This quintet consists of two British ex-pats: guitarist-vocalist Petter Ericson Stakee, bassist Terry Wolfers, and three additional members that hopped aboard when the two moved to New York City. They crossed half the country (no pun intended) in a tour van to play an expansive variety of Southern-leaning rock that has grown by leaps since their debut EP. Their powerful wails and guitars scream of potential, and Lumino was lucky to sit down with Stakee, Wolfers and guitarist Sam Kearney during a break quick break in the festivities. Stakee was the least media-shy of the three during an amiable conversation about the band’s evolution, sacrifices and future plans.
You guys are coming out with your debut LP in September, and I know that your debut EP from 2007 is quite different than the sound you have now. Can you elaborate on the change of the band’s makeup and sound since then?
P.E.S.: The album that will be coming out now took about two years to record, whereas the first one was the first sounds the band made. This one took much more crafting, since the EP was more of a crack at our sound.
Was that EP more acoustic? I know you only had two or three members play on that.
P.E.S.: Yeah, it was myself, by brother playing on keyboards, and we went through a few different drummers. It was definitely acoustically-inclined; it had more of a folky feel.
I hear mostly a rock template on the LP. Also, the vocals are interesting; kind of a high-pitch, but they still have kick.
P.E.S.: We tried to put our frustrations into this one more.
Frustrations about what? Touring, getting along…?
P.E.S.: That, and we used to be on a major label, but that situation wasn’t really going where we wanted. Also, just about making money. We find that we always have to be on top of things. Lots of struggling. So basically…survival.
The band originally formed in England. What’s interesting is that overall, you guys project a Southern-style sound. Especially with the vocals-almost a Neil Young-sounding register. It’s an interesting match-did that come about consciously?
P.E.S.: Well, it’s hard to explain. Really, it’s just what comes out. While I don’t try to sound like anyone, I do put my feelings into the music. So if that’s what comes out, it’s just me trying to convey something.
So, combining that style of singing with the hard rock undertones, is there a style that you’d like to be classified under?
P.E.S.: That’s the thing, because we’re not really planning what we’re doing. You know, people say, “Oh it sounds like Neil Young, it sounds like Crazy Horse” blah, blah, blah. It’s not like we’re aiming to sound anything like that, it just sort of came out.
S.K.: We were talking about this earlier actually. About how every album can be a progression, so maybe it’ll be a completely different genre next time we come out with something. We like keeping ourselves satisfied. Why would we want to stay in the same frame, we want to keep progressing ourselves.
P.E.S.: You know, it’s the stuff you get inspired by: you make a new album, tour, and keep moving. I could never stay in the same direction, it’s just hard to do. But pinning our sound down to one thing, like Neil Young narrows it too much. I mean, I’ve moved from Sweden, to London, to America, so I’m inspired by a variety of things that may not fit into the folk or country form.
S.K.: I think a lot of the non-musical ideas come from just living in New York City, not having any money, and trying to survive in city life.
I had a question about one song that has a particularly interesting title, “Old Man Chicago”. Why Chicago? Do you have a connection to the city, and what makes it an “Old Man”?
P.E.S.: Well, I’m a big Smashing Pumpkins fan, they’re from here. And their sound seems to have this ancient quality. But I love going out here, and the whole city has this old quality to it, in a good way.
Check out this band on the rise:
www.albertacross.net
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