SXSW Interview: BODEGA

Earlier this week BODEGA announced they’ll be working with What’s Your Rupture to release their new LP. With that came the additional buzz as the band head from Brooklyn to Austin for SXSW, bringing a blend of creatively arty rock n’ roll. If you’re looking for that act that everyone will rave about when the fest is over, I have a feeling this might be the one. Click on for their answers to our little interview! Including the hot gossip on their label boss and his disdain for cheese! Who doesn’t like cheese?!

ATH: Every Year there is a lot of hubbub concerning corporate sponsors and pay to play and what not at SXSW. As a band, what’s your reason for coming to play at the festival? What do you hope to get out of it?

BODEGA: We are yet to play outside the concrete confines of New York Citys Burroughs. Our journey has been insular so far and its time to show ourselves off in the lightmeaning some place sunny. Besides wanting to sucede from the union and things being really big you also have a lot of sun, right? Ill definitely be lathered in SPF 50 regardless. What do we hope to get out of it? A lot of Texas shaped trinkets to give our other New York friends who need to be reminded that there is a world outside the concrete jungle. And maybe some nice pens with corporate logos.

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?

BODEGA: We are a live band. We do not play the same set twice. We will show up and do what we do and it will be shocking. Will you be there?

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?

BODEGA: With my new a pressure cooker, the band will live exclusively off vegetable curry and ratatouille with bi-weekly sushi rations. Ben and Nikki like beer and Montana, Heather, and I like red wineIll say Ctes du Rhne. Aaand just throwing this out there but Kevin, who runs our label doesnt eat cheese,come on, who doesnt like cheese?

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.

BODEGA: Brooklyn bands, we love you, but were all leaving the nest and its time to have new experiences and meet other people from the far reaches of the country like New Jersey, Virginia, and Texas. That said, my homies in Gustaf will be there, theyre the exception. Ohhh and Ought, Shopping, and OMNI are playing SXSW? They rule.

ATH: We are partial to SXSW obviously, but what festival do you feel is the best around?

BODEGA: CREEPY TEEPEE in Kutn Hora outside of Prague, Czech Republic was been the best festival Ive yet to experience. Czech kids are the coolest, they definitely refined line drawing tattoos and nose chains. Also, theres a castle with a basement full of human skulls.

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 angry at the world. How would your band deal with such a situation?

BODEGA: That sounds amazingwhens that going down? Thats the beauty of being a live band where everyone plays an instrument. Were upright, walking, talking grooving apes just trying to make a connection with the people around us.

ATH: What’s your favorite album to come out in the last year? What’s playing in the tour bus?

BODEGA: Tour bus!? TOUR BUS!? Meet Me in the Bathroom era rock was the last time I imagine any band having a tour bus. We take subway to shows and to the airport. Well be flying in so that means 4-5 movies on a 5×5 inch screen, David Lynch would be livid. As Ben sings I am not a cinephile, but honestly hes lying.

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