SXSW Interviews: Painted Palms

Painted Palms is a band that we’ve really gotten into over the last year with their upbeat, catchy singles that are continually ringing in our ears.  To say we’re excited to see the group during SXSW would be a major understatement.  We’re pumped.  Founding father of the band Chris Prudhomme was kind enough to answer our burning questions and his responses can be found below.

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?

Chris: We just released an album so we’re ready to tour and share it with people, and hopefully create more opportunities for our band. SXSW is a festival we’ve been wanting to play for a while. Plus Austin is one of our favorite cities in the country.

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?

Chris: Yeah, we do. We like energetic shows so we try to construct a set that gets more exciting as it moves forward, in the spirit of a dance party.

ATH: The festival caters to music fans, but food and booze are an important aspect of the fans and the bands.  

Chris: What’s your band’s food and beverage of choice? Tacos and beer. Lately a lot of tequila.

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.

Chris: There are so many bands it’s impossible, but I think Gary Numan and Teengirl Fantasy would be a sweet bill.

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

Chris: I haven’t been to a festival in a long time. There’s one called Festival International de Louisiane that happens once a year in my hometown in Lafayette, Louisiana. That’s probably the most fun I’ve had at a festival.

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?

Chris: Sometimes you gotta laugh in situations where there’s no possibility of a good outcome. I think we’d just try to play a really good show. I might try to tell a joke and totally bomb.

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

Chris: Jai Paul’s leaked demos. It depends on who is in control, but typically a lot of hip hop, a lot of hits. Occasionally some classical piano stuff when it suits the vibe.

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?

Chris: I don’t think embracing Spotify and Pandora is necessarily the same as embracing the future, but at this point in time I don’t mind that our music or music in general is widely available for people at little to no cost.

Thanks again Chris for the time!