black lips – Vinyl Mag

Saint Pé x Vinyl Mag: “Eat, Shit, Sleep, Breathe Rock ‘n’ Roll”

Posted on November 12, 2015October 24, 2016 by Emily McBride

“The wheel ain’t broken. You don’t need to fix it, just trying to put some new rims on it.”

At CMJ this year, the first band on my must-interview list was Saint Pé, the newest project formed by Black Lips alum and current Diamond Rugs guitarist/vocalist Ian Saint Pé.

Backstory

As a not-born-but-bred Georgian, I’ve been a Black Lips fan since I switched Jack Rogers for Converse and mini skirts for skinny jeans back in the 9th grade. And then came college and post-college life in Athens, Georgia, where I was introduced to part-local supergroup Diamond Rugs. Dudes. This band is my joint, and I have been helplessly addicted since the release of their latest album Cosmetics back in February. Yes, that is nine full months that I have had D.Rugs in my constant rotation, and I’m nowhere near over it.

That being said, if Ian Saint Pé is involved with a band, I’m an instant convert. So when word reached my ears that he was forming a new band under his name, I was all kinds of psyched. And when I found out that the band was coming to CMJ, I snagged myself an interview with them so I could let my fan flag fly.

The Interview

We all sat down on the rooftop of Our Wicked Lady in Brooklyn before the band’s last of three shows at the fest, and as soon as the mic was on, Ian dove in, intro’ing us with our new slogan: “Vinyl Mag CMJ 2015. Pro gear, pro attitudes.” This turned out to be the first of countless ad-libbed one-liners throughout the interview, which he attributed to having a “lot of time in a van to think about things.”

When asked about his new direction away from the band that had built his career and on to a new self-titled project, Ian explained to me that sometimes, even the bands you love get a little stale (my nine-month Diamond Rugs binge might indicate that I have a higher tolerance than most for this phenomenon), and that after 10 years in the same band, things inevitably get a little redundant.

“I’d say after 10 years … honestly, The Rolling Stones—that’s my favorite band, and there’s a good reason why—but I don’t even want to hear them for more than an hour, you know? And that’s a super good band. I mean, ’cause how much more can you say in that amount of time? So with that statement, I’m gonna move it on to records. I did seven records in 10 years. What more can I say? It was time to change it up. Love the guys, but I got more to say. I love them, and I love the records, but I’m ready to birth new children with new people.”

And so, Saint Pé was born. The band came together the way all bands do, through the local music scene—in this case, the scene of Atlanta, mainly. Most of the band members are based and/or met in A-Town, with the exception of “ivory tickler” (a.k.a. keyboardist) Paul Wierdak, who is based in Chicago. Ian, who had lived in Atlanta for 15 years, credits the bulk of his musical career to the city, saying, “It ain’t New York, but it was my New York. And no regrets, because unlike New York and L.A., I could have half a job and spend all my time playing music–and did it–rather than having to have three jobs and maybe play music … if you have a fall back plan, you’ll fall back.”

So what does Saint Pé have to say that hasn’t been said in any of Ian’s other projects?

“It’s always been eat, shit, sleep, breathe rock and roll,” Ian told me. “The wheel ain’t broken. You don’t need to fix it, just trying to put some new rims on it.”

The rims are fresh indeed. Though it was Saint Pé’s oh-so-familiar moniker that originally grabbed my attention, it was the refreshingly upbeat track “Street Lights” that made me a believer in the band. Premiered via Noisey back in April, “Street Lights” is one of four tracks off the band’s debut Secular Music EP.

“It’s just my story of never worrying about what could have been, because I always knew what was,” Ian said of the song. “And that was to play music. ‘Street Lights’ is basically the adaptation of my novel I haven’t written and the movie that hasn’t been made yet … because late at night, with the white line fever, the only thing that comes to your head is the lights, physically. That’s powerful to the eye, the light … basically about being on the road and getting something. [The line] ‘Got a country house, quiet as a mouse’—you know, I was able to get everything I wanted … that’s what ‘Street Lights’ is about. Just everything I was striving for, I got–which wasn’t much, but just to be happy and do artistic shit on my terms.”

Sounds good to me.

“Nothing’s changed,” Ian clarified. “I’m 38, still bleed 17. I want to continue to play music with friends of mine. The other Black Lips guys are still my friends, but I just want to change it up … I had to take two steps back to go five steps forward, and I have a bunch of my friends from Atlanta and Chicago that are participating in this project. I’ve got nothing but great expectations. I did six continents, but I haven’t done seven. This band will do seven.”

The Future

Saint Pé is Ian Saint Pé (vocalist/guitarist), Matt McCalvin (bassist), Ian “Mickey D” McDonald (guitarist), Paul Weirdak (keyboardist), and John Restivo Jr. (drums). They are currently on tour, set to play shows with Natural Child and T. Hardy Morris. Check out their tour dates below, and keep an eye out for more dates coming in January. These guys won’t be slowing down any time soon. Parting words from Ian: “Ain’t gonna stop ’til it’s broken, and I don’t plan on being broken.”

Tour Dates:

Thursday, November 12 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA w/ Natural Child

Saturday, November 14 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA w/ Natural Child

Saturday, December 5 – JJ’s Bohemia – Chattanooga, TN w/ T. Hardy Morris

Sunday, December 6 – The Basement – Nashville, TN w/ T. Hardy Morris

Thursday, December 10 – Isis Restaurant and Music Hall – Asheville, GA w/ T. Hardy Morris and Roadkill Ghost Choir

Friday, December 11 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA w/ T. Hardy Morris

Saturday, December 12 – Saturn – Birmingham, AL w/ T. Hardy Morris and Duquette Johnston

Black Lips at the 40 Watt

Posted on September 21, 2015September 21, 2015 by Nikki Smith

The line to the 40 Watt curved down Pulaski Street as people waited for the doors to open. Those who RSVP’d ahead of time were sent to a Red Bull Sound Select representative and given free chocolate chips cookies and foam black lips. Once inside, Muuy Biien performed an enthusiastic show and set the hardcore, punk mood for the rest of the night. Front man, Josh Evans brought the energy and the fun with his animated dance moves. After Muuy Biien, people migrated to the bar or outside for a cigarette. Even the boys of Muuy Biien made their way to ground level as fellow Black Lips fans. We weren’t outside for more than 30 minutes before my friend points out Black Lips’ singer, Cole, and the band’s female saxophonist walking by. It was an occurrence that seemed so surreal at the time, to be that close to performers dressed in their punk garb and makeup. Shaky Knees was a completely different experience; fans leaned over metal gates and bodyguards in order to reach for the Black Lips. The 40 Watt is much more intimate, eliminating the barrier between the audience and the performers. It’s not uncommon to see band members mingling among the audience with a PBR in hand or partaking in the chaos that is the mosh pit.

Finally, the seemingly misplaced 50’s standby music abruptly transitions to the rough and raw guitar sounds of Black Lips. Opening with “Family Tree,” the band wastes no time in amping up the energy. Cole gracefully trust falls onto a tightly packed group of audience members, and is just as gracefully placed back on stage. I vigorously nodded my head and bounced in the back of the crowd. The band recently included a female saxophonist that brings a new layer to the band’s sound. Although she is only present for a few songs, her power gives the songs new life. Its no secret that punk-rock shows can be overwhelming; one doesn’t come to a punk-rock show to sit in the back and not get pushed around. I think the genre is successful in generating an energetic crowd; as long as the performers are screaming into the mic and jumping around on stage, the audience is bound to follow. The genre gets back what it puts in. Have you ever been to a rock concert and not been able to dance? It’s hard. I think the same concept goes for any genre, but the punk-rock genre is all about creating chaos and instilling a rebellious mindset in its listeners.

It wasn’t long before I saw my girlfriend crowd surfing a few bodies in front of me. She was so close to the stage that I think Cole looked her square in the face. A few girls gabbed back in forth in front of me, a few even checking updates from Instagram as the band played “Boys in the Woods.” I couldn’t go to a Black Lips show at the 40 Watt and remain in the safe section. People started to filter out of the crowd, making their way to the calmness of the bar. The aggressive moshing and flying toilet paper rolls were too much to handle, but I grabbed my friend by the hand and pushed our way closer, eventually reuniting with my crowd surfing friend. I knew the concert was coming to an end, and I also knew I would regret it if I didn’t enter the ominous mosh pit. I asked my crowd surfing friend to come with me, which she agreed to without hesitation. As we pushed our way into the pit, the temperature immediately climbed 10 degrees and the humidity was enough to stifle my breath. Once in the center of the pit, my legs and arms became pinned to my body. It took all the power I had to pull an arm up for defense. I finally got my head up enough to see Jared’s sweaty, red face and the veins popping out of his neck as he belted out “Bad Kids.” In a blur, I see a guy jumping off the stage, and it’s my job to catch him. Immediately the impact takes my friend and I to the floor. I was surprised to feel people reaching for me, helping me up. It wasn’t long before the weight of so many bodies took its toll, and just as I felt a crushing sensation in my chest and a tingling in my face, I moshed my way out of the pit.

Just as Black Lips ended, the crowd chanted for an encore, and the band willingly obliged. I discovered I’m not much of a mosher, but I was proud of myself for taking a chance. Their recorded songs definitely have a cleaner quality, but there’s something about the rawness of a blood-curdling scream and the feedback of a guitar that gets to the heart of the audience member, physically. If you’re heart isn’t racing at a Black Lips concert, you’re either in the bathroom or passed out.

SXSW 2014: Black Lips x Vinyl Mag

Posted on April 21, 2014April 22, 2014 by Emily McBride

Happy Birthday to me. I got the chance to wake up on my birthday at South by Southwest and drive straight to an interview with The Black Lips. Not a bad start to a day. We sat down at their hotel on the fourth day of SXSW to talk about BL’s latest album, Underneath the Rainbow, their Middle Eastern tour, their favorite Georgia venue and what’s next for the band.

VM: We’re really excited for Underneath the Rainbow; it comes out March 18^th. How is different from your previous album releases?

Jared: It’s not really that different; it’s not really a radical departure. We have our sound and everything. We just keep recording songs; they’re just in different studios sometimes, but mostly the same process.

Cole: We’re just tightening up what we have always done.

VM: Who does all the writing?

Cole: We all do some.

VM: What was your inspiration for the album, or do you just write all the time?

Cole: We kind of just write all the time and let things gel together naturally.

VM: Tell us about your video for ‘Boys in the Woods.’

Jared: It was just a vision we had of a redneck odyssey in the woods. I guess it’s supposed to be about crankcuts and weirdos that live differently than most people.

VM: Where was it filmed?

Joe: Conley, Georgia.

Jared: I think it used to be a hospital or maybe a school. It’s like an abandoned place, and one of our friends has a horror studio there with props and everything. So, we had a lot of space to work with and sources.

VM: How many shows do you have at ‘South By’ this year?

Cole: Ten.

VM: It’s Friday; how many shows do you have left?

Jared: Five.

Joe: We have three tomorrow and actually three tonight, so six.

Cole: We have DJ gigs as well.

VM: So, 10 shows plus DJ gigs; that’s intense. When did you guys get in?

Jared: Tuesday night, or Tuesday afternoon.

VM: Who have you seen? Have you seen anybody good?

Jared: OFF! played before us, and we saw them.

Joe: We saw Perfect Pussy last night.

Cole: We saw Sean Lennon’s band, Ghost of the Saber Tooth Tiger [GOASTT].

Joe: We saw Natural Child, right?

Ian: Pretty much if they played before us, we watched them.

VM: So you’ve seen a lot! Was there anyone you really wanted to see this year?

Cole: No.

Jared: I personally gave up on trying to see shows a few years ago, because you get your hopes up about a show you probably won’t be able to go to. If I happen to be somewhere, then I’ll watch it; sometimes you get lucky.

Joe: I agree 100 percent.

Cole: I second that.

VM: So can we expect some typical Black Lips antics on stage?

Cole: You never know what you’ll get.

Jared: Depends on what’s in the water, and the mood, what time of day it is; you have to feel it out.

Ian: We’re like a Ferrari; the years might change, but we’re still fast and smooth.

VM: Well said. Tell us about your Middle Eastern tour.

Jared: Well, it was really unprecedented. We took the first step, and – to our knowledge, and no one has disputed this since – we were the first western band to do that full circuit. It sounds crazy. Like, we went going to Iraq and Egypt at this time when it looks crazy over there, but it really couldn’t have been more normal. The shows were really well attended, it was organized, and everyone was really nice to us. No running over borders in the middle of the night or riots or anything. It was just like your average tour. Actually, it was one of the more wholesome tours we’ve ever done. We had a lot of families there and a lot of little kids. We didn’t really party. It was very wholesome and special.

VM: So did you go on that tour intending to be the first, or did you find out later that that was the case?

Jared: Well, it was there, and we were like, ‘why not go play?’ We started meeting bands that were from around the region and different people, like filmmakers, and it just started to become more of a reality. So, we were like, ‘why not go there? We haven’t been.’

VM: Do you have any other places you want to go?

Jared: Malaysia, Indonesia…

Cole: Cuba.

Jared: I guess at some point, we’ll have to go to China. It’s hard to avoid.

VM: Do you want to go to China? You seem a little ‘meh.’

Jared: I’m sure it will be cool, but if I had to make a list of places, that’s not super high up.

VM: What would be your number one?

Cole: We wanted to go to Antarctica, but not anymore, because Metallica did it. We want to be the first in some things.

VM: What’s your favorite venue to play in Georgia?

Jared: If you could fill it up, I really like Variety Playhouse. Actually, now that they’ve redone the Georgia Theatre. I really like the Georgia Theatre.

VM: It’s awesome now! There’s no bad place as an audience member. Wherever you are, you can see the stage.

Jared: I’ll go ahead and say Georgia Theatre. There’s Nintendo backstage, restaurant and bar on the roof, and good sound.

Cole: Giant bands.

Ian: The food’s good.

VM: The food is good.

Cole: My dream is to play the Fox Theater in Atlanta. It’s gigantic! We’d have to be lucky enough to open for somebody, probably.

Jared: I think to put on a show there is just thousands and thousands of dollars.

VM: Bill Cody from Athens directed the documentary, ‘Kids Like You and Me,’ for your tour. How did you get connected with him, and why did you decide to do a documentary?

Jared: I can’t remember how we met him. I think he just started coming to our shows in L.A. Over the months and years, we found out he was a filmmaker, and I was a fan of ‘Athens, Georgia Inside Out.’ We would always talk sh*t about playing in Iraq but not in the green zone. He said, ‘well, I used to teach film there.’ So we were like, ‘well, if you actually have some contacts there…’ and he actually took it seriously. Three years later we were there with him, but it just started from that one little ‘I want to play in Iraq’ and snowballed from there.

VM: What is your favorite part about playing at ‘South By?’

Joe: Seeing friends.

VM: After ‘South By,’ what are your plans?

Jared: We’re hitting the road for a while. We’re going to the West coast from here, going to do a little circle up and down the coast and a little, quick dip into Canada, then the East coast, then Europe and a bunch of other stuff.

VM: Thanks for talking to us.

Jared: It was a pleasure.

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