4 S C E N E FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22007 Mark Kozelek made his namewith Red House Painters, but now the supremely SCENE talented California-based singer trades under either his own nameorthe Sun Kil AND HEARD Moon moniker.Hetalks to Scene ahead of his gig in Belfast this weekend...
BY Making his MARK BRIANCAMPBELL
Samusician who has skirted mainstream success, it’s fitting that Mark Kozelek popped up in afilm called Almost A Famous. The multi-talented American singer- songwriter came to prominence in the nineties with hisRed House Painters band and while record label wrangles left asour taste towards the end of that decade, he admits that he has fond memories of his time filming Almost Famous ,directed by Cameron Crowe. “Yeah, that was agreat time. Cameron is apretty important figure in music his- tory and Ithink if it’d been any other sort of music movie made by anybody else, it may not have been so great. “I wonder sometimes, because really all Idid in that movie was kind of stand around and nod but people keep asking me about it! “I think the reason is because of Cameron. Ithink he made areally good movie that was really true to life and although Ididn’t have areal big part in it, Iwas gladtobeinthat world at that time. “I rememberitwas ‘99 going into2000 and Iremember thinking, ‘My God,this is really something to be going into the millennium with’ and it was areally cool end to that decade for me.” Kozelek played the bassist in Stillwater, ■ GUITAR STAR: Mark Kozelek plays althoughoff-screen he’s better known Belfast’s Black Box on Sunday as asupremely gifted singer and gui- tarist. His phenomenal back catalogue make records that really matter,soit He says it’s abreath of fresh air to now with someone or aChristmas record, includes Red House Painters material, madesense to me that Modest Mouse be in the position of puttingrecords out they wouldn’t let you. So it feels so solo albumsand mostrecently music would be aband that Johnny Marr on his own label. good to be able to do whatever Iwant.” recorded under the Sun Kil Moon would want to hang out with for a “It’s made areally huge difference to He’s joined on this tour by Red House moniker. while. Ithink it was apretty good how Ifeel in my life. It feels better to be Painters bandmate Phil Carney, The California-basedsinger has just move.” in control and the money is better and it although Kozelek doubts whether he’ll completed his latest SKM album and he Had he heard any feedback from really really frees me up. ever put out another RHP album in the says he’ll be airing some of the new Brock and the band after releasing his “I guess it’s like anybody else with any future. tunes when he plays Ireland this week- album of covers? other kind job or career; you take what “I think for me it feels alittle too much end, taking in Dublin tonight, Galway “I haven’t heard aword. Iread one arti- you learn over the years and what I’ve like somethinginthe past. Istill play tomorrow and Belfast on Sunday. cle where the journalist had contacted learnt over the years on being on all with those guys and Istill enjoy record- “I’ll probably do acouple, yeah. Iwon’t them and wrote that they politely these labels is I’ve found away to make ing with them and we’re all still friends, do them all because Idon’t want live declined to talk about it, so Idon’t it work for myself. but Ithink when you’ve taken so much versions of my songs to be out on know.Who knows? Maybe they didn’t “For me, Ifeel alot of pressure has time off and then you come back and YouTube, but I’ve written new songs, so like it. It’s one of those things, but I’ve been taken off now.When you’re on a do arecord, it can be alittle cheesy ora Imight as well play acouple.” moved on.” label, you’re committed to them for a little desperate or something. Foramusician who is renowned for his The new Sun Kil Moon album won’t be certainamount of time andyou’ve got “So Iprobably will continue to play with delicate vocals and intricate guitar play- released until next year,but the singer to get permission to do stuff. those guys, but it just seems right now ing, Kozelek surprised fans when he is currently promoting alimited four- “Say Iwas on alabel and Iwantedto with Sun Kil Moon that there’s a covered songs by Modest Mouse and piece vinyl set made up of his White go and do afive-song EP or asong momentum goingon.” AC/DC but he pulled the feat off in quite Christmas and Little Drummer Boy Live And as for his film work, does he plan somestyle and his Sun Kil Moon album records. to do any more of that? Tiny Cities (of reworked Modest Mouse The box-set will no doubt be lapped up Itry to do afew new “I’ve never made any plans to do any songs) was stunning. by anyone who picked up the Sufjan film stuff –it’s all just sort of happened He says he isn’t one for setlists, though, Stevens Christmas collection last year songs live and some and Ihope it continues, but Iwouldn’t and takes each gig as it comes. and Kozelek says he won’t rule out know how to plan it. “I do alittle of everything. Itry to do a playing festive fare such as White old Red House “Hopefully if somedirector comes few new songs and someold Red Christmas on his current tour. around again one day... but Idon’t House Painters songs and now and “Well, it’s early November.It’s one of Painters songs and know; it might never happen.” then I’ll do an AC/DC one or one of those things, but if somebody calls it Would he be available for work if these Modest Mouse songs or maybe out, I’ll play it.” now andthen I’ll do Cameron Crowe was to give him acall? evenacover Ihaven’t played before. So Kozelek says he has only ever played an AC/DC one or one “Cameron’s definitely up there in the Itry to mix up alittle bit of everything Dublin on his previous visits to Ireland hierarchy of someofthe most talented from all my years of doing this.” and so will be playing Belfast and of these Modest people Iknow,soI’m real honoured to Modest Mouse are becoming more and Galwayfor the first time on this tour. be afriend of his and yeah, if he ever more high profile of late, helped by the He kicked off his European jaunt in Mouse songs or needs me again he knows where to get fact that Smiths legend Johnny Marr “ Sweden –where he recorded White ahold of me!” has joined their ranks. Christmas Live – and he says there are maybe even acover I “That made alot of sense to me. Ithink ups and downs when it comes to orga- haven’t played before. ■ Mark Kozelek playsthe Black Box Isaac Brock and Morrissey are both nizing his tours. in Belfast on Sunday,with support heavyweights and both great lyricists in “There’s alot of logistics with going on So Itry to mix up from Cat Malojian. Doors 7.30pm. their own right,” says Kozelek. tour.It’s like you’re setting up awed- Tickets £10, available from the “It’s interesting, because they’re both ding or something! Youhave to get the Belfast Welcome Centre on Donegall huge talents and they both have that hotels and transportation and all that Place and via www.gotobelfast.com. real fanatical fanbase and they both stuff.” MARK KOZELEK