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A New Orleans-based band formed in 2011, Cane Hill's most recent album Too Far Gone recently hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. Fans are not the only people taking notice of Cane Hill's success, as the WWE recently featured the songs "It Follows" and "Lord Of Flies" during NXT Takeover: New Orleans.
The quartet -- which includes vocalist Elijah Witt, guitarist James Barnett, bassist Ryan Henriquez and drummer Devin Clark -- performed "It Follows" as the opener of NXT Takeover and also backed Halestorm's Lzzy Hale when she performed NXT Superstar Ember Moon's theme "Free The Flame."
I had the pleasure of conducting a Q&A with Elijah Witt of the Rise Records-signed band about Cane Hill's recent WWE experience. As of April 25th, Cane Hill will be hitting the road alongside Nonpoint, Butcher Babies and Sumo Cyco.
How did the opportunity to work with WWE come about? Did someone pitch your music?
Elijah Witt: WWE has an entire team dedicated to finding and pitching music that would fit seamlessly into the metal world. Them, along with our own management team, really came together, getting us the opportunities.
Was your live performance at the NXT event your first sports-related live appearance?
Elijah Witt: It was! We had no idea how massive it would be to mix the two.
Prior to landing that opportunity, were you a fan of wrestling? Any of your bandmates?
Elijah Witt: We’d been fans before but never the diehard kind. Doing this definitely got us even deeper into it, that’s for sure.
Was there anything surprising about the overall NXT experience for you?
Elijah Witt: How well-organized it was and how well everyone treated us. We still feel like a tiny band that doesn’t need to be respected or won’t be respected, rather, at these massive events. But everyone at NXT and WWE made sure we were comfortable and having a good time. I can’t even tell you the number of pep talks the music department gave us before we were taking the stage. They kept us level and genuinely happy and excited to be there.
Did you encounter any NXT talent that appeared to be knowledgeable about metal?
Elijah Witt: I think there’s a vast number of metal fans in NXT and it’s harder to find people who AREN'T knowledgeable about it.
While present for NXT, did anyone make any references to the wrestler Kane with regards to your band?
Elijah Witt: Nope! Which seems like a missed opportunity, if you ask me.
What do the next few months look like for Cane Hill?
Elijah Witt: We tour and we write new music. That’s the next few YEARS for Cane Hill. We’ll be out this spring with Butcher Babies and Nonpoint to be VERY specific.
Finally, Elijah, any last words for the kids?
Elijah Witt: Pick up our album Too Far Gone and give us a spin. If your favourite wrestlers like us, and they do, then so will you.
