SXSW Interview: Living Body

I posted about Living Body last year, just as they were about to release Body is Working, their latest LP. It’s a great collection of pop songs, with some longer tunes to really focus on the band’s songwriting. We caught up with Jeff Smith and tossed him our questionnaire. The band will be touring the US throughout March, including a date on March 17th at Esther Follies for SXSW.

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 (again) while youre here?

JS: Im actually a US ex-pat living in the UK, so Ive toured the US a few times and played a couple of shows in Austin in the past with my previous solo project, though this is my first time at SXSW with this band. Obviously the US is a lot bigger than the UK, so well definitely be doing lots of driving, though Id be lying if I said thats the bit I was really looking forward to. Really, just having a good time playing these songs after so much logistical planning and organizing is going to be a joy in itself. Im probably going to stuff my face with BBQ and Mexican food too, because people in the UK have no idea how to make that stuff.

ATH:For most SXSW sets, you get 30 minutes to leave a lasting impression. Whats your plan of attack? You have a set list mapped out yet?

JS: I think its important for a musician to take each show seriously and try to play the songs the best they possibly can all the time. However, you cant take yourself too seriously or youll never have fun, and music is supposed to be fun, right? SXSW is no different in that respect, though well obviously be doing everything we can to reach for that elusive magical ingredient that makes live performance so vital and important; something to do with a real telepathic level of connection between the people in the room both on and off the stage.

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

JS: Actually, my real job is working at one of the UKs top beer retailers, so Ill probably be doing my best to sniff out dank fresh US IPAs when we have some time off. Also, ice cream sandwiches.

ATH:Describe the music community where you come from – Does everyone work together? Is there lots of competition?

JS: The city of Leeds is a very collaborative, workmanlike, mutually supportive entity. In fact, thats entirely how Living Body came to be. Everyone in this band plays in other bands, and we all met through the citys uniquely inclusive music scene. It feels like everyone here is always working together rather than against one another, and though there might be some competition, its more that the bands here are just trying to be really tight, write really good songs, and make really great art, rather than outdo one other in some career-oriented way. I dont think I could live somewhere without that healthy collaborative spirit.

ATH:What are a few bands we in Austin and the States might not know about that should be on everyones musical radar?

JS: I guess I should take this opportunity to tell you about some UK bands and artists who we have played with and loved, that will have never made it to the US, at least yet: Ten Sticks, Matthew Bourne, Bilge Pump, Bearfoot Beware, Olympians, Mi Mye, and Magnapinna.

ATH: Lets say your band has been booked an official showcase at apop upvenue 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?

JS: Sometimes the best gigs can come out of situations like this, as a direct cathartic response. Here, a performance can resonate with people and bring a degree of positivity into their lives, almost like an exorcism. Ive played hundreds of shows, so no terrible PA is every going to surprise me.

ATH:Whats your favorite album to come out in the last year? Whats playing in the tour bus/van?

JS: Colin Stetson is a real innovator. I opened up for him in Leeds last year, and his reworking of Henryk Goreckis 3rd Symphony, Sorrow, was a real highlight for me in terms of 2016 releases. In addition, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (Skeleton Tree), The Notwist (Superheroes, Ghostvillans & Stuff), Deerhoof (The Magic), Tortotise (The Catastrophist), Tim The Mute (Take My Life Please!) and Adam Betts (Colossal Squid) are all worth checking out. Sometimes in the van you need to blow the cobwebs out of your brain, and The Minutemen or Creedence Clearwater Revival is good for this job.

ATH:What are your bands thoughts on and experiences with streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, Youtube etc? Are you sticking to services like Bandcamp to sell and distribute?

JS: Were on all the platforms you mention, but obviously wed prefer it if everyone bought physical copies. You cant put your arms around streaming media, and we put a lot of work into our LPs appearance and packaging, as well as the sound and songwriting. In this modern climate of unequal wealth and undervalued arts, nothing can directly benefit artists as much as a trip to the merch stand.

ATH:Clearly coming over to theSxSWto 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.

JS: We have a tour of the US thats about a month and a half long booked around SXSW (dates posted below). The tour also includes Canadian Music Week in Toronto and lots of other shows, playing with artists we love like Birthmark, Dosh and Ghostband, Dan Friel, etc. The tour kicks off in the UK with a few gigs over here before we fly out including Outlines Festival in Sheffield, and we have some UK festivals in the summer we are pretty excited about too.

ATH:Arent you happy we didnt ask about Trump?

JS: But you did, didnt you?

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