Rogue Wave Interview
by Robert Lanham
Rogue Wave's last release Out of the Shadow is one of our favorite records of the past several year. It was like a more psychedelic Shins record, generous with hooks and deceptively complex. Their latest record, Descended Like Vultures, is a very worthy follow-up sure to please fans of the band. You can check out an MP3 here to get an advance taste. The record is due to be released October 25 by Sub Pop. The following is an email interview with lead vocalist and guitarist Zach Rogue (second from left above).
1. Your press release says that Descended Like Vultures was informed by politics. Is the title of the record a statement about the Iraq War or perhaps the Bush administration?
Everything is political. Ignorance, diversion, distraction, those are
all political things. Anyone with half a brain loathes the Bush
administration for obvious reasons. But the title of the record isn't supposed to be some pointed statement directly at them or the war. It's supposed to be about more than that. It can be a lot of different things. It can mean whatever you want it to mean. Turn on the TV or the radio or pick up a magazine. Can't you see the vultures circling?
2. How did the band get involved with the Stubbs the Zombie soundtrack?
We were playing a show in Austin last year and a couple of guys who work for the promotion company that put the project together came to the show. They came backstage and asked if we wanted to work on the project. When they said bands were covering artists from the 50's, I said I wasn't so sure. When they said we would be doing a Buddy Holly song, I said ok.
3. Is the first track "Bird on a Wire" an homage to Leonard Cohen?
No. I love his music though.
4. Being in a band can put a strain on friendships. Does the band spend time together when they're not playing music?
As much as we can. If we don't have strong friendships, we don't have a band. So, if you're asking if we get sick of each other, the answer is no. I always look forward to hanging out with them.
5. The last record was largely written by you. Was there a concerted effort to make this more of a "band record?"
It was kind of inevitable, given that we were basically living in a
studio for a couple of weeks. I wrote the songs, but we all contributed to the record. We weren't trying to make every song sound like some live band was playing, or something like that. some of the songs don't have that much instrumentation; they're still kind of stark at certain points. But the goal all along has been for this project to be about a band and not just one person. I don't want to be a "singer-songwriter".
6. We're always curious about people's first concerts. What was the first concert you ever attended?
I think it was Donnie and Marie Osmond.
7. Is there anyone you want to say "great job" to? Anyone you want to say "you suck" to?
great job: Jon Stewart. Oh, and those guys who won the Nobel Prize for science. No wonder I have never gotten an ulcer. I should have by now.
you suck: This guy that lives next door to me that likes to do handy work and piecemeal construction on his house at about 6am on the weekends.
8. Do you guys ever record or play shows, um, impaired?
Not that you know of. Sometimes. Uh, never. Um, of course not. Yes.
Definitely NO.
9. What's your most cherished record? Most embarassing?
I'm not embarassed about liking certain music. "I'll Melt With You" is probably my favorite song of all time. But don't ask me for a record. I can't do that. Can you?
10. We like the line from the record "Screw California." [Ha ha] When can we see the band play New York again?
The fact that there is a state named California and a person as well is sort of a coincidence. I think we will be there within the first couple of days in December.
