SXSW Interviews: PINS
We’re so close to SXSW I can almost taste it, and this time we get to take a look at PINS with our interview sessions for the festival. These Manchester ladies have made quite a name for themselves with the recent release of their album Wild Things. Let’s take a look at what the band had to say on their way to Austin.
ATH:For a lot of bands, this is their first time coming to SXSW, Austin, or even the United States.What are you anticipating for your arrival into our town? Anything youre really hoping to do while youre here?
Faith:It’s our second time at SXSW, last time was wild so we have high hope for this year. I’m most excited for some sunshine.
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?
Faith: Half hour of power! SXSW is an endurance test and half the battle is how one copes with shitty stage sound and knackered backline. For us it’s going to be more about giving people a peep of how fun our live shows can be.
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?
Faith: Anything vegan! It can be tricky on the road. We all like to cook so of we ever stay anywhere with a kitchen then we have a big family meal.
ATH:Describe the music community where you come from?Does everyone work together? Is there lots of competition?
Faith:We are hardly there but when we first started out we played in Manchester a lot and it was very supportive.
ATH:What are a few bands we might not know about, being in the States, that should be on everyones musical radar?
Faith: Peace and Love Barbershop Muhammad Ali – they just opened for us on all of our UK dates.
Lois: Bernard and Edith, and Money, Hookworms, Drenge
ATH:Let’s say your band has been booked an official showcase at a pop up venue somewhere in the middle of 6th street (where a lot of shows are set up).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 angry at the world.How would your band deal with such a situation?
Faith: Wh we would have fun anyway.
Lois: That sounds like the perfect scenario for the perfect show. So much tension.
ATH:What’s your favorite album to come out in the last year?What’s playing in the tour bus/van?
Faith: The current van didn’t have Bluetooth so we have been bringing CDs along for the ride.. There’s been a lot of Coachwhips, Stooges and top 20 ballads, a real mixed bag.
ATH:The digital age is upon us, like it or not.What are your band’s thoughts on streaming services like spotify, pandora, etc.?Blow em all up?Or embrace the future?
Faith: I don’t mind it
ATH:Clearly coming over to the States to play shows is something a lot of bands are excited about, but what are some other life or musical highlights for you this year? Wed like to get to know you.
Lois: So much in the past year! touring and playing live is the best part for me, we’re in Europe at the moment. We just played with Night Beats in Amsterdam and they were great. We get to see so many new bands as we travel about, some of my favourites were Sunflower Bean, Hinds, Peace and Love Barbershop Muhammed Ali, the Consolers in Hamburg, and Pink Kink from Liverpool, we’re also playing cosmosis festival in Manchester in a few days and the line up is incredible, that’s gonna be a fun day.
ATH:This is important to us, although a lot of music people scoff at sports.Do you have a pick for the winner of this years up-coming Euro Cup? Also, is it rude for us to assume that everyone loves soccer/football outside of the US?
Lois: I think I can answer both questions by saying none of us really follow football, even though we have two teams in Manchester.
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