The Nervous Wreckords Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 1st 2010 12:00PM by Kelly Rose
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It's hard to miss Brian Karscig's innate musical talent. As a kid, he took voice and piano lessons, and he sang in a choir. As a teenager, he started playing the guitar and began writing his own music. Soon after, he decided he wanted to become a musician -- and he did. Karscig started the San Diego based band the Nervous Wreckords, who'll be playing this year's SXSW. Spinner recently caught up with Karscig to discuss his music prior to the festival.

Describe your sound in your own words.

That's a hard one. Very rock 'n' roll, but you can dance to it. I grew up liking beats. My conservative dad wasn't really into music, but when I was growing up he was obsessed with Prince. He listened to Prince's 'Greatest Hits,' 'Purple Rain' and 'Sign o' the Times' non-stop on his three-disc CD player. Our music is a melting pot of music that I've liked throughout my life.

How did your band form?

I was in a different band [Louis XIV] since 2004. We had a few albums, were signed by Atlantic and had toured the world. After our last tour, I needed a creative break. We opened for the Killers, and right before our last show I told myself when I got home I'd do something different. Before that show, I was having a drink in a hotel bar and a woman came up to me and asked if I was in Louis XIV. I said yes, and she said her husband was a record producer. She called him, he came to over and we stayed in touch. The producer turned out to be Anthony Saffery, formerly of the UK band Cornershop. I started writing songs and would send them to Anthony. We had 6 or 7 songs in July 2009, which we recorded as our EP, and sent it out to the Killers. They asked us to open for them on a brief US tour in September and October '09. At that time I didn't even really have a band, just a few songs. I got on the phone, called some old friends and bandmates and put the Nervous Wreckords together. We rehearsed for three weeks straight and opened for the Killers.

What are your musical influences?

I have a lot of influences. Led Zeppelin, T. Rex, the Rolling Stones. My all time favorite is Leon Russell. I try to emulate him in life. He was a Motown player, a band leader for Joe Cocker's band. He's a freakin' cool dude who I think didn't get his due respect. I do love Prince, too, and the Band. I'm influenced by a good song.

How did you come up with your band name?

For the last few years, I moonlighted as a producer. I had a recording studio in San Diego, and I'd take on a project if I had the time. I had bought the domain name for the Nervous Wreckords for invoicing purposes. When I started producing and I needed a band name, it was cheap and easy to use the Nervous Wreckords. I thought just using TNW worked too.

Beatles or Stones?

I couldn't pick. They are both great. I'm going right down the middle and picking Leon Russell again, since he's worked with both the Beatles and Stones.

What's your biggest vice?

Food and wine together. Yeah, definitely wine.

Who's your celebrity crush?

Jennifer Aniston as the good girl, and Lady Gaga as the bad girl.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Lady Gaga right now.

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

Wow, it was crazy every night. Really the craziest thing that happened was when I got to bed early and slept. Serenity.

Kelly Rose is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.