How do you approach original songs in the live setting?

We perform almost 95% original music. Messy has never been too into the covers, although occasionally we will bring in an obscure older track to cover. The songs are generally melody based and follow forms similar to jazz compositions leaving room for improvisation with in the composed sections. Lately we have been getting into more open ended linear improv.

What about covers, can you talk about what songs you toss in from time to time? Who selects them?

See above, covers are for the beds, OG music for the heads. Manzel is one group we cover. We like all forms of electronic music, Miles Davis (electric early 70’s), Herbie Hancock, dub reggae, and J Dilla.

In terms of cover tunes can you talk about any spectacular successes and failures?

At our Halloween show last year we attempted to cover a Gang Starr track in honor of Guru who passed away. Although John Carpenter did a great job
with the lyrics the clubs sound system was a failure and the performance was a bit rough. We dropped that one from the next night’s (Halloween) show. We did cover a version of “Night Nurse” in honor of Gregory Isaacs those same nights sung by Gavin Duffy that fared much better!

How often do you rehearse? What do you focus on when you get together for rehearsal?

We are recording junkies. We try to spend rehearsal focused on “rehearsing” new arrangements or difficult sections of older songs. We spend the majority of our time writing and recording new music.

Can you talk about some of your performance highlights thus far. Is there a gig (or gigs) that stand out? Why?

The entire Kyle tour and opening for Lotus and Mux Mool while being simulcast on iClips were definitely highlights. It’s always great to share the stage with musicians who are talented and fun to hang out with as well.

Can you talk about your experiences in the studio bringing your live energy into that setting?

We love the studio. For the first few years of the band we were almost exclusively a studio only band (we started touring in 2010). With Rivers Old Growth and the Rivers Cloak the entire album was performed live in the studio with no overdubs or punch-ins. the band performed together in one small room fully capturing the live dynamic in a studio session. We make a point to combine electronic and organic sounds and love music when it gets a little rough around the edges.

Any final thoughts to folks across the country who may be hearing about you for the first time from this piece?

Thanks to anyone who reads this and we appreciate all our wonderful fans. Please check out our records and come see us live (many members of the group have solo records and group related side projects as well). We have a ton of new music coming out over 2011 stay tuned, it’s gonna get messy.

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