Last
time I spoke with James Mercer he was a quiet, somewhat guarded
chap, still conflicted about whether he was letting his parents
down by pursuing a musical career. His band Flake Music had
failed to set the world alight, although the self-recorded
album for his side project The Shins had proved a surprise
hit for Sub Pop, leading to a second (also self-recorded)
long player 'Chutes Too Narrow'. He hoped people liked it
and that their Australian tour in early 2004 was going to
go OK.
What a difference a year makes...
...And
You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead Worlds
Apart Interscope/UMG
Coming from a scene that produced heavyweights At The Drive-In
and later the Mars Volta and Sparta, Austin natives ...And
You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead (or ...The Band With
The Longest Name In The World) stamped their unique authority
on the music world with 2002's breakthrough 'Source Tags &
Codes'. The heavily delayed follow up, 'Worlds Apart' has
finally been let loose, and it was well worth the wait...
Before the call even came through, I knew this interview wasn't
going to be so much about the music. Sure, Anti-Flag are amazing
and they're excited about their first Australian tour, but it's
not difficult to see where the band's heart, soul and minds
truly are: using the power they have as a band to inspire fans,
change the world, and generally f--k with the government that's
been forced upon them. You know, all the stuff punk bands used
to do...
It was another
corker of a BDO!
And we give you the blow-by-blow run down on how it all happened.
Last
time I spoke with James Mercer he was a quiet, somewhat guarded
chap, still conflicted about whether he was letting his parents
down by pursuing a musical career. His band Flake Music had
failed to set the world alight, although the self-recorded
album for his side project The Shins had proved a surprise
hit for Sub Pop, leading to a second (also self-recorded)
long player 'Chutes Too Narrow'. He hoped people liked it
and that their Australian tour in early 2004 was going to
go OK.
Worlds
Apart
Before the call even came through, I knew this interview wasn't
going to be so much about the music. Sure, Anti-Flag are amazing
and they're excited about their first Australian tour, but it's
not difficult to see where the band's heart, soul and minds
truly are: using the power they have as a band to inspire fans,
change the world, and generally f--k with the government that's
been forced upon them. You know, all the stuff punk bands used
to do...
