1. Please introduce The Death Set and give a brief
historyf.
TheDeathSet is from Australia originally but moved it's silly
self to Baltimore via Brooklyn about two years ago to play as
many shows with as many rad bands as possible. We have definitely
done that and it is is super fun and rad and will continue to
do so.
2. How would you describe your music to someone that has yet
to hear you?
It's above all very very spastic energy wise. We play guitar and
sing over electronic backing tracks. But kill me before calling
it dance punk...
3. What were your original goals of the band? How have they
changed?
There have been so many stages and crazy challenges that the band
has gone through to get to here so I guess the original goal was
to come and tour the states. Then it was to stay and continue
to play. Now it is changing labels to a much bigger one which
will make shit get even more crazy. So its been a whole bunch
of baby goals resulting in our first full length coming out early
next year.
4..
What are some of the things you try to communicate through your
music?
First and foremost, I want people to get psyched and have fun.
For me that is what it's all about. Some of the songs are that
solely whilst others are more personal and honest. I'm not scared
to write both. But overall it definitely has an underlying sense
of positivity.
5.
Do you think it's necessary for independent musicians and bands
to have a form of ethics?
Of course. Though I think to be militant either way is ridiculous.
6.
You've moved from Australia to Baltimore. How does the Australian
DIY scene differ from the Balitmore/U.S. DIY scene? How are they
similar?
The Australian DIY scene is awesome however small. It is really
limited though by the geography of the country. To tour there
means traveling about 800 miles between only 4 or 5 cities which
one can hit. So it's less of a network by default but still very
rad.
7.
It would be an understatement to say that you've toured quite
a bit in the past; what is your favourite show situation (type
of venue, crowd, bands, etc)?
Yeah I've tried to get out as much as possible. The best show
for me is playing at a house or DIY space where the promoter knows
whats up. A lot of people have good intentions but don't know
how to run a show. For example passing a hat for donations after
a show is bullshit. A show needs to have a door price for it to
be valued in a punters head. But... pheeeeww... Now thats off
my chest. I love playing house or warehouse shows where the kids
at the show know or have looked up your band and sing along and
smile and it is just so much fun. Certain cities like Kalamazoo
Michigan where people would laugh at you when you tell them that
their scene rules so much harder than DC because they all really
care and are the best. I love playing with my friends bands first
and foremost of course. Particularly my friends bands from Bmore
and Brooklyn.
8.
Any interesting road/tour stories you'd like to share?
Tour is very much more a kind of work horse more than a Red Hot
Chilli Peppers style girls and drugs type thing. We rely on ourselves
only out on the road so we have to keep it on a sustainable level.
I do luuuurve to party though and love hanging out and meeting
new awesome people. I love sleeping in the Detroit Scrummage blow
up castle they inflate for us every time we visit.
Ohh
I guess here is one... it kind of happened just before tour though.
I
almost died in a bicycle accident last year. My friends found
me face down, Jesus Christ pose with blood oozing out of head.
It was pretty bad. I was so concussed and my friends were freaking
out but instead of keeping me awake they gave me a bunch of sleeping
pills. When they realized I should be kept awake they stayed with
me all night (bless em) and they said I would only stay awake
if they played The Clash and if they even turned it down a little
I would freak out.
My
face was so busted up and I had to go on a month long tour in
a week or so, so I wore a bandanna and all our crew at the send
off show with Spankrock wore one too in support. It was pretty
awesome. I got a gold tooth out of it…
9.
Who do you consider your current contemporaries?
In Baltimore… Ponytail. Dan Deacon , Double Dagger, Ecstatic
Sunshine, Video Hippos, Cex and Thank You are very bad ass. I
of course love the Brooklyn bands like Matt and Kim, High Places,
Parts and Labor, Aa, and Japanther. Best Fwends from Austin, Juiceboxxx
from Milwaukee and XBXRX and Hawnay Troof from the Bay Area are
awesome . Right now I am excited about "The Smell" LA
bands like No Age, Mika Miko, Health etc. Die! Die! Die! From
New Zealand are very rad and I also love club music so Spankrock
and Bonde Do Role are defiantly in there.
10.
Favourite dance party song?
I know its cheesy but I can't stop listening to that Swedish Pop
song "young folks" by peter, bjorn and john.
And
of course see the bands I listed above.
Dance
party song... B52's always get people moving.
11.
What does the future hold for The Death Set?
There is actually a ton of stuff about to come out…
We
are releasing a 12" version containing both of our EP's coming
out on three different labels all with different artwork. One
each for the US, Canada and Japan. Two of the releases have artwork
by Ben Frost and the other by Beau Velasco.
We
have a remix 12" coming out January 2008 on Australian label
Bang Gang 12".
Our
full length is finally coming out early 2008 on an exciting new
label and the change has been the reason for the delay.
We
are off to Canada to tour in November and Europe February with
U.S. stints in between.
So,
pretty busy.
12.
How can ppl contact you?
thedeathset@gmail.com
www.myspace/thedeathset
www.thedeathset.com
Labels... US
CD and label ////// Morphius Records
US 7" /////////////////// VLXO / The Arm NYC
UK 7" //////////////////// Modular UK
US 12" //////////////////// Impose
JPN 12" //////////////////// Every Conversation
Canada 12" //////////////// We Are Busy Bodies
Australian Compilation ///// Modular
U.S. Compilation ///////////// Mauled By Tigers
