SXSW Interview: Typesetter
SXSW is how soon you say? Hard to believe we are just a short couple of weeks away at this point. I’m not sure any of us are ever fully prepared, but we will find a way to power through. Speaking of powering through, I’m excited today to share with you a new interview with up and coming Chicago punks Typesetter. I’m personally pretty pumped to catch their live set during the week. Follow the jump to see what they have to say.
All answers from guitarist Marc Bannes.
ATH: There was a lot of hubbub last year concerning corporate sponsors and pay to play and what not at SXSW. As a band, what’s your reason for coming to pay at the festival? What do you hope to get out of it?
The same thing we get out of every show – the chance to improve our craft and share our art with a new audience. A festival the size of SXSW increases your reach and allows you to hang out with musicians, artists, agents, actors, comedians, foodies, beer lovers – generally very rad people.
ATH: For most SXSW sets, you get 30 minutes to leave a lasting impression. What’s your plan of attack? You have a set list mapped out yet?
We write set lists day of show. We know how to present ourselves effectively but we rarely play the same set twice in a row. It keeps things fresh for us and allows for experimentation. Our plan of attack is simply to play the songs we love the best we can.
ATH: The festival caters to music fans, but food and booze are an important aspect of the fans and the bands. What’s your band’s food and beverage of choice?
3/4 of the band are vegans and we’re total nerds about food. We love giant burritos, veggie burgers, Asian, Mediterranean, Indian – you name it. We plan on spending a lot of time slamming veggie dogs and Lone Star at Frank!
ATH: There are tons of bands coming into town. Who would you ideally like to play with of the 1000s of bands gracing our city? Make your own optimal line-up.
Tough question. So many cool bands to choose from… 1: Weedeater. From whence all stoner/doom came. 2: Cloud Nothings. Easily the catchiest indie/punk band playing right now. Every song is brilliant. 3: Run the Jewels, and I would get to take the mic for “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck).” 4: Single Mothers. We’ve played with them, but I saw them play a secret set at Fest in October and the singer threw his mic stand into the crowd, stuck his fingers in my mouth and threw me off the stage. My elbow is still messed up. 5: Waxahatchee. So stoked to hear the new record.
ATH: Let’s say your band has been booked an official showcase at a pop up venue somewhere in the middle of 6th street. The lineup features thrash metal, hip-hop, spoken word, and you. The sound is horrible, the lineup is not your style, and the crowd seems drunk and angry at the world. How would your band deal with such a situation?
This is hypothetical? We’ve played this show before, and I’m sure we will again! For the record, I love thrash metal, hip hop and spoken word. We drink a little more and still play our best. It’s really tough for us to not have fun playing Typesetter songs.
ATH: What’s your favorite album to come out in the last year? What’s playing in the tour bus?
The Sidekicks – Runners in the Nerved World. Angel Olson – Burn Your Fire for No Witness. Cayetana – Nervous Like Me. FKA Twigs – LP1. The new Kendrick Lamar singles. Fucked Up – Glass Boys.
ATH: Day parties have replaced showcases for music discovery? Is the conference really completely upside-down?
No. The party goes on, 24 hours a day.
ATH: Band catch phrase in 5 words or less.
A burrito and beer, please.
Typesetter have a new album entitled Wild’s End available for purchase and full stream on bandcamp.