City Riots Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Feb 23rd 2010 7:07AM by shayda torabi
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South Australian band City Riots has been performing together for over two years, and is currently in Chicago working on releasing their first full-length album. Still touring off their EPs, the band has gotten lots of recognition and has been featured on MTV and Channel V. They will be visiting the U.S. in March to play SXSW as well as making a few other stops throughout the East Coast. Spinner recently spoke with lead singer Ricky Kradolfer about expensive vices, touring tricks and upgrading from their 1980's salmon-pink Dodge van.

How would you describe your sound?

Grand, brooding, pulsating and infectious indie rock.

How did your band form?

My brother Dan plays drums. I met him when I was little. My mum introduced us. Dan and Matt [keyboards/guitar] met at a local hangout bar in the west end of Adelaide. Matt was impressed with Dan's "hi-hat skills" after watching a City Riots show. Dan was equally impressed with Matt's hair and thought Matt had to be in a band. Incidentally, we needed a keyboard/guitar player. Matt could do neither, but he could sculpt a head of hair like a French baker making the perfect croissant. Three weeks later he was on tour with us.

What are your musical influences?

Blur, Johnny Marr, My Bloody Valentine, Dandy Warhols, Talking Heads, the Cars, the Cure, the National, Television, the Smiths, David Bowie.

How did you come up with your band name?

From a New York City art exhibition.

What's your biggest vice?

Spending money on expensive guitars and pedals that we don't really need.

What's in your festival survival kit?

An empty guitar case, so that if you're not in the band, you can at least make out you are and slip by security and sneak backstage.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Jason Priestley from '90210.' Yeah, he's a guy. So what? I was 12 years old. Did you see his hairdo? Amazing!

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Def Leppard

The Beatles or the Stones?

The Stones doing a cover of 'Back in the U.S.S.R.'

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

One, having to sleep under our van following our set at the Great Escape Festival in the U.K. when we couldn't find a place to stay. Two, our van breaking down in the middle of Wisconsin, hitchhiking for help, and spending the next three days stuck at a truck stop. Three, fitting the four of us plus a tour manager, sound engineer and all our guitars and luggage in a two-door hatchback, then being pulled over by the police for speeding at which point our tour manager informed us that he didn't actually have a license. He appeared in court six weeks later.

What's the biggest difference between touring in America and touring in Australia?

In Australia, we don't have diners or anywhere for that matter where you can order eggs, bacon, tomatoes with a side of waffles, French toast and a stack of pancakes and receive it all on the same plate. God bless you, IHOP.

Where do you see your band in the next five years?

Recording our fourth album and touring in something bigger then our 1980s salmon pink Dodge Ram van. Hopefully something with air conditioning.

Shayda Torabi is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.