Caspian Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Feb 15th 2010 5:36PM by Shari Monique Gab
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Since the band's inception in 2004, Caspian has been delivering focused, resolute post-rock. The Beverly, Mass., band will be on the road for three months this spring, crossing North America three times before jetting off for a European tour in May. Spinner talked with Philip Jamieson, guitar/programming/samples, about their return appearance at SXSW.

How did your band form?

Cal [Joss, guitar/glockenspiel] and I started the band in 2004 after exchanging some records that we were enjoying at the time. Cal knew Joe [Vickers, drums] and Chris [Friedrich, bass] from an older project of his, and we got together to play for the sole purpose of enjoying music.

Describe your sound.

Caspian is an atmospheric, instrumental rock band. Our music is intended to be powerful, epic and emotional while trying to avoid the musical cliches that are often associated with those kinds of descriptors. We are heavier and more aggressive than most instrumental "post-rock" bands, without being metal. There is a lot of light and shade to our music.

Is there anything that you do consciously to set yourselves apart from other instrumental bands?

We try to place as much emphasis as possible on melody, over just noise. One of our primary objectives as a band is to have the most enormous and surrounding wall of sound out there, but keep it glued together by melodies, driving rhythms and interesting dynamics.

What is your crowd base like. and is it what you had expected?

We get all shapes and sizes, it seems, and that has been one of the most refreshing surprises about being in this band. We have always wanted to make music for everyone, not just indie rock kids and your typical post-rock person. When you look out and see someone bobbing up and down with purple hair, next to someone with gray hair, it's a pretty cool feeling. I've had amazing discussions with people at our shows ranging from the ages of 15 to 60.

What are your musical influences?

We all listen to completely different styles of music. I have trouble thinking of one specific artist that we all would agree on. Tool, Sigur Ros and Mogwai are probably the only ones that come to mind immediately.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Kelly Clarkson.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Princess Leia.

Beatles or Stones?

Black Sabbath?

Do you have a token karaoke song?

"It Was a Good Day" by Ice Cube, every time. I don't even need the karaoke guide thing at this point.

What has been your favorite Caspian performance to date?

That would be a show we did last October at a festival called Nuite Blanche in Metz, France. We played underneath a highway overpass on a closed-down road at midnight under a full moon in front of a thousand-plus people. It was very special indeed.

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

We got stuck in the remote backwoods of Athens, Ga., at a redneck house party back in 2006 and had to flee. It's a long story.

Shari Monique Gab is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.