Riding Shotgun With Trespassers William
Trespassers William are a BigYawn favorite. For this reason, but not for this reason alone, you will be highly advised to go see them when they take to the stage at DC9 Thursday the 16th (with Lejeune and Anthony Childs). In addition to being a BigYawn pet band, Trespassers William also happen to be a very, very good band. If you're in the market for a new ethereally atmospheric band with a gently haunting yet hypnotically powerful lady singer, TW are perhaps the band for you. Said lady singer, Miss Anna-Lynne Williams, provides below the answers to my queries. Find out what makes her tick, from the city with the best crowds (Londinium!) to the best song to play live ("No One!") to the best drink (key lime martini!). And then, of course, high thee to DC9.
Touring is:
carrying lots of things that weight the
same as you.
Our first gig was:
the coffee shop where I worked in
Laguna Niguel; Natale's.
Our favorite venue to play is:
Cafe du Nord in San Francisco.
Hygiene on tour is:
actually quite good, we like Dr. Bronner's magic peppermint soap. The boys grow "tour beards" but they are very clean.
Our favorite thing about touring is:
waking up in different cities.
And the least favorite thing:
spending more time driving than exploring.
City with the best audiences:
London.
The band member most likely to disappear after a show is:
Ross or
Nathan.
The tour bus/van smells like:
banana.
Laundry is:
a) washed regularly, b) washed irregularly, c) we go
shopping a lot: We use laundry whenever we can, but that usually means once per tour. I have a lot of underwear
What's the most unusual item on your rider?
oh we don't ask for anything, but I used to ask for cough drops.
Who controls the music in the touring vehicle, and what are you
listening to at the moment?
Usually Ross' iPod. I'm the only one
who doesn't have an iPod so I usually make a tour specific mix.
On the last tour we enjoyed listening to the new Flaming Lips, Gang Gang Dance, Subtle. I just bought the Knife and Under Byen today so we'll probably listen to those.
Your new favorite watering hole after being on tour?
There was a memorable place in Paris where we drank absinthe but I can only remember that there was a planet in the name - maybe Jupiter.
And/or the best place to get greasy, hangover-curing food?
We're a pretty un-greasy band; we're vegetarians. A good sandwich from Granzanella's in the town of William or a burrito from the Laughing Planet in Portland maybe.
Most amusing memory from your current or most recent tour?
We found a soccer ball in Westlake Village and for the rest of the tour the boys stopped and played a hybrid of hackeysack/soccer in every park and parking lot along the way. Nathan threw up in some bushes. Someone returned one of our cds when they realized the lyrics weren't "celebrating Jesus Christ."
What's your favorite thing to do while on tour?
Sleep, shop for cds, listen to some David Cross. When we do get a chance to go explore a castle in Europe or something that's the best but there's usually not time for that.
Please name the city you wouldn't ever play in again? Or, if not a
particular city, what venue makes your skin crawl?
Oh, I don't want to talk any smack. We've played in some nightmare places though.
What can people look forward to at a Trespassers William gig?
Lots of new songs.
Favorite song, Trespassers William or otherwise, to play live?
I like playing "No One" because it's completely different from the album version. It's got a drum groove now and I get to use all of my vocal effects pedals.
Apart from the obvious cd, what's the merch item of yours you think people should shell out for?
I have a book of poetry and writing and lyrics, but I actually only have 3 copies left or something. We also have some cute t shirts designed by Ross, our bassist/effects genius.
Which do you tend to enjoy the most; the first or last show of a tour?
The last - we're awesome by then.
Have you been to the top of the Washington Monument?
No.
What would you like people to be saying about Trespassers William in 50 years?
If they're saying anything that sounds good to me. And that each of our albums had something a bit different to say or had a different feel.
There was an illness plaguing you all earlier this year. Is everyone
feeling better these days?
Oh, Nathan, Neal, and I all caught some bad cold at the tail end of the last tour, but I didn't really get sick til after it was over. We're all good now. It's getting packed in a van that does it though - if anyone gets something you all do.
Please recite a line of poetry:
"With Annie gone, whose eyes to compare to the morning sun? Not that I did compare, but I do compare now that she's gone." Leonard Cohen
And finally, it's BigYawn's round. What's your poison?
Key lime martini. What a girl.
More from Trespassers William can be ogled here at www.trespasserswilliam.com, twband4.blogspot.com, and www.myspace.com/trespasserswilliam.