One of the most rewarding things about doing this website is the day to day exchanges I have with strangers. I know that sounds odd, but hear me out. I recently received a promo from a Seattle musician named Zig. I’m not sure how he found us, (although I’d lay money on KEXP) I guess it doesn’t matter. Zig grew up in Wisconsin and has family living here in Green Bay. How do I know this? It was written out on the Post-It note he adhered to the promo.

Maybe you’re not following where I’m going with this, maybe you are?! The fact that someone out there appreciated the outlet we’ve created here at Rock Sellout enough that they took time to share a bit of their world with us makes this all worthwhile. I was going to upload a few of Zig’s songs, but I wanted to encourage you to visit his MySpace and add him if you like the music he makes. After all, that’s what this site is about…introducing people to music they might not have heard whilst travelling from A to Zig.

- Kip Gasparick

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
1. Blues Run The Game- Jackson C. Frank
2. DJ Shadow Live- Endtroducing….Excessive Ephemera
3. Everybody’s Stalking- Badly Drawn Boy

Name any musical influence(s)?
Got a hankering for Jane’s Addiction, Devendra Banhart, Boards Of Canada, Jose Gonzalez, early Joseph Arthur, Cat Power, Bob Dylan, and Prefuse 73

What new music are you currently listening to?
I’ve been digging some of the new tracks I’ve heard from Wolf Parade offshoot Handsome Furs. They explore territory I’d like to in the future. Can’t stop listening to Young Bride by Midlake- the way the bass drops down before the chorus gets me everytime. Jesse Sykes, a fellow Seattle artist, her new one is growing all over me. I Am John by Loney, Dear makes me feel good.

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
The Velvet Underground

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
Nigel Godrich

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
I sometimes walk around the house in my lady’s pink robe- because it’s comfortable, okay.

Zig’s MySpace

Electric Soft Parade are siblings Alex and Tom White. Originally called The Feltro Media, the band eventually renamed themselves The Soft Parade (and later, The Electric Soft Parade after threats to sue over the name from a Doors’ tribute band). They released their critically-acclaimed debut album, Holes in the Wall in 2002 and were nominated for a Mercury Prize that same year. They also perform in the band Brakes with British Sea Power’s Eamon Hamilton and The Tenderfoot’s Marc Beatty. Their 3rd full-length, No Need to be Downhearted, is due out April 30th on Truck Records.

[Answers by Tom; Idiotic questions by Sean]

You’ve titled your new album ‘No Need To Be Downhearted’. Is this a reference to The Fall’s ‘15 Ways’?

Well of course!

Do you think the Fall have influenced you on this record? Any other influences someone might hear?

The Fall have been an influence for a while now, though i think they’re one of those bands whose influence you won’t necessarily hear. Also, i don’t think people really recognise how much Mark E Smith has to do with the sound of The Fall. I think most people think of him pretty much as just a pissed guy having a bit of a rant, but from what i’ve heard he happens to be a rather sensitive soul, with a very precise vision for what the band should sound like. Let’s just say that as he releases more and more records, it’s increasingly apparent to me that The Fall don’t sound like The Fall by accident. It’s a very deliberate sound, and I love him for that.

You two are brothers, what are the advantages to working so closely with a sibling? Any disadvantages?

If you are decent, well balanced people, there should be no particular advantages or disadvantages. We are on the same page.

You also collaborate with Eamon Hamilton & Mark Beatty in the form of the band Brakes. How did that come about?

Eamon was playing his songs on an acoustic guitar in a pub in Brighton, and we said ‘Hey, your tunes need some rock. Shall we??’

With Electric Soft Parade you had to change your name because of a Doors tribute band, with Brakes you had to change the name in the US because of another band with the same name. Is that particularly frustrating as an artist or do you just accept it as ‘part of the business’?

I couldn’t care less.

You played SXSW for the first time last year. What was your experience like there? What do you think will be different for you the second time around?

It is what it is. It all revolves around the industry, and it’s very easy to get lost in it all. You just have to play your absolute best, and hope that your personality distinguishes you from everything else.

You’ve been a strong proponent for other Brighton-based acts like The Pipettes & Actress Hands. Do you feel it’s important to support your local music community?

Of course. There was no-one there in Brighton to help us out when we started, so we’re damn well gonna give people a leg up if we have the chance.

If you could perform with any band - living or dead - who would it be?

Mission Of Burma.

What’s something absolutely everyone should know about you?

I can cook, but don’t try to help me in the kitchen. I get very territorial!

Electric Soft Parade on Myspace

- Sean

Freeheat is Jim Reid and Ben Lurie’s post Jesus And Mary Chain band - rounded out with Nick Sanderson (Earl Brutus) and Romi Mori (the Gun Club). With the The Jesus And Mary Chain back in the news - their Coachella Festival appearance on April 27th as well as Sister Vanilla’s “Little Pop Rock” (Chemikal Underground) release on April 2 - You may have missed Freeheat’s 17 track Live/Studio LP “Back On The Water.”(Planting Seeds) - Ben Lurie discusses the past, JAMC, Freeheat, SV, and the future…

How old were you when you starting playing guitar? Was it the first instrument you learned to play?
10 years old, possibly nine, but I’m thinking 10. Previous to the guitar I had an earlier flirtation with the recorder but it just didn’t do it for me and I soon lost interest having only mastered one tune, the timeless classic Mary Had A Little Lamb.

What artists or albums were most influential while you were learning?
Well my favourite band was The Police but I was a little too fumble-fingered in my early guitar days to tackle that stuff (but thrilled to discover a couple of years later that most of their songs only had a couple of chords, albeit sometimes a couple of jazzy ones).

What events led to your joining the Reid brothers and replacing Dave Evans in the Jesus And Mary Chain?
I had moved to London and was working at Rough Trade Records whose owner Geoff Travis also ran the Blanco y Negro label to who the Mary Chain were signed. Geoff’s assistant Jeannette knew that I was wanting to join a band and told me that the JAMC were auditioning. I went along, behaved in a completely uncool manner, told them I thought Nick Cave was funny (come on, he is), and that my favourite bands were The Police and The Smiths. Somehow I got the job, one tour led to another, and they eventually asked me to make records with them.

What is your fondest memory of your time spent with the band?
Every time I conjure up some good memory I suddenly remember some incident to cloud it. There were certainly a lot of ups and downs. This might not be the fondest but it’s a good one: Being taken to Dan Tanna’s in LA back in 1994. We apparently just missed Keith Richard’s but James Woods was there. Also on that trip Johnny Depp joined us in our booth at his club The Viper Room and gave us a tray of mini chocolate donuts which Hope (from Mazzy Star) later conjected were symbolic of assholes. Ahh, merry times.

If you were asked to introduce someone who was unfamiliar with JAMC, what album would suggest?! What three songs?
This is a tough one, even nearly a decade later I feel like I’m too close to it to make a balanced choice. However, I have just conferred with my wife and she picked Munki which is what I was going to pick (honest), so Munki it is. I think on this album we had mastered the art of recording, we were in control in the studio and we had a kick- ass band, specifically having Nick Sanderson on drums made this album rock. Dick Meaney who had engineered most of Stoned & Dethroned was fantastic at getting sounds down on tape. And I love the songs. If I had to pick three at the moment I’d choose “Cracking Up”, “Virtually Unreal” and “Man on the Moon”.

If you were asking for three songs across all albums to introduce someone to the band I’d pick “Everything Is Alright When You’re Down”, “Sugar Ray” and “April Skies”.

And of course 21 Singles would be kind of a good introduction but I thought it would be a bit of a cheat to choose a compilation.

What should our readers know about Freeheat?
All they really need to know is where to get there hot little hands on what has been described in certain circles as the most amazing record of 2006, Back On The Water. A quick trip to the Planting Seeds site will sort them out (and a side trip to the Freeheat website might also be informative).

Tell us about your involvement with Sister Vanilla.
Back in about 1998 Jim told me that he and William had had an idea to record some tunes for Linda to sing after her track on Munki, “Mo Tucker”, had turned out so well. Jim asked if I’d like to help which of course I did, also being friends with Linda. As it panned out the whole process took years. Jim and I recorded some stuff with Linda in London, William moved to LA and did most if his songs there, sometimes with Jim joining him, I recorded one of William’s songs in my bedroom in London one Christmas. A lot of stuff happened over a long period and eventually there was an album there. More recently I’ve done the artwork for the project, which leads us to the next question…..

What does the future hold for Ben Lurie? This is your cue to plug something, Ben…use it wisely.
The future holds greatness in the world of graphic design. Somewhere down the line I’d like to make another record but this might just be a pipe dream. Meanwhile I’m really enjoying a change of career. Lots of people have music as a hobby and wish they could make a living from it. Well I’ve taken my design hobby and turned it into a career.

Check the top of our playlist to hear Freeheat’s “Down” and Sister Vanilla’s “Two Of Us”. You can also visit the Freeheat MySpace to hear more songs, including their version of “Two Of Us”.

- Kip Gasparick

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
1. “Wild Trip” by The Flat Duo Jets
2. “Fake Fight” by The Rondelles
3. “Stop It” by Pylon

Name any musical influence(s)?
Chuck Berry, early REM, The Clash, Joe Jackson, HuskerDu, the Zombies, Material Issue, Guadalcanal Diary, Flat Duo Jets, Fetchin Bones, etc…

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
The Clash

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
Mick Jones of The Clash, Chrissy Hyde of The Pretenders

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
Mick Jones of The Clash, Chrissy Hyde of The Pretenders

Band
MySpace
Download: “Phonebook Full Of Phonies”, “Fairy Tale Tommorow”

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
Amy Gore: Nothing but a Heartache - The Flirtations, Teenage Head - Flamin’ Groovies, Nitroglycerine - The Gories
Hammer: The Basement-Etta James, Shot Down-The Sonics, Bye Bye Baby-Mary Wells

Name any musical influence(s)?
Amy Gore: Tina Turner, Howlin’ Wolf, Carole King
Hammer: Ike Turner, Pete Townsend, John Lee Hooker

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
Amy Gore: Yardbirds w/ Page and Beck
Hammer: Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
Amy Gore: Carole King, Dolly Parton, Nikki Corvette, Mick Collins
Hammer: Ry Cooder-Ronnie Spector-Neil Young-Joan Jett-Nancy Sinatra

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
Amy Gore: 34B
Hammer: I’m a lover not a fighter

Band
MySpace

I took an extra day to process how I really felt about the Of Montreal performance from Saturday night. My friend Eric put things into post-show perspective that I never really took into consideration…Kevin Barnes seems to enjoy making his audience uncomfortable. Whether it be his record covers, his stage attire (or lack thereof), or trippiness of the songs he pens…his intent is not to cradle the listener in his arms and provide a feeling of comfort.

After the wonderful experience the opener Loney, Dear provided, I had a difficult time swallowing the pill Barnes was serving.

It’s not that Of Montreal were bad, au contraire. Some of my favorite songs from Hissing Fauna kicked my ass just as much live as they do on record. “Suffer For Fashion” and “Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse” being my two favorites from their set. It’s just that the experience was sensory overload. I’m all about stage presence, theatrics, and shock…I just think the line was crossed that evening and it became more of a gimmick than it needed to be. Maybe I’m getting old?! Yeah, that could be it. Rude kids small enough to fit in my pocket pushing me on their way to the stage didn’t make the experience any more pleasurable.

I watched contently until the band launched into “The Past Is A Grotesque Animal”. Barnes pranced onto the stage, suffering for fashion, with his black fishnet stockings, purple short shorts and green top. The swirling lights, wall of sound effects, and slideshow of sketchy 70s photos made me want to launch objects toward the stage. Once again, Eric eloquently summarized the experience as “12 minutes of his life he’ll never get back”. I couldn’t agree more. We left shortly after the song had finished, skipping the remainder of their set.

If you saw the same show and want to offer a different review, please take the time to do so…I’d appreciate it.

- Kip Gasparick

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
1. Dungen - Panda
2. Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
3. The Dears - You and I are a Gang of Losers

Name any musical influence(s)?
I’m influenced by pretty much anything I hear. Some mainstays in my listening repertoire are The Beatles, Arcade Fire, The Cure, George Harrison and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

What new music are you currently listening to?
I’ve been getting into Dungen lately. I think they’re great. I can’t understand a word, but it doesn’t matter.

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
I’d love to open for Radiohead or Coldplay.

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
Timbaland.

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
The internet knows everything!

Band
MySpace

I had the pleasure of seeing Sweden’s Loney, Dear for the first time last night. There are so many things that I want to mention that I felt the need to break the review into mulitple entries. Loney, Dear was the evening’s opener (Of Montreal headlined), but it would be doing the band a great injustice to not give their performance its own review. It really was that good.

I enjoyed their debut Sub Pop effort Loney, Dear. Loney, Noir., but never felt the need to gush about it until I saw them last night. I listened to the album the entire drive home and have to admit, I really overlooked how good it truly is.

It’s hard to pinpoint what sucked me in and won me over last evening. Maybe it was the initial awe of the Baroque interior of Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater? Talk about a magnificent venue to see a show! I’ll talk a little bit more about that tomorrow though. Maybe it was how pleasing the harmonies were to my ears? Perhaps it was the saucey boots the gal with the wonderful voice was wearing? I’m not quite sure. Everything about the period of time they were onstage was perfect. I’m not sure that the teeny boppers who were there to see Of Montreal appreciated Loney, Dear as much as Eric, Terry and I did…I guess it doesn’t matter. There was no doubt that the band blew Of Montreal off the stage. Absolutely none. It’s not very often that the opening act thoroughly wins me over and makes me wish their set was longer than the headliner. I guess I’ll just have to wait until the band passes through on their headlining tour.

If you’d like to learn more about the band, check out the interview I did with Emil a few months ago.

Here’s what others are saying about Loney, Dear:

“The best indie/folk band nobody’s heard of (yet)” - James Jam (NME)

“dizzyingly brilliant pop” - Drownedinsound

“Sort of really fantastic” - Pitchfork

- Kip Gasparick

We’re getting closer to having a completed site! It still needs a little TLC, but it’s comfy enough to call home. Mad props to Gina’s husband Willy for making this a reality. His patience with me throughout this project was greatly appreciated.

Ever see the movie “A Beautiful Mind”? After the past couple of days, I can completely relate to the breakdown of Russell Crowe’s character. Spending hours looking at code that I don’t understand trying to put the pieces together really makes a pile of mush out of the mind. There were moments that I wanted to completely start over and return to what was familiar. I’m glad we didn’t.

I grabbed a promo off the counter on my way to work this morning that was recently sent to me from a band called Vanilla. They’re from Tacoma, WA and feature former members of Liar’s Club, Tiny Volcano and The Jet City Fix. If you’re a fan of American Power Pop, you really need to check this band out. Popping this self-titled jangley gem in my CD player this morning was the best breakfast I had all week.

Remember when I mentioned I felt like retunring to what was familiar? This CD was exactly what I needed. The listening experience was like a collage of all the bands I hold near and dear: The Beatles, Beach Boys, Cheap Trick, Jellyfish, XTC…I think you get the picture.

Stop by the band’s MySpace and download the songs they’re offering. I hope you find them as enjoyable as I did this morning.

- Kip Gasparick

NYC’s The Voyces are a five piece band led by singer/songwriter Brian Wurschum and featuring vocalist Jude Kastle, guitarist Steve Dawson, bassist Frank Carreno, and drummer Eric Puente. On May 8th they are set to follow up their international hit single “Relate To Me”(which was featured on Jack Johnson’s Thicker Than Water Soundtrack) with their debut LP on Planting Seeds Records‘ titled “Kissing Like It’s Love” - it’s a fine blend of 70s AM radio pop and pure California folk/country rock…

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
BRIAN: Camarillo Brillo - Frank Zappa; The Rover - Led Zeppelin; Till The End Of Time - DeVotchKa

JUDE: Our songs: Top of My Lungs, Canyon Ladies, You Can Not Know; Other peoples songs: Fat Bottom Girls Queen IOU Replacements Love Hurts or Hair Of the Dog Nazereth

STEVE: That is an impossible question to answer correctly, but this week, I’ve been listening to “Coming Up” by Paul Mccartney, “Dissident” by Pearl Jam and “Slit Skirts” by Pete Townshend.

ERIC: sex machine - james brown; now it’s on - grandaddy; last goodbye - jeff buckley

Name any musical influence(s)?
BRIAN: Lyrically: Roger Waters, Walter Becker, Randy Newman; Musically: Just mentioning Simon & Garfunkel and Judas Priest should about cover this.

JUDE: The Church, Rod Stewart, The Beatles, Styx, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, The Cure, Koko Taylor, Pat Benetar, The Eagles, Otis Redding, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Cowboy Junkies, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson…….way too many to mention

STEVE: Frank Zappa , Paul Westerberg, Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Elvis Costello. Growing up, it was Kiss, Rush, AC/DC & Van Halen.

ERIC: peter gabriel, steely dan, yes, missing persons, steve gadd

What new music are you currently listening to?
BRIAN: Jay - Z, Jenny Lewis.

JUDE: Kissing Like It’s Love> The Voyces, Lucinda Williams >West

STEVE: These days, Guided By Voices, Deerhoof, although they are not so new anymore. Some others i cannot think of at this moment. via audio is a great unsigned band from massachsettes. they re-located to NYC.

ERIC: peter gabriel, steely dan, yes, missing persons, steve gadd

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
BRIAN: I do not have one. The bands I love the most do not have opening acts. To me, that is part of their allure. So I do not dream of opening for anyone.

JUDE: The Eagles

STEVE: probably David Bowie. The Who, maybe. Led Zeppelin. I don’t know. That is something i don’t ever think about.

ERIC: i would have liked to open at Woodstock, or any Lollapalooza.

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
BRIAN: Jude Kastle, Steve Dawson, Frank Carreno & Eric Puente.

JUDE: Rick Ruben/ Tom Petty

STEVE: Maybe Robert Pollard. Pink Floyd, back in the days of meddle, saucerful, etc… I collaborate with Brian Wurschum of The Voyces and Randy Lord & James Lord of The Fuzz Haunted & that makes me very happy.

ERIC: Frank Zappa

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
BRIAN: Any of the details concerning the absolutely insane week I have just had; my opinions about string theory.

JUDE: I was ran over by my dad when i was 2 years old, i almost died and he became a preacher.

STEVE: I don’t wear underwear. you may google it soon, if this prints online, though.

ERIC: I played drums in my high school marching band in the Syracuse Carrier Dome - same place the Rolling Stones played.