The Answering Machine Interview SXSW 2011

Interview's from SXSW 2010 with VV BROWN and ATHLETE!!!

VV Brown has a full U.S. tour with Little Dragon, 3 are close to Minneapolis!

04/01/2010 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL   US
LITTLE DRAGON TOUR

04/02/2010 - Blue Moose Tap House - Iowa City, IA   US This show would be a guaranteed road trip!
TOUR WITH LITTLE DRAGON and THE ENVY CORPS !!!

04/04/2010 - CROSSTOWN STATION - Kansas City, MO   US
LITTLE DRAGON TOUR DATE

I'll be in LA April 2nd-11th. I know all the good shows here in Minneapolis that will be going down so I'm sure you'll have plenty to see here. Miike Snow, The XX, Spoon, Passion Pit, Beach House!! Good luck getting into the sold out shows!

The Kissaway Trail Interview in Minneapolis!!!

The Kissaway Trail Interview in Minneapolis from Brody McCoy on Vimeo.

Time of my life hanging out with this Danish band. Some of the most open-minded people I've ever met in my life. Me and my friend Casey hung out with the band after the interview, learned some Danish and got some insight on the real Rock N Roll life. Frank the tambourine player from the Kissaway Trail is always in a good mood in the photo below!

For all the photos from the show check out My Flickr Page and the posts below!

Interview with Katty Besnard of Plastiscines

How much fun did you have with Butch Walker, and will you have him produce another record?
- working with Butch was such a great experience and was so funny too! it was so natural you know, we were working during the day and then we were having drinks all together with jake sinclair our sound engineer to chill out!
and yes def we'll have him for another record for sure!!!

What made the change to sing in english on the new single? And what about the whole record, is their a little french?
- we've always been singing in french and in english so it's quite the same actually..we still have 3songs in french on our new record. and it was better to have a first single in english as it's more international.

From the time spent in the U.S. from touring, what's more your scene L.A. or NYC?
- the thing is that we only play twice in each city so it's hard to tell.
but actually playing at Coachella Festival in LA was really really great!

Are you happy with the way your music is changing/evolving? Is it hard to take criticism that your music is to much like mainstream radio.
- we're so happy with the result of this album and the way it evolves. we've been working on this album for a year and this is exactly what we were looking for.
i dont think our music is too mainstream radio but criticism doesnt really reach us actually..we're over it.

Do you guys like fellow french bands Phoenix and Tahiti 80? Those are my favorite.
- yes we're actually really like them! it's great to have good french bands!!

Are the 4 of you all into fashion/modeling and does that help the popularity of the band?
- i think we're just normal girls who's taking care of their apparence. so yeah we're into fashion and we think looking good on stage it's important...and it could help for the popularity, maybe!

UK bands like the Libertines and Kinks are big influences, Why?
- i think we love those bands 'cause they are pretty much the first ones that gave us the envy to be in a band and play our own music!
now we all have differents influences and it was beneficial while we were composing the album!

Is their a party animal in the band?
0

What are you looking forward to the the most about the upcoming U.S. Tour?
we're really looking forward to this tour 'cause basicly it's gonna be the first really tour in the US and this is great!!
playing for the nylon summer music tour is such a good opportunity for us to be known from a new public!

Did you cheer on Gael Monfils and Tsonga in the French Open?
- lol not really as we left for NYC a week ago so we didnt have that much time to look at Roland Garros unfortunatly!

Be Sure to catch the Plastiscines on tour this summer!

Scroll down to see all the tour dates or check out their myspace page. 

Noah and the Whale Interview Backstage @ the 7th St. Entry in Minneapolis!

[Press the HQ(High Quality) Button for better quality picture, once video starts.]

These guys are incredible musicians and comedians. Charlie Fink, Tom Hobden, and Matt "Urby" Owens were hysterical. Working on a second full length album, Noah and the Whale has an extremely bright future. I'd say they're leading the charge for all the other U.K. folk artists/bands. Not to mention lead singer Charlie Fink produced Laura Marling full length album. I sure hope they make another record with Laura. Can't wait to see what else this band brings to the table! Thanks guys! Cheers.

Scroll down to the next post for videos and photos from the show!

Noah and the Whale Official Page / Myspace Page

Young and Lost Club Official Page

Interview with Jay Jay Pistolet @ SXSW 09!

I know Dylan's not from Minneapolis, he's from Hibbing. I had a few drinks.

Check this guy out.. Big things to come! He's in the Laura Marling, Mumford and Sons, Johnny Flynn group. The new classy english folk gang.

Here is he performing Hooked Up on Us and We Are Free

Johnny Flynn Interview and to play in Minneapolis 9/21

1. What gives you more pleasure writing poems, performing shows, or acting in films?

Johnny: Each one gives me more pleasure when i've been doing more of the others. if you know what i mean. at the moment i've been pretty much exclusively gigging for ages it seems so i'm looking forward to doing some acting.

2. If Shakespeare was alive, what would you say to him? Would he compliment your work?

I have no idea! how on earth would i know if he'd compliment my work?

3. Any plans to tour the U.S., I'm assuming you've been to SXSW already??

We've actually just got to Boston to start a tour here for the next month or so.

4. Your vocals along with Charlie Fink (Noah and the Whale) are extremely deep with a dynamic punch, where does that come from?

eh? if that's what it is, then...i don't know where it "comes" from. my mouth.

5. Excited for the new record? Where does the album title come from, "A Larum", aka an alarm?

The old sense of "a larum" i.e a town warning bell seemed a good image to present for the album. it's not so much a warning as a calling to attention in my understanding of it.

6. Assuming Lille Flynn is your sister or cousin? Does she have plans for solo work?

She's off singing with Noah and the Whale at the moment. i think she's also got some acting auditions coming up, so that's her solo work.

7. My dream American tour would be Noah and the Whale, Laura Marling, and of course the great Johnny Flynn and The Sussex Wit, will that ever happen?

Maybe... we're actually with laura and mumford and sons at the moment for this tour. and noah and the whale are on their own tour at the same time.

8. "Tickle Me Pink" has gotten a lot of attention and is pushing into the mix of songs of year. Are hit singles important to you, or are you just concerned about putting together a great record?

I'm more interested in putting together a good record as a whole, but the singles sometimes help people come to the record. i think it's important to know that, even if you're not too concerned with commercial success. you do need to sell records in order to keep doing what you love doing.

Check out Johnny Flynn and Laura Marling on Sunday Sep. 21st at the 400 Bar!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interview with Leila Moss of the Duke Spirit

Here it is folks the interview with Leila Moss, well it was supposed to be... Instead their bass player, Toby Butler, checked in for a few Q and A's.  Here is an inside look at The Duke Spirit.

1. Will the success of Neptune keep things going strong for a third album next year?

I hope so. Who knows what the future brings? We're starting to think about the next album now, and will start demoing when we back get off tour.

2. I believe it was last year your tour manager contacted me and we were trying to work out a show in Minneapolis, my friends and I found a warehouse/ 2 other venues and were about to contact all the bloggers. Unfortunately, The Duke Spirit Secret Show in Minneapolis!!!!!, was just a dream. Will you ever come to Minneapolis?

We'd love to. Not being from the US means it's hard for us to play absolutely everywhere, but we'll do our best.

3. With your voice I have to imagine you have quite a bit of solo material?

Um.... The Duke Spirit is a band we're all very proud of and happy to be a part of. So we all write songs with this band in mind. No solo albums are on the cards.



5. Any plans for a solo record or joining forces with another band in the future?

No solo albums. If we're into a band and we meet them in natural ways then collaborating is always good.

6. Favorite nickname the fans have thrown out for you or the band?

There's only one nickname......... Olly 'The Kid' Betts!

7. Would you rather have a Johnny Marr on guitar or a Karen Lee Orzolek on vocals feature on a DS track?

They'd both be welcome to be honest. I love the YYY's and although i never really liked The Smiths i have a lot of respect for Johnny Marr.

8. My favorite track from the new record has to be "My Sunken Treasure", what song do you feel best resembles your life?

This Ship Was Built to Last is a current favourite. It's a metaphor for strength and perseverance. What doesn't break you makes you stronger to use a cliche.

10. For the longest time I thought Duke Spirit created the song Put Your Dukes up John, are The Little Flames good friends of yours?

We played some shows with them a few years ago. They aren't together anymore. Miles Kane is a friend. He's now in The Rascals and The Last Shadow Puppets with Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys).

11. Music has been a gold-mine for you, any plans on staring in any films or crossing over to another industry outside of music?

No it hasn't!! We haven't made any money. There's often a misconception in music that bands make loads of money. It's expensive making albums and touring, and people aren't buying albums anymore. They're getting them for free. So it's hard to balance the debt out!! We're pretty busy touring, so we don't have any time to do anything else at the moment. It's pretty cheesey when people in bands start making films......... but it depends on what it is really.

-Cheers. Toby Butler (bass player for The Duke Spirit)

The Duke Spirit Official Page / Myspace Page

The Duke Spirit - The Step and the Walk

Interview with 52Shows.com founder Francis Ma

He's the one on the left, the one on the right is Manny Ramirez. Who's got better shades?

Francis is from Boston, has one of the biggest music blogs in the country, and hates the yankees as much as I do.. He's cool. Here  are his takes on todays music scene. His Blog is  52Shows.com

With writers in 4 different cities, would you like contributors all over the world?
Yes. Everywhere in the world. Except Guam. Guam knows why. We thought we had someone in the UK for a while, but sadly he didn't have the time. Right now, we're missing key cities in the States such as Seattle, Austin, Chicago, and DC. And I could always use more people in NYC and LA. But this isn't to say I don't want someone from North Dakota to write for me. In fact, I'd probably value that person more.

So living in Boston you have to be devastated that Manny is gone? Manny for Jason Bay are you kidding me?
Let me tell you something about living in Boston and being a Red Sox fan. There are two different factions. One group is comprised of fans since 2004. The rest have been with the team since they were born and lived through the pain of '86 and the embarrassing 90s. Those people are also the ones who never get tickets.  As for Manny, I hate to see him go, but I blame the Red Sox organization for not ponying up the cash/excitement to keep him.

How did you get the name 52shows.com? Average # of shows you attend each year?
My old college roommate/friend/drunken compatriot Dave came up with the name. The idea was that we would see at least one show a week. I'm pretty sure we've failed at that (although it hasn't been a year yet...i don't think).

Best city to see a show NYC, Chicago, L.A???
LA if you like drugs.
Chicago if you like beer and food.
NYC if you drink Miller High Life (it's one of the cheapest things in the city to drink)

How often do you check out shows in NYC???
Not that often. I'm in the Boston area and when I head down to NYC it's usually to see friends.

Favorite U.S. festival?
Pitchfork has I think the best deal, provided that you can get there. I think Bonnaroo has had its last great year and SXSW is just too big to handle. On a local level, I enjoy it when the street musicians get together and play an impromptu festival that benefits the war against poverty.

As an experienced music blogger, what are your favorite type of reviews to read? Bashing, Praising, Comical?
Not to throw praise on the site, but I like the reviews we have, which aren't bashing or praising and at times comical. It deals with the experience the writer had at a show. I don't care about the sound, the setlist, or what the band said on stage. That is, unless it affects you in a certain way. I remember seeing Kings of Leon and, afterwards, being convinced they were the best rock band in the world because of what I was thinking about when they were playing "Arizona."
I also remember seeing a band where some drunk chic kept yelling at me. All these things are part of the experience and our site is dedicated to talking about them. But any review that has the line "blind inbred monkeys" in any context, has my vote for the best.

I'm sure you have top 10 album lists? Will Sigur Ros and Paul Weller be in your top 10?

I love the new Sigur Ros album. I like playing it and pretending I'm in some epic movie scene. I am embarrassed to say that I haven't heard the new Weller. I'm an ass.

Hows the local music scene in Boston?
It's a lot more vibrant than people think. In the past the city was known for punk/alternative. But now there's a growing country/bluegrass scene, along with the unclassifiable (saw a dude play a washboard on stage to a song about sex). The hip-hop scene still has a way to go.

Can I get a thank you for Kevin Garnett?
Aw HELL YA!


Have you ever worked in the music industry?
I've done freelance PR work for bands and worked as a music journalist for alternative weeklies and newspapers. I also steal from the music industry whenever I can. Just kidding. No, not really (yes I am RIAA. Leave me alone now).

If you were in a band, maybe you are? How would you try to stick your self out or just flat out sell material?
Sex tape with Miley Cyress. I'd never have to work again.  For reals: First, I'd get my music up on Tunecore, a company that, for a nominal fee, houses your music and helps you destribute it to iTunes, Amazon, etc. When it sells, you get the entire cut.  I'd put up the obligatory Myspace music page instead of a real website. I'd start a blog, answer fan's emails, and I'd also cover a random pop song a month and let people download it for free off the site. Oh and the name of the band would be The McFancys

Is Rock N Roll Dead?
I don't think so. As a genre, there are still moments of rock with Kings of Leon, the Raconteurs, and even the Black Keys. As a way of life, the women have been living it up from Winehouse on the brink of destruction and Lily Allen saying she doesn't want to be part of the industry anymore.


Give me your 3 greatest bands of all time? And 3 cool bands, no one knows about?
Of all time. I'm gonna simplfy this a bit and turn it to the greatest bands of "my" time, which means any band that's come into existence since '78 (because bands like the Rolling Stones, Beatles and .38 Special are givens...that's right, I went there and said .38 Special).
3 of the Greatest
-Lucinda Williams
-Public Enemy
-Nirvana
3 of the Coolest
-Okkervil River
-The Drive-By Truckers
-Ladyhawk

Have you ever gotten jumped on the street?
-Only by soririty girls on Thursday night.

Crowd surfing or Stage Invasion, what is more of a thrill?
Crowd surfing. I know where I'm going after a stage invasion. With crowd surfing, it's more of an adventure set to music and gravity.


2 bands never to see live?
-These guys, twice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4nNHOF6jQ8

Anything is Possible!!!! Top of the World!!!!! Who am I?
-The members of Flock of Seaguls, circa 1982. JK KG

> 2 best shows so far this year you've attended?
Ok, for reals? It was Ingrid Michaelson because I didn't expect her to be entertaining, hot and hilarious.

Throw me the Statue was another surprising find since I didn't expect to like it that much.

He also interviewed me on his blog. Check out Brody's interview at 52shows.com

Interview with The Envy Corps + Preview for Des Moines 5/21 Gig

Lead singer, Luke Pettipoole was nice of to take the time to answer some questions..

Congrats on the new release Dwell! Any predictions on record sales in U.S. and U.K.? It's the album of the year in my opinion.

 Well it isn't out in the U.S. yet, but we did a soft release in the U.K. last month. I don't have wild expectations for sales, but I think it will be a grower.

Your lyrics and sound are inspiring to all your fans, how else will you inspire people?

I don't think we have any other agenda as far as inspiration other than our songs. None of us are politicians or martyrs.

You've switched around a few band members including the Yoshimura brothers, how have you been able to stay together with change?

I think the heart of the band is really the three people that are in it now. As long as we stick together The Envy Corps will live on. We have other people play with us live because we detest backing tracks, plus it's a lot more fun. I see the band continuing as more of a collective than a standard 4 or 5 piece.

Recently leaving the Eisley tour, was the decision made because you didn't like the crowds on the Eisley tour, the offer to play in the U.K was to good, or something else? Eisley loved you guys, I chatted with them after the show.

That was a real tough one. We did not want to leave the Eisley tour, in fact we prefer American crowds, but we had to go at our label's request. When you're a struggling band like us you still have to play the game sometimes.



Knowing The Envy Corps is pronounced envy core, it still sounds like corpse, a.k.a. a metal name. Can you become a huge band with that name?

Even if it is confusing to those without a tight grasp on English, it's still a better band name than most. It suits us just fine.

You've played with the Editors and The Courteeners in the U.K. what other new U.K. band would you like to play with?

Radiohead

If you weren't so precious, I'd have said "Off with your head" is a line from the song Party Dress. Explain that incredible line?

It's about being in a position to completely destroy a bitter enemy, but you realize that they are so feeble and weak minded that you pity them instead.

Did Luke really write a song in jail? If yes, details...

It's a rumor. We are all law-abiding citizens.

Is Peoples Court your favorite place to play a show? And how big will this hometown show be on the 21st?

Our favorite place to play is still the Vaudeville Mews. The vibe is so inviting...we played all our first shows there. The problem is it's just too small. People's is a great venue that can hold a few more people.

I'm going down with my friend Lydia to see these guys in Des Moines tomorrow night and jumping off the walls.  Imagine Radiohead and Modest Mouse at the Varsity Theater(small venue).  The Envy Corps are on a very big high after the best release of 2008("Dwell"), it will be a real pleasure to see them perform.  The band will be ready to play for their hometown fans at I'm sure a sold out show at People's Court.  

Check out their new video "Story Problem"

The Envy Corps Official Page / Myspace Page