Whilst in the country as guest of Brand New this week, Kevin Devine will headline two shows in Sydney and Melbourne. You can catch him at The Annandale Hotel in Sydney on Wednesday night where he'll be joined by locals Sailmaker. Next Monday night he'll do his thing at East Brunswick Club in Melbourne where Black Is The Colour will warm the stage. Tickets for both shows available from the venues. Kevin took some time out to answer our Hotseat Questions. Read More to check out his responses.
THE BASICS
Name : Kevin Devine
Band : Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band
Job In Band : Singer / songwriter / guitarist / e-mail interview answer / travel agent / international liaison / small business banker
Website Address : http://www.myspace.com/kevindevine
HOME
Hometown : Brooklyn, NY
Hometown is best known for : Being the coolest, most diverse, most full-of-personality borough of the cultural epicenter of the world (or at least we like to tell ourselves that. It’s probably really Jay-Z, or pizza)
Best venue in your hometown : Probably Music Hall of Williamsburg if we’re talking Brooklyn; Bowery Ballroom if we’re talking NYC. Once upon a time, Brownies RIP
THE BAND
How long has the band been going?
I’ve been playing shows in some capacity or another for half my life – 15 years
Many lineup changes along the way?
In a sense. I’ve probably played with about 25 people as ‘The Goddamn Band’ but that’s sort of by design, meant to be a collective with a revolving door more than a set band
How would you describe your sound to the average person on the street?
ARK FARKY (meaning, guitar-based indie-rock that nods to folk and punk)
What's your most recent release? Tell us a little about it...
It’s called “Brother’s Blood,” and people seem to like it. Kind of hops around stylistically, plays with dynamics, gets at all the different corners of the music I like making. I’d be more curious to hear you tell me about it.
Got a favourite track that you have released so far?
It changes all the time. I think I’d show the Martians “Brother’s Blood” if I had to pick one, though.
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it?
There are pictures of me at age 6 with a toy guitar and a microphone. So maybe Michael Jackson. But I remember it being “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” my cousin’s room, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1988.
What was your first band name, and what style did you play?
Arsenic. We played toy instruments in the apartment building’s basement and tried to sound like Guns N’ Roses or Skid Row or something.
Most prized music related item you own?
Probably my Gibson 335.
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is
new experiences, reconnecting with people I’ve met
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is
being away from home.
When your not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing?
Balancing my brain, reading, hanging with friends, family, loved ones, normalizing, domesticating. Movies. Coffee. Food.
ON THE STAGE / ROAD
Best rider item you've ever received without requesting it?
Can’t remember. Totally blanking. Nice when someone surprises you with cookies now and again.
Favourite place (city/town/country) you’ve toured… and why?
Too hard to choose one. I love Germany, love Italy, Australia; London, Vienna, Paris; the Pacific Northwest in the States; Chicago; Boston; too many to name. I like touring.
Most memorable show you've played? and why?
I’ve played 1000 or more shows; it’s impossible to pick one. I remember playing in my friend Freedom’s basement in 1995 when my old band self-released a cassette and all the punk rockers and hardcore kids from Staten Island coming and watching alongside my parents. That was a pretty special one. So was Lollapalooza. And a couple hundred more. Too hard to pick.
Who in your group has the worst “bad habit” on tour, and what is it?
We’ve got a few heavy snorers but in general it’s a well behaved bunch. I used to be it, arguably. It was called heavy drinking/drug use.
RIGHT NOW
Where are you?
My girlfriend’s couch.
What's the last song you listened to?
“Forever,” by Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem
Which band or album is currently rockin' your world?
I really like the new Vampire Weekend record, which surprised me. It’s really well made, beautiful in places, excellent songs, spirited. Gets stuck in my head.
Tell us a band we should all go and listen to right now?
Neil Young
IF ONLY...
If you could pick any one album to cover from start to finish, what would it be and why? Nirvana, “In Utero” or Elliott Smith “S/T”, because they’re both perfect, and because I’ve probably listened to them more than anything else, and think they’re two records I’ll be trying to get close to for as long as I make music.
If you could pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums from start to finish, what would it be, and why?
I’d love to hear Jim James sing “Brother’s Blood,” because his voice is from another planet and he’s incredible at reinterpreting other people’s stuff.
If you could pick one band to re-unite so you could play a one-off show with, who would it be, and why?
Nirvana, because, come on.
One big tour, you can take two currently active bands to support you, who would you choose, and why?
Miniature Tigers & Brian Bonz, because we did that tour last year and it was balls deep. Love to double up.
KEVIN DEVINE SUPPORTS ANNOUNCED
