Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
What’s the origin of the band name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
Or, the Whale is the original subtitle of Moby Dick by Herman Melville. We’ve never changed names.
How long have you been all been playing? Self-taught?
We’ve been a band for almost five years. Everyone’s been playing for a long time, some over 15 years. Most had some sort of rudimentary or formal lessons at some point. Julie and Tim were music minors in college.
What’s up with the Britney Spears cover ? 
We were asked to do a cover of our favorite song of the 2000s for a Fantasy Covers Podcast for the blog Coke Machine Glow. We love “Toxic” and after figuring out a simple way to arrange the chords, we recorded the song ourselves in Tim’s apartment and put it out into theinternet.
Who are your major influences? Any major comparisons to certain bands that your music may receive?
We love lots of different bands and artists. There are seven of us so that’s a lot influences. We share love of lots of classic bands like TheRolling Stones, The Band, Pink Floyd, Jackson Browne. We also love lots of newer bands like The Court and Spark, Neko Case, Wilco, and others. I’ve heard “Fleetwood Mac on acid.” I don’t know if I agree but I like it!
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet? When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
The band was formed in the fall of 2005 when Matt and I moved to San Francisco from San Diego and Ann Arbor, Michigan respectively. We wanted to put a band together and recruited through class, friendship, and Craigslist. We wanted a big, fun rock band with loads of harmonies. I think we’ve accomplished that.
Where have you performed? What are your favorite venues in the Bay Area?
We’ve performed over 275 shows all over the country. We love playing at the Great American Music Hall and the Independent in San Francisco. We have a show on August 12th at Bottom of the Hill.
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
The new Moondoggies EP is great. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Hiss Golden Messenger lately. Basically anything that M.C. Taylor plays on (HGM, Court and Spark), Or, the Whale listens to on repeat.
Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers?
We’ve played our song “Call and Response” at every Or, the Whale show since the first one. It’s a crowd favorite. I look forward to when we can retire it because the rest of our songs are better. The only cover we play is “Toxic.” And that song, we only play on special occasions.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Songwriting within the band has changed as we’ve grown. It’s a much more democratic process than it used to be. Now we take a little longer to arrange and organize every song that comes into rehearsal as a riff or a set of chords. Each member becomes more invested and the songs are better as a result. We write a lot about life and all its general ups and downs. Some songs are more linear than others as far as a story-line goes. Ultimately, people tend to write about things going on in their lives. Girl/boy troubles, growing older, playing in a band,the usual stuff. I don’t think these things will change unless we actively decide to write a concept album or something along those lines. Life, Love, and Death never go out of style as topics for writing.
Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
With seven people, we have to structure our practices as much as possible. We meet up in the evening twice a week. This allows for optimum music time as well as plenty of time with friends/spouses.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
When we originally started the band, we had a pretty good idea of what kind of music and what kind of songs we wanted to play. As time has gone on, the band has developed and gotten better. We try to allow different types of songs and music to enter into our writing process. With the seven of us working on them, they always end up sounding like Or, the Whale songs. Regardless of where they started (folk, country, rock, pop, etc).
Who does the art/design for your album covers/shirts?
Ryan Shaffer (a local SF artist and tattoo artist) has done the artwork for both albums. It’d be great to keep him involved as time goes on and more records are made. EDIT: Katrina McHugh was the artist on the 7″ album, and she has done a shirt design for us as well.
What has been your biggest challenge as a band?
The biggest challenge is trying to make a band (especially a seven-piece band) into a viable career. The music industry is a tough one and while staying independent helps to some degree, there is a huge pool of bands that you are competing with for listeners. As long as we continue to play better shows and write better songs that the last ones, we’ll keep pushing. And we’ve already succeeded in playing great shows to great crowds with songs that we wrote. That’s a pretty grand acheivement on its own. Hopefully it will continue.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
We’d love to thank our families, friends, fans, Seany Records, Alex Steininger, and everyone in between for all the fiscal and emotional support. And all the boy and girlfriends for dealing with our absense twice a week and during tour time.
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
We had a chance to catch up with The Famous, from San Francisco, CA! Check out their video and an interview below!
What’s the origin of the band name?
‘The Famous’ is the name of a dry goods store in Central Texas that my family operated in a small town called Marlin. We’re talking from the ‘20s to the early ‘80s.
In our own way, we try to pay homage to life in small towns in America, and also to help folks remember that there was a time before Wal-Mart ran Mom and Pops out of business in agricultural areas across the country.
There have always been strong communities of people working together in our country and we try to tell those stories.
How long have you been all been playing?
The band’s players have all been lifelong musicians. Vic our lead guitarist can play anything, any instrument, he’s outstanding. G.D. our
bassist toured for years in a very successful punk rock band and brings a true pro experience to the band. Our drummer Chris is the backbone. My background is with storytelling.
Who are your major influences? Any major comparisons to certain bands that your music may receive?
Since we are something of a marriage between classic country and punk rock… we are definitely influenced by the likes of Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, X and The Pixies. People say they hear Rev. Horton Heat, Social Distortion, Old ‘97s, Modest Mouse influences… and they’re right.
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet? When did you form your band?
I’m taking the easy way out… we met 7 years ago, but the story is best told here…
“You can pound your fist on my front door / But it’s been too long, I don’t need you anymore.” Laurence Scott sings the opening line of “Better Things,” from the Famous’ 2005 debut Light, Sweet Crude, like he really means it. He might be singing about an old lover, an old friend — heck, even an old car — but the line could just as well be a kiss-off to the staid country and Americana his band seems all too happy to leave behind in a cloud of dust.
Mix that with the exhaust fumes of a 1965 Ford Galaxie — the four-wheeled talisman that led to the formation of the band in 2003 when Victor Barclay (lead guitar, vocals) spotted Scott (lead vocals, acoustic guitar) and his ride outside a Bay Area laundromat and remarked that he owned the very same car — and you get an idea of what the Famous is all about. To put it another way: take the ‘50s-era country of Hank Williams, Sr. and filter it through ‘70s punk rock, ‘80s psychobilly, and ‘90s post-punk. You’ll find yourself staring eye-to-eye with San Francisco’s own “Pixies in a cowboy hat.”
The band’s latest, 2010’s Come Home to Me, finds Scott and Barclay refining Light, Sweet Crude. They’ve perfected their signature
raw-country-meets-post-punk sound while maturing some of the more manic elements that made their debut such a bold statement.
Do you have a record label?
We self release our albums as Leading Brand Records. (the alternative to the alternative)
Where have you performed? What are your favorite venues in the Bay Area?
Bottom of the Hill, Café Du Nord and Thee Parkside have become our true homes in the Bay Area. We play all around Northern California, but those San Francisco clubs are home. We’ve also played festivals in Colorado and NXNE in Toronto.
Coming up on August 27th, The Famous open the show for SF honky tonk stalwart Red Meat’s CD Release Party at Café Du Nord.
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
We’ve been listening mostly to bands we’ve played shows with recently including Drag the River, The Toadies who have a brand new album ‘Feeler’ and the NickelSlots, a very cool band we played with at their hometown club, Old Ironsides in Sacramento.
What are your rehearsals generally like?
We rehearse at least once a week and it is usually a five-hour session of working on new songs, a few classic country covers and staying sharp on our songs.
What’s the ultimate direction for the band?
We hope to keep finding audiences and bands who appreciate our approach and want to join in at our shows.
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
It’s really simple… just have fun.
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
We had a chance to catch up with The Shants from Oakland, CA. Check out their music here!
http://www.myspace.com/theshantsmusic
What’s the origin of the band name?
The Shants has taken on new meaning as we’ve grown into the name. It started as a reference to something that is antiquated and has fallen out of use in everyday life, but is a very strong statement (the contraction for “shall not”) or something that is awkward and probably a poor choice for most people (those short pants that only bike messengers can pull off). Then we discovered that its also British slang for a drunk person, or a verb meaning to get drunk… which applies to more than a few of our songs. In the end, it has different meanings for each of us – there is no right definition. Sam insists that it means “shit pants”.
How long have you been all been playing? Self-taught?
We’ve all been playing since we were teenagers. Carver and I are self taught. Sam has been playing pedal steel for 10 years, but sometimes takes lessons from a gentleman in the South Bay to stay sharp.
Who are your major influences? Any major comparisons to certain bands that your music may receive?
Our influences differ: I listen to a lot of folk & blues like Nick Drake and RL Burnside. Carver listens to a lot of soul (like Sam Cooke), but he also works at Rasputin so he hears all the new indie stuff before it comes out. Adam is a big jazz buff – he loves the work of Peter Erskine and Brian Blade. Sam mostly leans towards country in all its colors, from Buck Owens to Son Volt.
We get compared to folks like Josh Rouse, Richard Buckner, Iron & Wine, Son Volt.
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet? When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Last summer, I started writing songs after a creative hiatus. Sam and I go to the same gym. We had both been “retired” from live music for 5 years or so. I brought a handful of songs to him, just to have something to jam together with… as I am generally not good at singing other peoples’ songs. That handful of songs quickly grew into a few albums’ worth. Carver came through mutual friends in bands like Treluna, Port O’Brien, Grand Lake. Adam found us the old fashioned way – Craigslist. Ahem.
Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
Our demo EP, Russian River Songs, was released on a micro-label based in Portland called High Scores & Records. They generally do digital-only releases, but they do some vinyl and tape as well. Its an eclectic mix of sounds that’s really refreshing. We’re a member of BMI.
What can you tell me about your instruments? What made you choose the instruments you have now?
I tend to be attracted to instruments that have some kind of severe flaw. I’m not sure what that says about my subconscious. My main guitar is a 1953 Harmony Archtop – the kind of guitar one might have ordered out of a Sears catalog. The wood is paper thin, and it has been through some real shit. I found it in a junk shop in New Orleans. It had a makeshift bridge made out of piping and some glued together nickels. Its beat up for sure, but it sounds sweet when it wants to. Carver plays a vintage Peavey bass, which is only because his Fender was stolen from the alley by the Hemlock Tavern a few years back. I don’t know what kind of drums Adams plays, because he’s always changing them. Sam plays a double-neck Emmons Lashley LeGrande II pedal steel with a C6 neck. Hauling that thing around is like pushing a Buick up a hill with only 3 wheels.
Where have you performed? What are your favorite in the Bay Area? Anyone I should talk or speak to so that their venue/open mic/project can receive more exposure? Do you have any upcoming shows?
We tend to play regionally more than in Oakland: Sacramento, Chico, Sonoma County, Davis. We haven’t played in the Bay Area enough to really have a favorite, but if we had to go on the basis of the sound setup and staff, it’d be a tie between the New Parish and the Hemlock.
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
Sam listens to Son Volt’s Trace a lot. Carver and I love the new Beach House record.
Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
We have a core set list of 10 songs that we sometimes augment with new stuff, or random covers like Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams or We Drink on the Job by Earlimart. I’m kind of a nerd in that I prefer to have our setlists typed and printed before each show, when possible. Part of it is practical (I have horrible vision in the dark) and part of it is because I’m over-organized.
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?
Our songs seem to center around a few themes: long drives, South Louisiana, longing, the various towns we visit. Most of them are letters to places or people that we care about.
Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
It’ll start with a song fragment, which usually come to me as I am walking around Oakland or San Francisco. I’ll take that fragment to the guys during practice (usually before I have all the lyrics or song title down). The guys throw their individual flavors in… Sam usually brings the slow, sentimental-yet sorta indifferent vibe. Adam brings a pretty laid back, lazy and sunny beat. Carver is all about melody and groove. The result is a pretty even mix of our respective colors and textures, based on where we grew up and how we look at music.
What are some challenges you may face playing at a new venue and not knowing what the sound will be like?
We’re lucky in that we’re a pretty versatile band, as far as gear goes. We’re generally pretty quiet, but can be loud if we need to. We play a lot of different venues, from clubs to house shows… so as long as they have some sort of PA, we’ll be fine. A floor monitor is always nice, but we’re not picky.
What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
We generally practice once a week. We generally run through our set twice, work on a new song or two, then knock off around 1030pm and get pizza & beer at Lanesplitters on Telegraph, which is down the street from our practice space…. That seems to be our routine.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
We started playing these songs in a very straightforward, simple way. As we have grown as a band over these 10 months or so, we began to really explore the space in the songs… either by playing less and allowing more breathing room, or by extending other passages to allow for more dynamics.
What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Its been pretty easy for us, really. One aspect of our band is that all of us work full time and have busy lives, so we have come to an agreement that, yes playing music is a lot of fun, but we each have responsibilities and loved ones that we’d like to spend time with. I feel we have found a really great balance… or often merge the two when we can. That becomes a real problem for bands who don’t understand what is really important in life.
How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
You can find us on iTunes, Myspace, Facebook and YouTube. We also keep a Tumblr blog which we update pretty regularly from the road:theshants.tumblr.com
Pictures by Shannon Claire
http://shannonclaire.b-sideimages.com/ and Lauren Wiest
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Artist: Not An Airplane
Website: www.notanairplane.com
What’s the name of your band? What’s the origin of that name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
We are “not an Airplane”. It actually is a Guided By Voices reference.
*Please list the name and respective instrument of each band member.
Nick Shattell – Vocals and Guitar
Daniel Edward Harris – Guitar, Banjo, Resonator, and Vocals
Jared Neilson – Upright Bass, Violin, and Vocals
Chris Haupt – Drums, Banjo, and Vocals
*What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
We like to say that we are Indie Country, but we were never very good with genres. Americana seems to cover a lot of bases.
As a songwriter I have had so many influences over the years, but ones that stand out would definitely be Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), David Bazan, Bob Dylan, and Hank Williams. Those guys have all impacted the way I approach songwriting in a major way.
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*How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
We all know each other just from being part of the same local scene in Modesto, CA for so long. Daniel and I used to run an open mic together there for a while, Jared was in the first band lineup of not an Airplane, and Chris used to play drums in numerous bands I used to go watch play. Modesto has a great scene of supportive and talented musicians. We have all known each other for years, and around February of 2009 circumstances lead us to be playing music together.
*When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
I started not an Airplane around 2007 or so and at first it was just me and my acoustic guitar. Eventually we formed a three piece that included Jared on bass. Then in early 2009 Jared and I began talking about approaching what we were doing a bit differently. Jared went out and bought an upright bass, and I began playing with Daniel Edward Harris for fun and talking to him about what we wanted to do with not an Airplane. Then when I found out Chris was back in Davis, CA I called him up. Everything really just fell together and it has been awesome.
*Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
No.
*What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever’s available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it astyle/model/brand/color preference?
I actually found my acoustic guitar on the road in Astoria, OR. This local guy named Dallas had owned it for 40 years, and he gave it to the local shop to sell for him. I went in and played it and had to have it. Later that night at our show, Dallas came out to say goodbye to his guitar and hang out with us. It was an awesome way to acquire something I want to tell my stories with, especially cause it has so many stories itself.
But really we will play whatever is available. We just like to play music.
*Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
We have performed all around California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and here and there. We have a lot of favorite venues and places to visit, but our true favorite spots are the places where there is a sense of community. Some communities are bigger then others, but whenever we find a place where musicians, promoters, venues, and fans are all working together to show their love for new music and art, we feel right at home. We have a lot of upcoming shows all over the West Coast. Check out our show calendar for more info: http://notanairplane.fanbridge.com/tourdates
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
I have been listening to the Beatles “Rubber Soul” more then anything lately. I am in love with that album right now. I also spend a lot of time listening to David Bazan’s record from last year “Curse Your Branches”. Early Bob Dylan stuff like his “Live 64″ album, and I will always find myself listening to all of Wilco’s records, and any Hank Williams I can get my hands on. I feel a little behind on the new music this year, but that just makes me excited to go out and find what I have been missing.
*Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
We primarily perform all the songs from our May 11th release “Things and People”. We also play a few older songs that we never recorded, and we are always working on new stuff.
*Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
I write all the songs in terms of lyrics, melody, and basic structure, then I bring them to the guys and we piece them together completely as a band. I just write what I want to say whether I know it or not. Sometimes the words just come out and sometimes I have to carefully think them out. They deal with everything surrounding my life and are always changing over time. Sometimes even the meaning of the songs themselves change for me over time.
*Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Usually I bring a song to Daniel first, play it for him and we decide what instrument might be best for him to play live on that song. Then we will try it out with different things and start writing out some of his parts, and he might even start singing some harmonies. Then we will bring it to a full band practice to get Jared and Chris’ input on the song and any parts we are questioning. Jared will start throwing in harmonies places to see how they sound and Chris will throw in his input about it as well. Sometimes the song just comes together and we are all happy, and other times we will spend hours reworking and trying different things before we get something we like.
*What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
We get together at least once a week to play music. We spend a lot of the time working on new stuff these days, but we always play everything we know just to stay fresh and see if any new ideas get sparked during those songs. We don’t really have a set time every week, and we kindof take it on a week by week basis. We try our best to get together as much as possible. Practices themselves are pretty relaxed. We set up everything in Jared’s house and sing songs and just hang out.
*How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
We have definitely become more accustomed to working with each other so I think our music has evolved in a way that we are getting better at highlighting our strengths as a band. We are still discovering what our sound is every day and with every new song.
*What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
I think the hardest part about being an independent band is doing everything on your own. You learn a lot along the way by trial and error and it can be frustrating, monotonous, and painstakingly boring at times, but you have to book shows, you have to promote them, you have to do all the networking you can, all while finding time to practice, write, record, etc. It helps when you meet other hardworking people and you learn from each other. It is a learning process, and there really is no set way of doing anything. There is no rule book so you feel lost sometimes.
Do you get nervous before a performance?
There is a comfort zone that I get into when playing music, especially with these guys. The only time I am nervous or feel uncomfortable is between songs. Then I get intimidated by all the people in front of us. When we are playing the songs though I feel right at home.
Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?
Many. I still have a small vinyl collection and love to sit down and listen to them when I have the time to just sit back and enjoy listening to some music. Old records are the best, the artwork, and the clarity of the sound. One of my first true loves when it comes to music.
*What’s your ultimate direction for your band?
Just to keep writing together and making the music we want to make. Music we love to play and hope that people will love to hear.
*What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Work hard at developing your art to where you want it to be. Be confident in what you are doing, but check your ego at the door. And most importantly, help each other out. It is all about maintaining a sense of community. Get involved.
*How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
We have our main website (http://notanairplane.com) which is sort of a hub of information with links and whatnot. You can hear ALL of the tracks from our last album on both our facebook page (http://facebook.com/notanairplane) and our myspace page (http://myspace.com/notanairplanemusic). The best way to keep in touch with us is to join our mailing list or just “like” us on Facebook.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
I will always have a deep-rooted love for Jeff Tweedy, Hank Williams, David Bazan, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles. These people have helped shape me into the songwriter I am today. But I really do admire anyone that has worked hard to reach any level of success with their music. It is a lot of work and I respect and look up to anyone who has the passion to do it.
*Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Every single one of our friends, family and loved ones have been there for us and myself since the beginning. Always pushing me to be better and encouraging me. And of course all of the listeners. I cannot express in words how it feels to have someone want to hear a song I have written or when someone connects with me on such a personal level.
All pics by Douglas Holcomb of Nine By 9 Photography http://nineby9.com
