Riding Shotgun With The English Department
I've been a fan of the English Department ever since that day, many moons ago, when they friend requested me on Myspace. These boys have hooks, and they're not afraid to use them. The English Department mix argyle-loving nerdiness with gallons of British infused guitars and cite the Beatles, Jeff Buckley, and the Cure among their influences. As happenstance would have it, David, Justin, and Brett are heading south to play at this year's inaugural DAM festival. I took time out from being impossibly pleased about their performance to ask David some questions, and he took time out from being a saucy frontman to answer. Below you'll find a crash course in all things English Department, from Country Clubs (ok, it's a bar) to the worst venue in NYC to their varied beverage choices. Once you've memorized the word of TED, head on over to the DAM fest to see them take over the Velvet Lounge (Friday, Oct. 27).
Touring is: The best field trip ever and you don't need a signed permission slip.
Our first gig was: At Galapagos in Brooklyn. It was pretty life affirming for us. Nobody had heard us but us, so it was our first opportunity to gauge the response of others.
Our favorite venue to play is: We love the Knitting Factory Main Stage.
Hygiene on tour is: Essential.
Our favorite thing about touring is: Most bands will tell you it's the sex, drugs and rock and roll - but that's just our way of making sure there's room at The Waffle House. See, all you rock n roll fans buy into the myth, we just want waffles and cheese eggs.
And the least favorite thing: 15 Minutes after Waffle House...
City with the best audiences: The girls at Mt. Holyoke College were pretty psyched about us. Of course, we were the only dudes for about ten miles.
The band member most likely to disappear after a show is: Definitely Brett.
The tour bus/van smells like: Lola Ray
Laundry is: a) washed regularly, b) washed irregularly, c) we go shopping a lot: We've never been away long enough.
What's the most unusual item on your rider? We aint got no stinking rider.
Who controls the music in the touring vehicle, and what are you listening to at the moment? Who ever drives controls the music. We spend lots of time creating on the go playlists. I've been listening to Kashmir a lot. I'm obsessed with that band. And of course, our new record.
Your new favorite watering hole after being on tour? And/or the best place to get greasy, hangover-curing food? The Bushwick Country Club or The Soft Spot. Both in Brooklyn.
Most amusing memory from your current or most recent tour? We were approached by a hooker at a truck stop in Arkansas who offered us $1 to drive her a few blocks away. We've seen "Monster", we know how that story ends...
What's your favorite thing to do while on tour? Rock the fuck out.
Please name the city you wouldn't ever play in again? Or, if not a particular city, what venue makes your skin crawl? There's a club in NY that undergoes management changes every couple of years but its been the diviest crap hole for over a decade. They're always trying to class it up and charge stupid $$$ for drinks and it still looks like your bedroom when your mom asks you to clean up and you throw everything in the closet or under your bed. You're not fooling anybody. The sound system sucks. The sound people always suck. The load in is terrifying - literally an elevator with one plank across an open space where you have to stand and hold on to your gear as the crotchety old dude takes you up and down. It's called R n R and we advise any and all touring bands to avoid it no matter what.
Apart from the obvious cd, what's the merch item of yours you think people should shell out for? Currently, it's all we've got. But feel free to buy us a drink.
Festivals: fabulous conglomerations of the musically gifted, or just plain old overcrowded rock shows? Discuss. I think it's a combination of both. Anytime you get the opportunity to play with loads of other bands and see loads of other bands and meet and mingle with lots of new people is a good time. But, it can also really be exhausting and frustrating and endlessly long. But, I dunno, so is the Lord of the Rings trilogy and peeps love that shit.
What can people expect at an English Department show? Really good songs, really good playing, and a lot of sound from two rather little dudes and one rather tall dude.
Have you been to the top of the Washington Monument? Only metaphorically.
English was always my favorite department in school. Is it too obvious to assume you all feel the same way? Music was our favorite department, but that's a pretty weak band name. We're a well read trio of lads for sure.
What would you like people to be saying about the English Department in 50 years? "I still can't get that song out of my head."
Please recite a line of poetry: "She's got eyes of the bluest sky as if they thought of rain" - W. Axl Rose
And finally, it's BigYawn's round. What's your poison?
Greygoose and Soda for me. Justin will have a Stella. Jameson and Ginger for Brett. You might want to make it a double.
Make sure to visit the English Department in cyberspace at www.englishdepartmentrock.com, or www.myspace.com/theenglishdepartment.