It's good to see that the TCS are busy finishing off the album and promoting it on a global scale - will this global scale include England this time ? I am hoping that a few concerts here (esp Yorkshire) will happen sometime in 2004. Good luck from an old fan who has been following you all since seeing you at the Poly Of Wales in 1989!
John: God! I am so glad something good came of our only Welsh gig so far...I remember the gig being pretty sparsely attended.. We are planning to do some English dates in the Autumn/Winter and, hopefully, Yorkshire will be included.
I just had a few questions about the new album...and other things...
(1) Is the album going to be widely distributed..available at all the usual record stops...nationwide..that is, in the USA?
(2) Are you planning on pre-selling the Weightlifting album on the TCS website?
(3) I know that TCS is planning on releasing a DVD compilation of video clips, etc...are there any more definite dates? All the video clips that I have are on their last leg...wish DVD technology was around in the 1990's...taped clips from MTV's 120 Minutes are not cutting it anymore...
(4) How do you decide which songs to play? TCS has such a large repertoire of songs and so many tunes that are "crowd pleasers"...I noticed the message board had a poll...just curious.
John: (1) The album will have nationwide distribution in the US and Canada from the 31st August onwards.
(2) We are not planning on having anything available pre-release except the downloads available from the web site.
(3) We are planning to have some of the previously available video footage made available on DVD as soon as we can.
(4) We rehearse a whole bunch of songs, both old and new, and then we choose a set list on the night of the show... taking into consideration the type of venue, the sound check, the size of audience, how we are all feeling, the general atmosphere, etc.
In one of the diaries in 2002, Francis wrote "john's portrait in progress of tcs at work in the studio....." I would like to see this portrait. And not only this one, I think you have painted more pictures and taken photographs. Don't you have a plan to show us your pictures and photographs ? I would be glad if I could see them on this web site.
John: I did a pencil sketch of us working in Riverside Studios... I believe it is still to be found there..I shall try and track it down and somehow put it up on the site... I have had access to one of those new- fangled digital stills cameras for the past few years and have taken various snaps some of which have appeared on the web site as a photo diary of our trip to New York to mix the record.. others will appear on the deluxe version of the album... I shall try to keep this activity up. My paint brush has been a little redundant .... though I am getting the itch again.
Hello, Any chance of a gig in Montreal? We were over in Scotland and missed getting to see you. We'd love you to play here as we're big fans.
John: We have arranged a show in Montreal.. our first show there I think...We had a show booked there for our I've Seen Everything tour in 93, but had to cancel it as the roads were closed due to a heavy snowfall. Cross your fingers for some decent weather.
Do you know if there will be any singles released in the USA? If so, what will they be and what would you put on for b-sides?
John: At the moment we are being advised that singles are a thing of the past ... I am not keen on this advice .. I am a huge fan of the "B-Side" .. it seems to be a place to find the unusual. the experimental and some wonderful surprises. At the moment, though, we have no concrete plans.
i know you're just getting your tour set up now, but do you have any idea if you'll be doing things like radio or television appearances, in-store appearances or free shows?
John: I presume we will be doing various in-stores etc. when we tour the States... we will find out where and when closer to tour time. There is one TV appearance confirmed so far.. which will be on a Canadian breakfast TV show.. details later...
One of my fondest memories is seeing you guys at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit Michigan in 1993. I was right up against the stage. There was a guy standing next to me in a Morrissey t-shirt, jean shorts, and combat boots, headbanging to your music and I will never forget Paul looking at me and then looking at him and rolling his eyes. Is it strange that "Mr. Grisly" is my favorite song?
John: I remember St. Andrews Hall well... a great venue... one of the most memorable shows of the whole tour...I shall ask Paul about the head banger. We are playing Detroit on Sept. 26th at the Magic Stick I think "Mr. Grisly" is one of our best tunes.. Stephen refuses to sing it live ... to my eternal frustration. The campaign starts here.
ONE SIMPLE QUESTION - I THINK THE WEIGHTLIFTING EP IS THE BEST MUSICAL PURCHASE I HAVE MADE IN A LONG TIME - WOULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER COMING TO TORONTO CANADA ON YOUR US TOUR?
John: WE HAVE CONSIDERED IT AND COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS A GOOD THING.... SO WE SHALL DO IT.
Who are some of your musical inspirations, and are there any contemporaries that strike your fancy?
John: Inspirations are many and varied.. Dylan, Waits, Mitchell, all the greats ..... and of our contemporaries.... Rufus Wainwright can be occasionally amazing, Super Furry Animals always seem to come up with something wonderful on every record... "Run, Christian, Run" from their Rings Around the World album is my current favourite.
Hi from France. I have three questions for you: - Any idea of your new LP release date here in France? Will you have some dates there after in France? Which groups are you listening to currently?
John: I'm so glad a Frenchman has written ... we had such a good time when we played in France years ago ... the audiences were very enthusiastic ... the cities and towns and countryside were a real treat for the eyes...We hope to have our record released in France in September/October and we will try our hardest to arrange some shows. You ask what I am listening to ? Well... today I have been listening to Scott Walker (Scott 4) and Rainbow ("Since You've Been Gone")
i'm curious about other songs that you're working on for the NEXT album. there have been some updates in the past that mentioned songs like "ice skating", "nostrodomous", "new york", "i got soul", "prisons" and other songs that appeared and then disappeared ("blowing up", "homeless", "hammer time", "in capitals", "the dirge" and "astronomy"). are any of these songs still being worked on and might they appear in concert or on a future release? do you have any other new songs that are being worked on?
John: All the songs you mention will be worked on and should surface at some point ... some are closer to being finished than others but, god willing, they will all appear.
I hate to put it this way but I am used (not In the college where I teach but out there in the performing world) to hearing not so much music uppermost, but in my view sensationalism, amateurism or desperately trying to be differentism ... and not a bunch of guys sincerely aiming to make music. I thought your playing was great as a band and individually and really liked the songs, but I must say, I thought the singing was really special! ...the quality of the voice, the phrasing, the musicianship, the style and vocal technique. Having looked at your website now and seen it's not been easy and ....I hope you will see this through and get the recognition and rewards you deserve! - or at least get a decent living out of doing what you enjoy and are so obviously committed to.
John: Glad you enjoyed the Botanics gig...I agree with you that it is hard to find any sort of quality or originality out there in the mainstream but there are the odd exceptions here and there. We seem to live in times where fame/exposure is granted to the most bizarre things. My general reaction is to step back and quietly observe the madness and then while away the hours with my compadres, busying ourselves with the creation of, to use your kind words, special things. We have been at this lark for a good number of years now and the truth is times have been good and bad .. the past seven years have seen a lot more bad than good times. But, we are a very determined bunch, utterly convinced of our worth, blown away by the songs we create together. They reflect and enhance our lives. We love each other as friends and musicians. In a multitude of ways we are already a roaring success. And you are so right about Frank's singing. I think singers are a breed apart. They are born that way and a part of them is only ever at home when they are in full voice..... long may they grace us with their gift.
do you think that the band's appearances at sxsw led to your record deal? can you make a connection between what happened on your trip to the usa and any changes in interest level from the press/radio/record labels? in other words, was the trip worth it?
John: The trip we made to the SXSW festival was the most wonderful experience... We managed to stumble across some very helpful people that, in a round about way, led us to the label that is now the proud caretaker of our record. We were also made aware that there seemed to be a general feeling of fondness and goodwill from all who could recall us.. and the reaction to our new material was fantastic .. couldn't have asked for more. The trip was well worth it.
If you could only answer one question, would it be this one?
John: No, it would be the one that starts.... 'And now Mr. Douglas... for one million pounds.....'
Do you plan to include lyrics in the Weightlifting booklet? Can we get lyrics to some of those songs from Zebra of the Family like "Blowing Up", "Homeless", etc?
John: Lyrics will be supplied with Weightlifting and the lyrics for the Zebra songs will eventually appear on the web site.
I've started a mini-campaign to get The Trashcans on the next series of Later With Jools Holland, i hope you don't mind.... perhaps more to the point would you actually be interested? P.S Do you have a fave Teenage Fanclub song?
John: We would love to do Later...I don't know how your mini campaign will do.. but all help is gratefully received ...Fave Fanclub song...I have a few... "God Knows It's True", "The Concept"...I like it when they rock out, not many bands can .
I was at the show at Fez and there was a great new song of your called "Prisons" - do you think you might play it in concert on the US tour and could it be on a b-side or album sometime?
John: You liked "Prisons".... Yeeha... I love it too, though it still needs a little work ... It may appear at some of the gigs on this tour ...I think it will definitely appear on record at some point in the future.
how do you guys feel about talking to your fans at gigs. it seems one thing to have a chat with the fans, another to be swarmed under or being stalked.
John: We take time to chat to folk after most gigs.... unless it's been particularly horrendous ... it seems to be a decent thing to do ... and usually it ends up being a pleasant and sometimes enlightening experience .. some people have become very good friends.
Do you do requests? I like your webpage as well, especially the front page image! Reminds me of home!
John: Occasionally we will do requests .. but usually we will stick to our set list .. I'm glad you like the map but I'm afraid it will be changing soon to something that will reflect the artwork for the new record ... so enjoy the west while you can.
Do you think you guys will do another Zebra of the Family type of CD with more demos or unreleased songs? I think it's a great collection and would be good to have something like that in between Weightlifting and the next album (hopefully not 8 years later).
John: Another Zebra may appear..... not for a wee while though.
I have to say something about "All the Dark Horses". That is one of the most beautiful pop songs I've ever heard. It's an impeccable production of a flawless song. Every chord change is at once a surprise and an inevitability. To craft so much tension and resolution into a song is unheard of anymore. It's totally catchy and evocative and fresh.
John: Welcome to our world ... and it was the Horses that drew you in...ideal. Glad you love the Horses.. it's a fine thing .. it evolved over a long time ... it began in a flat above an Off-License in Kilmarnock and was moved along nicely in a back room in Lavender Hill, London and was finished in a third floor flat in Shawlands, Glasgow.
how do you think the record industry has changed, or what do you need to do differently to be successful, compared to when the band landed its first record contract 15 years ago? are your attitudes different in some way - or you willing or not willing to do certain things, or do you approach things the same way? in some way, has the whole bankruptcy situation helped the band?
John: I think the past 15 years and all its dramas has moulded us into what we are.. .so I'm glad... as I'm generally happy .. a spring in my step ... a song or two in my heart.. though, I would not recommend the bankruptcy route to this state .. there are less rocky roads I'm sure. |
|
I was hoping if you can explain why it has taken so long to get a record deal, especially in your home country? Are you finding that record labels just aren't interested, or do you have interest, but just not under the terms the band wants? What are you really looking for from a record label/record deal that is critical for the band?
John: We ran into various problems finding a UK label ... we eventually decided to self -release the record. The journey to this decision was long and laborious, depressing at times, though never too disheartening ... Our eyes were opened to the way the industry is right now .... and I believe we have made the wisest decision. ... Time will tell. .....
I was at the Troubadour show in March and noticed it was being filmed. Is the band planning to make the footage available on the website or some sort of DVD release? Will you be filming your USA tour? Or maybe recording from the soundboard for downloads or CDs?
John: Hope you liked the show... we had a great time.. The footage will be made available sometime.. we intend to record/film as much of our activities as possible and then decide how to release it .. maybe as downloads or a formal DVD.
i was reading an interview on the website and someone said the person who runs your website is an astronaut. how in the world did you end up finding someone from NASA to run the site?
John: We are incredibly fortunate to have our web site run by our favourite ex-astronaut. We once covered a fantastic song called "Ghosts of American Astronauts" in tribute to the man. John Glenn may indeed drink cocktails with God, but, thankfully, our space-walker still shares them with us. (I have just been informed that Mr. Glenn is still alive..well... who says you need to be dead to share a cocktail or two with the big fella?)
Is there any place on the Web where I can download or order TCS sheet music?
John: We may be bringing out a songbook sometime over the next year .. it is only a rumour at the moment.
I liked your paintings from I've Seen Everything and the new B Road CD. Are you doing any paintings for the Weightlifting sleeve?
John: I'm afraid there will be no paintings on the Weightlifting sleeve .. we've gone for a strictly photographic approach this time .. maybe on the next record.
i was wondering about a song that seems to have been forgotten or put away since i haven't heard much about it for a few years...e.g. "astronomy"...will it will make an appearance on the new album and if not, possibly a B-side perhaps and who would sing it?
John: Don't worry about "Astronomy".. it will see the light of day on our next record I'm sure ... we all think it is a beauty and the only reason we did not record it for this record was a matter of balance ... we wanted Weightlifting to have a certain balance of moods and some songs tipped that balance too far in one way. "Astronomy " was written at a time when I was mourning the end of an important relationship, so it is not the cheeriest of tunes. I will continue to sing it ... it seems to suit my baritone.
I was wondering if you could just give us a recap of your trip to Los Angeles and SXSW and what they meant to the band. What were you expecting and did the trip meet your expectations?
John: The trip to LA was fantastic... sold out show... many friendly faces ... sun shining ... LA had been the first city to really embrace us all those years ago and it remains close to our hearts... to return in such glorious fashion was a marvellous thing... Such a warm welcome we were given... THANK YOU ALL.... We flew to Texas in bouyant mood...rushed around for five days ... a haze of ... crushed ice margueritas ..fajitas, burritos,... American Spirit smoke ... keg parties .. shaking hands ... interspersed with five or six magical shows. We expected to be busy and were not disappointed.
what are the band's goals for the weightlifting album and beyond?
John: I would love Weightlifting to be received in the spirit it was made .. one of love and optimism. Beyond that ? ..... more songs please.
why or what was the point of changing the band's name from trash can sinatras to trashcan sinatras?
John: There was no great reason ... we just wanted to freshen the place up .. you know, give it a new lick of paint.
can you describe how the songwriting process works individually and as a group especially now that you don't all live together in your studio, does it make it harder to write songs, or has the process been mostly individual rather than collaborative, so not living together doesn't make much of a difference? when a song is finished, is it identified as 'johns song', 'franks song' or does everyone contribute equally to each song so it's not really anyone's song in particular?
John: The writing process has taken a back seat lately .. our collective mental real estate has been filled with squatters ... business types, contractual types, bank people, accountants, blah , bloody blah. It has been vital for us to be completely conscious , clearheaded and practical for the past few years and these are not good writing conditions .. clocks need to stop for songs .. days and nights must dissolve ... the half light and the sub conscious seem to be where the songs hang out . ... these places are well overdue a visit.
On your upcoming tour, have the band thought of some of the venues that they'd always wanted to play and what are the chances of you playing them? (specifically, here in San Francisco, The Fillmore or say, Red Rocks in Denver, things like that)... 2nd-Since I believe it was you, unless there is another John Douglas around, how much did you enjoy writing "Wild Mountainside" for Eddi's Robert Burns album?
John: 1) I always had a notion that one day we would get to the Radio City Music Hall in New York ... maybe next time. The Troubador is a place I enjoyed as it was home to early Tom Waits and Tim Buckley shows. 2) "Wild Mountainside" was a song that arrived late one night in Kilmarnock while I was working on something else (a brandy and port if I remember correctly). Eddi fell in love with it and next thing you know there are orchestral parts and some of the countries greatest musicians playing it ... and then it seemed to blend well with her selection of Burns songs (Eddi ReaderSings The Songs Of Robert Burns, available from www.eddireader.com , I cannot recommend this record highly enough ... it's beautiful and bawdy, raucous and reflective ... right up my street). This song has taken on a life of it's own since .. it has appeared at weddings and funerals, and I'm sure it will continue to surprise me. We may even record it one day.
I thought the updates from the studio when recording and mixing the album with Andy Chase were fascinating. How about a tour diary or something like that?
John: Glad you liked the studio updates ... I was worried that they were a little too detailed and maybe a bit long winded ... but, you enjoyed 'em so I shall fret no more. A tour diary is a great idea ... I will try to get it organised ... sounds like fun.
Do you play around with a lot of different guitars in the studio, or do you generally record with the instruments you play live with? How come Paul no longer plays his 335 on stage? When you're writing songs, where do you generally start (musically), accoustic guitar, electric, piano, whatever's handy at the time? On the website thereis an old reference to a song called "Nostradomus", did that evolve into "A Coda", or did you just like the feeling the name conjures up and incorporate it into a newer song?
John: We tend to use what ever is available in the studio ... as well as our own guitars ... Pauls 335 was damaged on a flight back from the States a few years ago ... We are still in mourning. Writing is generally done on acoustic guitar , though some songs have been written on piano e.g. "Unfortunate Age". The older song "Nostradamus" is a different song entirely from 'A Coda" it couldn't be more different ... it's a huge, driving, Bo Diddley type tune. It may even get finished one day.
if you think back to 5 years ago, where did you think the band would be today or what would you be doing? where do you see the band 5 years from now?
John: Hmmm ... 5 years ago ... 1999 ... we were a six piece band ... enjoying the sound of the Moog synthesiser and Hammond Organ ... I think if I looked into the future back then I would've seen us recording a triple concept album ... full of long, dirge-like instrumental passages interspersed with doom laden voices telling a tale of dark-suited , hollow eyed officials carrying briefcases filled with death and dishonour who would hunt us down, put us through a farce of a trial and sentence us to rot in some gulag. This, of course, would be a chart smash in the former East Germany and we would spend the following 5 years playing a Monday night residency (Following the quiz) at the Reichstag with Scorpions group. Thankfully, that did not occur Hmmm .. 5 years from now ...2009 ... time for the greatest hits album, surely.
i just want to ask where your favourite venue is A) anywhere B) Glasgow C) Did you and the band enjoy the oran mor gig? That was a nice place with guid beer and good sound.
John: I presume you mean venues the band has played in, A) Favourite Venue Anywhere would be CBGBs in New York .. A real mess of a place, but it vibrates with history, and, thankfully, has not turned itself into a theme park/museum version of itself. B) Favourite Glasgow Venue.. The Barrowlands. No contest C) The Oran Mor gig was not great for us sound wise and the doorstaff are a bit too heavy handed for me. I do find it a bit off putting when a place feels as though it should have burly, black suited heavies on duty at the doors afternoon and night ... I wonder just what kind of trouble they are expecting, I certainly want to be somewhere else when it arrives. Not my cup of tea, Oran Mor, sorry.
Where did you get the guy dancing on the "Genius I Was" video? Was there a specific reason for putting that in?
John: I presume you mean the Japanese Rockers .. I filmed them in a park in Tokyo .. it seemed at the time to be a place where there was a regular gathering of Teds, Punks, Rockers, Mods, Goths, etc. Bands would set up and play for free. Should be one in every town. I put it in the "Genius" video for no specific reason ... it just seemed to go well with the beat.
here are a bunch of questions for your consideration:
1. how many teeth does a horse have?
2. who won the 1968 world series?
3. five words to describe weightlifting.
4. what music have you been listening to lately?
5. read any good books lately or seen any good movies?
6. how does this weightlifting differ from the record you were recording back in 2000? are the performances different? production? how so?
7. if a newcomer to TCS wanted to buy one TCS album to find out what the band was all about, which album would you recommend?
8. name the two best gigs you've ever been to.
9. do you have a fave album of all time? what is it?
10. george w. bush and alfred e. newman -- separated at birth?
John:
1. Between 36 and 42 ... smart ass.
2. Denny Mclain and the Detroit Tigers ... I prefer to dwell on the 1970 and 1983 winners .. the mighty Orioles.
3. Great band, great songs .... ideal.
4. The songs of Declan O Rourke, Heirloom and Scott Walker.
5. Books.... "Maus" and "Maus 2"', by Art Spiegleman (A fantastic thing ... you will find it in the Graphic Novels section .. don't let yourself to be put off by that ) Movies.... Belleville Rendezvous.
6. The recordings we made in Hartford in 2000 were quite sombre affairs ... a little collection of songs that sounded too dark to be our next record ... Some of the songs have survived to be recorded again and used on Weightlifting .. the new record has a much nicer balance of moods ... it is a much truer reflection of how we are.
7. Weightlifting
8. The Clash at the Glasgow Apollo, Jan 1980 Bob Dylan at the Glasgow Barrowlands June 2004
9. At various times in my life my all time favourite albums have been London Calling, The Clash; The Man Machine, Kraftwerk; Sound Affects, The Jam; Veedon Fleece, Van Morrisson; Live, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band; Hex Enduction Hour, The Fall; New Boots and Panties, Ian Dury and the Blockheads; Unknown Pleasures, Joy Division; Selling England by the Pound, Genesis; The Undertones, The Undertones; Stardust, Willie Nelson; Live and Dangerous, Thin Lizzy; Scott 3 and 4, Scott Walker; Francis Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim; A Walk Across The Rooftops, The Blue Nile; One From The Heart Soundtrack, Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle; Hijera, Joni Mitchell; The Clock Comes Down The Stairs, Microdisney; Love and Theft, Bob Dylan.
10. Alfred E Newman ? Is he the guy from MAD magazine ? I used to like Spy Vs. Spy and the little drawings they used to put in the margins, but a lot of the references were too American for it to be a completely understood over here... I'm not sure who the other guy is ... wasn't he involved in some sort of cheating scandal?
|
