego, seeing bands we all really liked on tour playing the Casbah and Til-Two and stuff, and that was a super good time at the time.

Brenden: In middle school me and some of my friends (Dominic Denholm, Tim McNally, and Ian Christensen) started a little band called Wildcard. We would play at barbecues and random things like that. But it didn’t really get serious until I started going to the Ché when I was 13 and saw Earthless. I love that place and have seen some of the greatest shows ever there.

Around junior year I started jamming with Thomas [DeBenedetto], who plays drums in Sacri Monti now, and we started a band called the Green House and we played a few shows. After that Dominic Denholm, Andrew Ware (from Monarch), and myself started Color. That was a very exciting band to play in because we started getting gigs at places that we actually wanted to play at. It felt so good when we got to play the Ché.

How did the band’s friendship with Earthless develop?

Brenden: I actually used to take guitar lessons from Isaiah [Mitchell] who plays guitar in Earthless. We became friends and still are. It’s cool to be on the same label as the person who taught me how to play the guitar! Kind of a crazy occurrence, but a real honor.

What are the band’s best tour stories?

Evan: We’ve only gone up the coast for little tours twice. Tours are fun, it’s not what people think. People paint this picture of this traveling party with chicks, drugs, and all this crazy shit happening when really you’re just cracking jokes in a van for the most part, playing in front of barely anyone, and the only fans that come up to you after the show are music nerds or prog-rock dads. And you barely make any money... That’s why its fucking awesome, you meet a lot of really cool musicians and friends from all over and see bands you never would’ve heard of. That’s why we do it.

Last tour, in Oregon, Dylan [Donovan] killed two deer at the same time with the van. It was pretty nuts.

What does each band member do for a day job?

Brenden: I work as a prep cook. It ain’t bad. I like cooking but I wish I did something that maybe paid a little better. I’d like to start teaching kids guitar or something...so if you’re reading this and have any leads...

The band describes its style as “underground hard rock, with psychedelic and krautrock elements.” Who are your influences?

Evan: Hawkwind and Can were huge influences on me. That’s where we all really see eye-to-eye...our stoke for krautrock, prog, and hard-rock bands like Dust, Atomic Rooster, Uriah Heep, Felt, King Crimson — fuck, man, there are so many I don’t know. Listen to Monarch! They’re the best band around!

Brenden: I have influences ranging from Townes Van Zandt to Comets on Fire to Black Flag to ZZ Top and Funkadelic! If I had to say what krautrock band has influenced us the most I’d have to say Amon Duul II, especially their albums Live in London and Yeti. As far as hard-rock, I think the one we always go back to for inspiration is Wishbone Ash. They are a perfect example of what a band with two guitars should be and what guitar harmony should sound like.

Does everyone in the band skateboard?

Evan: I met most of the friends I have today through skateboarding and I never really stopped, and I still skate with some of those same dudes. Now we just kind of surf and break fewer bones.

Brenden: I am the one who is not good at skating — I suck! I love skateboarding but never really mastered it. I think there is some sort of misconception that we are a “skate-rock” band. We aren’t, but just like most kids in San Diego we grew up with skateboards and some people got really, really fucking good at it.