Riding Shotgun With Devics
Named for a little-known guardian angel, Devics have an ethereal, otherworldly quality to their music. Devics’ worldly duo Sara Lov and Dustin O’Halloran (with the help of some talented friends) create some of the most gloriously beautiful music you might not have heard yet. But before you rush out to right that situation and buy their back catalog, read on for the delightful Sara Lov’s thoughts on the Devics traveling vehicle (Lizardy!), bands she’d love to tour with (Radioheady!), and merch (tshirty!). And then, after procuring the entire Devics back catalog, check them out in the flesh with Black Heart Procession and Castanets on July 29th ($12).
Touring is: My favorite thing to do ever.
Our first gig was: a disaster.
Our favorite venue to play is: KCET in Zagreb, La Guingette Pirate in Paris, La Casa139 in Milan.
Hygiene on a tour is: Very possible believe it or not.
Our favorite thing about touring is: Playing our music for new people.
And the least favorite thing: Driving driving driving driving = very tired.
City with the best audiences: Zagreb, Moscow, Paris & Bologna.
The band member most likely to disappear after a show is: Sara (disappearing into sleep).
The tour bus/van smells like: Lizard skin.
Laundry is: a) washed regularly, b) washed irregularly, c) we go shopping a lot: A.
What's the most unusual item on your rider? Gummy cola bottles.
Who controls the music in the touring vehicle? And what are you listening to at the moment?
We take turns, or it's every man for himself on the iPod.
I am really into the new Midlake album, Pure Horsehair, Vashti Bunyan, Sea Wolf and of course...the new Black Heart Procession.
Your new favorite watering hole after being on tour? And/or the best place to get greasy, hangover-curing food?
Auntie Ems's in Eagle Rock (best breakfast) & Alegria in Silverlake (best Mexican food in the whole world - yes the whole world).
Most amusing memory from your current or most recent tour?
Leaving our passports at the hotel in Torino and not realizing it until we reached the Swiss border 3 hours later. We were very late that night. Also, getting locked in the club in Luxembourg (we wrote about it on our website).
Please name the city you wouldn't ever play in again? Or, if not a
particular city, which venue makes your skin crawl?
Many clubs in England.
How do you know when you've played one of your best shows?
It just feels good to all of us.
Apart from the obvious cd, what's the merch item of yours you think people should shell out for?
Seems like 'My Beautiful Sinking Ship' is a favorite
amongst the peeps, also I'd say spring for the shirt! It's good.
You recently played with Simon Raymonde of the Cocteau Twins. Who else is on your list of artists/bands you'd love to do shows with, or record with?
Can we open for Radiohead please? Nick Cave? Tom Waits? Sparklehorse?
Devics have many ties to Italy. What is your favorite place there, and why?
It would be really difficult to pick a favorite there since so many of the cities have their own unique charm and food and people. When we are there we spend most of our time in the North near Bologna but the South is pretty spectacular too, especially Sicily.
Have you been to the top of the Washington Monument? Yes. On our tour with Lift to Experience in 2003. We went there at night.
What would you like people to be saying about Devics in 50 years? That we meant something to someone.
How is the mind-reading hairy deer these days? He's good. I try not to look him in the eye too often.
Please recite a line of poetry:
I turned to look at you
To read my thoughts upon your face
And gazed so deep into your eyes
So beautiful and strange
Until you spoke
And showed me understanding is a dream... Robert Smith
And finally, it's BigYawn's round. What's your poison?
Iced Americanos all around, black for me, extra sugar & cream for Scott & Dustin, 1 sugar 1 cream for Ted, soy milk for Ed and if we must, but only if we must... perhaps a good whiskey.
And of course you need more Devics! Get your fill at www.devics.com or www.myspace.com/devics.
picture by Massimo Lovisco