The88 is turning heads and taking names. They have appeared on MTV, Carson Daly, been featured in Spin, selling out shows and entertaining everyone with a unique throwback sound that is simply put pleasing. 1340magazine caught up with the group in Pittsburgh.
1340: There is so much buzz right now with The88 does it make you focus away from the music and more towards things like a label etc?
Keith Slettedahl : I think you have to remember how we have gotten all of these great things that have happened to the band. It wasn’t about making a certain kind of music, or even getting any of that stuff. I think it gets tricky as it goes on. I think that is the real challenge to remain focused on what is important. To keep doing music that you actually believe in, and not worry about “oh is this going to get placed in this tv show or should we make it sound more like this?"
Adam Merrin : I think also if you don’t have expectations, all of these things that come up, like a positive review, or a song in a movie, then it just keeps it all that much more exciting. If you have these hopes like we have to get to here at this point, or at this time, then if you don’t get there, you are always getting let down. It could get frustrating. I think if you just take it day by day, and as it comes, then it keeps everything very exciting. So all these things and the buzz you are talking about has been great it keeps the momentum going but it doesn‘t take focus away from the music.
It is fun. There is always something new we can talk about, and share with friends and family. It has been a blast. It is a trip. We never thought that it was going to get to this point. When we were making the first record especially, we just kind of put some songs together and made our first album without ever thinking, oh its going to get into a tv show or this many reviews. It was our first time doing anything like that. On the other hand things did happen and the buzz did put us in a place where I think we have pushed ourselves to outdo the first record. Just put so much hard work into it, and just do the best we can do and make something we all could be proud of, because we did know now people are going to be watching and waiting to see what the next thing from us is going to be.
1340: I was reading that you guys matured and expanded your art, do you feel you have expanded with this album?
Keith Slettedahl : I think it sounds different then the first one. Hopefully it does. I’d like to believe that. They are just very different records in the way we went about making them. We worked with a producer for the first time on the second one. We focused more on trying to get more of a live feel to the songs. We had been playing a lot of the songs live for awhile, which is a very different feel. We kind of went in with that approach, lets try to keep it how we sound. If anything our songs have gotten more straight ahead, but honestly it’s a natural progression. I don’t think it has anything to do with artistic growth or integrity.
Adam Merrin: The next record we do, what we were talking about was making it more spontaneous. Just waking up in the morning going in and having everyone playing and see what comes out. We do that in rehearsals and sound checks. I really want to try that process in recording. We really want to keep it fresh and just magical. See what happens in the moment, which we seem to do all the time, but we need to do it when someone is in there hitting the record button
1340: What is it like gigging so much is it hard, fun, both?
Brandon Jay : Oh it is great man. We love to play so we take every oppurtunity we can. I mean on the road in some instances we have knocked ourselves out. I mean a radio thing in the morning and then play a show at night. We try to pick and choose our battles cause on top of traveling it can be hard, and we absolutely don’t want to have a performance suffer because we were kind of worn. We love any opportunity to play and we are up for it anytime. We love the different people, the new audiences it is what we love to do. We will continue to do as much as we can.
1340: Are politics important at all in your work?
Keith Slettedahl: No. Our band keeps it separate. Bands that do have political messages that is fine, but it is not us. We don’t have a political message. The88 is more of a fun band. We do it for the love of music, and other reasons. I don’t think it is bad that bands have something to say it isn’t us.
Adam Merrin: I think we all have individual beliefs. The benefit we recently played I think we did feel, "yeah we believe in this we will get behind it." We don’t seek out things like that though, and lyrically or in interviews it doens't come into play. We just focus on music. It doesn’t mean we don’t have certain ethical beliefs we all do but our music, it is just enternment.
1340: Is it nice to expose things to people on east coast or other areas that aren't used to your unique sound etc.
Brandon Jay : We don't know what music is specific to each town everywhere has certain music or lack of, we just do what we do and it seems we get a good response.
1340: Tell me about your attire.
Keith Slettedahl: You ever heard that song sharp dressed man? We learned a lot from that song John (laughs) We started wearing suits from when we started. I myself always have, since my first band. It started out kinda as paying homage to jazz and blues guys we looked up too, and thought they looked good. We all kind of believe in making it a special event when we play. We look good. We are going to play good, not just a bunch of guys that roll in a club to play. We have done it so long I don’t even remember what is what like not too.
Brandon Jay: It use to be that everyone wore suits, matching suits and dressed up. It is more of a homage to that. So it's like it's become the norm to be casual now. Not for us. We are used to putting our game on, our uniform in a way.
Adam Merrin: Absolutly, it's all the stuff we grew up loving. We were young seeing a bunch of guys dressed up playing music. It's cool. Rock has gone through all different kinds of eras you know, the looks so its all different stuff, but that is what we thought was coolest a bunch of guys dressed up doing rock music.
1340: What music is in your CD collection?
Keith Slettedahl: My favorite music is older music. The Beatles, The Kinks, Dylan, David Bowie, the whole 60’s era, The Stones, we all listen to different stuff, and we are into other bands as well. There is no one we try to sound like though.
1340: What was it like being on tv?(HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS). May 1 episode)
Keith Slettedahl: It was fun. It was kind of scary. I was nervous. It was great to see how the show works, and to get that kind of exposure.
Adam Merrin: Any bands goal is to reach more people. It was cool. It happened genuine too which meant a ton to us.. It turned others to us, and they tell friends. It's great we are thrilled about it. I always wanted to be in a position where my favorite bands were. When I watch documentarys and footage I always dreampt to be doing what they were. These steps all this excitement it is cool. To see when you put your mind and work really hard at something it happen. I just now believe anyone can do what their goals are.
1340: You guys were picked for the show because the producers of the show heard you and liked you? What is it like to have fans like that?
Keith Slettedahl: All fans are cherished man. It doesn’t mean anymore though if it is someone that works for tv or a paper or a regular joe. Maybe they can do something, but we cherish any fan, it is an incredible feeling to have them.
1340: MYSPACE and fan exposure seems important to you guys.
Keith Slettedahl: After every show we are always out meeting people and I love it. I like hearing peoples comments and reactions and as far as myspace it has helped us to spread out and meet more people. We try to respond to as many people as we can.
Brandon Jay: It is nice to get feedback and be able to sit on your computer and interact. It closes the gap between fans and bands. What would happen years back it wasn't possible. It is interesting that now as a kid you can ask a question meet someone, it is cool. That avenue has opened myspace has opened up communications sometimes for the first time.
1340: What is next for you guys.
Adam Merrin: That is simple. When we get back from this trip we will get in the studio and do some recording. |
