Strait Laces Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Feb 28th 2010 12:00PM by Megan Carpentier
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The Irish punk rockers calling themselves Strait Laces take their music seriously but are equally serious about not taking almost anything else seriously. In a sarcasm- and humor-tinged interview with Spinner, Dave Hanna (vocals and guitar), Jonny Creeldog (bass and vocals) and the single-named Pando (drums) dish about how they met, the proper order of Beatles mortality, their cartoon crushes and (in a more serious vein) why their hometown of Belfast isn't everything Harrison Ford movies made it out to be.

How did you guys initially meet?

Jonny Creeldog: We all met through music. Me and David have know each other through school, and we met Pando through playing music in our hometown.

How did you actually get the band together?

Dave Hanna: We've one of the most clichéd stories of how we started ever. We're all mates, we've been mates for years, and one day we decided to start a band just for a bit of fun and it's turned into something more full-time.

How did you come up with your band name?

DH: We struggled to find a name for quite a while and, while we were aware that a name isn't that important, we couldn't seem to stick with anything. So we asked a few friends in Belfast for some suggestions, and Strait Laces was one of the suggestions, so it stuck.

How would you describe the kind of music you make?

Pando: Our sound is rocky, kind of edgy, a bit raw, kind of funky. We don't want to get into too many pigeonholes.

What are your musical influences?

P: Queens of the Stone Age is a big influence. Biffy Clyro is a big one, a lot of the older stuff. We're into Bloc Party. We're into a lot of local music as well, bands in Belfast. A lot of our mates are in bands, and we love to listen to local music. Seeing our mates in bands really influenced us to start one.

DH: I think a big influence for me is seeing mates in bands, and when they write a song that's great -- and seeing it live, it's so exciting, you just want to do it yourself, musically.

JC: I concur.

What's your biggest vice?

[All three laugh.] DH: My vice, personally, is alcohol. We're Irish. Potatoes, Guinness. Jonny likes listening to the Eagles. Oh, and just green stuff.

Have you guys been to a lot of big festivals like SXSW?

DH: We've been a band for two years, and the chance to play at SXSW has been the biggest thing so far. We are looking at getting to play at big festivals in the UK and, if our dreams our fulfilled, to play other festivals outside of the UK.

Do you find yourself intimidated by the schedule at SXSW? You're practically doing two shows a day, at least!

DH: We are, but we're more excited by the prospect. We're in the band to have fun, but we're there to do a job, too. If we get the opportunity to play more, we're going to play more!

P: Since we're playing every day at SXSW, you can come at get your daily dose of Strait Laces lovin'. We're there to party, to have a good time and to make sure everyone else has a good time.

What is the one thing you always have to have with you on tour?

JC: Generally, the first thing and most important is our car, but we probably won't be taking that to SXSW.

DH: We're fairly basic as a band, we bring ourselves and our gear, and can't afford much beyond that. We bring some tunes for the car, some alcohol for Pando and we're set.

Who was your first celeb crush?

[Groans, then laughter] DH: My first celebrity crush was Jasmine from 'Aladdin.' She was a good-looking cartoon.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

DH: When we finish plucking the potatoes and come in for a few drinks, we always end up singing R. Kelly's 'Ignition Remix,' because it's easy to rhyme when you're drunk!

Do you prefer the Beatles or the Stones?

JC: If I had to choose, I would say the Beatles, but I like both.

P: I would definitely choose the Beatles, because 'Sgt Pepper' is one of my favorite albums. But the Beatles are dying in the wrong order.

DH: I've never heard of either [they all laugh].

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

DH: When we were in London, we were walking through Camden and we managed to spot Amy Winehouse just chilling on the street, and we were a bit starstruck. That's not that crazy, but we lived sheltered lives over here.

You guys have talked a lot about how the musical scene in Belfast has influenced your work, but you undoubtedly know that, for most Americans, Belfast conjures up images of sectarian violence and the Troubles. What is it really like living there -- and what would you like people to know about it?

P: Belfast, as a whole, is nowhere near what it used to be like. There's still areas that are, you know, there's two sides, so if you go into certain areas, it is one side or the other. But most of the city isn't like that.

DH: When it comes down to the music scene, it doesn't really exist. There's loads of bands, it's very tight-knit. If you're in a band, you're going to know most of the bands on a personal level. Everyone's willing to help each other out; it's a good place to be.

Megan Carpentier is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.