Over the last five years Austin, TX has become the new Seattle. Bands such as And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead and Explosions In The Sky have paved the way for hundreds of other local acts trying to break through the obscurity. The Black Angels are well on their way to joining their comrades and becoming a staple in the indie rock scene. Most websites label them as psychedelic folk rock but since I have no idea what that means I will tell you that these kids just kick major ass! Having recently toured with such high profile acts as The Smashing Pumpkins and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, these Austinites have learned a thing or two over the past few years from their contemporaries. This week theyll be one of the most buzzed about bands at the Swerve Festival -- a new annual celebration of West Coast music, film and art that takes place in Los Angeles, September 28 - 30th.
I had a chance to sit down with lead guitarist, Christian Bland, and organist, Jennifer Raines, backstage at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago last month. I forced them to talk about touring, record labels and family when all they really wanted to do was talk about tattoos and strippers.
Christian Bland: Is this for SuicideGirls?
Steve Markoff: Have you been on the SuicideGirls website?
CB: Yeah, I like it.
SM: Cool. My best friend is from Toledo, OH and he is your biggest fan and we brought him out to Austin City Limits last year for his bachelor party and you were the one band he had to see. We got him VIP at Stubbs to check you out and he said that was his favorite part of the weekend. Black Angels over strippers and alcohol
CB: Really? Oh man, thats awesome.
SM: So when did you get into town?
CB: Ah, we just got here yesterday. We drove in from San Francisco. We drove three days straight across the country. We played at the Fillmore with Smashing Pumpkins for two shows. We actually flew in from Sweden to San Francisco. We have been on the road constantly for about a month.
SM: The Black Angels have been touring non-stop.
CB: Yeah.
SM: Describe what thats like.
CB: (Laughing) Well, its very tiring, but I think it pays off in the end because thats all what we want to be doing anyway. Playing music all over the world, for as many people we can possible. So you know whenever we get home to Austin we get kind of antsy to go back out. So we figure we might as well stay out on the road where we feel comfortable. Once you get in the groove of going on tour, its just like thats what you want to do.
SM: Now that you have been touring for a few years, whats it like when you return to a venue you previously played?
CB: Its amazing seeing growth like each time you go back to a city. The first couple tours it can be very discouraging when you go to shows and nobody comes but its all about just laying a foundation each time, and then just keep going back and showing that you want to play for this city time and time again. Eventually it starts to grow, and its fulfilling and thats why were touring around and hopefully playing to more people each time we come back.
SM: How have you thrived over the years and continued to tour, even at the low points?
CB: All our parents, you know, they want us to have regular jobs but I think from the get go we knew exactly what it was that we wanted to do with this band. Very early on we all moved into the same house together and made a commitment to really take everything seriously. When we all moved in together it just became like pretty much our job to play and moving in together has all helped us in the band because were all around each other and so we are used to fighting, but we always get over it.
SM: Has it helped living in Austin, TX, the music capital of America?
CB: Um, yeah.
SM: Has it helped or hindered your progress?
CB: Well yeah I think it could be a double edged sword because you could get lost in the crowd because there are so many bands, but at the same time there are so many it just helps the creativity. I mean not that its a competition between other bands but it can be competitive to want to make better songs and that helps the creative process. Austin overall as a city is I dont know. I dont think we would want to be anywhere else. Its pretty amazing.
SM: You played with the Smashing Pumpkins recently?
CB: Right.
SM: What other bands have you been out on the road with?
Jennifer Raines: Weve been out with the Black Keys, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Vietnam -- I guess we toured with them. We did a show with the Shins. We didnt go on the road, we just did a show.
CB: We played a couple shows with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
JR: (Agreeing) Yeah, we did Clap Your Hands at the beginning when we first started touring.
SM: Describe how it feels to play with a band you admire and respect?
CB: Amazing!
JR: The Black Keys and Black Rebel are amazing. Those guys are just as down to earth as we would hope for them to be.
CB: It's pretty amazing that we are getting to play with these bands that we looked up to you know. And that we have taken inspiration from being able to play with them is just amazing and just meeting the guys and finding out that they are regular folks like us. You know its been amazing.
SM: What have you gained from touring with other bands? Do you learn from their failures/successes?
CB: Oh yeah. With Black Rebel thats exactly how it worked. We would sit down and talk with them and they would give advice.
SM: So whats next? Whats going on with the band after?
CB: Right when we get back we are going to start recording, go back in the studio and we hope by the end of the year to put out a six or seven song EP and then I think we are planning to go back to the west coast in October and then maybe back over to Europe in the fall.
SM: Do you currently have a record label now?
CB: Yeah we are on an independent label called Light In The Attic, in Seattle.
SM: Have you considered making music specifically for the Internet?
CB: Ah, definitely. Definitely crossed my mind. That could be an ideal situation where you can control your entire operations without having to depend on someone else. So eventually hope to make it to that point.
SM: Any tattoos?
CB: Ahem.
JR: I do.
CB: Yeah, both of us actually.
CB: and JR: (Laughing)
CB: We are the only members in the band, so you got lucky.
JR: I just got one.
CB: Ah, thats right. I forgot. Brand new.
JR: Yeah.
CB: Yeah. I got a tattoo. Mines the longhorn. Texas boy.
SM: I really appreciate it guys. Cant wait to see your show, very excited.
JR: Thank you.
For more information on the band go to www.theblackangels.com
For more information on the Swerve Festival go to www.swervefestival.com
I had a chance to sit down with lead guitarist, Christian Bland, and organist, Jennifer Raines, backstage at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago last month. I forced them to talk about touring, record labels and family when all they really wanted to do was talk about tattoos and strippers.
Christian Bland: Is this for SuicideGirls?
Steve Markoff: Have you been on the SuicideGirls website?
CB: Yeah, I like it.
SM: Cool. My best friend is from Toledo, OH and he is your biggest fan and we brought him out to Austin City Limits last year for his bachelor party and you were the one band he had to see. We got him VIP at Stubbs to check you out and he said that was his favorite part of the weekend. Black Angels over strippers and alcohol
CB: Really? Oh man, thats awesome.
SM: So when did you get into town?
CB: Ah, we just got here yesterday. We drove in from San Francisco. We drove three days straight across the country. We played at the Fillmore with Smashing Pumpkins for two shows. We actually flew in from Sweden to San Francisco. We have been on the road constantly for about a month.
SM: The Black Angels have been touring non-stop.
CB: Yeah.
SM: Describe what thats like.
CB: (Laughing) Well, its very tiring, but I think it pays off in the end because thats all what we want to be doing anyway. Playing music all over the world, for as many people we can possible. So you know whenever we get home to Austin we get kind of antsy to go back out. So we figure we might as well stay out on the road where we feel comfortable. Once you get in the groove of going on tour, its just like thats what you want to do.
SM: Now that you have been touring for a few years, whats it like when you return to a venue you previously played?
CB: Its amazing seeing growth like each time you go back to a city. The first couple tours it can be very discouraging when you go to shows and nobody comes but its all about just laying a foundation each time, and then just keep going back and showing that you want to play for this city time and time again. Eventually it starts to grow, and its fulfilling and thats why were touring around and hopefully playing to more people each time we come back.
SM: How have you thrived over the years and continued to tour, even at the low points?
CB: All our parents, you know, they want us to have regular jobs but I think from the get go we knew exactly what it was that we wanted to do with this band. Very early on we all moved into the same house together and made a commitment to really take everything seriously. When we all moved in together it just became like pretty much our job to play and moving in together has all helped us in the band because were all around each other and so we are used to fighting, but we always get over it.
SM: Has it helped living in Austin, TX, the music capital of America?
CB: Um, yeah.
SM: Has it helped or hindered your progress?
CB: Well yeah I think it could be a double edged sword because you could get lost in the crowd because there are so many bands, but at the same time there are so many it just helps the creativity. I mean not that its a competition between other bands but it can be competitive to want to make better songs and that helps the creative process. Austin overall as a city is I dont know. I dont think we would want to be anywhere else. Its pretty amazing.
SM: You played with the Smashing Pumpkins recently?
CB: Right.
SM: What other bands have you been out on the road with?
Jennifer Raines: Weve been out with the Black Keys, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Vietnam -- I guess we toured with them. We did a show with the Shins. We didnt go on the road, we just did a show.
CB: We played a couple shows with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
JR: (Agreeing) Yeah, we did Clap Your Hands at the beginning when we first started touring.
SM: Describe how it feels to play with a band you admire and respect?
CB: Amazing!
JR: The Black Keys and Black Rebel are amazing. Those guys are just as down to earth as we would hope for them to be.
CB: It's pretty amazing that we are getting to play with these bands that we looked up to you know. And that we have taken inspiration from being able to play with them is just amazing and just meeting the guys and finding out that they are regular folks like us. You know its been amazing.
SM: What have you gained from touring with other bands? Do you learn from their failures/successes?
CB: Oh yeah. With Black Rebel thats exactly how it worked. We would sit down and talk with them and they would give advice.
SM: So whats next? Whats going on with the band after?
CB: Right when we get back we are going to start recording, go back in the studio and we hope by the end of the year to put out a six or seven song EP and then I think we are planning to go back to the west coast in October and then maybe back over to Europe in the fall.
SM: Do you currently have a record label now?
CB: Yeah we are on an independent label called Light In The Attic, in Seattle.
SM: Have you considered making music specifically for the Internet?
CB: Ah, definitely. Definitely crossed my mind. That could be an ideal situation where you can control your entire operations without having to depend on someone else. So eventually hope to make it to that point.
SM: Any tattoos?
CB: Ahem.
JR: I do.
CB: Yeah, both of us actually.
CB: and JR: (Laughing)
CB: We are the only members in the band, so you got lucky.
JR: I just got one.
CB: Ah, thats right. I forgot. Brand new.
JR: Yeah.
CB: Yeah. I got a tattoo. Mines the longhorn. Texas boy.
SM: I really appreciate it guys. Cant wait to see your show, very excited.
JR: Thank you.
For more information on the band go to www.theblackangels.com
For more information on the Swerve Festival go to www.swervefestival.com
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
valeyard:
I heard them for the first time this year in Bossier City, LA. Really cool, really laid back, and easy to talk with. They did a show with Vietnam and some local band I can't remember. It was the worst hole-in-the-wall venue but really cool atmosphere despite all. And again...the band kicks ass! 
craftygrrl:
I've seen them live twice in Seattle. Once opening up for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and about 2 weeks later headlining (with Vietnam). They're fucking brilliant.