SXSW Interview: The Black Drumset
Looks like our SXSW portion of today is geared towards introducing you to a few acts playing our ATH vs SOTO party, which is an all local show over at Hotel Vegas on March 10th. But, we realize there will be lost of travelers in town, so let us introduce you to the Black Drumset today, in hopes you’ll come out and see them; it’s FREE!
ATH: Whats the name of the band/group? Where are you from?
TBD: The Black Drumset. I grew up in Alabama and spent many years in New York and Chicago before arriving in Austin almost 14 years ago.
ATH: Describe your groups sound.
TBD: It has been described as cinematic and compared to a really wide variety of bands and genres. There are elements of psych-rock, post-rock, drone, shoegaze, soundtrack music, with drums and percussion being central to everything.
ATH: What was your most recent release? Any planned releases from 2019?
TBD: The new album, Charged, comes out on March 8th. It will be my first album in 10 years (damn).
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?
TBD: The band should have two drummers and we’ve only got one right now, so we had to make a quick set with the songs most playable with just one drummer. Hyun Moraes, the new drummer I’ve just started working with, is up to the task and well play extended versions of a few songs from the new album. This will be the very first show with a new lineup and brand new material.
ATH: Lets 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?
TBD: Always just play your ass off, have fun, and hope it resonates with someone.
ATH: There are tons of bands coming into town. Of the 1000+ bands coming into town, who would you ideally like to play with. What band friends will be here?
TBD: The artists I’m most excited about this year are Ligua Ignota and Nanook of the North, though I’m not sure I make a lot of sense on a bill with those artists, so lets say Swervedriver, a favorite from my youth. My friend Josiah Mazzaschi is playing with his band Bizuo from Los Angeles.
ATH: What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus?
TBD: Dalek, Nadine Shah, Public Memory, Bombino, EERA, Abul Mogard
ATH: Describe your perfect festival, real or not? Whos headlining? Wheres it take place? Etc.
TBD: The perfect fest would be relatively small with a lot of international artists. Location – someplace warm and beautiful, near a large body of water.
ATH: Whats on the bands rider? If were bringing you food and booze, what can we bring you?
TBD: What was on Princes rider?
ATH: The band gets to create their own taco pop-up shop at SXSW? Whats the name, and what sort of tacos will you have? Any sides?
TBD: Living in Austin, its hard to get excited about tacos. I know the breakfast taco is the Official Municipal Food of Austin, so Id stay away from that. True story – if you throw a taco in Austin, it will hit a tech-bro eating another taco.