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Ahead of their second Manchester show, the first being with Surfer Blood last month, Funeral Party take time out to answer some questions from HV. They're over in the UK to play the world-renowned Download festival. And with their latest single 'New York Moves To The Sounds of LA' all over the radio things are looking pretty sweet for the LA based band.
So, starting right at the beginning, how did you guys meet?
We met in high school, toward the end, but we decided to form after we realized there was sort of a scene going on where we lived, and it made sense for us to be in a band. We were really just trying get the fuck out of our boring town.
How was the first Funeral Party show?
Complete chaos, raw energy. Chad screamed, "Liar!" and we had everyone's attention. Then we knew we needed to hold on to it, and that's how we've tried to approach shows ever since.
You've mentioned hypocrisy is behind the lyrics to 'Sound of LA'. So given the DIY nature of the early shows did you see yourselves ending up on daytime Radio One along side more mainstream acts? Was the idea of putting yourselves amongst higher profile acts a driving factor?
We didn't really think about "higher profile acts," other than to realize that they were nothing more than us. As far as the DIY shows go, we knew we had to get on top of what was going on. We carried that attitude with us when we started playing with "mainstream" acts, or whatever. But this all happened naturally. We were trying to get on top, but we didn't stop to think where the top was or is.
How long did it take from these early gigs to you recording your debut LP?
Like, realistically, 3 years and some change.
There's an element of your sound that us Brits can relate to, we're suckers for punchy guitar-pop as the success of The Strokes and We Are Scientists prove; but how would you describe your sound?
We try not to? We all have different influences, so some of our sound comes from productive tension. Our sound is our sound. Our bass player describes it as "an escape."
How did you react to the news that you'd be playing the UK's leading Rock/Metal festival Download?
We were excited to return to the UK. We're glad people are taking notice, but you know, we don't think about it too much. Our friends and families are usually more excited than we are about the specifics. We look at each show as another challenge, whether it's a festival in UK or a back yard party in L.A.
Funeral Party play the Roadhouse in Manchester on 13th June. Goldhawks are co-headliners with further support from the fine local bands The Cold One Hundred and Hey Bulldog. Tickets are £5 adv from Piccadilly Records or £7 on the door. TAGS: Funeral Party, Goldhawks, The Cold One Hundred, Hey Bulldog, Surfer Blood, Julian Casablancas, The Roadhouse Words by: Richard Cheetham
Links:
Funeral Party - Myspace
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