Tag: Irving Plaza

Slot Machine talk Thailand, new album & Apr. 23 at Irving Plaza

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date April 5, 2017

Thailand’s leading rock band Slot Machine kicked off its first full North American tour on Apr. 1. Hitting the road alongside Japan’s Miyavi and Korea’s Kiha & The Faces on Live Nation’s Asia On Tour — which hits Irving Plaza on Apr. 23 — this is hardly Slot Machine’s big tour. Since debuting in 2004 with its self-titled album, Slot Machine has won numerous “Record Of The Year” and “Song Of The Year” awards around Thailand and Asia.

Spin The World is the latest album from Slot Machine, also the first full-length that the group recorded in English. Impressively, Spin The World was produced by Steve Lillywhite, a man behind major albums by U2, The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, The Killers and Peter Gabriel. In support of Spin The World, Slot Machine has made further international waves by embarking on its first U.K. tour and playing at major festivals like Japan’s Fuji Rock and Korea’s Jisan Valley.

Downtown had the pleasure of conducting Q&A with the members of Slot Machine via e-mail: vocalist Karinyawat “Foet” Durongjirakan, bassist Atirath “Gak” Pintong, drummer Settharat “Auto” Phangchunan, and guitarist Janevit “Vit” Chanpanyawong. More on Slot Machine can be found at www.slotmachine.band.

Will this be your first time in New York?

Foet: No, this is our second time in New York. The first time was nine years ago, we performed at a small pub. Now we are back!

What led you to make your first English-language album?

Gak: After five Thai albums, we discussed with our record label ideas, on how to share our music with the world. We all felt it was the right time to cut an English album; we were ready.

Do you have a favorite song to perform live from Spin The World?

Vit: “And We Go!” This song has a lot of power to it and is great to perform live. It has a unique Northeastern Thai singing style called “Mor Lum,” which makes this song very unique on the album.

How did you wind up working with Steve Lillywhite?

Auto: We were introduced to Steve Lillywhite when he was invited to Bangkok by the label. We talked with Steve for a while and invited him to hear us play.

Foet: We didn’t know back then about Steve’s “requirements” when deciding to work with a band. Basically, if he likes what he hears, he will be more inclined to produce an album. Luckily, he liked what he heard and we were ecstatic to find out that he would help us produce our first English album.

Do you have a favorite album produced by Steve?

Auto: I like Dave Matthews Band’s The Lillywhite Sessions album.

Gak: The single “Beautiful Day” by U2.

What was the album that made you start playing an instrument?

Vit: Nirvana has been my big inspiration. The Nevermind album opened my musical mind and provided me with a lot of ideas.

Gak: Californication from Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Foet: Also Californication — I was really impressed by this album.

Auto: It’s Michael Jackson’s album, Dangerous. I watched him perform in Bangkok when I was a child.

Who’s the best Thai band our readers may not know?

Foet: Carabao — the album Made In Thailand is an epic album and one that you should not miss!

Vit: Modern Dog — they are a creative band and you should check them out.

When not busy with music, how do you like to spend your free time?

Gak: Reading comics, playing games, and watching sci-fi and alien movies and TV series.

Vit: I like to ride my motorbike to the countryside.

Foet: I will eat good food, take a good rest, play games and relax.

Auto: Cooking and planting trees.

If you have free time while you’re in New York, is there a destination or restaurant you hope to go to?

Gak: We would like to go to .

ty/best-places-music-stores?fbLoginFailed=true”>music shops, find cool stuff there.

Foet: Plus, we would like to go to Central Park, to see nature and just stay peaceful sometimes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ5Y0oz4cL4

What was your favorite album of 2016?

Foet: Of course Spin The World! (laughs)

Vit: Besides that, we like Judas Priest’s Battle Cry and 24K Magic from Bruno Mars.

Gak: Strange Little Birds from Garbage and Die Antwoord’s Mount Ninji And Da Nice Time Kid.

Finally, any last words for the kids?

Gak: Nice to meet you all. If you know Thai food, have visited Thailand, then you should try the “sound of Thailand.”

Foet: Thanks Downtown Magazine for this interview. It means a lot to us and we hope it makes you know us better. See you!

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Matt Sorum on Kings Of Chaos’ Dec. 21 show at Irving Plaza, Guns N’ Roses & more

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date December 14, 2016

Matt Sorum holds the distinction of being the drummer in “one of the coolest rock bands out there” in three different decades. In the 1980s, Matt drummed for The Cult, which led him to joining Guns N’ Roses in the early 1990s. In the 2000s, Matt formed Velvet Revolver with Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland, guitarist Dave Kushner and some of his GNR bandmates. And this does not factor in Matt’s work with Poe or Tori Amos, his touring with Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp in The Hollywood Vampires, his work with Motorhead, or his role as leader of Kings Of Chaos.

A true all-star rock band, Kings Of Chaos also features members of ZZ Top, Linkin Park, Slipknot, Cheap Trick, STP and Billy Idol’s band. While the touring lineup of Kings Of Chaos may change from tour to tour — its original run, which took place at soccer stadiums in South America, included Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan and KISS’ Gene Simmons — the fact that KOC plays rock anthems is the constant. This month, KOC will hit the New York area for a trio of pre-Christmas gigs: Dec. 17 at Montclair’s Wellmont Theater, Dec. 18 at Long Island’s The Paramount, and Dec. 21 at Irving Plaza.

Downtown caught up with Matt Sorum by phone to not only talk about Kings Of Chaos, but also where his entrepreneurial spirit comes from. Matt can be followed on Twitter via @MattSorum and visited online at www.mattsorum.tv.

I had the chance to see you at Coney Island do the Hollywood Vampires show last summer. What’s the status of that band?

Matt Sorum: I’ve heard rumblings that some stuff is gonna happen. It’s really quite based on scheduling, you know? We’re waiting on Johnny Depp. I’m not sure what my scene will be until they call me, because they haven’t called me yet, so right now nothing’s on the book.

Some of the members of Kings Of Chaos are the same as Hollywood Vampires. Are any of the same songs performed by both bands?

MS: We started doing “Ace Of Spades” [by Motorhead] and I sing it…I did a month with Motorhead as drummer…So people get to hear that, that’s pretty interesting.

I read that you guys were hoping to put together some EPs that will include some original music, is that something that still might happen.

MS: Oh yeah, I’m definitely pushing it in the direction of having original music that we could play live…and put it on the radio. I definitely want to really invent this into a proper group that records its own material, but I’m kind of organically letting that happen…I’m the leader in the band. I put together all the touring, hotel, airfares and all that stuff…I’d love to record some music next year, get some stuff on the radio and play it out.

You’ve always been at the center of projects at least for the past 20 years, in terms of organizing, putting people together, and you mentioned that you do a lot of managerial work for Kings Of Chaos. Did you ever ponder working in the A&R world?

MS: (laughs) Yeah, I actually have my own record label now. I’m putting out an artist next year. People come up to me and give me CD’s all the time and ask me to listen to their music…I mean, when I hear a great song, I’m like, “That song, it could be a hit.” But then there’s like, “What’s a hit?”…I have been doing some consulting for a couple of tech companies. My life is changing in a way that definitely, it’s more business-oriented. You know I still play music, but I have to put on that business cap, which is okay, I like it, it’s exciting…Then with Kings Of Chaos, I gotta get all these different musicians from Point A to Point B…It’s a lot of challenges theoretically, but when it all comes together, it’s great and everybody has a great time. So yeah, I like that kinda work. I could do that, yeah

When did you first become business-minded, I think most people just think of you as just a touring drummer up until probably Velvet Revolver happened.

MS: I gotta say it probably really kicked in around after Guns N’ Roses in ’96 when I left. I became more of a producer. I had a Top 40 single with an artist, Poe. I started producing music, I started doing music for films, so what happened was I actually diversified because I had to as a survival technique…In ’96, when the band broke up, I actually didn’t know where my career was headed. I was like, “Wow, I was just in the biggest band in the world, now I’m not. What’s going to happen next?” It was a weird time, so I started even thinking how was I going to get to a band again…It was really a survival thing like, “How am I going to make a living? How am I going to continue in music?”…That really kind of moved me up till when I got involved with Velvet Revolver. I really put on one of the leadership cap in that band, I was an equal partner.

I said this in my last interview. I said people ask me, “Why aren’t you in Guns N’ Roses?” I said, “Well, I wasn’t a partner in the group, I was a member of the group”…Partners own the name and they own the brand and the band. As a member you get paid separately, so I was a partner in Velvet Revolver and owned the company…I realized, “Well, I could help steer this vehicle,” when we made decisions we made them together, and sure I like the way that felt and we had success. We won a Grammy, we looked certain ways in the videos we had done, I was very involved in all of that, so I’m always a forward thinker. I like to think forward, I don’t like to go back, I like to move…I want to stay current, and obviously this band that I have is a mixture of classic heritage and a current band…It’s like being rejuvenated, it’s like a different feel, so that’s kind of my thing when it comes to music, business, the environment, fashion, everything, I’m always moving.

Does all the focus on Kings Of Chaos mean that there won’t be a follow-up to your last solo album Stratosphere anytime soon?

MS: No, I will do it. I have my own studio. It’s a kind of tough thing to do, it’s about writing a song and I started dabbling with songs. I put a lot of stuff in my iPhone and I’ve got to be careful not to lose it like Kirk Hammett (laughs), but I’ve got tons of ideas in there. Then what happens is I gotta sit down and figure out where am I going to go write the music, because last when I wrote Stratosphere, I took off for like two weeks by myself…I sat by myself and wrote songs and there was no one around. And then I went to the beach for about a week and I came out of that with an album, and I had all the words written and I really focused and…I went to the studio and produced it. I’ve got to take that time period again and to be alone and write the music.

There was a time and place for it but everything sounds great for you now. So in closing, Matt, any last words for the kids?

MS: Well hey, I just want them to come out and see our rock and roll show, because you’re going to dig it. It’s non-stop hits…It’s going to be a good time, great people on-stage and hope you come check it out. Go to www.kingsofchaosband.com, you can get tickets on there or go to Ticketmaster. Come rock with us, it’s a celebration. It’s right before Christmas, so what better way to go ho-ho-ho? It’s a Christmas present for your holiday season.

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Guitar hero Steve Stevens on his Dec. gigs with Kings Of Chaos, New York City, Billy Idol & more

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date December 12, 2016

As a successful musician for decades, Steve Stevens has a lot of claims to fame. As Billy Idol’s long-time guitarist, he co-wrote most of the Idol anthems still regularly heard around the world. He won a Grammy for his work on the “Top Gun Anthem” from the hit Tom Cruise movie. He has played on recordings by Michael Jackson, P!nk, Diana Ross, Joni Mitchell and Robert Palmer, to name a few key artists. Steve was also featured on the E! reality show Married To Rock as his wife Josie was one of its stars. In turn, it is not surprising that Steve has his own signature guitar via Knaggs Guitars, a signature amplifier via Friedman Amps, and signature guitar pickups via Bare Knuckles.

In 2016, Steve is still at it with Billy Idol; a new album, Kings & Queens On The Underground was released in October 2014. Notably, Steve also hits the road often as a guitarist in Kings Of Chaos. An all-star band featuring members of Guns N’ Roses, ZZ Top, Linkin Park, Slipknot and Stone Temple Pilots, Kings Of Chaos has gigs in the area this month. KOC can be seen at Montclair’s Wellmont Theater on Dec. 17, the following night at Long Island’s The Paramount, and a few days later at Irving Plaza on Dec. 21. In addition, Steve has a new solo album in the works.

Downtown caught up with Steve — a native New Yorker who lived downtown for years — for an interview via phone. More info on Steve and his upcoming shows with Kings Of Chaos can be found at www.kingsofchaosband.com.

I know that you were born in Brooklyn. Where in Brooklyn did you grow up?

Steve Stevens: I was born in Brooklyn, but my parents moved just to Far Rockaway by the time I was one and a half, two, so I grew up in Rockaway.

And you lived there until you moved to Manhattan?

SS: Yeah, pretty much so. By the time I was 16…I was in a cover band so I kind of moved out…The band was based in Ozone Park, Queens, so I’ve kind of lived in every borough of New York.

You and Billy first met in Manhattan?

SS: The band I was in before Billy Idol was managed by Bill Aucoin, who was the manager of KISS. And he had just brought Billy over from London. So I was still living actually, by then I was living in Kew Gardens, where my parents had moved to, so when I met Billy I was living there.

And where in Manhattan did you live over the years?

SS: My first place was on Jane Street over between West and Washington, so I was like right in the middle of Greenwich Village. And then I moved to Bleecker and Broadway, and I lived there until I moved to Los Angeles.

And when was it in your career that you moved to Los Angeles?

SS: I came out to do reunite with Billy, he had moved to L.A. And this is 1992, I believe…Different plan, let’s get together and do a record and I came out. Originally I was in a hotel, and I went into a residential hotel and got my first apartment, but I decided to live in L.A. officially like 20 years ago.

What was it that made you move out there? Was it just work or had you gotten tired of the weather here?

SS: Weather was never a factor, but a lot of musicians had moved out to L.A. and had started to…People would call to work with them, let’s say like Duff McKagan or someone, and everyone had a home studio and I thought, “Well that’s really cool, I want an environment at home that I could work in.” It seemed like a really hard thing to do in Manhattan, you always had to put money in the pockets of somebody else who had a recording studio, and I thought, “Well, I’d rather invest in it myself.”

And the environment, there just seemed to be a lot of musicians that I knew from New York that moved out here by then. New York is such a night city and stuff, and I’d made the decision to get sober as well, and I thought, “Well this is probably going to be so much easier, I can get In too much trouble in New York.” (laughs)

Sure. Do you remember the first venue that you ever played in Manhattan.

SS: Here in Manhattan we played Great Gildersleeve, which was the club right down the street from CBGB.

And then what was the first New York venue that you played with Billy?

SS: Max’s Kansas City. We played unannounced. We had found out it was closing and Billy had some friends who were [playing]…and we arranged to play unannounced. Because it was really important to us to play Max’s before it closed, so that was the very first Billy Idol gig.

So you have these East Coast dates with Kings Of Chaos. I understand that Billy Idol and you have some dates coming up in Vegas. What’s the next like six to twelve months looking like for you?

SS: Idol and I, we did our Vegas residency this year at the House Of Blues, which was just fantastic…We pulled out a lot of more obscure tunes off our records and when you’re in one venue for that long, you really gets to hone your show down. You get your lights exactly the way you want them. So we return to Vegas in March next year and I’m going to start recording another solo record…That kind of got put on the backburner for 2016, so that’s one of my priorities and I’m planning on doing a solo tour in Europe in April, and we’re just getting the dates together for that.

Do you have any hobbies when you’re not doing music?

SS: Hobbies…I don’t know, I do all the kind of same things that people like to do, I love films and all that kind of stuff, and my wife and I are a year overdue on a vacation, so we’re just now trying to find out where we’re going to go on vacation and kind of recharge our batteries.

Well, thinking about that for a second. You know a lot of people would go to Vegas for a vacation but that’s more of a working city for you and then you’re from New York and you live in Los Angeles. So you’re the kinds of people that would look to go somewhere remote?

SS: Yeah, absolutely. We try to get off the grid as much as possible.

Is there anything that you miss about New York and not having lived there for 20-something years?

SS: Yeah, I mean, the energy of the city is amazing and when I go to New York now I do all the things I used to make fun of tourists for doing, like going to Broadway plays. I guess growing up in New York, I went to High School Of The Performing Arts in Manhattan. So I kind of overlooked a lot of the things that Manhattan has to offer. So now when I go back, I make it a point to like hit up new restaurants and catch plays and things like that.

I think what I miss most is New Yorkers’ personalities because people will tell you exactly how they feel, and there’s not as much backstabbing. If somebody is pissed off at you, they’re going to tell you and you’ll either work it out or part ways or whatever. But I like the directness of New Yorkers…There’s an energy about New York that nowhere else has.

So finally, Steve, any last words for the kids?

SS: For the kids, yeah. People, come out and see Kings Of Chaos…Primarily we do it for the fun and just the catalog is just incredible and some of the players. And come on, just seeing Billy Gibbons and myself onstage, trading off solos and stuff. It’s a once-in-a lifetime experience.

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No Halloween Plans Yet? Q&A with 2 Great Bands: The Interrupters & Every Time I Die

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date October 20, 2016

Every Time I Die / Photo: Joshua Halling

If you ask five people what they are doing on Halloween, you are likely to get five different sorts of answers. One person may be staying in give out candy to the local trick-or-treaters. Another person may be hosting or attending a costume party. Another person may be going to a traditional annual event like a movie marathon. Another person may be concert-bound to see an electrifying live show. And maybe that fifth person wants nothing to do with the holiday, staying away from Halloween at all costs.

For music fans looking for something to do on Oct. 31 in Manhattan, there are plenty of options. The Interrupters, a Los Angeles-based ska-punk band on Hellcat Records, will be at The Highline Ballroom. The band — as comprised of vocalist Aimee Interrupter, guitarist Kevin Bivona, bassist Justin Bivona and drummer Jesse Bivona — formed in 2012 and is currently touring in support of this year’s Say It Out Loud. Every Time I Die, a metalcore quintet that is on Epitaph Records, will be headlining at Irving Plaza on the 31st. EITD formed in 1998 — vocalist Keith Buckley and guitarists Andy Williams and Jordan Buckley have been in the band since formation — with bassist Stephen Micciche and drummer Daniel Davison joining up in recent years.

Downtown asked the same set of questions to The Interrupters’ Justin Bivona and Every Time I Die’s Andy Williams about their upcoming New York City appearances, Halloween and more. The Interrupters can be visited online at www.wearetheinterrupters.com, while Every Time I Die is online at www.everytimeidie.net.

Where was the last gig you played on Halloween?

Justin Bivona of The Interrupters: In 2014, we played a pool party for Fest 13 at the Holiday Inn in Gainesville, FL. It was a lot of fun!

Andy Williams of Every Time I Die: Chicago, like four years ago at House Of Blues.

Any plans for a Halloween costume this year?

JB: We’ve been tossing some ideas around, but we don’t want to give too much away. You’ll have to come to the show to find out if we pull it off.

AW: We haven’t talked about it. It’s in New York City this year. Maybe I’ll just dress up as me from 2001.

Do you have a favorite Halloween costume from your childhood?

JB: I was a ninja for like four years in a row when I was little. I have no idea what the inspiration for that was, but it was always the go to costume.

AW: I was a clown for the first five years of my life. That was cool.

What do you remember about the first show you ever played in New York City?

JB: The first show we ever played in New York City was at Webster Hall in July 2015 with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Street Dogs. It was an amazing night! It had taken us so long to play a show in New York, to finally be on-stage playing for the people of this great city was kind of a dream come true.

AW: It was a super long time ago. I think it wasn’t even with ETID. It was Dec. 12t, 2000 and I played at CBGB, on second guitar for Blood Has Been Shed

Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?

JB: I know it’s not the type of restaurant you can sit down for a nice meal at, and it’s probably cliché to pick a pizza place, but Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn is the best I’ve ever had. Or if you can consider the Comedy Cellar a restaurant, we’ve had a couple great nights there laughing and eating mozzarella sticks.

AW: I like Red Bamboo a lot.

Is playing in New York City any different for you than it is in other cities?

JB: Of course! Obviously there’s no other city like New York City. The atmosphere, the energy, the people, and the overall vibe is always something we look forward to.

AW: Just a lot more hassle ’cause there’s really no place to park. The shows are great, but the city is just complicated.

What’s coming up for you after this tour wraps?

JB: In January and February, we’ll be supporting Green Day on their Revolution Radio Tour in the U.K. and Europe.

AW: I wrestle a few matches in Toronto and then we head over to Europe for a tour with ’68 and Drug Church.

When not busy with your band, how do you like to spend your free time?

JB: What is free time?

AW: I love training for wrestling and wrestling. Working out. That type of stuff. I’m old, so I’m also getting my bucket list stuff out of the way.

Finally, any last words for the kids?

JB: Don’t take candy from strangers, unless it’s Halloween.

AW: Always do what you do, like you mean it. Be you.

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KT Tunstall talks to Downtown, to headline Irving Plaza on Sept. 19

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date September 15, 2016

Close to a decade after she earned a degree from London’s prestiguous university Royal Holloway, KT Tunstall finally hit it big with 2004’s Eye To The Telescope. KT’s debut album — which took off in the U.K. in 2005 and then in the U.S. in 2006 — sold platinum in four countries. First single “Black Horse And The Cherry Tree” was the Q Magazine Awards’ Best Track honor, also earning a Grammy nomination, while third single “Suddenly I See” took the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song. More success followed with 2007’s gold-selling Drastic Fantastic and additional charting singles like “Hold On,” “If Only,” and “(Still A) Weirdo.”

KT took a break after 2013’s Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon, moving to California and taking on work as a film composer. However, she returned to form with 2016’s KIN, as produced by Tony Hoffer. Released on Sept. 9 via Sony/ATV, first single “Maybe It’s A Good Thing” — which came out in July — is an admitted “pop song” from the Scottish native. KIN also features a rare duet for KT as she sings with English singer/songwriter James Bay on “Two Way.”

In support of KIN, KT Tunstall makes a return to Irving Plaza on Monday, Sept. 19. She spoke to Downtown about KIN, what to expect at her downtown Manhattan show, and plenty more. KT can be visited online at www.kttunstall.com and followed on both Twitter and Facebook.

What do you remember about the first gig you ever played in New York? Where was it?

KT Tunstall: Oh wow! I think it was at Hotel Cafe — if I remember rightly, the Broken Social Scene guys and girls were in town and they let me crash there for the night. I couldn’t believe I was actually playing a show in New York City. It was like a waking dream.

Beyond being a great song, one thing I find interesting about “Suddenly I See” is the long life it had. It came out as a single in 2005, then later was in movies, TV, commercials and video games over the next few years. When you wrote the song, did you know it was going to be a single?

KT: I had NO idea! It was one of those crazy quick songs that I wrote in about half an hour. Turned out to be one of the best 30 minutes of my life! I was living in a dingy basement flat in North London, looking at the cover of Patti Smith’s Horses. I wrote the song the same as I would any other. I knew it was catchy, but I had no inkling of what was about to happen.

Some artists love performing their hits because it perks up the crowd. Other artists don’t like performing hits because they like focusing on their newer material. How do you feel?

KT: Well, I like both of those things and at the moment I’m getting to enjoy all of it! I’m glad I didn’t become famous off the back of depressing songs, or even slow songs, that would make it a lot harder. It’s pretty amazing seeing someone’s relationship with your song play out right in front of the stage and then just grin back at them.

Do you have a favorite song to perform live?

KT: At the moment, my favorite song to perform is a new one called “It Took Me So Long To Get Here, But Here I Am.” It’s the emotional mission statement of my new album, and is very uplifting — a real sing-along song. I teach the audience the chorus beforehand and they belt it out and dance along even though they’ve never heard it before. I’ll miss teaching it to everyone once the record is out!

I’ve read that you moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a soundtrack composer. Where did the idea for that come from?

KT: I had wanted to get involved with film music for many years but never found time. My main inspiration for film scoring came from hearing The Life Aquatic by Mark Mothersbaugh of DEVO. It was the first time I’d heard a brilliant mixture of contemporary experimental, sometime-humorous modern music married with orchestral arrangement. Brilliant.

You’re putting out a new album, KIN, in September. Is your plan for the future to split time between composing and your solo career?

KT: Thankfully, there is room for both simultaneously as I tour. I recently contributed towards the score for the Mila Kunis movie Bad Moms alongside great composer Christopher Lennertz, and it was very liberating to know that all I needed was my laptop, headphones and a mic.

Do you have plans to co-write for other artists? Or is that something you’ve already done?

KT: I actually haven’t done it much, and I’m really into the idea. I haven’t had the head space to do it in the past. But it does really appeal now, flexing some different creative muscles!

How did your collaboration with James Bay on the new album come about?

KT: We met on the Jools Holland Hootenanny last New Year’s. I was about to start recording the album, and I had read that he was a fan of my music. He absolutely blew the roof off at Jools. A few days after the show, I remembered this song I had half-written that I wanted to be a duet. I dropped him a line and said, “I know you’re busy owning the planet right now, but do you fancy writing some writing and singing a song on my new album?” He was bang up for it! We had a great time recording that song, and I really love his performance and writing on it.

Any chance of a future collaboration with former tourmate Steve Schiltz from Hurricane Bells on a future recording?

KT: Ahhh, Steve! We love Mr Schiltz. What a talent. He’d be a great person to collaborate with, for sure.

When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?

KT: With my love, surrounded by nature! Or in a movie theatre with very large bags of peanut M&M’s and popcorn. I’m also a really keen skier and try and get out for a week or two in the winter. But living in Venice Beach has changed my life, I love my downtime just chilling with the palm trees and riding my bike.

If you have a free moment while in town for your Irving Plaza show, is there a place you must go to?

KT: I love the Frick Collection. It’s such a beautiful, tranquil space with some really diverse art, and after taking that in I can pop over the street for a stroll in Central Park.

Finally, KT, any last words for the kids?

KT: Yeah! You are enough! Don’t waste any of your precious, beautiful life on anyone who tells you otherwise! And also, come to my show. I’ll rock your socks off.

Tags central park, Christopher Lennertz, DEVO, Frick Collection, Irving Plaza, James Bay, Jools Holland, KIN, KT Tunstall, Los Angeles, Mark Mothersbaugh, mila kunis, Patti Smith, Steve Schiltz, Tony Hoffer, Venice Beach

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Ride’s Andy Bell talks Irving Plaza shows, Oasis and old New York

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date September 4, 2015

Imagine co-founding one of the most influential British bands of the 1990s, going on to inspire bands like Coldplay, Ash and Death Cab For Cutie. Then for your next band, you pump out a few more hit singles. Then you join Oasis, arguably the most successful English band of the past two decades, for 10 years. Then once Oasis disbands, its lead singer requests that you join his next band. Then shortly after Beady Eye fizzles out, your original influential band reunited. Well, such has been life for Ride frontman Andy Bell.

While Ride did experience international chart success with 1990’s Nowhere, most of their acclaim in the U.S. came from critics. But time has been very kind to Ride’s legacy since their 1996 breakup, with Nowhere finding its way onto a myriad of lists including Pitchfork’s “Top 100 Albums Of The Nineties” and Spin’s “The 300 Best Albums On The Past 30 Years.” In turn, it may have surprised many that Ride easily sold out New York City’s Terminal 5 – with a reported capacity of 3,000 – and Music Hall Of Williamsburg back in June.

Alas, Ride are back in New York by popular demand with a pair of September 2015 gigs. On September 21st and 22nd, they will be playing at Irving Plaza, as presented by Live Nation and Noisey. The billing for the show on the 22nd will come from Montreal quartet The Besnard Lakes, two-time Polaris Music Prize nominees.

In support of these Irving Plaza gigs, Andy Bell kindly entertained some questions from me for Downtown. While Ride is likely to be continuing past this tour, per Andy’s answers, plenty of other Andy-related music is the pipeline. He recently scored the forthcoming Steve Marriott biopic titled The Midnight Of My Life, produced the fifth album by Sweden’s Weeping Willows, and has worked on remixes for the likes JMRS and Penguins Rising.

However, none of this is meant to take anything away from the other three-fourths of Ride. Guitarist and co-songwriter Mark Gardener has been releasing solo albums – including a 2003 live album that was recorded at Manhattan’s Knitting Factory – beyond writing and producing for other artists. Drummer Lawrence “Loz” Colbert, sometimes referred to as “the shoegaze Keith Moon,” plays with Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes. Bassist Steve Queralt walked away from life as a professional musician after Ride’s initial disbanding in 1996, but has been back in the fold since the 2014 reunion. Alas, you have a classic lineup set to sell out Irving Plaza twice.

You’ve always managed to work, as you jumped from Ride to Hurricane #1, then had Oasis and Beady Eye tenures with some short Ride reunions and Grapefruit solo work added in. Is this the product of luck?

Andy Bell: After Ride, I was initially going to do a solo album, but [Creation Records founder] Alan McGee persuaded me to put a band together. That was Hurricane #1. When that finished, I was taking some time out and during that time I was contacted by Oasis, which eventually led into Beady Eye. It’s all kind of flowed into the next thing. I never considered stopping. I will always make music and I have a strong work ethic.

Have you ever had interest in revisiting the Hurricane #1 period of your career?

A: I’m proud of what we did as a band, but I don’t have any plans to revisit that era. The band have recently reformed and started doing shows and I think an album is on the way.

There’s a rumor that in your early tenure with Oasis, that you were paid £85 a night. Is that true?

A: Not true. Actually I used to pay Oasis £85 a night to be in the band.

Per your upcoming tour dates, is Ride back for good? Or is the band taking it one tour at a time?

A: We are blown away by the reaction we’ve received. From an initial announcement of three weeks of gigs, it has become an eight-month world tour. Our plan is to take this all around the world and then see how we feel about stuff then.

Matthew Caws from Nada Surf once told me that Ride was the loudest band he ever saw live. For those likely to attend one of your Irving Plaza shows, should the same loudness be expected?

A: We do like volume. Usually we are about as loud as the venue will take. Some places have sound restrictions — hopefully that doesn’t apply to the Irving Plaza. But don’t worry, it’s not a sound that hurts…much.

What do you remember about your first-ever gig in New York City?

A: New York was different place in 1990 than it is now. Edgier, felt a lot more dangerous to be out and about. The gig I don’t remember much about, but I definitely remember New York for the first time. I felt like Jon Voight when he arrives in New York in Midnight Cowboy.

People tend to know your discography, but little about Andy Bell the person. Is there something you wish more people knew about you?

A: I let the music do the talking, there’s not much more to me anyway!

What’s ahead for you once those Ride tour has wrapped? Any production gigs?

A: When I’m not doing Ride, I continue to work on other stuff, such as scoring for film and TV, writing collaborations, the occasional remix, very occasional DJ gigs. I still would like to put out my own record some day.

Who is the best band in the world that our readers may not currently know about?

A: Planet, from Sydney, Australia.

Finally, Andy, any last words for the kids?

A: As Phil Spector said: “Be good to rock and roll, and rock and roll will be good to you.”

-by Darren Paltrowitz

Tags andy bell, beady eye, english bands, Irving Plaza, Live Music, Oasis, ride, upcoming concerts