Spill! East Hundred
East Hundred has had quite a lot to deal with in the past year. From taking the top spot in one of the city’s biggest music competitions to taking time in the studio to finish their first full-length album, the band is making the most of being on the move, and fans (and music critics) couldn’t be happier. Luckily for Girl About Town, East Hundred is taking something else--the stage this Thursday, April 24th at The Khyber as they join us in celebrating Girl About Town’s annual Spring Fling. We got a chance to catch up with these fast-paced Philadelphians to ask them a few questions about their many upcoming projects, music in movies, and their beef with journalists (And we don’t mean us!)
Girl About Town: First, we gotta say “Congratulations” on recently taking first place at this year’s Philly Sound Clash! How was the experience for you all?
(Will Blair) Thanks so much. The experience was shocking, in the sense that there were so many great bands that night, it really could've gone to anyone. Music, in nature, is about collaboration, and not competition, so the whole thing was bit strange...the "Battle" idea is strange to us. It fits more into sports or politics and less into music. Part of us wanted to split the prize package evenly with the other bands. (However, the other part of us needed to get our new record financed.) But we were just so happy to be recognized, to be appreciated, and to be exposed.
You’ve played with a slew of local bands for the Philly Sound Clash, and worked with some great local musicians on your past albums, such as Devin Greenwood and presently, Brian McTear. What are some other Philly bands you love to share the stage with or would love to share the stage with in the future?
There's a lot of eclectic talent in this city, isn't there? I think that's refreshing...we've enjoyed playing with everyone for the most part really...as long as there's whiskey involved... those are my favorite shows. For the moment we're excited to be sharing a few bills with An American Chinese and look forward to playing with Eastern Conference Champions again....
You all are currently in the studio working on your first full-length album, after having previously released two EPs. Is the recording process any different when dealing with a full-length rather than an EP? If so, how?
(Will) There are a lot of differences with this new record. Mainly, the inclusion of all 5 of us. The band started as a recording project, with Brooke and Beryl and I, and less of a live band. Dave (bass) and Susan (keyboards), have brought so much to the table over the last few years, and in playing live so much more, that has now become a huge part of our sound. We are now recording as a band, as a 5 piece. This is so exciting for us. Also, in preparing 10 songs for a full length, as opposed to 4 or 5, things get a little spread thin. That’s cool with us. In other words, instead of adding every little perfect texture and sound and noise and part...we just want to get 10 songs to sound like the way they might in our basement, or on stage. 5 people playing in a room...that was what may have been missing from the first two releases.
Beryl, you were a film student at one time and came into music, by accident in a way. And Brooke and William, you both used to score music for films. Do you all feel that your background in film has impacted the way in which the band addresses music? Do you think the visual arts have given you a different perspective?
(Beryl) Actually music was by no means was an accidental direction for me. If anything, I studied film because of music. It was just another less confrontational outlet where I could incorporate making music. I grew up on piano lessons, school orchestras, and other nerdy shit....I do love film and everything about the visual arts. I didn't major in music because I was paralyzed by insecurity - my theory comprehension was poor and I hated competition – that’s not what it’s about for me. Meeting Will and Brooke never felt like an accident (or coincidence) either. I'm positive it was a result of pure creative visualization. They're my ultimate homeboys.
(Will) Brooke and I just finished our first feature film score last year, (check out "Murder Party" online.) It was a totally new experience for us and had us thinking so far outside of the box. I think its given us a new perspective on subtlety, and dynamics. A rock band needs to be heard, but a film score needs to just be absorbed, almost subconsciously, and cannot dominate. But ultimately, both set a mood. East Hundred has always tried to set a consistent mood, not too dissimilar from a film score.
The band recently had the opportunity to be featured in a documentary in which you all were filmed traveling with a, shall we say, “journalist” who was trying to capture life on the road, and instead created a “mockumentary” of sorts, at the band’s expense. You all haven’t been shy about your disappointment both with the “journalist” and the documentary, itself. What lessons have you learned from this experience and do you have any advice for other bands that might find themselves in a similar position?
(Will) Oh, Jesus. Will Kenny. What a complete douche-bag. But here’s the deal. We were touched by the response we got from fans sympathizing with us through that experience. Everyone truly felt we deserved better, and were sorry we were "taken advantage of." But, I wish we posted those videos on April Fools Day.
For the record, I am Will Blair, the drummer for East Hundred, and I am also Will Kenny, the self-proclaimed "Television Journalist." I put on different glasses, a stupid hat, and a tight zip up. I put on a pretentious voice and tone. We thought it would be obvious, especially when Will Kenny appears in a scene with myself. Total in-house parody. Keep in mind, we take our music rather seriously, we take the business of our music, relatively seriously. But we don't take ourselves too seriously. So we were OK making a complete joke of ourselves. We did want to "document" the tour, but really who wants to see another indie-band tour diary. Sleeping on floors, driving, drinking, blah blah. Its been done. This was a way to capture the tour on film, but in a different way. And honestly, there is a lot of down-time on the road. Making this mockumentary, kept us busy and entertained. So thanks for all who supported us, and although there probably are plenty of "Will Kenny" types out there, he doesn't exist. And for the record I'm a nice guy, but if music doesn't work out, I can always fall back on being a complete asshole.
And lastly, what’s your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
(Will) Will Kenny lives in L.A., so I love being as far away from him as possible.
(Brooke) It’s a walkable, small town/big city.
(Susan) The Parking Authority.
(Beryl) The convenience of all the one-way streets
(Dave) The lack of casinos, for the time being...
Download this: East Hundred - Leave It
East Hundred is amazing live, so glad GAT spot-lighted them!
Posted by: Tee | April 23, 2008 at 01:25 PM