In addition to the hard working kids at the Wisconsin Union Directorate, Muzzle of Bees is proud to help present the fantastic double bill of Los Campesinos! and Titus Andronicus.
The show is free and takes place at the University of Wisconsin’s Der Rathskeller on Friday, February 6th. We’ll have some great giveaways in the coming days in add
You released two records last year. Could you lend some information on the recording process of Hold on Now, Youngster and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed?
Both were recorded in North America and both involved the large consumptions of illegal drugs, questionable sex with groupies and cardigan burning. But in all seriousness they were glorious, we got to work with two very different and amazing producers and push our musical abilities in a lot of unexpected directions (I played the feet of a organ, who would have thought?) Also the studio assistant in Seattle made the most amazing lattes.
Who did the artwork for Hold on Now, Youngster… and how did that come to be?
Sarah Lippett (www.crayonlegs.com) is her name and she is a friend of Gareth’s from Brighton whose work he glimpsed and fell in love with. She wears amazing glasses and is extremely talented. Go look at her website and send her butter milk muffins.
The internet has dramatically altered the way artists can reach an audience. With things like blogs/myspace/etc, what are your thoughts on the power of the internet in terms of helping (or hurting) your music?
We realize that the internet is obviously mostly the reason why we are in the position we are in now, (although I am a bit hungry and I don’t think it is responsible for that, I asked my boyfriend to get me a Kinder egg from the shop and he forgot, so this is mostly his fault.) Without this wonderful cube of fun in front of me, people would never have heard our demos in the first place, and foolishly given us the chance to impress/disappoint them, and we may have had to actually work a lot harder for what we have achieved (like the bands did in the 1960’s.) It does spoil us, but it also can mean there is so much choice that you get a little bit overwhelmed and scared…. well, at least I do. The leaking of records thing is annoying though, it’s like premature ejaculation. Disappointing. It is best to wait and then download it.
2008 just came to an end. We saw a lot of great concerts and heard a lot of great records. Anything from last year that really stood out for you?
Amanda Palmer’s solo album/tour was a highlight, as was being on tour with Parenthetical Girls and No Age and Times New Viking. We were privileged to be able to watch these amazing bands every night, and wonder why the hell we were not supporting them. I also discovered Venetian Snares, which would be amazing to see live, if not trippy and mind boggling.
Can fans expect a resuscitated Los Campesinos! blog once you being your US tour with Titus Andronicus?
Yes! Myself and Alek are warming up our nimble fingers as we speak…. we have had a bit of time off to prepare ourselves for this tour (so forgive us if we are old on and rusty onstage) so haven’t had a lot to write about.
I did want to post a special entry when I got all four series of Battlestar Gallatica, but realized this did not really qualify as “news.”
I will also be writing a rival blog for venuszine, and by rival I mean as rambling and self involved as my contributions to our blog. Also myself and Alek are genuinely shocked/touched (in a sexy manner) when people actually read or ask about our blog, so thank you for caring.
Buy: Los Campesinos!
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Myspace: Los Campesinos!
MP3: Los Campesinos! – “We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed”
