Switchblade: Relative: February 2007

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Interview: Let's Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop

Finally, in our series of Bandwidth previews, we have an interview with Thea Lux of Let's Get Out of This Terrible Sandwich Shop, a band whose name is definitely a mouthful has seen the best and worst band name lists. But, it is their quirky sense of humor and musical sensibilities that have garnered them much praise on the local scene, including a recent critic's choice nod in the Chicago Reader as well as a guarantee from Alan of The Bitter Tears, that they will "take over Chicago." There is no band in Chicago that can compose witty and entertaining songs about bike lanes, hatchets, and sandwiches quite like Let's Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop.

Can you introduce the band? How did you all get together? I see there's a new "Employee", would you like to introduce him?
That's the manager of the shop, Tony Mendoza, on drums/farfisa. Part-Time Employee Joanna Buese on bass over there. And Tom Vale, the New Guy, handles the Hot Sandwich Hot Line and any instrument that needs playing. My name is Thea. I mop.

Tony opened up his establishment asked Joanna and me to help out around The Shop in April of 2005. Before that, he played farfisa and drums simultaneously and was truly a one-man-band. With Joanna and I lending our skills and hot legs, the three-piece became Chicago's one-man-band-with-people. Tom applied for employment over the summer of 2006, and we forged ahead as Chicago's premiere band-with-people.

So, what's the deal with the Sandwich Shop? How did the idea get going and where did the name come from?
What's the deal with the Sandwich Shop? On Tuesday we sell the Bootleg Beef for half-price and the Mountain Melt is generally only $2.99 (providing the Mountain Mutton is in season.) Other than that, we tend to meld scary comedy and rock n' roll in our performances. The songs aren't necessarily intended to be big brew-ha-ha humor ha ha's, but we all have extensive backgrounds in comedy, so there's bound to be a smirk in the song here and there. We do the occasional bit between songs, emote child-like energy, and just try to have fun about it.

And thank you for mentioning the van. The name was created in one of those kind of vehicles while Tony and Joanna were in their former band, Los Shut Up with Chris Churchill. Brainstorming album names, "Let's Get Out of This Terrible Sandwich Shop" was mentioned. It got a laugh but wasn't used, so Tony pocketed the name in his his brain for later adventures.

How's the cat today?
He's a little under the weather, but thank you for asking.

For the most part, you are all active in the theatre/improv community, how do you spend your time outside the Shop?
Tony is a teacher and ensemble member at the Annoyance, and just opened a new show called "Arm Soup," which he musically directed with music. Joanna is an artist and draws wonderful sketches and performs the improvised-funny with Sirens Improv. Tom composes music with Stephanie from local Chicago band, Jupiter. I write things and play some tunes of my own under the name "Sometimes You're Pretty," and perform at the Annoyance.

Where do you find inspirations for your song? How do approach the songwriting process?
Tony and I are the main songwriters in the band. I generally pull from heartbreak and just pile on a shit ton (different from metric) of harmony so it doesn't come off as just another heartbreak song. Lyrics and music come out all at once for me. Tony's songwriting process starts as chord structures with lyrics to follow later. And change. And evolve, and change some more, until about a year later the lyrics are solidified. Tony gets his inspiration from his creative brain that tends to look at things wonderfully sideways. I don't know what that means, but his song topics range from road trips to sports stars to personal loves and hates. Oh, he writes songs about the desert a lot. A few years living in Palm Springs will have quite an effect on one's writing.

I like talking about another person's songwriting. I feel like I could say that Tony gets all his inspiration from spaghetti if I wanted to, but I worry he'd make me make me do an extra round of the mopping.

Who influences you musically or otherwise?
"Thrill Cam"-Era David Letterman, Beach Boys, Elvis, Danzig/The Misfits, Steve Martin, The Breeders...I'm sure we listed something on dumb Myspace that answers this question.

What are the future plans for the Sandwich shop? Anything you'd like to accomplish this year?
We're mixing our new, full-length album that's being recorded by the wonderful Greg Norman. We'll be putting that out this summer-ish as well as doing a few weekend Invasions of Rock to neighboring cities. We'd also like to put out a split 7" this year with our label mates, The Bitter Tears. We'll be on the A side. Or the B side. It depends on which side you listen to first.

What can the Bandwidth audience expect from your set on Thursday?
Energy, a guitar solo, some stupid comedy, and colorful costumes.

What is you favorite part about Chicago?
Artistic freedom in comedy? Summer street fests? Bike lanes? Wings at the Horseshoe? I don't know. I'll just say "spaghetti" again.

Who are you listening to right now?
I'd say The Bitter Tears is a staple in all of our lives and musical practices.

Download: Let's Get Out of This Terrible Sandwich Shop - "Hatchet"
Download: Let's Get Out of This Terrible Sandwich Shop - "Bye You"

Monday, February 19, 2007

Interview: Rivulets

There is an enchanting elegance to the dark, delicate compositions that Nathan Amundson weaves together as singer/songwriter of Rivulets. His most recent record, You Are My Home (Important), which was recorded in Chicago by Bob Weston (Shellac, Mission of Burma) features a plethora of guest collaborators and is the perfect soundtrack for a winter "L" ride around the loop or a midnight walk down the street where your ex resides. Nathan experiments with a gamut of emotions in both lyric and orchestration from the drifting melacholy stemming from the torment of a broken heart to the subtle, uplifting instrumentation that is almost filmic in its arrangement. We had a chance to catch up with Nathan before he heads up to Chicago for a headlining spot at SubT on Thursday, February 22nd, as a part of Bandwidth.

So, Rivulets is basically your solo creations with guest artists, who are
you playing with these days? What will be your upcoming setup on the 22nd?
It varies on where we're playing or what kind of record I want to
make, but on the 22nd it will be me on vocals and acoustic guitar, Michael
Anderson (Drekka, Turn Pale) on electric guitar, and Nathan Vollmar (Vollmar, Half-Handed Cloud) on drums.

You've worked with many different people in the past, have there been
any collaborations that you found especially fruitful?
I know it sounds corny, but all of them. I choose collaborators
because I already have an admiration and respect for what they're
doing, so getting to work with them and learn from how they approach
my songs is fruitful.

How do you spend the better half of your days when you are not playing music?
I watch a lot of movies. I walk a few miles a day.

You Are My Home is wonderful collection of moving and somber compositions for the forlorn. Did any thing inpsire you in making this album?
Yes. It's all in the songs. (Listen to samples from You Are My Home)

On the record, I enjoy hearing the sound of your fingers sliding on the strings between chords, especially prevalent on the opening track "Glass Houses", was it's presence intentional?
I really don't know how people mic acoustic guitars without getting
that sound. I guess they don't, they have a pickup installed and plug
it in. That's just how it sounds when someone plays a guitar. Maybe
other people would try to clean it up, but it never seemed to me like
a sound to be avoided.

I think that's why it stood out me, the fact that some artists try to clean it up or use a pick up, when playing acoustic. Hearing it on your recording added another dimension for me, it felt visceral and appropriate to your sound.
How was it recording with Bob Weston?

Recording with Bob was one of the best weeks of my life. He's just a
great guy, and he knows his stuff. He would continually come up with
these parts "Oh yeah, last night after you left I put down this bass
line..." that would be exactly what I had in mind, but he'd be there
before I ever said it.

How do you approach the songwriting process?
I don't really think I approach it. It just sort of jumps on me and needs to be done.

Who influences you musically and otherwise?
Man, everybody and everything... There's no way to answer this question.

What's in store for rivulets this year?
We're touring Europe in May and I'm hoping to gain entry withouthassle. That's pretty much my main worry at this point. Not being detained in customs again.

What can the Bandwidth audience expect from your set on Thursday?
Some rivulets songs. We'll be happy to be there.

You've spent some quality time in Chicago. What is you favorite part
about Chicago? Anything you miss?
There are so many vegetarian food options. I miss Rogers Park, where it was
quieter but still the city. Actually, the area around the Subterranean
too, I lived there while recording "you are my home" and it's crazy
but was a good distraction at the time.

Finally, who are you listening to these days?
The Complete Verve Studio Master Takes by Billie Holiday. It's the
later years. I like her voice best then, and they were giving her
good songs to sing. It's 6 CDs of the best singer singing the best
songs with the best musicians. It's flawless.

I have that box set as well, it is perfection. Thanks for your time, Nathan!

Also, be sure to tune into a special radio preview of Rivulets when they hit the WNUR studio for a live on-air "Airplay" Session on 2/22 at 4PM! Tune into 89.3FM or listen on the web at www.wnur.org!!

DOWNLOAD: Rivulets - "Cutter" (Debridement LP)

Friday, February 09, 2007

Friday 8-Track: New Music Sampler

Wading through the endless Myspace friend requests from bands, the promo cds and recommendations received, there is an overwhelming surplus of new music. I've heard some really great material, some filler, some stuff I'll never listen to again. This Friday 8-Track includes a collection of artists who have hit the new music bin and made their way to the iPod
- (a very illustrious position, indeed). You can expect to hear plenty more from these artists this year. Enjoy!