Things you should know: There is seven of them (Sam Simkoff, who spearheaded the effort (banjo, keys, loop pedal), Michael Ferguson (guitar), Nicole Keenan (keys, french horn), Dan Ryan (bass, double bass), Robert Sahm (drums), May Tabol (guitar, violin), and Jim Thomson (guitar)), they all sing, they all met online (who hasn’t these days) and we are THRILLED to be their first proper band interview EVER. (with exclusive Joel photos at this point being par of the course, of course).
Read up, (eagerly) await their album this fall (and a special listening party to follow it) and come see them at The R’N'R tonight.
BYT: Lets begin at the beginning…for Sam, how did you start making this music you started making?
Sam:When I graduated from college, I was given the choice between two graduation presents: a cheap used car or a computer. I opted for the computer and got shit for the decision from my brothers, my friends, and my girlfriend, who was now charged with driving my sorry ass everywhere I needed to be. More importantly, though, it gave me an outlet to make music whenever I wanted to. And that was important- I was in a major liminal space at that point, some awkward locus between college (sweet) and The Real World (terrifying), which made me incredibly anxious. And when I get anxious, I tend to start writing songs. Like a defensive reflex. So in the space of about nine months, I used my shiny new computer to develop the bulk of the material on the album. The songs were tools- all of them either served as a way to condense my experiences and interactions into a form I could readily deal with, or otherwise provide for me an avenue of escape from the real world. And I think that comes through in the tracks- most of them are very dark, very hyperbolic, very fanciful, doom-and-gloom type stuff. But ultimately, they helped me keep my shit together for that very rocky period.
BYT:And when did you decide it was time to collect a band?
Sam: God came to me in a dream and told me to put assemble the band. And by “God,” I mean “a record company rep,” and by “a dream” I mean “myspace.” And he didn’t so much tell me to put together a band as he did just express interest in the product. That did help kick me into gear, though. I figured nobody’d look twice at the songs if there was no live show. So I started looking for bandmates. And building an ark.
BYT: I read the band was assembled through CList ads? What did the ads say? What did the responses say? What was the selection process like, sort of like a group house band interview?
Sam: I think the CL ads said something like “hi, I’m new in town, this music is getting some attention, do you want to play it live. Punch and pie.” The selection process: everybody who responded was invited to my apartment. Pretty much everybody who showed up was admitted to the band. There were a few false starts and drop-outs along the way, but it ran pretty smooth. Thank god nobody turned out to be a nutjob or an asshole.
BYT: Have each band member describe themselves in 1 sentence.(warning: there ARE 7 of them)
Mike: Mike likes chocolate, getting to work late (jk future employers), his family, beer, the earth, birds, vacations, creating music, being near large bodies of water, snow days, science, history, googlin’ things and pepperoni pizza.
Sam: Sam is not somebody who could be easily described in one sentence.
Nicole: I am a small person and I would like a new French horn.
Dan: Unpredictable and irrational, but always intentional.
May: May is like finding twenty dollars in your pocket.
Robby: Robby is love.
Jim: Jim is one bad-ass motherfucker.
BYT: Joel is a little bit afraid to take a photo of a 7 person band, what is practice like? Does anything actually get played or is it just all bickering all the time? Or all group hugs all the time.
LLoup: Joel should be afraid. It’s like herding motherfucking cats.
(the photos, needless to say turned out AMAZING)
Practices are mostly an exercise in ruining each others self-esteem. That’s where we get our energy – anger. Practices are like a dentist appointment 2 – 3 times a week. Actually we spend most of the time setting up and packing up – sometimes we don’t even play… set-up, pack-up, practice over. But group hugs are also prevalent, especially after Nicole has 1.5 beers.
BYT: So, aside from Georgie James (which, granted, was flying on Q and Not U/local Laura Burhenn fame game), you guys are the big success story of the year. Tell us, how does one get signed just a show or two in?
LLoup: “Big success story of the year,” huh? We like the sound of that. It helped that we had attention from Hardly Art before we ever started playing. And that was helped by myspace. I couldn’t believe it- the point at which I realized people actually listen to each other on myspace was pretty astounding. So put your shit on myspace. Note to myspace: give me money for that product placement.
And…
Lots and lots of practice. Also, the music is there. We really like what we are playing – we try to create something new and stimulating. So you spread the music around for whoever happens to like it and luckily it seems like its being enjoyed. Also all the people that have come out to support us.
BYT: What is it like to be on a label now (aside from the fact that you have someone to answer to, AND are not allowed to let BYT stream ALL OF YOUR songs pre-release (le sigh)?)
LLoupThis is what its like to be on a label now… We will be playing in front of a to-scale mock-up of the Pacific Northwest – trees, rocks, tide pools, space whales… everything! We shipped the whole thing in from Chicago’s aquarium – that’s one of the perks of being on a label now. Stage scenery – Thanks Hardly Art!
Seriously, though? The guys at Hardly Art are wonderful, wonderful people. Easy-going, accommodating, friendly, and most importantly, they know their shit. And they’re working hard. It’s also a little unreal – of course we all hoped something like this would happen but still can’t really believe it has.
Another answer: It’s fucking awesome.
BYT: Tell us about the album, the Harvey Dargeresque title, the inspirations behind it?
Sam: That’d take forever. And it’d be boring for everybody except me. A quick note on the title, though- it comes from a piece of folk art that I assume is still down at the National Portrait gallery. Really fascinating piece, really awesome story behind it. I strongly encourage the readership to check it out.
If you really want me to wax poetic about the inspirations and the allusions packed into the album, I can- but music is, and should be, highly interpretive. I’d encourage people to draw their own inferences and inject their own meanings into the songs before I shoved my own ideas down their throats. Listening to and understanding a song, like reading a book or looking at a painting, is a personal affair, and open to all sorts of interpretation. Yours might be just as valid as mine, or even more so. And that’s what I have to say about the album.
BYT:Who have been the influences on it?
LLoup: Musically? Wilco. Sufjan Stevens. Animal Collective. Destroyer. Broken Social Scene. Projectiles. Philip Glass. Airplane engines. Howling animals. Trains. Cities. Noisy crowds.
Personally? My dad. My friends.
BYT: You are opening for the Rosebuds on Tuesday, 4th show in 4 different DC venues, have you had a favorite yet?
LLoup: Velvet Lounge, Iota, Black Cat – they’ve all been a thrill. When we started we were just hoping to play anywhere! To get so much support right away is a testament to the dc scene and the people who come to the shows.
BYT: Why should everyone come to see you on the 22nd? What can they expect?
LLoup: Well, you never know what kind of shirts we may be wearing… what color t-shirt will each of us be wearing? Maybe we will be wearing something else that isn’t a t-shirt at all. Button-up? Tank-top? Only way to find out is to come see the show. Hoodie? See what we mean. You just don’t know.
And Sam will be doing a pole dance (he’s been practicing).
BYT: Any shout outs? SHOUT THEM OUT
LLoup Robby’s Parents! Thanks for letting us make noise at your house
!
Sam: Callie, who put up with me locking myself in our room for hours on end to make these songs. Christian Ervin, who is a musical genius, and helped critique the songs, and build upon a few of them. The G-man. Dr. J. Mr. Ed. Just kidding on the “G-man” thing. Mom and dad. All my friends- won’t name them all because I don’t want to accidentally leave somebody out and make them feel bad
!
Nicole’s Shoutouts: All the DC folks and bands who have helped us to get shows and have shown incredible support. All my friends who have come to shows (especially those who have come to all/most of them and have worked merch). Also my mom and my dad (who were musicians) and my grandma who paid for piano lessons when I was a kid.
!
Robby: The Dance Party, Rob Getzschman, Max and Rob – the patron saints of DC music
!
And now for the song, which is pretty special
all photos Joel Didriksen for kinginphoto.com
