I was greeted to Bassist Charles Cave from the White Lies by their tour manager, as they were loading out from a show in Stockholm. In the background, I could hear people asking for autographs, while the band shuffled into their tour bus to escape the minus 5 degree temperatures. Why they were fitting an interview in now was quite bizarre. Appropriately rock and roll, the experience was well commentated by the tour manager, and they were kind enough to do it anyway, to chat about their new record Ritual, and talk about their Australian tour (which has since been cancelled).
Charles: After a show is always chaos! We’re running around, loading out, there are people waiting to get things signed, friends in some places. It’s all a little chaotic, but you have me now!
Well I appreciate you putting the time aside. Doesn’t sound like you were given a choice, but I’ll thank you anyway!
*laughs*
So how did the show go tonight?
It went really well actually. I tell you what, Scandinavia as a whole, but certainly Sweden, the venues are these old, royal looking buildings. Where we played tonight I think it used for ballet and theatre as well. So everything is so regal. It’s always nice. Occasionally you just want to play a shitty, smelly, bar, but it’s just as nice to come here and be nervous about spilling your drink on the floor. And unless you’re into blonde supermodels, the audience over here are horrendously ugly of course, which of course they’re not… So yeah it’s always good fun.
Good energy crowds too?
Yeah they’re good pretty good; there was an age restriction, so the crowd was pretty young. We were playing in Oslo last night, and there was a sort of Jonas brothers’ style crotch grabbing for most of the front of the stage for one song. It’s really great here for us. Everywhere on this tour so far has been really good. It reaffirms the fact that we have a very decent foundation almost everywhere in Europe now. We’re solidifying that with the second album tour
That’s right! It’s A good segue way into the second album. It was released just over a month ago now. How have you found the reception to be of the album so far with the fans?
Everything’s going down really well. I think it hasn’t been until now on this tour in the UK and now Europe that we’ve really appreciated how well the tracks are resounding with our fans and with people. You know obviously the singles from this album have already taken off, and really connecting. We’re obviously looking towards festival season for us. It’s very different in Europe. Every band is cruising around Europe playing festivals every weekend. It’s a whole different kind of thing. We are already able to see which songs are going down best and then trying to plan set lists for the summer.
Of course you are coming down to Australia in about 6 weeks. It looks like you’ve got the most ridiculous touring schedule leading up to that?
Pretty much. It’s kind of how it’s been for the last 2 years. As soon as we have an album out, our booking agent tries to kill us really, but so far so good. It’s mad in a way we’ve only been there once, and the last shows we had there were good. The Melbourne show was a little sketchy- I looked ill. We’re really looking to making up things there
Fingers crossed you keep well this time and talking about the new album you had Alan Moulder on board as producer and he comes from a harder background I suppose. In more recent years he has worked with Academy Award winner Trent Reznor. (Charles laughs) What was it like working with him? Did it bring out a different sound or different feel to recording the album?
Working with Alan is like working with a rude friendly uncle. He’s the most unassuming and calm and relaxed person you’d ever want really in a studio. I think long gone are the days of producers carrying a gun and turning the gun on you and shit
Alan is a normal guy and a real genius in his field of making music and techniques that he’s honed over the years. It really was very peaceful actually to have him in the studio. Alot more peaceful than the first record.
You say it was more peaceful than the first album. In what way was the first album not peaceful?
I think it was the pressure that we felt going into the studio with five songs written and be expected to come out with ten songs recorded. What the hell? How does that work? and forced to produce them together for the album and we’d never really met before the project and whilst they got on I think it was definitely a bit of personality clash as well. Only because they were both very passionate about the project and wanted to put their own identity on it, whereas this time we had Max Singles had that worked with our first record, who was a very old friend of ours. He had been working with Alan many times in the past, and for them to work together was a walk in the park and they get on fine We were 18 or 19 when we recorded our first record, and we were very naive, very nervous about the outcome. This time our confidence is growing. The more albums we make I hope the easier it will become.
The album does sound fantastic and we are really looking forward to hearing you live next month. What songs are you guys enjoying playing? What’s translating well?
Personally I’ve always enjoyed playing “Peace and quiet”. “The Power and the Glory” is my favourite track from the album and also really working well in the live shows. “Bigger than us” of course; the first single from this record is making a lot people happy. We’re still honing our craft on this record and perfecting it but I think people are going to be certainly people who saw us the last time in aus, coming to see us again they’re going to notice what would take bands 5 years to make the leap in terms of the live shows. I think people should be impressed.
It sounds like it’s gonna be great fun. It sounds like you are running around like a crazy man as you always are. Are you enjoying the tour?
Yeah were working hard, we’re seeing the results so it’s great.
Have a safe trip, sounds like you’ve got 8 hours and 9 hours to get there?
Yes that kind of thing. Just another day.
I hope you find the spaceship that will get you there! Thanks Charles
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Transcription by Anna-Maria Megalogenis and Larry Heath.
