Dead Meadow is my favorite band I almost never even gave a chance.
I mean, everything about it was pointing in the general “this is too much for my fragile heart” direction: classifications such as “stoner rock”, descriptions using the words “sludgy”, early influences including HP Lovecraft and Tolkien….I mean, I wasn’t a 17 year old, Dungeons and Dragons obsessed boy….how in the world was I going to like this?
But DAMN IT, not only do I like it, I love it.
l.o.v.e it.
The tender wisps of psychedelia, the surprisingly delicate tunes placed in between some serious rock-out madness, this is the kind of music you listen to in a 10th century abandoned castle in Italy. But…more on that later.

The point is, Dead Meadow is awesome (in the truest sense of that word), and playing The Cat this Wednesday, and even though they now live in LA, they’re originally from DC area, so you can totally feel a strong sense of pride about their native greatness.

So,to talk about all that plus their great new album “Old Growth” (which came out on Matador, February 5th) I had a little Sunday afternoon phone chitchatter with Steve Kille, bass player, sitar master and all around nice guy who put up with some serious brunch hangoverness redux and a few other obstacles I placed before him, and emerged victorious.

Lets hear it for Steve!
(no, seriously)

BYT: Hey Steve
Steve Kille:Hey

BYT: This is Svetlana, calling with BrightestYoungThings. We’re gonna preview your show on Wednesday here in DC
SK:Awesome

BYT: I’d say. I mean, we’re excited. So, lets kick things off with some basics: Where are you? How are you? What is going on?
SK:You mean, as a band?

BYT: I mean, you don’t have to speak for everyone….you can just tell me how YOU are and where are YOU at?
SK:Oh, haha. (note for those about to interview: people laughing at stupid interviewer jokes-always a good sign). Well, I’m actually in DC area right now. We’re taking a little break.

BYT: Oh sweet. Yeah, you guys have been touring incessantly.
SK:Just got back from Europe. 30 shows in 34 days.

BYT: W.O.W. Intense. So, are you all around here right now?
SK:Well, actually our drummer is in LA, visiting his girlfriend. But I’m hanging out with my parents and stuff.

BYT: You went to high school here, right?
SK:Yes, West Springfield High. But now my parents live a little more in the country.

BYT: Moving back to the wilderness, huh?
SK:Indeed

(I instantly imagine Steve in a tree house somewhere. Its not hard to do so. Just close your eyes. Steve. Wilderness. Steve. -there, you see it too, don’t you?)

BYT: How does it feel to be back?
SK:Good, it feels nice. I actually ventured into the city a few days a go. It was…

BYT: Insane?
SK:Yeah, the tourists. The cabs.

BYT: THE GODDAMN CABS!
SK:What is going on with the cabs? Are they metering, zoning?
BYT: No one knows anymore!
SK:So it seems.

BYT: Anyway, onto more important things….lets talk about the band and moving to LA and stuff. WHY?
SK:Well, over the last few years a lot of people we knew moved out there. There just seemed less and less stuff and people around DC that made us want to stay.

BYT: Did you think it would be better for you as a band too?
SK:Actually, I sort of think that being in the band had the very least to do with anything. It was just time to move. And we didn’t want to move to New York. Too…

BYT: Predictable?
SK:Ha ha…Exactly.

BYT: And Dead Meadow is anything but. You’ve been together for 10 years now…does it get any harder with time or….?
SK:You know, and I know this sounds kinda trite, but really, it gets easier. We’re more like a family now. Sure, when you’re a young band, and you’re just starting out, it is all the more exciting but you’re also more nervous and not able to enjoy it for what it is as much.

BYT: Awwww. Well, ten years in, you just have a new album out this year. Lets talk about the record for a second.
SK:Lets

BYT: I always thought that with Feathers and now with Old Growth you guys entered kind of a softer phase. I mean, there is still some serious rocking out, but the ballads are getting more and more heartbreakingly beautiful.
SK:Oh, thank you.

BYT: You’re welcome. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it. So, do you want to tell us about a song or two on the record that is, sort of, special to you? And yes, I know its always hard.
SK:Hmmmmm….yeah. Well, I’m gonna go with “Either way” which is the last song on the album, and incidentally the last song we recorded as well. We did all the producing on the album ourselves, and it was just one of those beautiful moments when you think you may not get there, but you’re SO close, and you’re tired, and you’ve been working for so long and all night and then the dawn breaks and all of a sudden the song is ready. It is just one of those good memories, you know.

BYT: I know. (I guess I know)
SK:And also “The Queen of All Returns” because that is a song we made right there in the studio, just jamming and adding things on. It really grew during the recording process to become what it is now. And we’re still kinda figuring out how to play it live.

BYT: Rad. So, how does the song writing process go…I mean, obviously…it is not, how do I say this …Its not “linear”?
SK:Ha ha, no I guess its not. Mostly really, the three of us get together and jam things out. There is a lot of back and forth but really, its always been a group effort, no delegating of parts and such. And all the songs are meant to sound great live.

BYT: Which they do. And you’ve been on Matador for five years now?
SK:Has it really been that long? I guess it has.

BYT: Time, much like birds, flies.
SK:Ha ha, it definitely does.

BYT: Before that you were on Joe Lally’s little personal label. How did you decide to make the move to something bigger?
SK:I mean, and no matter what people say, you sort of eventually have to do it if you want to have the support network you need. And Matador is terrific. Some really great people work there. And, you know, at the time before we even decided to take their offer, Joe was moving to LA, he had a little daughter that was his priority, he just didn’t have time, since you know, the label was essentially himself and a computer.

BYT: Yeah, its hard for little labels out there.
SK:Yeah, especially now when less and less people actually pay for the music and stuff.

BYT: I know, I mean, the whole approach to music purchasing has changed dramatically. Apple IS in fact the biggest music retailer in the US. And you know no one purchases anything physical from them, or not even whole albums.
SK:I’m not surprised at all. Though it is definitely a shame since we view the albums kind of the way we view books-objects you want to hold, open, enjoy all aspects of it. Tangible arts, so to speak.

BYT: So true. I just saw this movie and in it someone asks this writer: Do you think your books will still be around in 100 years? And he answers: Will books period still be around in 100 years? That made me shiver.
SK:That made ME shiver. But you know, at the same time, music is also so much more accessible to anyone, because of its digital availability. It allows people to be able to tour more easily, and almost expect people to know the songs anywhere.
Plus, you know, there will always be a market for live music.
Since it is entertainment in its most pure form. I mean, a touring band is essentially a vaudeville act.

BYT: True. Any awesome bands you’re seen lately you feel everyone should get into?
SK:Oh man…there are a lot of super cool bands in LA that I feel so many more people should know about. Like Spindrift.

BYT: That sounds so familiar.
SK:Yeah, they were Anton (Newcombe’s) backing band the first time we played with Brian Jonestown and they were amazing. They have this crazy gothic western theme.

BYT: Oh, I know who they are. They were here a little while back.
SK:Did you see them?

BYT: No, sadly, it was one of those Sunday night shows. I think they played with Black Angels.
SK:Yeah, they’re not a Sunday night band, really.

BYT: But one of our writers went and was blown away. Don’t they have a movie to go with the spaghetti western themed soundtrack they play or something?
SK:Yeah. Its insane. Everyone should see them.

BYT: Speaking of movies… you’ve made some videos with Eric Cheevers?
SK:Eric is great.

BYT: He really is…occasionally, he’ll bust out a z movie review for us and stuff.
SK:Oh, that’s awesome.

BYT: Yeah, you know, DC is this teeny.
SK:Yeah, the great thing about Eric was that despite the fact that we had almost no budget he went in and did the best fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants job ever.

BYT: The video for “What need must be” is a total headtrip.
SK:True. We basically flew everyone out to the west coast, went into the redwood forrest and just walked around and waiting for awesome things to happen. Which, thankfully, worked out. As I said, Eric is great.

BYT: Ok so…I have to say this…I saw you guys for the first time maybe a year and a half or so a go at RNR Hotel. With Meredith Bragg and Laura Burhenn.
SK:Oh, you did?

BYT: I DID. Amazing show. I still have the poster for it.
SK:Awwww that’s so cool. Yeah, that was a great place to play. Good people.

BYT: Speaking of which, you guys tour almost non-stop. Any particularly awesome places you’ve played?
SK:Everyone asks this

BYT: I know. I know.
SK:But actually, we just came back from Europe and we played this crazy abandoned castle in Italy. Courtyard, big, grand hall, a giant fireplace next to the stage. I mean, just the acoustics and the sheer scale of it all…

BYT: Going to be quite a change when you play the Cat backstage this Wednesday.
SK:Oh man, I’m not going to lie, its kinda disappointing we’re playing backstage.

BYT: I mean, I was surprised.
SK:Yeah, I think its just one of those things when I’m not quite sure what happened, in terms of booking the tour.
BYT: But you know, they’ve had some outstanding bands play there lately: Blitzen Trapper, Yeasayer….
SK:Yeasayer played backstage?
BYT: Yeah.
SK:That’s just ridiculous to me because I saw Yeasayer at the Echo in LA, which is actually where we kicked off our tour too, and they had 700 people in there. Loving them. And then they come to DC and play for what? 60 people? Because I mean, that’s all that fits in there.
BYT: Well, the show sold out, so they just came back and busted the mainstage.
SK:Good. I mean, no matter what it will be fun to play DC again but it would be funner to play at least something medium sized.
BYT: True. Well, we’re seriously looking forward to it.
SK:Great.
BYT: See you Wednesday then.
Enjoy the wilderness.
SK:Oh, I will.

Want more:
befirend dead meadow socially here
and catch them live tomorrow at the Cat Backstage with Ancient Sky

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