For any fan of Harvey Milk or sick heavy music in general, the announcement that Hydra Head recently released the band’s Self-Titled debut is like all you can eat KFC for a slob. Serious shit. In celebration of Harvey Milk’s re-mastered beast, we decided that we should do something different for a band as influential and pure as the Milk. So here you have our new regular feature: Dads In Vans. We chose Harvey Milk for a number of reasons. One, they fucking rip shit. And Two, CY actually kicked it with the band backstage at last year’s Brooklyn performance with Torche and the single-handedly most memorable moment was having a long conversation with guitarist Creston Spiers about being a dad. Dude is wise, down to earth and owns shit on stage. So here’s a glimpse into Creston’s life as a dad. Naturally his kid is into Kind Crimson.

How many kids do you have and what ages are they?
I have one daughter, she is 13.

When they were born, how did that effect your music making/creative process?
We continued to play and tour for about a year after she was born, then went on a 7 year hiatus.

What do they think about Harvey Milk?
She thinks its cool that her dad’s in a band, I think. She claims to like our music, but she’s more into Rush and King Crimson right now. Which is cool with me!

When on the road, how do you cope with being away from your family?
Its the hardest thing about being in a band. Its a little better now that my daughter is in her teens, but I still hate being gone for weeks at a time - especially in the summer.

What’s an average day/night with your kids like?
Take her to school, pick her up, eat a snack, watch tv, homework time, dinner, play some gin or poker (she likes 7 card draw with 2s, 4s, 8s, and one-eyed-jacks wild), go to bed.

If you could give any advice to fathers in bands (or in general), what would it be?
Call home a lot.

Harvey Milk’s Self-Titled debut is out now via Hydra Head.