INTERVIEW: Gravenhurst
- Posted on October 9, 2007 5:17 PM
- 0 comments
Interview by Katie Spain
It was with hurried excitement that we fired out questions towards Nick Talbot - the singer/songwriter behind Gravenhurst. It wasn't a case of stars in our eyes but more of a case of stars in our ears. We're not talking the sparkly variety either lads and ladettes... we're talking loud. The band recently released album 'The Western Lands' and toured with Explosions In The Sky. Previous tours with Belle and Sebastian and Broadcast have covered Europe, the USA and Canada. There's no rest for the guitar wielding wicked however... and on the brink of Gravenhurst’s upcoming October UK album tour, Nick took time out to step into the firing line. We think you'll agree - the man 'did good'.
It’s an obvious question but in the absence of a bio on your site, how did you guys meet?
Dave used to be in a band called The Signal. I met all his band mates at a Spleen gig at Thekla in Bristol in 1998. His band mate Nick Jones was wearing a Daydream Nation t-shirt. I approved. Conversation ensued, friendship followed. When Dave’s drumming skills became apparent he was quickly recruited, but lots of other bands had the same idea. At one point he was drumming in five bands. He is currently drumming in two; this band and Robin’s own band, the Allender band.
Lots of people have played in the live Gravenhurst set-up over the years; Robin joined on bass and Alex on guitar in the last year. I think. It gets confusing.
What's been the highlight of the Gravenhurst journey so far?
I think it’s peaking right now. This is the best record so far, the band is finally a four piece, as I had always intended it to be, and sounding awesome. But touring with Broadcast in the US two years back is my favourite memory so far. I’m a massive fan, so it was a privilege.
What's your first musical memory?
Maybe listening to a Winnie The Pooh album age three or something. There is a photo of me listening to it, massive headphones, tiny head.
If you hadn't followed the musical path what do you think you'd be doing now?
Probably some kind of journalism. I was pursuing academic work when Gravenhurst started to take off; I was doing a Masters in the philosophy and history of science, but ultimately I don’t think I would have gone down that road. Everything changed in 2001 anyway; after 9/11 I got into politics and started writing about that.
You're given a blank cheque and free run of the biggest musical instrument store in the world (imaginations here guys...) what would you come out with?
I’d just come out with the cash register and the safe. I tend to borrow instruments rather than collect them. I don’t like having to much stuff around; having lots of possessions makes me panic. I have no idea why. I want a nice acoustic guitar though; mine is crap. I think I can speak for Dave and say he would come out with many, many cymbals.
What comes first - guitars or a relationship?
Guitars, it turns out. I didn’t realise until one fell apart and the other stayed together. Which is wrong really, because the guitar is cheap and nasty, and the relationship was truly great and highly valued. But that’s how it is, and I chose it.
QUOTE: "Extensive research by several independent Indie Rock focus groups suggests that Gravenhurst shows are now at least 300% more awesome than they were before"... what can punters expect from your live upcoming dates?
Songs from all the albums so far, played loud, as a four piece. The question is better than the answer I’m afraid.
You're playing the Luminaire on 30th October - a great little venue. What's your favourite venue and why?
I’ve just written a piece for Plan B magazine about the UK toilet circuit and why it needn’t be the way it is. There is a culture of complacency that perpetuates revolting venues and disrespect for musicians and the public. It isn’t economically determined; there are nice venues like The Luminaire which are successful commercial enterprises. This is a rich country. There is no reason for anyone to wallow in shit. But a dominant ideology dictates that a climate of filth and degradation is a necessary part of “rock n roll”. We are suckers. We keep swallowing it.
What was your Glastonbury experience like?
I wrote an extensive report on my blog at
http://policediversnotebook.blogspot.com/2007/06/glastonhurst-gravenblog-report.html
If I were to head to Bristol for a weekend with Gravenhurst, where would we go and what would we do?
We’d take you to our rehearsal room, which has to be seen and smelt to be believed. It’s a vile, rotting dungeon. We spend as little time there as possible. Someone is making good money from it. It took seven years to find a permanent space to rehearse. Bristol property prices are very, very high. Bristol is famous for music, but it gets no local or national government support. My advice to musicians is to move to Scotland, where they support their bands.
What was the recording process like for the new album 'The Western Lands'?
Scattered, unstructured and very difficult. It was done over two years in many locations. I had to move house a lot. I lived in a caravan on an industrial estate for a while because I ran out of money. It wasn’t fun. The process of making the album was very hard but it was worth it.
Favourite track off the album?
Songwise, maybe Trust. It’s probably the best traditionally structured pop song I’ve written. Sonically, She Dances or The Collector. I like the use of counterpoint and random sound bursts. Drumming wise, Grand Union Canal; classic Collingwood percussion.
The video for 'Hollow Men' is beautifully done and uses some very dark and powerful imagery. Who came up with the ideas for that one?
The director, Chris Boyle. I wanted to make sure the result wasn’t a literal interpretation of the lyrics; we’d had problems with that before, so I didn’t tell him anything about the song at all. He interpreted it impressionistically, which was ideal.
You've had tracks used in Sebastian Schipper's film 'Ein Freund Von Mir' - how did that come about?
He heard my records and got in touch. He wanted lots of original score but I was on tour so the only original track for it was ‘Song Among The Pine’.
You'll be touring through Deutschland soon - the Germans are obviously enjoying your music over there. Is it place you've been to before?
We’ve played there a good few times and I’ve visited friends in Berlin recently. Half of Bristol has moved there. It’s cheap and interesting. It’s only a matter of time before it be comes very expensive. Hollywood players are buying property there. It will have to be Warsaw next.
16. Your tracks have also been used in US TV dramas and other films. If there was to be a film made about Gravenhurst - who'd play the role of each band member?
I want to be played by Peter Coyote. Dave should be played by Judge Reinhold. I’ll ask the guys about the rest of the casting and get back to you.
If you were to be locked in a velvet cell for a day who would it be with and why?
Harry Houdini. Presumably that would increase the chance of escape.
What's the most memorable concert/gig you've been to? (as a crowd member).
Stereolab, Reading 1995. A mixture of the music, the drugs, and the contrarian feeling that the band you were enjoying really didn’t fit in with the rest of the bill at all, and loads of people were confused or disgusted by them.
Is there ever a question you wish interviewers would ask you?
I don’t think so. There are plenty I wish they wouldn’t ask. You haven’t asked any of those though. Thankyou!
Plans for the future?
I hope to make another album. There is nothing so far; I don’t like that feeling.
I have to ask... will you head across to my homeland – Australia?
Apparently it’s not economically viable, unless we become big in Japan and play there too. I’m sure you hear that all the time…
October Tour Dates:
Fri 12 October / Bristol / Fiddlers
Mon 15 October / Southampton / Joiners
Tues 16 October / Brighton / Freebutt
Weds 17 October / Cambridge / Portland Arms
Sat 20 October / Norwich / Arts Centre
Sun 21 October / Leeds / The Faversham
Mon 22 October / Sheffield / Corporation
Tues 23 October / Newcastle / Cluny
Wed 24 October / Hull / Adelphi
Thu 25 October / Aberdeen / Snafu
Fri 26 October / Glasgow / King Tut's
Sat 27 October / Coventry / Taylor John's House
Mon 29 October / Cardiff / The Point
Tues 30 October / London / The Luminaire
The Western Lands is Gravenhurst’s fourth album for Warp.
Check out the band's MySpace or official site for more details.
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