Javelin Interview: SXSW 2010

Javelin is made up of cousins George Langford and Tom Van Buskirk. These multi-instrumentalists have been playing together since they were teenagers and will be playing an incredible 14 shows at SXSW this year. Right after the festival, they will be embarking on a crazy month-long tour, covering much of the eastern half of the United States and parts of Canada. Spinner checked in with the band before they headed to SXSW.

Who's in the band?

George Langford: It's me and my cousin Tom Van Buskirk.

Describe your sound.

Tom Van Buskirk: I guess our sound has continuously evolved. Best way to describe it might be that it, kind of, sounds like the radio when you're flipping through channels. You could call it pan-pop, I guess.

How long have you two been playing together as a band?

GL: As this group we've been playing together for five years, but we've been playing together since we were teenagers.

What are your musical influences as a band?

GL: It changes quite a bit.

TVB: There's definitely a foundation in early hip-hop. But when you say that, hip-hop contains so much from the '60s and '70s that you can almost include that. We're pretty much inspired by the lighthearted spirit of the whole era. But it's kind of the same with a lot of '90s music; it carries that same party spirit.

What is the origin of your name, Javelin?

GL: It was kind of arbitrary. My sister called us that.

What's your biggest vice?

GL: Up until two weeks ago it was caffeine.

TVB: He was seriously strung out.

GL: But now it's the TV show 'Law and Order.' You know, the one with Vincent D'Onofrio.

JB: 'SVU'?

GL: Yes.

So, does 'Law and Order' have the same effect on you as the caffeine did?

GL: No, but [it is] also powerful.

TVB: Mine is, probably, [that] I take too many hot baths. Bad for the environment.

What's in your festival survival kit?

GL: Bee pollen from Tom's mom's hive.

Is Tom's mom an avid beekeeper?

TVB: Yeah, I think it is to a point where you could say "avid."

GL: It's a special bee pollen that no one sells. It's taken once the bees process it, and it's filled with potent stuff that gives you energy.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

TVB: Chris Evert, the tennis player.

GL: Tracy Chapman. I thought she was really cool and cute when I was in the fourth grade.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

TVB: I think we've made a champion of guilty pleasures over the years.

GL: I think I'm proud of all the music I listen to.

TVB: No shame in the game.

Beatles or Stones?

TVB: Beatles. I grew up listening to them on every single car trip. They are ingrained in my head, and the Stones could never top that.

GL: Can I choose the Kinks?

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

GL: Well, this summer a meteor crashed down about a freakish 100 yards in front of our car one night as we were trying to find a campground along a river in Tennessee. It was a ball of flame, and at about 30 feet above ground it disintegrated right in front of us.

What is your favorite show you've been a part of?

TVB: We did a really good show in Baltimore with our friends the Future Islands after Dan Deacon came and met us in North Carolina for a show. We went back to Baltimore and played this show, and there was more energy than ever. We left the room and it felt like we had come back from the first moon-landing. That might be our best. And it was at a place called the Nicholas Cage Theater.

If your band had to fight either GWAR or Insane Clown Posse, who would you choose to fight against?

GL: It would have to be GWAR, I think. It would be too real with ICP. It would be way more fun with GWAR.

Any final words?

GL: After SXSW, we are doing a full month of touring. Two weeks will be with These Our Powers, and two weeks with Yeasayer. We are covering Texas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Montreal, Toronto, Georgia, et cetera ... One of the last days, we'll be playing in a place called Marfa, Texas.


Josh Budinger is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.