Site and Sound Does Blair

Site & Sound: Blair from VanLou Media on Vimeo.

[mp3] Blair: "Hearts"

Clocking in with a rare vacation post, we wanted to share Site and Sound's new feature on perennial Stark favorite Blair. We had the pleasure of watching a similarly stripped down set from Blair when she opened for The Futurebirds last week at Cake Shop. This video shows Blair performing "Rampage" at Sycamore in Brooklyn. Blair's more nuanced approach to her songs gives her soft, yet powerful voice room to move and breathe, and gives the lyrics and melodies center stage. While, all of the above make for a compelling video feature (as always), we have to say, for us Stark folk we love to see Blair cut loose and sling the rock around with a full band live. In the end though, it's an artists creativity, versatility, and willingness to strike out on their own that makes them great; luckily for us all, Blair possesses all of those characteristics in spades.

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Stark Presents: Futurebirds and Blair

STARK ONLINE PRESENTS: FUTUREBIRDS AND BLAIR
Wednesday, July 28th at Cake Shop

[mp3] Futurebirds: "Johnny Utah"

We here at Stark are thrilled to be presenting one of our favorite new bands to watch, Futurebirds, alongside a Stark-staple, the always fantastic Blair, tomorrow at Cake Shop. We caught Futurebirds' all out country-rock salvos at Mercury a few months back. These Athens, Georgia natives have returned to NY again with their fantastic debut record Hamptons Lullaby freshly released on Autumn Tone. After hitting New York, The Furutrebirds will set out on an extensive run with the equally amazing Dead Confederate whose new album Sugar drops August 24th. We recently caught up with several Futurebirds via phone from a highway Sbarro somewhere in the middle of Ohio. We discussed the Athens sound, pretty girls, touring, and of course, country music. Read the convo after the jump.

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We noticed, just from the first few minutes of your live set, that it's a good deal different and louder than your more nuanced recordings. What's the thought process behind that?
Payton: There is definitely a different thought process that went into making the record and EP than goes into playing live. Live, you get a little more time for spontaneity – and a lot less time to think about things when you go on stage -- which can be a good or bad thing honestly. We have a great time on the road and playing live. It’s interesting seeing how different a show can be from the night before – the crowd – the city – being in the studio was fun though – not to discount that at all – it’s just a totally different thought process.

What are the best and worst things about being from Athens, GA?
[The question is put to the rest of the band, sitting around the Sbarro dining table. There is a muffled voice in the background, some shouts, some laughing, it's not clear where the answer comes from, nor its precise wording - but we believe the quote resembles: "The best thing, well, there are a lot of pretty girls in Athens - they stay young - and we just keep getting older and creepier too!" More laughs and self deprecating jokes ensue before the conversation returns to its original course...]

Well, the one good thing is there is not really one Athens sound. There are all kinds of genres that are coming out [of Athens]. It’s helpful that you're not under one label. When people hear you’re from Athens they know you’re coming from a rich musical culture, but don’t have one distinct Athens sound.

[Brannen takes the phone]
How is NY different than most places you play?
New York, there is so much going on everywhere – it’s like being a kid in a candy shop – we were all sort of caught off guard – we all love it there. Athens and NY crowds are about the same really, both are pretty open to all sorts of different musical styles.

At your last show we noticed a pretty unique audience consistency, a lot of pretty girls, decked to the nines, in heels - not your usual Mercury Lounge crowd. Are all your audiences like that?
Haha well, there are a lot of girls that used to live in Athens and moved up to New York for work, and they like to come out and support.

Is it going to be like that on Wednesday?
I’d like to think so haha we’ve been looking forward to this date for awhile now.

Do you guys have any weird band influences? Does anything odd come up on in the van on the radio now and again?
Well, we change it up on certain trips, definitely some random stuff on random channels. We have XM and it stays pretty much locked on the country channel though. A lot of Gillian Welch and Rolling Stones. We've been really into the new Big Boi – that might be a weird one coming from us.

What's the Futurebirds road life like? Parties every night? Yoga in the morning?
Haha - usually depends on how the night goes – go out, or go home and take easy – sometimes you think you're gonna take it easy and you get back to the hotel and just end up going out.

Good road stories?
Well the other night we stopped at a gas station, somewhere in the middle of Indiana outside the Lincoln Lodge – and I was out in the cornfield – snapping corn out in the middle of the field – I just really wanted some fresh corn. I cooked it up last night, and it was great haha.

What’s next? [Carter takes the phone]
A little bit of writing – we got a few weeks off in the beginning of August – after these shows w/ Dead Confederate which are going to be awesome. I think we have three weeks off – then go out again – we’re thinking of setting up a homemade studio somewhere because our writing process is such where someone will have an idea for a song then when we all start adding in different ideas so it helps a lot to start recording. Definitely a lot of pool parties – down time. I'm watching second season of The Wire – Dennis and I are moving into a new apartment when we get back that's in the same complex as some of the Dead Confederate guys, so that should be a good time. We're all kind of livin in different places, but not that far away from each other which is nice. After being in a suburban for weeks on end though, you can definitely use some time away from each other haha.

Stark Presents: Blair

STARK ONLINE and AQUARIUM DRUNKARD PRESENT: BLAIR

with Gunfight and Shark?
Tuesday, February 16th at Pianos

[mp3] Blair: "Hello Halo"
[mp3] Blair: "Rampage"

Stark and Aquarium Drunkard are extremely excited to once again be presenting Blair, this time with excellent New York bands Shark? and Gunfight. Blair's debut effort Die Young is an eclectic amalgamation of carefully-wrought, folk-inspired, acoustic songs alongside straight-ahead, 90s alternative rock-style compositions. There is a subtle melancholy that permeates each track, while Blair's charisma and energy give Die Young a buoyancy and strong undercurrent of positive energy. Blair channels vintage Neil Young and Bowie alongside more contemporary influences such as Yo La Tengo and Feist. We caught up with her by phone to discuss the new album, the differences between her recorded material and live show, and her love for classic 90s FM radio. Read our conversation after the jump.

So you're originally from New Orleans. Are you living in New York full time now? Do you miss New Orleans?

Yes, I'm living in Brooklyn now; I've been here since March of last year. It was a clean move, and haven't been back since I moved here. I miss it so much, especially now with Mardi Gras and the Saints winning. I'll be playing one show there in March on the way to SXSW.

How did growing up in New Orleans influence you musically? It's more of a Jazz and Funk city, but it's still extremely musical.

I was more influenced by FM radio in my room, and MTV more-so. Even though New Orleans is buzzing with that music, I didn't live right in the quarter or anything, I lived on the outskirts. I was listening to what MTV told me to listen to. When I got older, I became more aware of the importance of Jazz, but for whatever reason I tapped more into pop.

What specifically sticks out in your mind from that era?

I guess I remember the "Loser" video from Beck. I remember that being really big. I started buying everything that Beck ever did. Dookie from Green Day; they just have great melodies and great songs. Metallica the Black Album, and Nirvana -- still my favorite band. I'm a product of modern FM radio.

I was frightened by those early Metallica records [laughs] with like, blood on the cover. I was like 'I want the one with the black cover.' Blood Sugar Sex Magic, my older cousin had that, and I ended up really loving it.

You cover a lot of ground stylistically on the record. What do you feel is the overarching element that ties the album together stylistically or lyrically?

The fact that there is a variety of styles on there. I think comes from the songs being collected over time. One of them might be four years old and one is six months old. I was influenced by different things at different times. The thing that holds it together is that I tend to write, verse-chorus, verse-chorus; the melodies are slightly melancholy, but the subject matter is a mix of sweet of and sour. As I reflect on my music, I would say that I am trying make something ugly, pretty; an attempt to make something painful, beautiful or to convey abstract stories beautifully.

Die Young is sort of a darkly romantic album title; where did that come from?

The phrase kind of stuck in my head while living in California. It's a concept that is dark, but there is something alluring and romantic about it as you said. Young heroes, young rock stars, dying young. The concept is at odds with the approach to life that I feel is ingrained, which is to play it safe and make sure things will last...and make sure that things make sense before you try it. To be willing to die for what you're doing -- to not think it through so much -- to follow your instincts or whatever your first choice was. To disregard the consequences when you do it. But that's not always the best way to go [laughs]. I think sometimes people are fearful of just jumping into things. I think people are afraid to do that.

What have you been listening to recently? New, old?

I listen to a lot of David Bowie, The Beatles, guitar music, like John Frusciante's solo stuff...it's really melodic. I try learn a lot of that on the guitar. Most recently, Grizzly Bear, Wavves I liked a lot. I'll definitely check out music from blogs; I like the XX. Mostly Neil Young, a lot of Dylan. We played with this band Oberhofer and they were great. I bought their CD and I've been listening to it a lot. It's really lo-fi and great.

Favorite Dylan record? Sorry, that's a tough question...
[Laughs] my most favorite Dylan record? Probably Blonde on Blonde

What's next for you after the residencies and for the rest of the year?

The plan is to do some extensive touring, funding permitted, and to try and play as much as possible in the states...maybe go over to Europe to play dates. There is a possibility of that. I'm always writing.

I want to keep playing this record in its live form and for people to hear it that way. The live act is a little more rocking and has a different energy to it.

Can you talk some more about the differences between your recorded material and the live show?

I think probably something that influences this, is that when you're making the record you have an infinite amount of tracks -- you can have five horns and five guitars. You're limited as to your instrumentation live. You have to decide what's going to push the show. On the record, I can sing softly into a microphone; live you're just trying to go for it and not make it the prettiest thing I've ever heard. It's that that rock set up and interpreting the songs...just trying to stay exciting. We often change things up not to get bored. Adam has been on keyboards for seven years, Zach on drums and Brian on bass. It's much more what people bring to the table; the live act is collaborative. It's also about having a producer in the studio. You can't just rock out on a record...there has to be a sound. Maybe if there were 12 people on stage we could match that dynamic.

STARK AND AQUARIUM DRUNKARD PRESENT: THE ROADSIDE GRAVES, AVI BUFFALO, AND BLAIR

We here at Stark are extremely pleased to be again presenting with Aquarium Drunkard The Roadside Graves - Saturday, January 16th at Pianos. Joining the Graves on the bill will be Sub Pop's rising stars Avi Buffalo, along with the amazing Blair and The Loom. Sean Walsh and The National Reserve will be joining the fun as well. Keep your eye on the site for a recap of The Roadside Graves' amazing show last Saturday at The Mercury Lounge as well as an interview with guitarist Jeremy Benson.