Never Shout Never
Missouri indie rock band Never Shout Never is headed to Australia for their first headline tour after playing Soundwave in 2011. Celebrating album number six Black Cat the band has Australia in its sights and Across The Ocean had the opportunity to speak to front man Christofer Drew ahead of the tour.
It sounds like things are going great with an Australian tour just around the corner and a brand new album Black Cat which is doing well.
Yeah, man! I’m just cruising along having a good time.
How many Australian tours does it make that now?
We played Soundwave in 2011 but this is our first headline tour out there. We’re really looking forward to it.
Have you been happy with how Black Cat has been received?
It’s has been received better than what I have thought, it is always hard to know how people are going to react but so far so far people are really in to it which makes me happy.
Did the making of this album throw up the usual challenges?
This one we actually took a lot longer on, we originally thought three weeks to two months but with this record we wrote for a year and recorded in the studio for six months. This was pretty hefty compared to what we’re used to.
The idea behind Recycled Youth Volume 1 is an interesting concept to revisit older material which is something a lot of bands don’t do these days. Was that something you always intended to do?
After playing these songs live it sparked the idea of redoing them and going back in to the studio. It’s cool! That’s the first volume and I hope to be able to make five so we will go with a different style with each one to. The first one is folky and acoustic, kind of dark and melancholy. The next one will have a little more rock end and upbeat.
So there’s more to come?
There will definitely be three volumes but we are talking about doing five.
Are you finding with such an extensive discography and new interpretations of songs that it makes it hard coming up with the set list?
Yeah, we usually just pick our favourites and ones that the crowd will be in to. Putting it together this time I wanted something that was upbeat and fun. It needs to be a collage of everything we have done and trying to play songs from every album. Seeing how it is our first time playing a headline tour we want to go through everything.
Is there much time to chill out between shows?
I think we get two days off, we’re planning to go adventuring and checking it all out.
You have been quoted as saying that your goal is to play Madison Square Garden’s. Is this still top of your list?
Definitely, it would be awesome to do that. It hasn’t really been across my mind to much, maybe a couple of times. For me it is about keeping the train rolling and growing as a band, trying new stuff and keeping the boat a float. As long as we’re still making music I’m happy.
Is it hard keeping up with the relentless touring?
It is hard but that’s part of it. Right now, I really enjoy it and for me it is like a paid vacation being able to hit the road and doing what we love doing. I think the challenge is staying active and putting out a record every year. That plays a huge role in keeping the flow and fans engaged.
Do you think your focus has been refreshed with all the lifestyle changes you made making it easier to tour harder for longer?
Definitely, I noticed in the past when I was drinking a bunch, eating crap and taking pills, doing all that shitty stuff I would get like super burnt out during a tour and all I wanted to do was go home. I think you learn the hard way and now I just try and adapt my lifestyle to something that is going to work and keep me healthy. I think staying healthy keeps you happy pretty much.
What’s the plan for Never Shout Never heading into 2016?
We’re doing a US tour in January and February then head over to Europe and UK. After that I’m hoping to get back in to the studio to make another record. I’ve already started writing for it and a number of songs are in the works for that. For me making another record is great, I’m nagging people already to start helping knock this one out.
Do you think there will be much change sonically from what we already know?
At this point, the chords and melodies are a little more airy, maybe a little more psychedelic. We made Time Travel which was pretty psychedelic and I want to revisit that. That stuff is so fun to make and sounds so cool. The more we get to experiment in the studio the more stoked and excited I will be about doing it.
Does anything in particular influence that direction?
It comes from experience and listening to cool bands such as Pink Floyd, Flaming Lips and psychedelic stuff like that. It’s the way that it makes you feel, the first time I listened to Dark Side Of The Moon opened my mind. If I can help open people’s minds that is really cool.
Flaming Lips are really cool!
Would be amazing to support those guys and we’re label mates with them. Maybe when we’re further down the road and have gone more experimental.
Are there any Australian bands that have caught your ear?
I like that band Tame Impala, they’re from Australia right? They’re really cool…
Whether it is rummaging through vinyl at record stores such as Clarity and Title finding hidden gems to scouring the internet to find that album by the next big thing or chasing bands to get that elusive autograph and photo his passion is music all the way.
- Aversions Crown - January 27, 2017
- Sick Of It All - January 19, 2017
- Refused - January 11, 2017
