A constantly rotating catalog of creative types makes up the stage face of Chicago band Netherfriends, but the ox pulling the cart of this indie collective is one astute musician by the name of Shawn Rosenblatt. From a humble beginning of making songs in his bedroom to now being a verifiable secret indie genius, Rosenblatt has been producing tracks that fog up the lenses of even the most snobbish hipsters’ oversized glasses in the form of his first release, the Calling You Out EP.
With his penchant for playing out of town constantly in tow, Rosenblatt has been upholding a promise to tour two weeks out of every month until recently, as he’s been preparing for a more epic take on touring. Dubbed the ’50 Songs in 50 States’ project, Netherfriends will be embarking on what is expected to be a years worth of touring, crossing all borders and writing a tune about each territory. The kick off happens this week as Netherfriends plays two Chicago dates, one at Lincoln Hall and the other at The Empty Bottle, before heading east.
With his stylistic know how and constant changing of stage line up, we can only imagine what this next year will produce for someone like Rosenblatt. Be on the look out for Netherfriends as they make their way all over the map, and for the upcoming full-length, Barry and Sherry, tentatively dated for a June 2010 release.
See Netherfriends tomorrow at Lincoln Hall along with Woods and Real Estate, and again at The Empty Bottle with Glitter Bones and Deakin from Animal Collective.
Check out the new video for “Lead You Through The Misty Fog of Milwaukee Ave.” off of the upcoming album, Barry and Sherry
Amid all the hubbub of heading out on the ’50 Songs in 50 Sates’ tour, Shawn took the time to talk with us via email this past week:
Reviewsic: Can you give us a quick recap of what Netherfriends has been up to as of late?
Shawn Rosenblatt: Netherfriends is all over the place. I recently finished a full length (Barry and Sherry) that is awaiting an official release date. I am moving out of my apartment in two weeks to head east for two months to tour with two new touring members based in Philly. I am currently sitting in my room on my computer booking a ton of shows for this 50 songs 50 states project. Also practicing with Moses and Justin (one of the Chicago line ups of Netherfriends) for a show for a booking agent.
Reviewsic: Tell us the who/what/where/when/why behind the ’50 Songs in 50 States’ project.
S.R: Being prolific is an artists dream, yet it rarely becomes a reality. I could sit at home after the LP comes out and tour for a couple of weeks at a time and work a crummy part time job and complain how some shitty band gets all this press and I don’t. Or I can pretend like the LP is going to gain zero fans and I need to put it behind me and get off my ass, quit my part-time job, get rid of my apartment in Chicago, and get on the road. The goal is to give myself one year to write and record a song and perform in all 50 states. That way at the end of the year I will have three albums worth of music. I want to set up camp in different parts of the country (east coast, mid-west, west coast, etc.) to make touring easier. I can’t stand when bands tour forever and then stay at home for 5 years working onsome album that gets shitty review. I’m looking at you Midlake. I want to inspire artists to get out of their town and hit the road. I get treated better and stay with the nicest people on the road when I tour. This project will allow me to meet hundreds of bands, make new friends, and see things I wouldn’t see by just touring and playing to 5 people or just recording an album that will get illegally downloaded any way. Killing two birds with one stone is the game.
Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?
S.R: Randy Newman, Paul Simon, and Jon Brion.
Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
S.R: I can hack my way through a vibraphone, but I want to get really good at 2 sticks per hand.
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
S.R: Harlem- Hippies, Smog- A River Ain’t Too Much to Love, M83 – Before the Dawn Heals Us
Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
S.R: Jon Brion. He is the closest thing to that “Beatles mindset” of song writing and arranging.
Reviewsic:Who was the first band/musician you saw live?
S.R:Meatloaf.
Reviewsic:Who are three of your favorite local bands?
S.R: Thin Hymns, Names that Spell, and Exercise (they are from St. Louis)
Reviewsic: What’s the backstory on how the band came to be what it is today?
S.R: Hmmm. Summer 2007: I wrote a bunch of songs in bedroom with my girlfriend and then put together a myspace, played some solo shows and met two people on craigslist to play music with me. Got approached by Black and Green records 5 shows in. Toured for a 10 days that winter and put a 7inch with them that Spring. Also did SXSW where Blender magazine (RIP) gave us best random find of SXSW. Emergency Umbrella contacted us Winter 2009 and signed with them and did an EP in Septemeber. May 09 I graduated college and decided I wanted to tour for two weeks every month. The problem was the line up playing with me couldn’t tour, so I had to find new touring band members every month. This is where I am now, still without a steady line up and it’s almost how I like it.
Reviewsic: Tell us about the Calling You Out EP- is there a particular concept behind it? What was the process of making the album like?
S.R: I like to call people out in song. I am sure there is a term for it. Those collections of songs sure do call people out. I record at home and it was the first record I mixed myself except for the first song Friends with Lofts. The guy who mixed that song was supposed to help me mix the rest, but kinda flaked and left me to freak out.
Reviewsic: How would you compare yourself as a musician at this point, opposed to when you first began playing?
S.R: I would assume I am a lot better than before? Still an amateur, but everyone is right?
Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite cities to play? Any in particular you’re looking forward to getting to in the next year?
S.R: Fairfield Iowa is the best! The number 1 best place to play music. The kids go crazy for music and it’s where Marharishi built his school for transcendental meditation. Last time I was there David Lynch was doinga seminar that weekend and Paul McCartney’s son was at our show.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst music moments so far in your career?
S.R: Best was playing in Dallas, Texas and realizing that this is the worst that it could get for touring. We played to three people yet; because we were cooking our dinner in the parking lot, the guys who worked there paid us really, really well.Worst was playing New York City and questioning, “This is the best that it could get?”
Reviewsic: How did you get your initial start in music?
S.R: My brother got this toy guitar when he was 7 and I was 9 (I think) and I would play it all the time even though I had no idea what I was doing. I played violin in 5th grade, but that only lasted for a school year.
Reviewsic: What are three words you’d use to describe your sound to someone who’s never heard it?
S.R: Psych bastard pop
Reviewsic: What are your plans for your music after this project ends?
S.R: I figure I am going to do some sort of variation on the 50/50 thing once I am done with it. For the past two months I haven’t been on tour and I hate it. I think I am losing my mind being in one place for so long. I guess I got bit by the tour bug and don’t plan on stopping.
