Portland Rockers Supplemental Pills Drop Heavy Blues Album

Transmission 133: Interview with Supplemental Pills

Supplemental Pills is a rock band from Portland, Oregon, established in the late 2010s. The group consists of Ezra Meredith (vocals/guitar), Joel Meredith (guitar), Andy Foster (bass), RonJon Datta (keyboards), and Mark Folkrod (drums/backing vocals). Their music combines elements of psychedelic rock, blues, and electronic sounds.

The band released their first album, “Volume One” in the early 2020s, which began as a collection of improvised recordings. Their second album, “No Easy Way Out” (2024), was completed following the death of their original bassist, Aron Christensen, who was killed during a hiking trip in 2022. This eight-track record features a cover of Mark Lanegan’s “Judgement Time” and addresses themes of loss and personal struggle.

Supplemental Pills primarily operates as a recording band, occasionally performing live shows in non-traditional venues such as furniture stores and colleges. Their current lineup includes John Coletta as a permanent member handling visual elements and video projections. The band records their sessions at the Deer Lodge studio in Portland.

What motivated you to begin creating music, especially with the dark, psychedelic undertones we hear in your work today?

I’m drawn to serious music that makes you think or feel deeply. It’s just something that comes naturally to me, I guess.

What was the atmosphere of the music scene like when you first started? Did it influence the direction of Supplemental Pills?

The music scene out here isn’t very close-knit. Maybe it’s the DIY attitude that comes with the Pacific Northwest, but bands and people tend to keep to themselves. There’s a lot of heavy, psychedelic rock and punk, but I lean more toward groove-based music like blues, soul, and jazz. We’re not the typical Marshall amp/Les Paul guitar band; we’re more of a Fender/Peavey kind of outfit, if you get what I mean.

How did the experience of recording your debut album influence the way you approached “No Easy Way Out”?

Our first album, Volume One, is mostly a collection of jams we pieced together as we were figuring out how the group would gel. By the time we got to our second album, No Easy Way Out, we were more focused on writing structured songs and rehearsing them before recording. I think we did demo’s for most of the songs too, but we don’t do that anymore.

“Judgement Time” opens the album with a Mark Lanegan cover. What drew you to this particular track?

Lanegan is one of my favorite singers. I was going through a lot of tragedy, and his music helped me in a strange, melancholic way. For me, it’s almost like meditation. I started recording that track on my own after a day in court, when the idea of “judgment time” really stuck with me. The other guys later filled in, turning it into this beautiful, droning piece.

“No Easy Way Out” touches on deep themes like tragedy and the struggles of life. How did these themes evolve throughout the writing process?

I was going through an unspeakable tragedy during that time and betrayal from people I loved and got out on the other end but tragedy seems to follow me around like a shadow sometimes.

How did the sudden death of Aron Christensen impact the creative process behind the record, and in what ways did the surrounding mysterious circumstances influence your songwriting?

We were almost done with the recording when Aron was murdered. I added a few lines to the title track that, in a way, remind me of him and what happened. It’s personal, though, and you’d probably have to know the story to pick up on it. Aron was one of my closest friends—we spent a lot of time together outside the band. I knew him on a deep, personal level, and he was practically family. He’d even come over for Thanksgiving and other gatherings. When you lose someone that close, they never really leave, but at the same time, they’re just out of reach when you need to hear their voice to get through. It’s tough. Death is something the living are left to cope with.

Are there any non-musical influences that played a role in creating this album?

A lot of hanging out and BBQing, drinking beers, etc. The music stuff is always secondary to the personal relationionships for me.

What direction do you see the band taking with your next project, and how will it differ from “No Easy Way Out”?

We’re focusing more on groove-based music now, with a lot of blues influence and some droning and electronic elements. The new material feels raw, and we’re trying to bring a fresh approach to the blues—at least that’s the goal. Our desire to play at most bars and venues has faded; we’re primarily a recording band these days, though we do the occasional live show. Recently, we played at a vintage furniture store, and we’ve got another gig lined up at a local college. We’ve also got a permanent member, John Coletta, who handles all the visuals. He creates video projections for every show and has been filming our recording sessions at the Deer Lodge each week.

Photos courtesy of Supplemental Pills

Matteo Damiani

Matteo Damiani is an Italian photographer and author. Curator of the sites Retrofuturista.com; weirditaly.com; china-underground.com and others