These cardboard cutouts can be used as pretend bouncers too!
"NEW YORK IS MY HOME AND WHERE I LIVE, AND IT MAKESE ME FEEL GOOD TO BE ASKED AND ABLE TO PLAY IN A PARK" - JON SPENCER
Is there anything or anyone god-awful cooler than the legendary Blues Explosion front-man Jon Spencer? In the space of one interview, the Heavy Trash member casually rejected press to drop off his in-laws (yes, and not just us), shouted at crew members, and proudly confessed his sex, drugs and rock n’roll history as a fantastical movement. Nervously grabbing the ol’ dog and bone, SUPERSWEET's Gemma Dempster spoke to Jon Spencer, and yes, she gladly waited those five precious minutes, in esteemed hesitation, before she spoke to the rockabilly prince. The verdict? A wonderfully polite rocker and just so damn stellar she’d gladly adopt him as our in-house uncle.
SS: What was your approach recording third time round with Midnight Soul Serenade, did you have any new rituals when recording? What else do you try to encompass within your music?
Jon: Matt (Verta-Ray) and I talked about different ideas and concepts about the record, at one time we were all about placing restrictions on the writing and recording process, that we would only allow ourselves a fixed hours to write and mix a song, and all songs would have to be one minute in length, but we couldn’t do that and we sort of fell into it.
SS: Are any of your songs from personal experience for example the drug hazed song 'The Pill'?
Jon: This was something that happened to me a long time ago, for me rock an’ roll is the kind of fantastical music, and certainly that’s one thing that appeals to me, it’s a chance to recreate yourself. Rockabilly, I believe, offers the greatest chance of fantasy and the lyrics are generally grounded in personal experience or some emotion.
SS: In the past you’ve performed with Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Liars, with The Blues Explosion. Now with Heavy Trash, who has been the best support act you’ve enjoyed?
Jon: We’ve done tours with the Powersolo and a great Canadian band, The Sadies, and they’ve also acted as the Heavy Trash band, those bands are wonderful and have been great support bands, it’s a unique situation. We played with a one band from Montreal called Bloodshot Bill; he plays some really great rockabilly, kind of in the style of Charlie Feathers.
SS: What’s the best advice and trick you’ve learnt from performing over the last few years, as Heavy Trash, or your previous acts?
Jon: (Laughs) Gosh, over the last year, I’m not really sure...well recently we played at a festival in Spain, so when we got out to play there was a lot of technical problems, and rather try to soldier on, I stopped the song and tried to get the crew to fix what was wrong...I was quite cross and began to yell at the technician. Gah, I wish I hadn’t done that...but kept my cool. Hopefully I learnt something from that!
SS: If you had to do an impromptu performance, busking on the street with Matt, for money or just for fun, where would it be?
Jon: As far as outdoor performances, some of my favourite shows were outdoor free concerts in NYC. This is my home and where I live, and it makes me feel good to be asked and able to play in a park, even just a big open public event.
SS: Your artwork is what looks like a Beelzebub creature hovering in background, while lovers embrace? What was your reason behind this?
Jon: The artwork is by a French gentlemen Jean Luc Navette. He’s the guy who did those drawings. I think it was a interpretation of the Heavy Trash album and also the lyrics, and his own personal thing. My interpretation is that he’s trying to portray love as a complicated thing.
SS: In the press, what’s the biggest misconception about you or Heavy Trash that you have read? How can you set the story straight?
Jon: Heavy Trash has been too quickly dismissed as a side project or something trivial; it is our main focus and we are very serious band. We make music that is light-hearted, has spirit, has a sense of humour sometimes and full of joy, and it doesn’t mean it’s not real art. It totally is. Critics, especially in the US tend to write off anything that is a little light-hearted.
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SS: As we are heading into a new decade what do you hope 2010 brings you and Heavy Trash?
Jon: The opportunity to continue working and touring, release another record. I very much enjoy working, and just want to continue to do that!
Words: Gemma Dempster
Graphics: Jade Jefferies