Codeine Velvet Club Interview: SXSW 2010

Taking time out from his day job as the Fratellis frontman, Jon Lawler moves off in a sixties pop direction and pays homage to legendary producer Phil Spector with the Codeine Velvet Club. He shares vocal duties with Lou Hickey as epic walls of sound are unleashed by a backing band the pair have drafted in. Their big, bouncy tracks sound like a poppier version of the Last Shadow Puppets, with a commercial, yet sometimes unnerving, sensibility. Spinner caught up with Jon ahead of SXSW.

Describe your sound

Like the sound of a kitchen sink being dragged backwards through a bordello filled with the ghosts of Hollywood.

How did the band get together?

Lou [Hickey] and I met through my wife to write some songs for Lou to use. 'Vanity Kills' was the first song we wrote and seemed like a good starting point to form a band around.

What are your musical influences?

The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, to name a few.

How did you come up with your name?

It was something to do with 'Blue Velvet' and bad toothache...

What's your biggest vice?

I don't consider alcohol to be a vice, so I guess it'd have to be blue cheese.

What's in your festival survival kit?

I've never been to one as a punter, so I really wouldn't know what to take...I guess sleeping pills and a pillow would come in handy.

Who was your first celeb crush?

It might have been Sinead O'Connor in the 'Nothing Compares to You' video.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Music is the last thing you should feel guilty about. If it wasn't, then maybe Dire Straits.

Beatles or Stones?

Beatles

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

Someone adopted a Panda Bear on my behalf. They send me postcards every once in a while.