=: cn cd en m c rn > > o AJ o > (/) X) "Ö O I CO u > m 0 0 a m > § = < d c CO o CO o “We records to make records, not to g e t on the radio. — Doug ______ M artsch B r e t t R ic h a r d s o n previous recordings I was the singer, songwriter, guitarist, mony involved. basically everything. But we wanted a band feel so we solidi­ [Secret] is a much simpler album, more direct, in that we fied in the studio w hat w e had been touring w ith and created cut it down to the bare basics and this comes from playing Shifting gears yet again, and highlighting almost their en­ what felt natural. with one another off and on and then deciding to actually tile collection of frighteningly melodic recordings off Keep I t I noticedfrom the first listen o f the album and this concert form our core and then add instruments when needed. W e L ike A Secret, Built to Spill played last Wednesday at the that compared to subsequent concerts there is a dramatic used to use so m uch— trom bones, M oogs, harps, but w e ju st Yucatan. Keep I t Like A Secret is Built To Spill’s latest offer­ change in the music, like I said, but I think it‘s an evolution got back to the basic rock music. ing to those who know. Doug Martsch, singer/songwriter/ rather than a step back although you w ent back to your roots a Another thing that I wanted to ask you about are the bands guitarist, wants everyone to know. bit, too, I think. It's shorter, still epic but in a more succinct, you tour with. You guys usualfy headline, but you tflways Seemingly on his own terms, and while he controls the au­ pop sort o f presentation. Would you consider this album a pop have these great opening acts, Modest Mouse, Caustic Resin dience’s every sense during the 14-set list — no encores, no album or at least capable of getting on the radio? and tonight the Delusions, who warmed the audience w ell be­ requests — he is also controlling how he makes music. This W ell, that’s not why we make records. Not for Warner or fore you. H ow do you always have someone interesting on be­ includes who he plays with, which up to now has been a the radio or to challenge other m usical genres. W e make re­ fo r e you ? medium-sized plethora. It seems as if Doug — and the band cords to make records, not to get on the radio. W e’re usually good friends with who we tour with, like — are getting the clue and finding their niche — and it You have to adm it that songs like 'Carry the Zero", do have Modest Mouse or Caustic Resin. I mean, we’ve all played shows. this unique new wave-fop quality to them, besides being a together at some point. W e enjoy playing with people we After attending last Wednesday night's concert at Yuca­ playable length and your label being Warner. It seems like know and that we know are good. tan (of all places), A rtsw eek had a chance to ask Doug a few they would be pusbing.you fo r that. I think the thing every one ofyour growing handful of fans questions about Built To Spill. It might seem that way, but in reality we have a good would like to know is if this is your last album. I read some­ am ount o f control over w hat w e do, w hen and w here w e tour where that you only have one more w ith Warner and this may Artrweek: On [the album Perfect From Now On] you had be it, w ell at least in this specific form. and what we play. a secondguitarist, overdubs, seemingly a whole string section, W e have no intention of stopping with [Secrei\. T h is has I noticed the set song list, mostly new s tiff with a couple off and this extremely high production quality, which differs reached a new plateau due to the unity of the band and that o/Perfect, which is a changefrom previous concerts when you from your earlier albums w ith Built to Spill on more indepen­ we will be together for the next album is a reason to come barely pushed any new songs a t a ll What interested me was dent labels, likeK and Up. It seems like you were culminating back and keep on recording. the way in which you, Brett Nelson [bass] and Scott Plouf to something more grandiose, ye t in [Secret]you sim plified the [drums] are allperforming at this higher level when you play. entire concept of your music What changedfor you? Perfect from now on? A good question, one worth finding That's actually the best thing about the new album, is the har­ Doug Martsch: W ell, we made this album together. In the answer to. Daily Nexus Thursday, April 15,1999 3A Coming to Campbell Hall.... Margret Cl> April 30ili Tickets on sale Marcii 9ti $1H Gen $18 Tickets on sale at the AS Ticket Office E-SSees^ I locations: Robinson’s May, Arlington, The Wherehouse, Java Jones in Isla Vista or charge by phone at 893-2064. R o b e r t H a n s o n what it was or what it should be. I didn’t have any attitudes or jaded impressions or any­ Isla Vista Theatre thing. One of tire things we had always, ONE OF THE YEARS BEST! You’ve probably never heard o f John Reis geared this toward was not just toward the Time Magazine • I’rcinurc • Rolling Slone because nothingjohn Reis has ever done has people in the scene, though we hope they like penetrated or been intended to penetrate the the film and our indications is that they do comfort zone of kitschy pop culture. John tremendously so, but also that it would ap­ Reis is a filmmaker. peal and be interesting and open to people Reis is most widely known for directing who had never been to an event before and NIN’s “Happiness in Slavery” video, a video don’t even know very much about the music that never actually aired on M T V because o f but who have a curiosity about it. So it not its graphic.nature but rather gained notoriety only serves as a portrait o f the scene but also THIN RFD I INF among both the music and film industry elite as an introduction. Tuesday 4/12 ----------------@ 8Pm fONLY c i J I i — not to mention the bootleggers. Reis has An important element of electronic music now turned to the m usic world in a m uch lar­ is its constantly changing landscape. There Students $3 General $5 ger sense by attempting to document the of­ seems to he a new genre emerging every few ten misunderstood and misrepresented months. How did you attem pt to address this Acoustics in the Hub... world of electronic music. “Better Living issue in your film ? Through Circuitry” takes an up-close and W e addressed it by talking to the people ★ ★ ★ unbiased look at the musicians, the culture, and going to the events that we just felt in­ G o v e r n m e n t the drugs and the fans o f what is arguably the spired to go to. I guess there was a subcon­ single most representative movement of late scious — not overtly conscious —; desire to 20th century culture. be inclusive. W e just kind of always hoped rown Earlier this w eek R eis was kind enough to that we would cover a good percentage at G take a break from his schedule and talk for a least o f the major musical forms within elec­ spell with A rtsw eek. tronic music and I think we pretty much cov­ Wednesday 4/21 4:30-6:30pm ered that. W e have quite a variety of music; Food and drink specials from Chilito’s Artsweek: W at attracted you initially to it’s not just limited to one by any stretch of electronic music as a subject for a the imagination. W e wanted to be very in­ documentary? clusive of the scene or scenes. W e don’t even John Reis: Actually it was a phone call label them within the documentary. W e just from Brian M cNellis. I was interested in do- present them as this is this person and this is ' ing a documentary again and he suggested that person. W e could hear the music chang­ this. I’ve always been pretty involved in ing but we didn’t want to get into that thing music and musical subcultures but not so of this is pigeonholed as this and this is pi­ EARTlfeDAY CELEBRATION much in this one. H e sort o f instigated m e to geonholed as that. go to my first event and I kind of fell in love D id you address any of the regional differ­ AT THE LAGOON ) ^ / with it. The incredible energy, openness and ences between let's say rise U.S. side of risings intensity that I felt at that first even con­ and what's been going on in Europe for with music ppm IV local artists Tight Parity«?- vinced me that this was something I should instatu e? The event begins at noon on4/Z2/99 do.