Industrial-strength Filter

In 1987, R. Budd Dwyer, state treasurer of Pennsylvania, climaxed a press conference by killing himself with a revolver. Filter’s signature tune, the facetious-but-still-regretful “Hey Man Nice Shot,” released in 1995, is about Dwyer, who just might have been innocent of the corruption charges brought against him. The band’s singer and song’s author, Richard Patrick, concedes that people still think it’s about Kurt Cobain. But, that’s okay.

“Not really,” said Patrick over email, when asked if he ever gets tired of re-explaining his inspiration. “The song is a good opportunity to talk about suicide and suicide prevention. Everyone knows someone that could need help and I think we need to focus on that.”

Patrick, bringing Filter to the House of Blues on Thursday, May 19, hasn’t lost his sardonic stiletto mindset: The new tour’s branded “Make America Hate Again,” a nod to a certain wild-follicled hotelier burning up the Republican charts. But he’s mellow about mellowing a skosh. “The shows in San Diego have alway been super fun,” he enthuses. “I love the people and the [San Diego] Zoo, of course. I actually woke up early the next day to take my little daughter and wife there.”

The band, touring behind their new album Crazy Eyes, stuck in a song called “Pride Flag” early on. “Now that the battle’s won,” Patrick sings. I asked him whether, in light of recent legal developments down South, he’d have to change his lyrics.

“Well,” the singer reasons, “they can never take away that picture of the White House with the Pride flag colors on it. The Supreme Court did the right thing for once....”

“I love electronic music,” Patrick continues, when asked about particular new musical themes. “I’ve always been a fan of ‘the Heavy’ and I’m always outspoken. I guess the musical theme makes a pretty big comparison to INDUSTRIAL!!”

Asked about what might and what might not be turning his crank musically, Patrick wasn’t shy. “I’ve been listening to a lot of Tycho and Deftones,” on the positive side. On the not-so-positive side, “the sugary pop thing is so overplayed. I think I’m going to make a new record of just guitar feedback to somehow bring balance to the Galaxy...”