Spring Break
Indie bands hype new albums at Theatre
JOHN BARRETT
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Out & About
|
Although most are quick to notice front man A.C. Newman and singer Neko Case, the New Pornographers often are regarded as an indie-rock "supergroup."
"For me, thinking of us as a supergroup was sort of a silly hyperbole," said John Collins, the New Pornographers' bassist. "It kind of fit because we operated like a supergroup, but we weren't really that 'super' - nobody really knew who we were."
The New Pornographers' full lineup includes eight members, each with roots in various other musical projects, and their experiences bring a wide range of dynamics to the band's sound.
NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
With Okkervil RiverWhen: 8 tonight
Where: Georgia Theatre
Cost: $22/advance, $25 day of show
"It's definitely a big part of our style to have lots of hands on deck all the time," Collins said.
Despite its suggestive-sounding band name, Collins insists their music is entirely unrelated.
"Our name is utterly meaningless, really," he said. "We could be searing death metal, or we could be Muzak, and we'd still have about the same relationship to the word 'pornographers.'"
Collins said working with such a large group dilutes tension between members and allows for more freedom of expression.
"It's pretty smooth sailing actually," he said. "We used to have a lot more trouble with scheduling, but now it's all kind of working out better, because we're all sort of getting used to budgeting our time between this band and our other projects."
The New Pornographers' unique chemistry has yielded four acclaimed studio albums. The band's newest release, 2007's "Challengers," reveals it at its most effortless.
Be the first to comment on this story