Michael: When and how did Pearls and Brass come together?
Pearls and Brass: This band was formed in 2001. The three of us have been playing since 1993. We spent many years dedicated to playing ultra fast hardcore and released a split 7" in 96. I guess we just evolved out of that stuff and started listening to blues frequently, but I saw the Pink Lincolns the other night and they were unbelievable.
Michael: There was quite a long delay between your debut album and The Indian Tower. What was going on between then and now, why the long delay?
Pearls and Brass: We took a break, still played together in some regard but with less focus on songs and playing shows. All of us did time in Air Conditioning, spent more time helping out at a local venue called Jeff the Pigeon, getting married, getting history degrees, playing acoustic guitars, building acoustic guitars.
Michael: Tell me a bit about the chemistry between the band members. How do the songs come together?
Pearls and Brass: Someone has a riff and the others follow. We record some songs on four-track, listen back, and play some more, adding or subtracting things as we see fit.
Michael: The Indian Tower has a much different feel to it compared to the self-titled. What was your inspiration for this album?
Pearls and Brass: Some of these songs were written immediately after the self-titled was released, It`s hard to say one particular influence. Sometimes a change of practice venue can alter the way you go about writing songs. For a majority of this record, we were practicing in a dingy and dark warehouse space in Allentown PA... one night the cops busted into our room with drug sniffing dogs looking for someone who stabbed some else right outside of our door. Maybe that adds a sense of urgency to things, constantly anxious in your space; terrified and destructive moods abound.
The one thing on this record in particular is that we wanted to approach the production very minimalistically; that is, to record live in one room together, no real separation, no headphones and to refrain from doing overdubs, using effects pedals and that stuff. We are always more impressed when music is stripped to its rawest components, and when an artist can succeed in delivering an idea with less to work with.
Michael: The first time I actually heard you guys was at a live show and you blew me away. Since then you’ve been touring quite a bit. What has been one of your best experiences while on tour?
Pearls and Brass: We had the pleasure of experiencing so many great things on the west coast in particular, tiny towns with epic landscapes, good people… it all blurs together into one giant colorful and hairy ball. Every place in America is pretty great, as long as you know how to make your own fun, y`know?
Michael: Given the chance to tour with any band (past/present), who would it be and why?
Pearls and Brass: We are all such huge Om fans... we`d love to go out with those dudes [Ed: since this interview, they got their wish]. I`d like to have Skip James on a tour, but he`s long dead; maybe Tom Petty, maybe Blue Cheer, maybe Sade.
Michael: What are some of your favorite things to do when not on tour?
Pearls and Brass: Listen to records, watch forensic files and cooking shows, hang out with our ladies, I don`t know, to me music is a 24 hr 7 day a week excursion… it encompasses every facet of our lives in one way or another.
Michael: A lot of folks I’ve spoken with think the band has an older sound/feel to it. What are some of the older bands that influence you?
Pearls and Brass: Los Dug Dugs, Crosby Stills and Nash, Mahivishnu Orchestra, Can, Larry Koryell, Dark, just to name a few.
Michael: What new bands are you currently listening to?
Pearls and Brass: The new Om record is astounding, Pissed Jeans are amazing, Toby Keith...
Michael: What’s on the horizon for you guys?
Pearls and Brass: Probably tour a lot the rest of the year and then begin working on a new record.
