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SC Interviews the White Rabbits

mp3 – White Rabbits – The Plot

mp3 – White Rabbits – Company I keep

I had the chance to chat with Matthew from the White Rabbits recently. The White Rabbits are currently on tour with Glass Ghost promoting their latest album It’s Frightening. The White Rabbits are coming through Milwaukee November 10th, so, get your tickets now!!

Fort Nightly was critically acclaimed and a hell of a disc. Some press nippets: “Fort Nightly is that rare debut where potential isn’t the operative word– White Rabbits deliver the whole package straight away.” (via Pitchfork)

SeizureChicken: How do you follow that up or what was the aim on It’s Frightening?

White Rabbits: It never came up. We just went to work and started writing the album that we would like to hear,which is different than the album that we wanted to hear around the time when Fort Nightly was being recorded. Trying to create something to cater to some opinion that the public has of your band is a waste of time,because it will never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever happen ever.

SC: How did working with Brit Daniels come about? What kind of things does he bring to the table?

WR: He’s smart,patient,and hard working which in a studio situation is an amazing thing to have. It was really great to work with an artist who we respect that wanted the chance to work on the other side of the board with some of his friends. He knows what is going to work and what isn’t,but he will always try both and listen to your ideas which is the most important thing any producer could do.

SC: You have toured with The Walkmen and Spoon who, like you, are known for their live shows. How has that effected the live presentation of your music? What have you learned?

WR: Knowing those guys and getting the opportunity to play shows with them is always a great time. But in saying that I think what we do live and what we have done has always been its own thing. Most of what I learned from both bands I learned before I was in this band.

SC: The way you build and shape your rhythm sections is really unique. Do you guys draw from influence or does it just sort of happen? (curious if you guys listen/ed to electronic or house music)

WR: We listen to a lot of music from a lot of different genres. Some people will be into certain things more than the next person,but when it comes down to writing all of these things come out in the wash. Living in NY has a lot to do with the outcome of the music because you can be on your way to a rock and roll show and every car that passes will be playing Hot 97,and after the show a DJ will play whatever dance music he likes. You also have the pace and the sounds of a city filled with millions of people. So there’s a lot to be inspired by. We all think it is important to take in all these things so you can do something new. That includes listening to things that you don’t like or giving things a second or a third listen and taking the time to learn about the music and where it came from.

SC: What about some current music that you’re really in to? Anything popular or obscure that keeps you company while on the road? Anything that you think WE should be listening to?

WR: We are on tour with a band called Glass Ghost right now that is great. They are coming out with an album called Idol Omen on Western Vinyl and it is my favorite album of the year. We recently toured with a band called The Subjects who are really great.
I’ve been listening to The Horrors‘ new album Primary Colours a lot. Its a really intelligent rock record which is my shit. But Outkast has been on repeat for about a decade.

SC: Just kind of a weird question that I always like to ask people, if you could write anyone’s biography, who would it be and why?

WR: I would write a biography tracing the historical and social contributions of “bi-racial” people.

SC: What’s next for the White Rabbits?

WR: Couldn’t tell you. But that’s the best feeling in the world.

SC: Right on, thanks guys and we’re really excited to see you in Milwaukee!

WR: Thank You!

The White Rabbits  w/ Glass Ghost are coming through a city near you… check the dates and go see a show!!

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Seizure Chicken Interviews: These United States (video)

These United States are on tour promoting their latest disc Everything Touches Everything. Before the show, SC got the chance to chat a bit with the boys about the new album, tour, and whats up next for TUS. They’re playing another leg of the tour criss-crossing the coasts, so go check ‘um out!

myspace | official | buy

>> tour dates after the jump

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Seizure Chicken Interviews The Daredevil Christopher Wright

mp3 – The Daredevil Christopher Wright – Acceptable Loss

Mypace | Official

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SC Interviews the French Horn Rebellion + Live Performance and Signed EP Give-Away

The SC crew got the chance to hang with Robert and David from the French Horn Rebellion before their set at Forward Fest in Madison, WI. Just because we thought it would be cool, we asked the guys to play one of their songs live in our car (video re-posted below). Surprisingly, they were totally cool with the idea. Other than risking my life to film, I think the video/audio turned out great! Anywho, we talked to the guys about their new EP Beaches and Friends, where they team up with fellow electro-popsters Database.

We have a lil FHR prize package including the Beaches & Friends EP and a signed tour poster to give away. Just drop a comment below and we’ll shoot you an email if you win.

>> Video and give-away after the jump.

Seizure Chicken Presents: Road Trippin’ w/ French Horn Rebellion from SeizureChicken on Vimeo.

Mp3: French Horn Rebellion – Up All Night

Yep, that’s it. Just post a comment below.

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Seizure Chicken Interviews YACHT (video) at Forward Fest – Madison, WI

Dreams came to fruition last weekend at Forward Fest. As we posted yesterday we got the chance to sit down with one of our faves The Antlers. We also had the opportunity to catch up with Jona and Claire from YACHT their headlining slot at Forward Fest on Friday night. If you haven’t seen a YACHT performance, it’s something you can’t miss.

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Seizure Chicken Interviews The Antlers (video)

When The Antlers’ Hospice first reached us at SC I gave it my usual cursory listen while typing away at my desk at work and as the album developed my typing slowed… eventually coming to a dead halt.  And then the second tune started.  I knew we had something special here.  The boys from Brooklyn dominated the coop for a while and Hospice has quickly risen to the absolute top of my Album of Twenty-Aught-Nine List.  When my good friend Madano informed me that they’d be performing at the Forward Music Festival in Madison, WI on Saturday, September 20 I started playing eenie-meenie-miney-mo between my kidneys to determine which one to sell so that I could make the show. Needless to say, I was delighted when I learned I wouldn’t have to eBay my My Buddy doll collection as SC had done the unthinkable: scored an interview with The Antlers.

After seeing Peter, Darby and Michael perform the tracks at the High Noon Saloon on Saturday afternoon I was absolutely stupefied.  When the interview came around I was absolutely terrified that I’d make a blubbering idiot of myself in front of these three guys who I had come to respect and even honor over the past few months.  The conversation that ensued was truly enlightening—ranging from the conception of the album and the recording process (which, contrary to popular belief on the interweb, didn’t involve Peter being chained to a guitar alone for 18 months) to the immense task of taking an album as flawlessly constructed as Hospice to the stage and their plans for the future, this interview was absolutely eye-opening.  A little insight into these great musical minds is priceless; I got a good deal more out of the interview than just a little bit.  And now, here’s your chance!  Check out the video above and learn a little more about this year’s top album, Hospice, and the phenomenal dudes who created it: The Antlers.

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Seizure Chicken Interviews Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (video)

Fresh off their Letterman performance, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros sold out Milwaukee’s Club Garibaldi (watch the show footage here). Seizure Chicken was lucky enough to meet up with the guys prior to the show and chat for a bit.

from SeizureChicken on Vimeo.
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Above, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros perform the stomping ’40 Day Dream’ to a crazed sold out crowd. Thanks to Muzzle Of Bees, who has show photos here, and WMSE for setting the show up.

More Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros show footage after the jump. (Up From Below, Janglin’, Carries On)

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Up From Below – Milwaukee, WI from SeizureChicken on Vimeo.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Janglin – Milwaukee, WI from SeizureChicken on Vimeo.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Carries On – Milwaukee, WI CLub Garibaldi from SeizureChicken on Vimeo.

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Interview / Song Premier: VoxHaul Broadcast

We got the chance to catch up with the guys from VoxHaul Broadcast recently to talk about their new album and tour. They were kind enough to pass a new track ‘Days Are Long’ along. If you’d like to download the song go to their myspace.

SC: How did you guys choose the name Voxhaul Broadcast? Does it reference anything in particular?

VB: Well when we were thinking of a band name we had a list of all the names we really liked and it took us a while but we narrowed down that list to couple words that sounded good together we really liked foxhole broadcast. So later on that night we went to a bar to meet up with some friends one of which had a really thick Scottish accent so when we told him the band name and he repeated it back to us it sounded like he he said Voxhaul Broadcast and we decided we liked that a lot better. The name itself has no meaning behind it its just a miss communication between people.

SC: Your currently recording a follow up to Rotten Apples. Do you have a title? Will it be a full length or an EP?

VB: Right now we are releasing a five song EP which is called Fact Fiction and Turquoise which is a short collection of songs that we recorded since the Rotten Apples EP. There was no room for these songs that we really liked on the album that we just recorded so we thought we would release these songs separately and get people excited for the new album that’s to come.

SC: Can you tell us a little bit about the album?

VB: We are all very excited about this new album because it will be our first full length since we have always just made EP’s. We also had the pleasure to record in Elliot Smith’s old studio the album was produced and engineered by our friend Eli Thompson and was recorded like the old days where everyone plays live and is recorded onto two inch tape, there was no computers in the studio just the sound of tapes being rewound and recorded over it was a really great experience and the vibes were amazing. We are going to release the album soon and we are thinking about calling it Timing Is Everything since this is our first album and we want everything to feel right.

SC: I read that you prefer to record live. What do you like about a live arrangement?

VB: When we record separately everything always ends up sounding sterile and boring it feels like there is no connection in the music. We are all old friends and we grew up learning how to play our instruments and write songs in front of each other we always vibe on one another and thats the only way the music sounds honest to us.

SC: Do you guys have a tour coming up?

VD: Yes we have a west coast tour coming up at the end of November beginning of December and then some UK dates coming soon.

SC: You guys site Motown artists, the beatles, and the Pixies as influences. What do you like about those artists?

VB: The music is timeless it never feels like the world can out grow them any subject those artists write and sing about always seems current and relatable to any person at any time going through problems or experiencing happiness it doesn’t seem to get old like a lot of other artists tend to do.

SC: What bands have you been listening to lately?

VB: Well David has been listening to Paul Simon’s Graceland and also ELO, Kurt likes Grizzly Bear and Phil Evans, Phil is into Blur and the Beach Boys and Tony has been digging Dr Dog and Fleetwood Mac lately.

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A Minute With J Tillman

mp3 – J Tillman – First Born

“After dropping out of college in New York, Josh Tillman (b. 1981) moved to Seattle and spent a year paying rent by freelance writing and donating plasma. Befriending Eric Fisher (Damien Jurado, Rosie Thomas) while on tour in the fall on 2004, Tillman coerced him into recording what would become ” I Will Return,” a full-length reminiscent of the southern-gothic writings of Flannery O’Conner and the music of Nick Drake and Pete Seeger. The CD-R would be distributed and promoted word-of-mouth in paper sleeves while on the road (with acts such as Damien Jurado, Dolorean and Saxon Shore) for over a year until spring 2005 when KEEP Recordings offered to release a limited, special edition run of the record. Tillman continues to record constantly, finshing a full-length with Fisher entitled ” Long May You Run, J. Tillman.”

Aside from his role as a prolific singer-songwriter, also plays drums for Seattle WA based band Fleet Foxes. Tilman’s fifth solo album Vacilando Territory Blues featuring his mournful vocals, backed by sparse and doleful acoustic guitar with occasionally understated piano, bells and violin was well received critically in 2008 before release and earned him comparisons to Nick Drake.” (Via Last FM)

SC: You have a new album set to release on September 22nd, titled Year in
the Kingdom. Can you tell us a bit about the album?

JT: It contains nine songs, all of which feature me singing and playing instruments, it will inevitably be reviewed, and, most likely, boxes and boxes of it will end up sitting in my apartment, slowly getting covered food wrappers, magazines, coffee cups and other boxes of J. Tillman records.

SC: How do you usually write? Do you prefer writing on an acoustic? on the road?

JT: I wrote most of the songs on this record using musical typing, and
then had to transpose it to the guitar.

SC: You play drums for the Fleet Foxes and I read that you play most of the instruments on your records . Do you have a primary instrument?

JT: I have become pretty proficient in musical typing.

SC: First born is an absolutely beautiful track. I can hear some similarities from the music you’ve made with the Fleet Foxes, mainly in the rhythm section and vocal harmonies. Has touring and recording with the Fleet Foxes changed some of the ways you go about writing?

JT: Well, I haven’t recorded with the Fleet Foxes.  I suppose the multi-tracked vocals on some songs might remind people of FF.  The rhythm section to me is more of a Low/Simon and Garfunkel thing.

SC: How did playing with the Fleet Foxes come about?

Robin: “Do you want to play drums in this band?”
Josh: “Sure, sounds like fun!”

SC: What are some bands or music that you have been listening to?

JT: Neil Young and Dungen.

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Lotus Interview

Lotus will be playing this Thursday at Turner Hall, I advise anyone who likes havin’ a good time to go. They put on some of the most rewarding shows ever.
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I saw you guys for the first time earlier in the year at the Majestic in Madison both nights, and I have to say having never seen you before that was one of the greatest live displays of muscian-ship I’ve ever seen…Just wanted to thank y’all again.

(Seizure) So could each of you tell me about the moment(s) when you realized you wanted to play music for aliving? And what kind of music has personally influenced you the most to this day?

All of us had bands in high school but we were very serious about Lotus when we started the band in college. We rehearsed all the time and would play a lot of shows. I think we were all quite serious about following this as a career from when we started the band.

How did you guys originally form?

At Goshen College in Goshen, IN. We knew each other in high school but were from different parts of the country. Luke, Mike and Steve started playing together their first week when Mike and Luke arrived at Goshen. The following year I transfered to Goshen and the band started gigging on a regular basis.

You guys have quickly become a sort of cult-like thing amongst the jam-band crowds, and really in many ways embody the type of following that has formerly been associated with bands like Phish and the Dead . That being said, did you intentionally try to create that type of community surrounding your music and do you guys find touring more beneficial than putting out records?

I think we saw ourselves more as a touring band in the beginning and saw that as the method to build a base. Back when we started we had almost no money and the resources to record and mix a record yourself were not as easy as they are today. When we were able to book some studio time and put together a proper album (Nomad) we had already been touring for several years.

You guys seem to never stop touring, what are some of your favorite venues? And any ridiculous/funny tour stories?

Fillmore (Denver), 9:30 (DC), The National (Richmond), Higher Ground (Burlington), Terminal 5 (NYC), Vic (Chicago)

One time on tour we picked up and moved a truck in order to get our bus out of a parking lot.

I’ve heard nothing but good things about your festival, Summer Dance, how did that start and could you tell us all a bit more about it?

The venue (Nelson’s Ledges) booked Lotus to play there a number of years ago and the fans clamored for a Lotus headlining slot. So the next year they gave us a weekend and Lotus headlined one night and EOTO headlined the next night. Then fans clamored for 2 nights of Lotus so we made that happen. And it has grown every year.

How much of your live performance is improv?

Probably between 25-40% depending on the night.

Why do you think drug culture is so heavily intertwined with musicians like yourselves and a lot of the festivals you guys play?

I don’t think the drug culture is any more intertwined with the festival scene than other types of music.

Whats the song writing process for you guys like?

Myself and Luke work on our own for most of the writing. We both write by recording all the parts so when a composition is complete we usually have a great sounding demo as well. Toward the end of the process we usually give the tracks to each other for criticism and judicious editing to tighten things up in the arrangement.

What some other acts that you all really dig?

We are all into different things. Lately I’ve been digging Four Tet, Deer Hunter, Dungen, Matthew Dear – artists that I’ve been into for quite a while.

What are your plans for Lotus in the near future?

We are finishing an album – actually about 2 albums worth of material, so we hope to be releasing music early in 2011. Also lining up dates for the first half of 2011 and festival season.

And a buddy of mine wanted me to ask you guys if you consider yourselves river pirates or ninjas?

I have no idea what a river pirate is.

Give a pitch for the readers who’ve never heard or seen you live?

Lotus is one of the most dance friendly rock bands. If you like electronic dance music, instrumental post-rock you should try Lotus. The live shows are experiences – we bring in a huge light show and the crowd really gets into the music.

Questions answered by Jesse Miller (bassist – Lotus)

Below is a 14-minute jam from my first Lotus concert, enjoy!

mp3-Nematode by Lotus