Under The Rotunda

A few days after I interviewed Jason Collett, I had the opportunity to talk with two more great artists, while they were on tour together -- Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Via Audio. John and Philip of the Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin camp ducked into their tour van for some serenity to record the interview before the show. While John munched on a meager dinner of beef jerky, the three of us casually discussed the band and how things had come to bring them to the success that they have now. When they recorded Broom, there weren't exactly dreams of becoming rock stars. They just wanted to make a record. "We sort of slid into it over a long period of time. When we started a band, our biggest goal was just having a band, playing around town. We didn't really see ourselves being this kind of band that tours around and is on a label," John noted. "We always say we recorded [Broom] for our friends. Just to do it, to make a recording. I guess a lot of people feel like we faked our way in because we got popular from [the blogosphere], but we didn't really have anything to do with it. People just latched onto it and started writing about it." "Yeah, we still have one of the crappiest websites," chimed in Philip. "Maybe people think we had this strategy..." "Or had a plan? Yeah, we had no plan whatsoever. At all." "It's the internet's fault." "But it's because of the internet that we are here right now talking to you." "Can't really bite the hand that feeds us..."

I asked them if they were ever surprised at how well the album has been received, and they nodded in agreement. "Definitely. We think it's good, but it's really horribly recorded. The songs are good--" Here, Philip interjected, beginning a subtle argument between them. "That's one area where we all disagree. John and Johnathan aren't crazy about the recording, and Will and I kinda like it." John restated his opinion light-heartedly, "It sounds like poop on a plate." "But see, that's what I think most other 'technically good' recordings sound like," quickly came the retort. From the looks on their faces, it was clear that this was something that had been discussed in the past. I imagine it came up quite a bit as they recorded their latest album. Pershing was recorded entirely by the band, just like Broom, although it does feature higher quality production. "Much more thought went into sounds and how to record them; we learned a lot doing this one. We did it ourselves, without a producer or engineer or anything like that. And I think the next one can sound even better."

Another aspect that has changed as Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin have progressed lies in their touring. They've ventured out in the past, but this tour is the first one in which they are the headliners. "It's kinda weird. It feels like there's more responsibility. I dunno if it's the same for Via Audio in this situation, 'cause I feel like we're on about equal footing. But when we've toured with band that were more popular than us in the past, we'd go out and play our songs as well as we could, but..." Philip finished what John was thinking, like a true close friend. "I always felt like we were just playing to percentages. Like 20% would really like it, most people would really not care, and a small percentage would really hate us." "Especially on that Mute Math tour, we were just kinda tagging along." "Now, we don't want to disappoint. Whereas before, we knew it was going to disappoint a certain number of people."

What lies in the future for Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin? "Brazil is a goal." Best of luck with that, boys. I hope they like you as much as the crowd at Great Scott did. Just make sure you come back soon.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Dead Right (from Pershing)
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Pangea (from Broom)

Labels: Interviews