Archive for the 'Interviews' Category

Preview: So Many Dynamos

So Many DynamosRecord, celebrate, tour/drink, repeat; thus seems to be the life of any band.

So Many Dynamos, out of Edwardsville, IL (a St. Louis suburb), are currently making the transition from step two to three. With two albums already under its belt (2006’s Flashlights is the most recent), the quartet are itching to get their (as yet untitled) third album out.

Record:

“It’s been a very long process,” guitarist Ryan Wasoba said about the recording (process) which began in July and just wrapped in February. The process found the gents exploring new territory. After four years full of Dismemberment Plan-style post-punk, So Many Dynamos is looking a little further back in order to further its evolution: Talking Heads. Specifically, Wasoba cited the overdubbed and highly inventive percussion, as well as the dense arrangements as being inspiration for the band.

Celebrate:

“This is the first time we’ve really nailed what we tried to do when we started,” Wasoba said of the band’s new direction. Wasoba further voiced his bounding enthusiasm for the new record, “I almost wish we could erase the past and say this is our debut record, it feels like a debut record.”

“Tour”:

Now that all heavy lifting is done (with the aid of Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla behind the boards), and the champagne has been drunk (Walla probably had a sip or two), So Many Dynamos have to hit the pavement. Wasoba explained that there was a difference in this particular tour, “we’re in the label hunt right now.” The band’s first two records were put out on a small Seattle label, and now the boys are looking for a change of pace and scene.

Tour/Drink:

When So Many Dynamos pulls into town Wednesday night to kick off the festivities, they won’t be bearing copies of the new disc with ‘em, sadly. However, the set list will be flush with new tunes (and obviously old ones as well), all certified for one kind of dancing or another. And like at any good Picador show, oh so much Grain Belt will be had, and oh so many asses will be made from friends and acquaintances.

What: So Many Dynamos w/ The Slats, The Wheelers, and Birth Rites

Where: The Picador

When: Wednesday, April 2nd

Doors: 9 pm

Cover: $5

Interview: Grand Archives

nullLast Thursday, Seattle’s Grand Archives came into town on their first big tour in support of their debut record, The Grand Archives, out last month on Sub Pop. Principal songwriter Mat Brooke was kind enough to sit in the van with me and answer some questions as I frenetically scribbled his answers. He even courteously offered me pulls from his Jim Beam, which I of course accepted. Read the full interview after the jump.

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Mission Freak Interview: Rocky Votolato

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Way back in September, when the trees still had leaves but the temperatures were probably about what they were yesterday, Rocky Votolato rolled through the Picador and blessed us with an evening of tunes from his solo records, drawing primarily on his two most recent releases. Last year, he put out his second album for Barsuk (his 6th solo record overall), the wildly understated The Brag and Cuss. It was, however, his Barsuk debut Makers that captivated me and continues to be one of my favorite releases from the last several years. I caught up with him before the show and spent time rapping in the parking lot, bumming his smokes and asking about his solo career, fatherhood, and his Americana roots.

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