WHO:The Infamous Stringdusters WHAT: A six man group from Nashville, Tennessee....Andy Hall, Jesse Cobb, Travis Book, Andy Falco and Jeremy Garrett. Having literally just come off an ever long and winding road of shows and touring, we were able to catch a few words from the band on music, life, and future plans... STAND OUT: It's their brand of music. And that is to say, they don't like brands...just the sound of a good tune. As they work to complete their latest album, set for release in 2010, you can expect to find a rich and textured range of melody and lyricism that is as eternally classic as it is game changing...
Photo by Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
RAPT: You've talked before about how time spent on the road touring together has brought a unity among you that perhaps wasn't there before -- What were some of the early goals of the band when you got going in '07 and how has that changed in the last couple of years?
Jesse: When we started out, we were definitely working exclusively within the bluegrass festival circuit, taking any offers that came our way. That came from just needing to get enough steam rolling to make a living for six people. One of our earlier goals was to break out of the typical bluegrass pattern of playing mostly festivals...we wanted to build a touring schedule based on hard ticket club gigs. Being able to tour when we want, as much as we want is and has been the goal for us as a band. Balancing touring with enough time to spend with family, pursue solo projects, and have a home life is the end game.
RAPT: We know that your experience with music comes from lots of places…classical and rock and various other genres -- What did you want this upcoming third album to reflect musically? Do you feel like your sound is ever-shifting or how would you describe it?
Andy F: The idea going into the recording of this record was to make music, and not worry about what we're "supposed" to sound like. We spent more time with this one in preproduction, we rented houses out of town and worked on the material without any outside distractions, and this allowed us to really get in to the details of the music. We recorded the record in the same way, out in Charlottesville, where we lived in the studio while recording. I feel that we are digging deep into all of our influences to make the best music we can, without worrying about putting a label on it.
RAPT: You were on the last leg of your Nor' Easter Tour and you must be plenty tired -- What have you enjoyed most about the tour now that you've approached the finish line?
Andy F: The shows on the Nor'Easter tour have been great. Several of the shows sold out, which is always a nice feeling. And it's great to see a lot of old friends, and make a lot of new ones. There's been a lot of energy in the audiences, lots of dancing....we've really been having a blast.
RAPT: You also had Sara Watkins come on for a few shows and that's awesome…
Jeremy: The shows with Sara were a real treat! She is a great talent and it shows in her ability to not only play and sing great, but also in her ability to entertain. She has a great attitude and It seemed like the bands were musically a good fit.
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RAPT: This is a probably a follow-up to #1 -- What have you learned about yourselves and each other as you've journeyed on the road…show after show? Have there been a few sacrifices for this lifestyle?
Andy H: There are sacrifices for sure. Respect is the key. Even when you're tired, you try to treat your fellow bandmates with respect. It can be challenging when you spend 24/7 with a group of people. You learn to roll with things, cause if you don't, you're going to be uncomfortable all the time. There are the sacrifices from home, with family. That requires understanding…
RAPT: How do you work on songs in the studio or during rehearsals?
Andy H: If we're working on new material, one person usually brings a song that they have written, and it's usually not arranged yet. The arrangement part of it is where the band, as a group, really shines. That's where ideas come up, and we'll try a variety of things before coming up with a finished arrangement.
RAPT: How do you handle differing views on the direction of a song? (if that ever happens)
Andy H: When there's a disagreement about the direction, we'll usually defer to the writer, or the majority.
RAPT: Jeremy, how'd you come to find the fiddle? Or rather, how'd the fiddle come to find you?
Jeremy: My dad is a musician and he started me on fiddle at the age of three... I started in classical and learned the "Suzuki" method. It's a method that teaches both technique and how to listen and play by ear. Self taught with his guidance after that, I worked on primarily improvising. It seems to me that I've always played the fiddle and sung... I should be better than I am for so many years of experience, but I have a lot of fun and try to play what I feel.
RAPT: Did you go back in the studio with Tim O'Brien for this upcoming album?
Jesse: For the new album, "Things That Fly", we were in the studio as co-producers with the amazing Gary Pazcoza. It was a very comfortable, respectful, and fun experience. I think the main thing I took away from it was trying to really transfer the emotion felt on every song from inside, to the recording. It's not always easy to do but it's made much easier when you have the incredible sounds Gary can get in the studio.
RAPT: It seems you have a very loving and adoring fan base. You're often praised for doing your part to broaden the base of acoustic and bluegrass music -- What, if anything, do you want your music to say about yourselves…either individually or as a whole?
Photo by Tom Daly
Travis: We've got incredible fans, they're really more like family. They make making music worthwhile and we do it for them as much as for ourselves. The music doesn't speak for the band, it just is what it is and every night is a unique musical experience.
RAPT: If it wasn't music, what could you see yourselves doing today?
Travis: Ski Bum
RAPT: 10 years from now?
Travis: Ski Bum
RAPT: Austin has the Old Settler's Music Fest happening in April next year….any plans to be at it?
Travis: We'd love to do Old Settler's again, but we'll only do it if we can play under the giant eyeball. This is part of our negotiation right now.
RAPT: Once the new album releases, it'll be on the road again, won't it?
Jesse: Yes, we'll be hitting the road in earnest again in Feb. '10. There is a new strategy to touring coming in next year. We're working on a schedule that will allow us to have more, and longer stretches of home time. Some long trips, then long breaks. It has been a rarity in the last few years to have a weekend in the summer off, that will be a change next year as we continue to work on a balance of touring and personal time.
Terri makes this comment
Tue 01 Dec 2009 16:15:59 MST