Silversun Pickups in their trailer at All Points West © Bianca Seidman-Shvarts
Heavy rain plus lightning and tornado warnings forced a three hour delay on the last day of All Points West. Nobody knew whether the day could be salvaged. My 2:30 p.m. interview with the Silversun Pickups seemed all but doomed since we weren’t able to enter until 4:00. But, they agreed to go on with the interview. I trudged through the ankle-deep, rotten-smelling mud that used to be Liberty State Park to the artists’ area. Brian Aubert arrived first with an unassuming, relaxed air and Wayfarer style sunglasses. I shook his hand and was about to meet Joe Lester, Chris Guanlao and Nikki Monninger, who had just emerged from the trailer. But before I could take a step, an organizer from All Points West said they had to go on immediately. Seeming unbothered by the quick change, they withdrew to get ready and were on stage as fast as I could round the corner to watch.
The Silversun Pickups played an enthusiastic, well-executed set to a euphoric crowd. They smiled a lot more than the usual indie band does and seemed to enjoy playing as much as the audience was thrilled to watch them. The crowd erupted into fervent dancing in the mud and singing along when they played their hooky, semi-distorted #1 Modern Rock chart single “Panic Switch.
Shortly after the rousing performance on the main stage, I sat down with lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Brian Aubert in the Silversun Pickups’ trailer. Later, bassist and vocalist Nikki Monninger joined in. The trailer wasn’t a posh dressing room with VIP luxuries or rare items demanded by the artists. It was completely generic with linoleum floors and faux wood panels, except for the addition of homemade paper hearts taped to the windows and stunning view of New York harbor. Brian Aubert’s mood was light and he seemed genuinely appreciative of their recent successes. He and Nikki Monninger seemed to care more about communicating something real and staying true to their ideas than giving standard answers. Aubert took the hard seat, leaving me the only cushioned chair in the room.
You played Letterman. “Yeah, a couple days ago.” Congratulations, that’s great. How was it? “The first time we were there we thought, ‘Do they have the right band?’ Everyone was so nice, it was amazing…But we just figured it was a fluke and now that was over…The second time we went there and we remembered the experience and thought it couldn’t be as good. But it was the same.”Aubert described how supportive the entire staff was and how David Letterman and Paul Shaffer are both music fans who sit in on the soundchecks. Dave, as a former drummer, loves the drums. Despite the fact that the audience is almost invisible to the band and appearing on the show means playing to the cameras and cutting the song down to 2:30, Aubert said, “The second time was easier…We were surprised by how great it was.” You just had a #1 single on the Modern Rock chart.“It’s incredible.”You’re only the third independent label Artists to do that.“It’s amazing.”Do you think it’s going to help you take the next leap in your career?
“Since we started we’ve just been on a trajectory like this (pointing his hand into an upward slant). It just keeps growing up and up, so it all feels like that’s the next step. We prefer to stay under the radar. We don’t want people to say, ‘Remember that band that had that song?’ We want to have long careers. We don’t want to be faddy. There are still people that haven’t heard of us…We like that.”
You’re on an independent label, is that something you chose intentionally?
(Aubert takes off his sunglasses as if to give his full attention to the subject.)
“Oh yeah! We’re from
L.A. and we played live before recording for a couple of years. We heard horror stories from a lot of people about major labels…the lack of support…”
When the major labels did come calling, the Silverun Pickups weren’t interested in playing the game. “We let them take us out to dinner to get free food.”
Inevitably, the dinners would turn to how the Silversun Pickups could be, “molded,” to be more radio-friendly. The band didn’t seriously consider signing with those majors or many of the independent labels who seemed to want the same control. They signed with people they knew and trusted at Dangerbird Records. Aubert said with a slight tone of sarcasm, “…a lot of people said it was a bad decision.”
But they knew it was right because Dangerbird trusted them in return. After their Pikul EP was well-received, it took 7 or 8 months for the “Lazy Eye” single from their first full album Carnavas to take off.
“Dangerbird believes in artists,” Aubert said with emphasis. Dangerbird’s trust paid off, since the label has risen to success with the Silversun Pickups.
When I asked him about change after worldwide notoriety, frequent touring and two successful albums, Aubert said, “It’s the same feeling as in
L.A. It’s weird, but it feels the same.”
A lot of bands are being encouraged to go the internet route. What do you think?
“It depends on the Artist.” He described how the internet has altered the, “Rock formula,” and opened the field, noting, “…left of center bands can play. It causes people to listen.”
You’ve been playing a lot of festivals lately.
“We have.”
How is it different from your own shows or shows where you support?
“Obviously, your own show, they’re there to see you. But festivals are fun because you get people that are just curious. You’re one of a lot of things. It’s really pretty freeing…you get new audiences. There’s something light about it….We were a live band first, so we’re not bugged by delays and problems that come up. We were birthed in live performance and trying things out.”
I heard you were given five minutes notice today before you had to play…
“Yeah, they said we were going on at 6 and then all of a sudden it was 5. But, I really felt bad for the other bands that didn’t get to play at all…It was kind of uncool that bands [before us] waited all day and then they said they weren’t going to play.”
At least you had the privilege or bringing this festival back to life.
“Yeah, that’s true…”
Now that the festival has resurrected itself, what do you think of All Points West?
“I didn’t know where we were today, we just came here…We could see the whole
New York skyline when we were playing. It’s amazing. It’s great to be so close to the city. I also think that at Lollapalooza…I like urban festivals because you’re right in it. The city is all around you.”
Being from L.A., Aubert said he was impressed by the
Hudson River. “I had a minute to myself by the River. I’m amazed at how different a river it is [in Jersey City] than in
Manhattan. It’s its own universe.”
You were in
New York for about a week, did you find any little corners?
“We didn’t see anything this time. We had a crazy press schedule, we were so busy…We didn’t get to any of the bars we like.”
Aubert reflected on the changes in the city and the how surprised he was by the continual development. “There’s a hotel on the Bowery…Hell’s Kitchen looks completely different…there’s nothing dirty left in
New York. Maybe the Port Authority.”
But since the band knows
New York well, they don’t really sightsee anymore. They feel at home and prefer to visit friends.
Is that one of the hardest parts of touring, that you don’t have time to see the cities?
“Not really. There some places where we’d like to see more but we only have a day…Like if we go to
Barcelona. It would be nice to walk around the streets, see the buildings…But you get used to it.”
Are you sentimental, do you bring anything from home?
“No.”
Nothing?
“Socks.”
Is there anyone you’re excited to see at All Points West?
“Yeah, it’s always good to see Elbow and Mogwai. The guitarist from MGMT is really nice and the drummer.”
(Nikki Monninger, Joe Lester and Chris Guanlao entered the trailer. Nikki stayed though the rest of the interview with a bright, but quiet presence broken occasionally by a winning smile that gives no hint of the intensity she puts into her playing.)
My Bloody Valentine played here last night.
Both: Oh! Yeah?
You get that comparison a lot. Do you think it’s valid?
(Both look disappointed by the lack of detail on My Bloody Valentine’s performance)
Aubert: “After we recorded Swoon, we saw them in this little club in
L.A. We’re not at all the same. They have so much more power than we do. I don’t know what they sound like in an outdoor venue, but the whole place was [shaking]…there was a light fixture falling from the ceiling. It was like an art show. You can’t do loud and blankety without referencing them, but I don’t think it’s the same.”
How would you define yourselves?
Aubert: “We can’t define ourselves because we’re too close to it. We don’t really know what we sound like.”
Do you ever listen back to any of your performances?
Aubert: “No, not really. Maybe Letterman, but not others. We don’t like to see it through the distorted filter of TV.”
On another note, I wanted to ask you about your Twitter (@SSPU). I noticed you Tweeted when you came to
New York…
Monninger: “We like the pictures. We like to put images out there…”
Aubert: “Twitter saved us. We were doing this blog before and it was really hard to have to sit down and write these paragraphs, we’re so busy. We prefer the visual media…pictures and videos. We’d rather see what other people are doing visually…Same with us.”
Is it another way to connect with your fans?
Aubert: “No…it’s just another tool.”
Monninger: “It helps us keep track of our experiences while we’re on tour. It’s like a tour diary.”
Then the band congregated into a perfectly arranged group picture that’s no doubt become second nature to them, Nikki Monninger’s genuine, dimpled smile at the front.
Rolling Stone has described them as what the Smashing Pumpkins would be like if they drove their ice cream cart out West and enjoyed themselves more. Though the music comparison is debatable, the Silversun Pickups are winking at those references while making their own mark. They probably can’t help but smile.
