Kasabian Interview 2005

Kasabian Interview
By alexander laurence

Kasabian are one of the big bands of the past year from England. They have been compared to everyone from Stereolab to Stone Roses to Primal Scream. They had four hit singles, and their first album came out in Fall 2004 and sold over 250,000 copies. Their shows have all been sold out all over England in the past year. The rise of Kasabian has been fast. A year ago they were unknown. Now they have played a sold out show in New York at Bowery Ballroom in November, without having any formal releases.

The group, who will embark on a month-long tour supporting The Music, is set to kick-off mid-February in NYC and end in March at SXSW. They're from Leicester, England and are named after one of the killers involved with the Manson Family. I spoke to lead singer, Tom Meighan, around the beginning of the year, about this phenomenal band. Kasabian is Tom Meighan (vocals), Sergio Pizzorno (lead guitar, keyboards), Chris Edwards (bass) and Christopher Karloff (guitar, keyboards).

**********

AL: When did you record the album?

Tom: We recorded the album about a year ago at the farm. We had to move away from the city to get our heads together. We had to do that to record this beautiful baby of ours. If we would have done in a proper studio in the city we would have been out of it. We had to get our heads together and concentrate.

AL: How long was the recording process?

Tom: It took about eight months altogether. We had skeletons of songs for a long time. We knew what we wanted to do. We had the songs in our minds. We lived like hippies man for two years. It was amazing.


AL: It was like a commune?

Tom: Yeah, it was kinda like that. Not far off it. There was not much health food. It was all rubbish food mate and junk food. We ate boxes of potato chips.

AL: Was there any bin diving?

Tom: There was plenty of that mate.

AL: When you record a song how do you go about it?

Tom: We start to get into an idea and put it down. We start with the computer. We start with the beats. Sometimes we lay down some guitar. Sometimes Sergio writes down some guitar parts and brings that in to the rest of the band. It's much like how you would do a hiphop album.

AL: Most of the members of Kasabian grew up with rave culture and much of that music is computer based. Since you are a rock band you would think that some of these tracks are live takes.

Tom: No, they weren't. We just went in there and played it. Some of it was one take and some of it wasn't. It all depended on how we were feeling and how the mood was. Sometimes we would attack a song in one take or a few takes. We wouldn't take that long there. We were trying to create a vibe. It was quite simple.

AL: How long have you been touring?

Tom: We have been playing nonstop since February 2004. We have played Japan. We have been to New York. We played Bowery Ballroom. We have been to Europe. We have been all over England. We have probably played 130 gigs this past year. It's been pretty tense. The year before we probably only played forty shows altogether. We are just finding our feet live now.

AL: What were the earlier shows like?

Tom: They were alright. We tried some more experimental shit out. It was like a wall of sound. We knew we had to perform more and get better. Sometimes we hit the bull's eyes.

AL: You were on the cover of the NME recently. How do you feel about that?

Tom: It's amazing. We have been waiting seven years for it mate. When it happens to you, you can't believe it. They had to put us on there. There was nothing they could do about it. They had to write about us. It's a wonderful thing. I remember buying an NME when I was sixteen years old. Richard Ashcroft was on the cover. I was thinking to myself wouldn't it be amazing one day if they put us on there. We got on there. We were laughing at the picture. We felt like kids again. It's a proud moment.

AL: So now even people who don't even follow music recognize you?

Tom: It's a bit different from how it used to be mate. Six months ago no one gave a shit. It's changed really fast. You are right. People recognize us. Friends call up and want tickets. When you are in a popular band it is all very flattering. I find it all amazing.

AL: How do you write songs in the band?

Tom: Sergio and Karloff do the music and the tunes. Sergio writes most of the lyrics.

AL: What are your songs about generally?

Tom: I would say that the songs are about a mish mash of the world today. Sometimes there are some jumbled up words that don't really mean anything, but it's all quite positive.

AL: I heard some stuff that you said about Keane. It was like there are rock bands and then there are these student types. Sometimes when you go to a festival you have to sit through all these bands with high voices and who wear sweaters.

Tom: They are alright. There will always be students who want to be in bands. The good thing about Kasabian is that we got the students who want to watch us play as well. We got the cool students. We got the hooligans watching us. We have boyfriend and girlfriend watching us together. There are teenagers. We have all types of people at our gig, which is a great thing.

AL: Sometimes you heard an amazing record by Radiohead or Gomez and then you see them live and they look like a bunch of dicks.

Tom: Yeah. Radiohead are amazing. They are clever. Gomez are a good band. What happened to them?

AL: I think that their label dropped them. They have been playing a lot live in the Unites States. When was your record released?

Tom: It came out three months ago and it's doing really well. It comes out in the USA in March 2005. It should be awesome.

AL: You are coming over for a big tour?

Tom: We are coming over for about three months. It's absolutely thrilling that we are actually coming over to the States and playing.

AL: You already played one show in New York at Bowery Ballroom. What is the show going to be like?

Tom: When we play we are going to be on fire. We are going to be locked and loaded. We are going to be ready to go. We are going to give you our heart and our blood, man. We are going to give you a rock and roll show. We are going to spill our blood. We are not lying to you. You are going to fucking believe it. It's going to be like an electric pole fucking hitting you really hard in the balls. It's going to throw you around. You are going to love it.

AL: Maybe you don't want to be in the front row or you'll get hurt?

Tom: Your head will be bleeding if you are in the front row, I'll tell you that.

AL: If you are an American girl and you are a big fan of Kasabian, where do you line up to get a proper introduction to the band? Is there a hotline?

Tom: No. Just come to the back room at the venue, line them up, one by one.

AL: How are you going to prepare for this tour?

Tom: We are playing a few shows before the American tour. Hopefully we will have some time to go home and eat some turkey and chill out. We will try to detox. But that will never happen. We will be there in March.

AL: Have you played with The Music before?

Tom: No, we haven't. We are friends with them. They are top guys. They are a good band.

AL: Kasabian is mostly from Leicester, England. What is that town known for?

Tom: It's known for nothing. You remember that guy Englebert Humperdinck? He knocked off the Beatles from number one? He's the only guy from Leicester who is known to anybody.

AL: I didn't realize that he is English.

Tom: Well, he pretends to be. I am not sure what he is. Leicester is right in the smack middle of England. We are the only thing that has come from Leicester.

AL: Are there any other bands that you like?

Tom: I like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. They are cool. I like Mad Action.

AL: What other things do you do with your time besides music?

Tom: I just get stoned mate. I get pissed.

Website: www.kasabian.co.uk

2005 Kasabian Tour
Kasabian appearing with The Music
Thu 02/17/05 New York, NY Irving Plaza
Fri 02/18/05 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Sat 02/19/05 Philadelphia, PA Theatre Of Living Arts
Tue 02/22/05 Providence, RI The Call
Wed 02/23/05 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
Thu 02/24/05 Montreal, QC La Tulipe
Sat 02/26/05 London, ON Centennial Hall
Sun 02/27/05 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
Mon 02/28/05 Covington, KY Jillian's Entertainment Center
Wed 03/02/05 Chicago, IL Metro / Smart Bar
Thu 03/03/05 Saint Louis, MO The Pageant
Mon 03/07/05 Seattle, WA Neumo's
Tue 03/08/05 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
Wed 03/09/05 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
Fri 03/11/05 San Francisco, CA Slim's
Sat 03/12/05 Los Angeles, CA Music Box At The Fonda
Sun 03/13/05 San Diego, CA Canes
Tue 03/15/05 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
Thu 03/17/05 Dallas, TX Gypsy Tea Room
Fri 03/18/05 Houston, TX Meridian
Sat 03/19/05 Houston, TX Meridian

COLDER interview

Colder Interview by Alexander Laurence


Colder in a one-man band that comes from Paris, France. They have released their first album “Again” (2004). Colder is actually the work of graphic designer and video producer, Marc Nguyen Tan, who in his spare time has developed one of the most accomplished and critically acclaimed debut albums. He began making music with his background working as art director for TV and fashion. During the last part of 2002 he produced his first musical project and sent a few demos out. Output Recordings soon signed him.

Colder “Again” was finally released in late 2003 and immediately discovered by fans and critics. The album seems like an intimate journey by a lonely traveler in an abandoned city. The CD also includes a DVD which is very much part of the complete experience. The record is reminiscent of Joy Division and Coil but is also very modern. It is a combination of dance music, rock, industrial, and techno. It is its own genre really.

Colder made their live debut at the famous Elysee Montmartre venue in their hometown Paris. Soon after Colder performed to a capacity audience of six thousand people at Europe’s premier music festival, Sonar, in Barcelona. Colder has since performed at many European stages and festivals. They have even played with The Rapture on their French tour dates. I spoke to Marc before his recent show at Bowery Ballroom.

NOTE: This is a rare interview with this band. Not many people in the USA have seen this band. They only played once in Fall 2004, and that tour included dates at Spaceland and Bowery Ballroom. I get contacted all the time about Marc Tan and COLDER.

***

AL: How long have you been doing music?

Marc: I have been playing music for a long time. But I have only been doing it seriously for a short time. The band has only been playing together for a year. I have been recording things for at least ten or fifteen years. The whole Colder thing was just a coincidence. It started about two years ago. I did it for professional and personal reasons. There was a time for three months where I had nothing planned. I had some free time. I decided to spend that time focusing on making music.

AL: You are from France?

Marc: I was born in Paris. I have always lived there. I am from a real boring area. It’s in the 15th arrondisement. It’s very Catholic.

AL: Do you come from a very musical family?

Marc: No. They were all involved with medicine. I used to listen to music at an early age.

AL: Did you play instruments or did you come from a technical background?

Marc: I used computers quite a lot. I use it like an eight track recorder. I record things in it. I am not a very good musician. When I play some guitar or bass lines, I just play some simple notes. I play some stuff on keyboards. I use the computer as a multi-track recorder. I don’t use sophisticated gear.

AL: What was the first track you did?

Marc: That was “One Night In Tokyo.” I recorded it all in three months. That was the first song. The last song was “Silicone Sexy.” It’s more techno sounding.

AL: Was the recordings done as an album format in mind?

Marc: For me, the album format is really important. I don’t like the single format. I don’t like releasing singles from the album. I like how you can listen to a whole album and it can tell an abstract story.

AL: How do you start working on a track?

Marc: Basically it’s about personal things that have happened in my life. The record was written after I had been traveling often for a few years. The Colder record talks about those travels in a real distant way.

AL: You did all the vocals on the record?

Marc: Yeah. I did all the vocals and all the music. I did all the artwork. I had one close friend mix the record and master it. He did it more properly. I know nothing about mastering.

AL: The record has been out a while in Europe?

Marc: It was released a year before in Europe. The record is exactly the same. It has one CD and one DVD. It’s a set.

AL: Since you did this all by yourself, when did you start a band?

Marc: That was coincidental as well. Two months before the record came out, I had a dream about a live band. In the dream I was talking to my friend who now plays with Colder. He was saying in the dream “Maybe we should try to play Colder live?” I wasn’t into it too much in the dream. A half-hour after having that dream I got a strange email from Trevor Jackson, from Output Recordings. He said that he couldn’t sleep that night. During that night he had a dream of a band playing Colder live. Trevor’s description was so accurate and close to what my friend was talking about that we thought that maybe we should do it. We spent two months in a rehearsal studio. That’s how the band started.

AL: How many live shows have you played?

Marc: Maybe about forty.

AL: Have bands did you listen to when you were growing up?

Marc: Some guy wrote something in a French webzine like “the Strange thing about the Colder record is that you feel the border between the influences and personal life were so close that they melt into one another.” I think that guy is quite right. I could tell you my influences and it would be about a thousand band names, so it would be boring to recall. When I was a teenager, and also at this moment in my life, music is so close to my life. I listen to music every day. I have always been a fan of certain bands but that changes always in different periods of my life. It’s very difficult to acknowledge certain bands. I have always been a fan of what I call “Darker Pop” or “Pop Obscure.” It’s like older pop music that is very intimate. It goes from Nick Drake to The Scientist. The Scientist has been doing dub records since the 1980s. There are bands like Coil, Non, Current 93 and Death In June.

AL: Some of those bands have strange politics.

Marc: I don’t care about the politics too much. I am more concerned about the music and the feelings.

AL: What sort of bands do you play with?

Marc: It’s all various people. We are a small band. Ninety percent of the time we are playing as a support band with bands who are kind enough to accept us. We are not picky who we play with.

AL: Are you playing with more techno people or bands?

Marc: It’s true that we are playing in clubs, so we do play with bands and club music. We always have DJs playing with us. Sometimes we have played with rock bands. In France we supported The Rapture.

AL: Do people play your record in Clubs?

Marc: I guess that they do. I heard that some DJ in Germany used to play a few tracks. When the record came out they were playing it in clubs in France. I don’t go to clubs very often so I don’t know if they are playing my records.

AL: This is your first tour of America?

Marc: Yeah, this is our first tour ever. We are starting today. We played one show in New York during CMJ a month ago. We played a show in Denmark. We went back to Paris. We came to America two days ago. Tonight is the first show of the tour. We will be Los Angeles in three days.

AL: What are your impressions of playing in America?

Marc: We have always like to play in New York. This is our fourth show in New York. We have met a lot of cool people. Tonight is a special night because the election just happened. It is strange to be here right now because we are doing a gig that is a social entertainment. It’s is during a difficult context.

AL: What songs do you play in the live show?

Marc: We play most of the songs from the record. We also play two new songs. Those songs will be on the second record.

AL: Do you have any advice for people who want to do records?

Marc: No. My advice is no advice.

AL: Have you done any collaborations with other bands or singers?

Marc: I would like to but so far there is no real plan. There is only one English band that I know of that would be interested in some form of collaboration. They are called Chris & Cosey.

AL: Have you seen any of the Throbbing Gristle performances?

Marc: The only thing I saw was Genesis P-Orridge. It was a movie soundtrack.

AL: Are there any novelists that you like?

Marc: I like all the Russian writers like Doestoevsky and Checkov. I like a lot of things about Eastern European culture.

AL: Have you been there?

Marc: I have been to Warsaw, Poland.

AL: What do you think of people comparing your music to Joy Division?

Marc: For some people it makes sense to compare the whole record to Joy Division. I like that period and place where Joy Division comes from, and for me, it doesn’t just stop at Joy Division. It goes much deeper. I am very interested in where that band is coming from. I am interested in the whole musical culture. I am interested in bands from the same time from France and the USA. In France, you had a band called Marquis de Sade. If you asked me what band you preferred, Marquis de Sade or Joy Division, I couldn’t tell you. They don’t sound like each other, but they were around at the same time. There are a hundred bands from that time.

Website: www.outputrecordings.com

Best music and film of 2005

The Delgados Interview

One of the best bands from Scotland, The Delgados, have been together for over ten years now. Their five albums are some of the most interesting music to come from Scotland in recent times. Most of the band met in college. They are Stewart Henderson (bass guitar), Emma Pollack (vocals/guitar), Paul Savage (drums), and Alun Woodward (vocals/guitar). They are dedicated songwriters. Their songs feature a mix of female and male vocals. In 1996, they started their own record label, Chemikal Underground, thus having a hand in the Scottish Underground music scene, and discovering bands like Bis, Arab Strap, Mogwai, and Sluts of Trust.

The Delgados' first album Domestiques (1996) immediately caught the attention of the late John Peel. He soon introduced The Delgados to the world by featuring their music regularly on his radio show. The band toured with Elastica and The Wedding Present, who were at the height of their popularity at the time. They soon worked on their second album, Peloton (1998). They even played a show at John Peel's house for his 50th birthday party. Still they were a very underground band.

Things soon changed when they released their third album, The Great Eastern (1999). This album had a more expansive sound. The Delgados worked with classical musicians and even Dave Fridmann who had previously done great albums with Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. The Great Eastern met rave reviews.

Their fourth album, Hate (2001), was a continuation of the new-found sound. Most of the fourth album was darker. Songs like "Child Killer" and "The Drowning Years" were some of the darkest music they had ever done. A few years passed and now we have the fifth album, Universal Audio (2004). The Delgados toured the United States in November 2004. I spoke to leader Alun Woodward during the recent tour about the new album and the new direction of the band.

AL: When did you record the new album, Universal Audio?

Alun: We started recording it earlier this year. I think that we started in January and February and finished it up by May. We worked with a different producer. The previous two records were done pretty much the same way. This time we worked with a guy called Tony Dugan. So first of all when you work with a different producer that is going to make it different. Secondly, we decided that we weren't going to use that much orchestration. That brought about a different approach.

AL: Why did you decided to not use an orchestra?

Alun: We felt that if we used an orchestra again that it would have a feel that was similar to the previous one. We wanted to take a different approach. Sometimes you want to explore different things. We worked a lot before on harmonies, guitars, and piano parts. It gives the songs a different feel when you have a different emphasis.

AL: How are the songs written in the band?

Alun: Emma and me write all the songs. We bring them in the studio and then we all rewrite them together. It takes ages to be honest with you. It would be easier if you had one or two people who do everything. It doesn't work like that with us. Even though Emma and me write all the songs we are not the best arrangers. Stewart and Paul are better at coming up with parts and arrangements. It's a slow process but it works.

AL: So the songs that you sing are your songs and the ones with Emma's voice are written by her?

Alun: Yeah. We tried to swap around sometimes but it has never worked. It's a strange thing. It has something to do with the familiarity with a song and the phrasing. You write with your own touch.

AL: What are your songs about on the new album?

Alun: A lot of it is about "not giving up." It's funny. You get to a point in life where you realize that life is really short. There are a lot of grey areas. A lot of this record is about trying to be optimistic. Trying to be positive.

AL: Since you have formed a record label, Chemikal Underground, you spend a lot of time listening to and dealing with other bands?

Alun: Yeah. We get fifty or a hundred demos a week. A lot of it is not particularly good. But once in a while you will get something that is fantastic.

AL: Are these all bands from Scotland?

Alun: No, we get stuff from all over the world. We get things from Europe and North America. In the past year we have got a ton of demos from Japan. I think that the label's profile in Japan has gone up. We have many Japanese bands sending us music.

AL: How did you find the band Sluts of Trust?

Alun: We saw them play live actually in a place called Nice and Sleazy, in Glasgow. We were blown away. It was only their sixth concert but it was fantastic.

AL: What other bands are on Chemikal Underground now?

Alun: A band called Mother and The Addicts. Another band called Arab Strap. A band from the States called Radar Brothers. There is Aerogramme. We have a bunch of singles that we do of various electronica people.

AL: You were instrumental in discovering the band Interpol when they were first starting up?

Alun: Yeah. We met Daniel Kessler in 1997 or 1998. He gave us a demo. We ended up releasing it a few years later on Chemikal Underground. Matador picked them up and took them from there. They are a good band. The record we had done with Interpol goes for a lot on Ebay. We had an agreement with the band that we would release a certain amount. I would love to re-release it. It's a great record. You could tell back then that they were a great band.

AL: What other bands have you played with that you liked?

Alun: On this tour we have played with Crooked Fingers. I really like them. I like Sons and Daughters too. They are from Glasgow. Those are really the only two bands that I can think of because this year we have been mostly in the studio. I don't think we have played with that many bands this year.

AL: Were you just doing something today? I called you before and they said you were in the studio?

Alun: We were doing something for Fearless Music. It's a TV thing in New York City. We recorded just three songs.

AL: How did that go?

Alun: One song took up a while, but it was fine.

AL: You have just been touring in America for a few weeks. What are you going to do the rest of the year and early next year?

Alun: We are going to play in other parts of Europe until Christmas. Then we go back to Glasgow. We are not doing much in January. Maybe a few shows in Britain. In February, we are going to Japan and Australia. I have visited those places before, but The Delgados have never played in those countries before. This will be the first time.

AL: John Peel was a real champion of the band early on. He just died a few weeks ago. How do you feel about that?

Alun: It's one of those things. John was a great guy. So much of the music that I have heard, I have heard it first on John Peel's show. He is totally irreplaceable. It's sad that he died for so many reasons.

AL: What other things are musical influences for you?

Alun: You are probably influenced by so much stuff that you grow up with. My brother was really into punk when I was growing up. Some of the first records people played me were Stiff Little Fingers and Iggy Pop. My Dad was into Jazz and Country Music. My Mom liked Folk Music. Most of these things rub off on you and you keep coming back to it. Recently I have been getting into films. I am not sure how much that is an influence on the music.

AL: Have the music of the Delgados been in a film or on a soundtrack?

Alun: No. We did this thing with a guy from New York called Joe Coleman. We put music to his paintings. We did that at Barbican Centre in London. It was a one-night thing. One of our songs was used in a Japanese animation. It was a Manga thing called Gun Slinger Girl.

AL: have you read any good books that you care to mention?

Alun: I read Time Out Of Joint by Phillip K. Dick. I have never read anything by him before. My girlfriend gave me this book. I really liked it. It was really inventive. I am really interested in archeology and history.

AL: Did all the members of the band go to a University?

Alun: Yeah, Paul and Emma met at a University. I grew up with Stewart and Paul. I went to University in England.

AL: Have your parents gone to any shows?

Alun: My mum and dad came to a show last year. That was their first time. They loved it. It was a great show. It was a big concert hall in Glasgow. It's one of those things. Your mum could come around to one of these divey little clubs in the country or to a nice theater. It was a good choice to come to a big event at a hall. I supposed they were really proud. It was the first time they had seen it. There was about three thousand people there.

AL: Were they wondering what you were doing for the past ten years?

Alun: They are pretty cool about it. There are always aunts and uncles wondering when you are going to get a proper job. But my parents have always been quite supportive of things. I know a lot of people who play in bands who get hassled by their families.

AL: What do you love about making music?

Alun: I like writing songs. I usually bring a tape recorder around with me because I often have a melody in my head. Other times I sit down with a guitar and a piano and put songs together. I really like it. That is what I love about what we do. I love writing new songs.

AL: The next album will also be really stripped down?

Alun: I don't know. We didn't know what we were going to do with Universal Audio until we sat down and talked about it. We'll see. We'll have a good thinking.

AL: What should new bands be doing if they want to play in a band?

Alun: It's all about commitment. I see so many bands. Some of these bands have big record deals and they are really good bands. They will cancel shows because someone can't make it. You need total commitment. You will know yourself if you have talent and you have got the songs.

Website: www.delgados.co.uk

Radio 4 Interview

RADIO 4
Interview by Alexander Laurence

Radio 4 is one of the originators of the New York scene. The Brooklyn-based quintet Radio 4 began in 1999 as the trio with Anthony Roman (bass/ vocals), Tommy Williams (guitar) and Greg Collins (drums). They all grew up as participants of the Long Island hardcore scene. In the 1990s, they gravitated to the city.
A band that would bring reggae, punk and dance music together, Radio 4 felt trapped by the limitations of indie rock of the early 90's. They were initially inspired by the 1970s punk explosion, and named themselves after a Public Image. They were interested in the rhythms, much like bands like The Clash and Gang of Four. All those elements had left the serious indie rock scene.

Their first album was called The New Song and Dance (2000). This record caught on with a small group of listeners who liked the DJ scene, dub reggae, and post-punk music. Anthony Roman soon opened a record store called "Somethin' Else" in Brooklyn. They released the "Dance To The Underground" EP (2000). The single would be used in a Mitsubishi TV ad.

In 2002, Radio 4 hooked up with the DFA production duo for their second album, Gotham (2002). It was recorded before 9/11, but was all about the changes in the city. The band got noticed and played many shows with other bands in the New York Scene. They added two members P. J. O'Conner (drums) and Gerard Garone ((keyboards). Radio 4 soon toured Europe and the UK and their audience grew. But at the same time, they had to deal with being Americans abroad.

Most of that feeling is dealt with on the new album, Stealing Of A Nation (2004). Songs like "Party Crashers" and "Transmission" are some of their best yet. Radio 4 is a band on the rise. I got to talk to keyboardist Gerard Garone right before their tour with the Libertines had got underway. Radio 4 and The Libertines will be playing New York at Webster hall on October 12th.

******

AL: How did you all meet each other?

Gerard: The rest of the band knew each other in the punk rock scene in New York. Radio 4 used to play at this club in the East Village called Brownies. I used to work there. I became friend with them and then joined the band.

AL: You worked at Brownies in the heyday?

Gerard: Yes, I was there in the heyday. Brownies was the CBGB's on the late 1990s.

AL: many of these bands that you would associate with the New York Scene got their start at Luna Lounge and Brownies.

Gerard: Yeah. For the most part, those places, and Mercury Lounge and Don Hill's. Everybody has played Brownies at some point in their careers.

AL: When did you join Radio 4?

Gerard: I joined them about three years ago. There are five of us.

AL: Why are you called Radio 4?

Gerard: It comes from a song by Public Image Limited. It's on Metal Box.

AL: Have you had any problems with the name?

Gerard: We have had no problems with the BBC's Radio 4. Nobody has tried to sue us yet.

AL: What do you think about all this attention on New York bands?

Gerard: Yeah. I think that the attention that New York has gotten for a majority of the bands is well deserved. There is a lot of quality music that has come out in the past five years. It's pretty well founded. Some of these bands are getting attention and it is my hometown. I am always glad to see that.

AL: Have you done a lot of American tours?

Gerard: Yeah, we have done a lot of American tours. We have also been in Europe a lot. We have probably spent more time over there than here in America. The tour with The Libertines is one of the bigger ones we have done here.

AL: What other bands have you played with?

Gerard: We have toured a lot. We have played with a lot of bands. We got to open for Joe Strummer six months before he died. He did a lot of shows in New York. It was just huge to open up for someone like him. That was the most memorable show. We have played a lot of festivals. In those situations you end up playing with bands that you love. We played with Primal Scream and PJ Harvey.

AL: How do you write songs on the new album?

Gerard: It works indifferent ways. There are ideas that we put together in the rehearsal space. There was stuff created in the studio. There are songs that are from demos that people created at home. There is no set way we write songs in the band. Whatever way it comes from that is where it comes from. People all come sin with set ideas.

AL: You all write together?

Gerard: Yeah. For the most part. The way it works is pretty democratic. This is the first record where I worked with the band, so it was new for me. They let me bring in ideas.

AL: Are there any other bands that you all like?

Gerard: There are tons. We like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and the list is endless. I am really into Latin Music. Me and Anthony are into dance music. It is vast.

AL: What is the general reaction to your music?

Gerard: People have strong reactions to our music. It's music that people either love or hate. There hasn't been a lot of "it's okay."

AL: On the new record there is a lot of Dub Reggae music. Do you like that music?

Gerard: We are all big Dub Reggae fans. That seeped into the new record a little bit.

AL: You have a song called "Fra Type I & II": what is that about?

Gerard: Tommy Williams wrote that song. He doesn't like to talk about his songs. I can't help you out on that one.

AL: Anthony writes all the lyrics?

Gerard: No, Anthony and Tommy write all the lyrics. Mostly Anthony.

AL: Is their any shared politics in the band?

Gerard: Yeah. We are all pretty left wing politically. There are issues that we differ on. I tend to be the most left-wing member of the group. Politically we are coming from the same place.

AL: No one is voting for George Bush any time soon?

Gerard: I am not a big fan at all.

AL: What do you think about the election coming up?

Gerard: It is probably one of the most important elections the country has ever seen. I think that the voter turnout will be higher than ever. At least I hope that it is. For a lot of people who haven't voted in the past, this is their chance. In New York, being as Democratic as it is, you can just see the hatred for George Bush everyday. You see it on the street. People wear t-shirt and pins. There are banners everywhere. There is a lot of hatred for George Bush. It's very anti-Bush in New York City.

AL: What is your favorite part about doing music.

Gerard: I like writing songs and recording. It's better than touring. I am not a big fan of touring. I love playing shows every night, but there is something more satisfying and exciting about creating something and documenting it.

AL: Who is the most indispensable member of Radio 4?

Gerard: Probably Anthony. He started the band. If he left Radio 4, the band would cease to exist.

AL: Were you in New York during 9/11?

Gerard: I was. It was by far the weirdest thing I have ever seen in my life. I live in Brooklyn and I can see the Towers from my block. It's the only thing I can see from Manhattan. I live in Greenpoint. At the time I lived in Williamsburg. At the time my girlfriend worked next door at the World Financial Building. She used to walk through the lobby of the WTC everyday. So for hours I didn't know where she was. Some of the members of the bands lost some close friends. It was an awful day. It seemed like at that time people would come together. New York had the sympathy of the world. George Bush just took that and threw it in everyone's face. Now we have a general hatred for America.

AL: Since you are playing with another band inspired by The Clash like the Libertines I think it is interesting: The Libertines sound more like The Clash on their first album, and Radio 4 is closer to the spirit of Sandinista or London Calling.

Gerard: Yeah, that's a pretty fair assessment. We'll see.

AL: What is your setlist like on this tour?

Gerard: It's a mixture of stuff from Gotham and the new record. It's half and half. Anthony writes out the setlist. It's fine because it's not something I would want to do.

AL: So you just look at the list and think "Party Crashers is next, let's play it!"

Gerard: Yeah. There are songs like "Party Crashers" that are in the set every night. We always play "Dance To The Underground."

AL: Have you read any good books?

Gerard: Right now I am reading Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem. I am also reading The Power of Myth. It is an amazing book. I recommend everyone to read it on the planet.

AL: Do you have any favorite films?

Gerard: Yeah. I like Down By Law by Jim Jarmusch. That is my all time favorite film. I like the gang movie The Warriors.

AL: Will Radio 4 ever do a musical version of The Warriors?

Gerard: I don't think that will ever happen. The Warriors was done already. Nobody should touch it. Definitely not. West Side Story has already been done.

AL: Do you still have regular jobs?

Gerard: I just quit my job. I was a bartender. Anthony owns a record store. It's called Somethin' Else and it's in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

AL: If people want to come down to Park Slope and buy the new Radio 4 record they can go to that store?

Gerard: Yes.

AL: How many shows have you played with Radio 4?

Gerard: In the past three years close to six hundred. We took off some time to do the new record.

AL: What are you doing the rest of the year?

Gerard: We are touring the whole rest of the year. We are going over to Europe again at the end of October. We'll see what happens after that. New records and new tours.

AL: What should young people be doing if they want to start a band?

Gerard: Going back to school. That is what you should be doing. Before I joined a band it is nothing I thought it would be. It is not the glamorous lifestyle I thought it was when I was younger. It's a lot of hard work involved. You have to be really dedicated to want to do this. It's not hard labor, but it's physically taxing. It's hard to be not at home and constantly on the road. I love it. I have a love/hate relationship with music.

AL: Touring is very hard.

Gerard: Yeah. I am not a young kid anymore. I am 29 years old and I am getting older. I like the comfort of my own bed and shower.

AL: You don't sleep a lot on the road?

Gerard: You do but it's never good sleep. You never get a good night's sleep ever.

AL: You end up passing out because you haven't slept for three days.

Gerard: Exactly. You wind up passing out rather than going to sleep. We drink a lot on the road. There is not much else to do.

Website: www.r4ny.com

The Hiss Interview

The Hiss
By alexander laurence

The Hiss formed in 2001 with Adrian Barrera (guitar/Vocals) and Todd Galpin (drums). They were in a previous band, Centipede, from Gainesville, Florida. Florida was a dead end then for music, as it is now and shall always be. There was no future for this band that needed to back out and break all the rules. Inspired by garage rock and Surrealism, the duo moved to Atlanta and hooked up with Ian Franco (guitar) and Mahjula Bah-Kamara (bass). Her name was too exotic for the band so they replaced her with Johnny Kral. The Hiss is dedicated to hard work and sweat.

Recently, the band was picked by Noel Gallagher to support Oasis on their German tour. The Hiss also supported The White Stripes at 99X's Big Rock Festival in June 2003. Their debut, Panic Movement was released in the US in March 2004. I got to talk with Johnny Kral and friends before they took the stage at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles. Anton Newcombe from Brian Jonestown Massacre and Jason from The Warlocks were hanging out backstage.

******


AL: When did you record the album, Panic Movement?

Johnny: We recorded it in February of last year. It is just about us in a room. Someone starts playing and then someone else starts playing and we work out everything right there. Once the music is all together, and then Adrian puts lyrics to it. He listens to what we have done on tape.

AL: Where are you all from?

Johnny: We are all from different places. Adrian and Todd are from Florida originally. Ian is from Fall River, Massachusetts. I am from Philadelphia. I met Adrian and Todd when I lived in Gainesville. They moved to Atlanta and that's where they met Ian. I had moved to New York City for a few years. They called me down from New York and asked me to play.

AL: How long did it take to create songs and start playing?

Johnny: Everything happened right away. They had played in a band before called Centipede. We knew what they had been doing. Ian and I were familiar with their material. We were friends with them already. When they finished that band, they started the new band immediately. We were ready to play already.

AL: What is Gainesville like?

Johnny: I lived there for a while. Gainesville is weird. It's a small college town with probably half a million people. But it's really tiny. Everyone is mushed together in this tiny place. It had a really good music scene for a few years. It dwindled down and was mediocre after a while. It's depressing. Everyone left.

AL: The good clubs closed down?

Johnny: There were only two good clubs there the whole time. One of them closed down. They started passing laws like you had to pay one hundred and fifty dollars every year for an entertainment license. Clubs had to close early. That killed the scene.

AL: How did you end up playing in the UK a year later and releasing Panic Movement there first last fall? I thought you were an English band at first because I saw you on MTV in the UK.

Johnny: Yeah. It happened because of James Oldham who used to work for the NME. We sent a demo tape to a friend of a friend who knew James. He passed it on to him. James heard it and said he wanted to do an article on us for the NME. We started talking to him. He was going to help us put out the record in England on a label. Then James got a chance to start his own label. He called us right away.

AL: You had all the songs written at that point?

Johnny: For the most part. Most of them were done. We had other ideas that we worked on while we were there.

AL: Did you tour a lot by that point?

Johnny: Not really. We had played some shows.

AL: How do you know when a song is finished?

Johnny: The way we know a song is going to be good is that we can remember it the next day. If we can't remember how to play it the next day we know it's not good enough to be a Hiss song.

AL: What bands have you played with? I guess that you have played more in the UK than here. What was that like?

Johnny: We have toured with The Sights a little bit. That was okay. We toured with BRMC. We toured with Jet for a little while. That was amazing. They are our best friends. They are super great guys. We had the most fun we ever had in a long time with those guys. We did a few tours on our own with local London bands. There was a band called Razorlight. There was another called Eastern Lane. It was fun. It is always fun touring England.

AL: What do you think of the audience reaction in England compared to America?

Johnny: I hate to go against the hometown team, but England is a lot better for music than the States are. It's not that they have a better ear. They just care a little more. People are not afraid to go out to a show and admit that they like something. When there is a show in England, English people will read the paper about what is going on that week, and if they read something that they like, they will go out to the show irregardless of whether their friends are going, or whether they are not going to seem cool. They don't care. They just like good music. Here in America, they could read something that grabs their attention, but if none of their friends are going, or they show up and there are ten people there, they will leave. They don't give new music a chance.

AL: What bands inspire you?

Johnny: I don't know why I started playing music. I didn't start listening to music till I was in Middle School. The first album I got was Megadeath. I used to listen to that stuff.

AL: Do you like to read books or watch films?

Johnny: Yeah, we all read. I read Band of Brothers the other day. We all like George P. Pelicanos. We love them. The last film I saw was The Pianist. That was good, but you don't want to be stuck on a plane with someone you don't know watching that.

AL: What other hobbies does the band have?

Johnny: I don't know if I can talk about it. We are all into weird stuff. I can't talk about it.

AL: The band has this whole dark side. It's mysterious. What is up with that?

Johnny: Anything I say will make us look bad. Ian is into gardening.

AL: A lot of models and girls show up to see The Hiss. Do you have comments about that?

Johnny: If you have really long hair like I do and you are shy, your hair goes directly in front of your face and you can't see anything. I rely on what Ian and Todd see because they are aware of what is going on. What they tell me may be lies. They told me that it was a bunch of old guys with canes out there.

AL: You are coming back on tour with Electric Six?

Johnny: Yeah. We are playing three weeks, which is a perfect amount of time. The record just came out here so we are trying to do whatever it takes.

AL: What is your set like?

Johnny: We are playing most of the album. Not everything. We have one new song that we play. We have an older song that didn't make it on the record.

AL: Any advice for young people who want to form a band?

Johnny: Don't learn how to play anyone else's songs. Don't ever learn a cover.

(Background noise in the room. Members of BJM, The Warlocks, and Starlite Desperation enter the room.)

AL: We have Anton Newcombe here talking really loud. I guess that means the interview is over. When did The Hiss start as a band?

Anton: I am not actually in The Hiss. I am a fan. I am a fan of really good music. That is why I am here. The show in San Diego last night was really great.

AL: You are following the whole tour then?

Anton: I have my own shit I have to do.

AL: You should be making your next record.

Anton: I am. My records are doing so well that I can come and see other bands and feel inspired. I can bring that back to the studio.

AL: You have this new single "We Are The Radio." Let's talk about that.

Anton: There is another song now. We have shit going off.

Jason: Everyone seems to know about that song.


Website: www.thehiss.com

The Killers interview 2004

The Killers

2004 Interview by alexander laurence

The Killers debut album, Hot Fuss, is the hottest American record of the year so far. The Killers may be the best band from America right now. We have to have pride. We can no longer leave it up to the English for our musical palette because we have the Killers. They combine a love for British music, showmanship, and killer hooks. The Killers are Brandon Flowers (voice/keyboard), David Keuning (guitar), Mark Stermer (bass), and Ronnie Vannucci (drums). This bunch met in Las Vegas two years ago, after Brandon left his previous band. Last summer they are playing shows in England. Now they are a big demand in the UK. After shows at Coachella, CMJ, and Weenie Roast, people are wondering who these guys are. They are well dressed and the bass player looks like Jesus Christ. These guys are what the doctor ordered.

“Jenny “ and “Midnight Show” are songs that make up a murder trilogy. The Killers are the best band that recreates the feeling and emotion of New Wave, while saying something absolutely new. They have a knack for having the best anthems since U2. The song “All These Things That I’ve Done” has a gospel choir breakdown in the middle of the song. Brandon Flowers is an amazing songwriter and frontman. It’s amazing to think that he is only 22 years old. The Killers make the sound of synthesizers something to look forward to. You hear the sound of keyboards on “Smile Like You Mean It” and you think could you ever dream of a band more perfect for KROQ modern rock playlists. “Andy You’re A Star” is more like Suede. “Everything Will Be Alright” is more like early Bowie. This band has come from nowhere and delivered a great album. They will be what we are talking all year. I spoke to Ronnie Vannucci the day the record was released. The Killers will be playing in New York City soon.

*****

AL: I just saw you guys play at Weenie Roast 2004 just a few days ago. That was good. You went on about 5pm.

Ronnie: Oh yeah. That was hotter than hell. We loved it. The sun really shone on us that day. We are still cutting our teeth with things. It’s good that we can get a good spot on the main stage. We do what we do with every show. It may sound cheesy but we give it our all. We hope people enjoy it. It is a battle being in direct sunlight.

AL: Brandon’s face was projected on the screen quite often. He looked like he was sweating a lot.

Ronnie: Yeah. It’s pretty hot up there.

AL: You grew up in the suburbs of Las Vegas? How has that influenced the band?

Ronnie: Yeah, if you can call it that. It’s a strip in the middle and houses that surrounds it. I don’t know if growing up there has influenced us in any specific way. Las Vegas has established itself with any music scene. You have to rely on what is happening in neighboring cities like Los Angeles. That is where people used to think they needed to go to prove themselves or make themselves known. I think that it comes down to having good songs. It doesn’t matter where you live.

AL: When did you meet each other?

Ronnie: About two years ago. David and Brandon met through an ad. I met them at a gig. They had been The Killers a few months before I joined. They didn’t have a solid lineup. I joined and then we found Mark. We decided that we had to get really serious. We knew we had to practice every day and write songs.

AL: How many shows have you played back then?

Ronnie: We played a few local shows. We have played a shitload of shows in La Vegas. But our first connection with the outside world was when we went to England in September 2003. It is all still pretty new to us.

AL: You went over to England first before playing any big tours in the United States?

Ronnie: Yeah. Our first tour was in England. We had played New York City and Chicago when we were still unsigned. We did a few things here and there, but England is where things started for us.

AL: What sort of shows did you play there?

Ronnie: At first we were playing shitty support acts at no name clubs. Then we got better supporting gigs. People saw us play and thought we were a good band. Things started to happen very fast.

AL: When did you record the album?

Ronnie: The record is half demos. We made a demo first. That led to a single for an indie label in England. That led to an EP and an album. We had a lot of songs recorded already. When we thought about putting the album together we kept a lot of the original demos because they all had certain spontaneity to them. Half of the songs we recorded before we ever went to England.

AL: You made a self-released EP when you played that first tour?

Ronnie: Yeah. It was a four song EP of the demos. It was released through Lizard King who was our label in the UK. When we did the album we remixed the songs. It was a limited edition. It created enough static to make some waves.

AL: When you worked on the final album, did you work with a producer?

Ronnie: We worked with Jeff Saltzman. We gave him credit. But we constructed all the songs and mostly did everything ourselves. We had a guy recording for us. We gave him producing points for recording us.

AL: Did you do live tracks or how did you go about recording the album?

Ronnie: Yeah. No recording was more than three takes. That is what I meant by the spontaneity of the record. We weren’t trying to make a big record. We just tried to write some good songs and play good and try to make it the best we could. We were just recording songs over the course of a year when we had time. The original demos turned out to be so good that we kept them.

AL: Did you do a lot of overdubs and vocal doubling?

Ronnie: No. There wasn’t a lot of production involved. It is almost like a live show or rehearsal. We would like to work in the studio for a few months. We could see where that takes us. Maybe we will do that with the second record.

AL: How do you write songs in the band?

Ronnie: Each song is different. Some songs will come from all four of us. Someone will make up a melody or a line. Some songs Brandon brought in. He had the songs and the changes all written already. It was all there. Some songs had maybe two of us working on it. Brandon and I worked on “Believe, Me Natalie” together. Brandon and David had written “Mr. Brightside” before Mark and I were in the band. We are a band most importantly and we work on all the songs together eventually. It makes it fun because the creation of every song is so different.

AL: Brandon writes all the lyrics too?

Ronnie: Yeah.

AL: What does he write about in his songs?

Ronnie: All I know is half of his songs are half-fiction and half-autobiographical. The songs are about different subjects. If you wanted to know about anything specific you would have to ask Brandon.

AL: There is a lot of romantic longings in the songs. It’s a make out album?

Ronnie: You think so? There is some romantic stuff in there. That description would belong to us.

AL: I was reading the NME. They compared your band to The Smiths. Are you Smith obsessive like they say?

Ronnie: We are not obsessed with The Smiths. The Smiths were among the bands that all four members grew up with. Those were our generation’s bands. Those were some of the first tapes we bought. Those were some of the first things we discovered for ourselves so it’s personal. It’s very easy for us to be in a room and make music because we have a common background.

AL: Some of these articles also mention U2.

Ronnie: Yeah. U2 is a wonderful band. I still really look up to them.

AL: What are some other bands that are definitely influences but people haven’t pointed out before?

Ronnie: We are fans of British music, but we are also fans of American music. We like the Talking Heads, Blondie, and others. We also like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Strokes, and Interpol. We like Tom Petty, Tom Waits, and Lou Reed. We like music in general. We just don’t listen to The Cure and The Smiths. That needs to be known.

AL: Does Brandon Flowers have a shrine to Robert Smith or Morrissey on his wall at home?

Ronnie: No! Hell no! Actually we did play some shows with Morrissey. We talked to him and he was positive. That was some good validation of what we were doing.

AL: What other bands have you played with that you liked?

Ronnie: We just recently did three shows with Yeah Yeah Yeahs. We were really stoked to be doing shows with those guys. There are some great bands in England that people should listen to like British Sea Power, The Black Velvets, The Departure, and Surfer Rosa from Norway. We really enjoyed playing with those guys. There is a band in London called The Glitterati. They just finished a tour with David Lee Roth. They are really good.

AL: The song “Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll” is on the UK album but not on the American issue. Why is that?

Ronnie: We decided that England would be more receptive to that song. We wanted to make the albums a little different.

AL: Have you seen any good movies?

Ronnie: We saw Harry Potter when we were in London. Daniel Radcliffe is apparently a fan of The Killers.

AL: He is obsessed with The Killers. I read that interview. I was shocked. He is supposedly the second wealthiest teenager in England. He could buy a bunch of copies of Hot Fuss and keep it in the charts all year.

Ronnie: Wow! Who knows?

AL: What are you up to this summer?

Ronnie: We don’t have a day off until the middle of October. We are playing all the festivals except Reading and Leeds. We will be at Glastonbury, T in The Park, V Festival, Fuji Rock, and a few more. I don’t know exactly where we will be for the next three months.

AL: When will you do a proper tour of the great American cities?

Ronnie: It starts in July.

AL: What is your favorite part about being a musician?

Ronnie: Playing live shows is probably the best for me. What is good about that is it’s true for the most part. It’s a true representation of who we are as people and musicians. We are out there naked. We are giving them a show. That is the best thing about music: going from a hot garage with some songs to a hot stage with people who enjoy the music.

AL: You are really a great drummer. It’s like the second coming of Keith Moon.

Ronnie: Thanks. I haven’t destroyed any drum sets yet.