The Bloodsugars Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Feb 8th 2010 1:21PM by John Haefele
Comments

Blending the poppy sensibilities of Phoenix with the effortless grooves of Neon Indian, Brooklyn four-piece the Bloodsugars create a heady rush of feel-good psychedelic buzz guaranteed to get even the staunchest of scenesters moving. Their latest album, 'I Can't Go On, I'll Go On,' has been steadily gaining steam since its fall release, culminating with major name-droppage on multiple year-end lists. Here's what frontman Jason Rabinowitz had to say about the band's music, guilty pleasures, and the trials and tribulations of touring.

Describe your sound.

I think of us currently as un-ironic synth-pop with a vast amount of influences.

What are your musical influences?

We have a lot. This is the hardest question to come up with a non-rambly answer. I'll say what I've been listening to the most lately is Neon Indian, Wings' 'Greatest Hits,' Cake's first album, and about 80 gigs of shuffle.

How did you come up with your band name?

I have diabetes. I was sitting around with a bunch of friends and someone suggested it and it stuck.

What's your biggest vice?

Good question. Probably alcohol ... possibly complacency.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Ambien. I don't sleep well in general, all the more so when it's on a floor or a random couch with a random bunch of blankets at random times. Ambien, for the win.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I once read something I loved by Chuck Klosterman that said if you like it, you really shouldn't feel guilty about it. I think that's really hip, and really true. That said, I do feel guilty about liking certain things. I am a cheeseball at heart sometimes.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

One of them would definitely be when we were staying in this fleabag motel outside of Columbus, Ohio. Around 4:30 in the morning we were awoken by a hooker who seemed to be locked out of her room by a john. She was screaming things like, "Bitch! I'll kill you! You better give me my money! I want my money, bitch!" and pounding on the door. It was straight up movie-script nuts. There's definitely a ton of weird stuff that happens on tour on a fairly regular basis.