We talk to guitarist Jim Wilbur from iconic American group Superchunk who come to Australia this week to perform shows with M. Ward and Neutral Milk Hotel – the band you never thought you’d get to see but finally are getting the chance to. According to Jim, “they’re a rock band from the middle ages!” We talk about NMH, about Superchunk’s absence from Australia, their latest record and much more! The tour kicks off tomorrow in Brisbane – oh and Sydney fans – don’t forget they have a solo show on Wednesday night at the Annandale!
I understand you’re at home today. How are you enjoying it?
I live a very relaxed life. I’m watching the leaves turn colours… the snow starts falling in the mountains… it’s a beautiful time of year.
You’re about to leave all that and come back to Australia… it’s been a very long time between visits. 1996 was the last time I believe?
Yeah that sounds about right!
Do you have many memories from that tour?
You know I do… but the truth is that I’ve been back to Australia four times since then, for a month or so each time. I wish I could live there! But the touring, everytime I talk about it… it’s sort of bittersweet because the first time we toured there it was super low budget, we were sleeping on floors, we were a young band, it was an awesome tour. Then we came back and we were opening for Buffalo Tom and that was even better, and then we came back on our own again and it was just not so great. I think money was lost by the promoter.
We were going to go back at one point but it got cancelled at the last minute because ticket sales were so dismal. So it just seemed that Australia didn’t love us… but it’s been a long time since then, 16 years or so, and we get e-mails all the time from fans down there, so now we’ve been invited and here we come!
And hopefully this is the start of some more constant Australia touring!
We would love that.
And of course you were originally invited for the Harvest tour but on the cancellation of that, you’ve wound up in a bit of a Merge (Records) showcase! (Merge Records is the label Laura and Mac from Superchunk set up and is well regarded for having released albums by Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, M. Ward and many, many others…)
Yeah! You know, if we were playing the shows we’re playing in Australia over in America, they would be HUGE. Not because of us, but because of Neutral Milk Hotel. The return of that group is like the second coming of Jesus Christ or something over here. That band… there’s a large cult of people that love those records they made in the 90s and have been waiting ever since to see them play.
They used to open for us on tour… and they’re really good, but they’re kind of elemental in the way they perform… I don’t know how to put it. They’re not, slick. It’s unpredicatable, good rock and roll. Anything can happen, and they pull it off. So it’ll be interesting.
It certainly will. I count myself in that cult so I’ll be up front with the rest. And it’s been quite a while since they’ve played, so what influence that has on their performance will be interesting too.
I’ve been talking to the guy who’s been helping with their sound, and they’re using a lot of vintage equipment. The sort of stuff that breaks all the time. Held together with rubber bands and strings. He said it’s a nightmare! It’s the way they want it to sound, but at some point it’s going to break! It’s not an if, but when! So yeah… it’ll be unpredictable. They’re a rock band from the middle ages.
You recently released a new record yourselves, I Hate Music, so let’s talk about that, how are you feeling about it a few months in?
I’m really happy with it! I was happy with it when it was released, and I’ve been loving playing the songs live, which is awesome. We might have a twenty year catalogue behind us, and we play songs from the whole catalogue for sure, but the four or five songs from the new record we do play, people know the lyrics and get really excited for them… here in America at least. We have very kind and loyal fans. They’re with us not because they heard us on the radio. They’re with us because they’re following us for years and years and years…
Hopefully they’re front and centre in Australia too. And with five records released between visits, it won’t be an easy setlist to put together each night!
We try to play something from every record every night, but we have sets half the length that we normally play because we’re opening. On the one hand that’s awesome because it’s a shorter night of work. But on the other, anyone who’s there just to see us is going to get jipped a little bit. Because normally we play an hour and a half set, plus an encore. Which is gruelling. We’re all in our mid 40s and I gotta say it’s tiring! I’m not complaining but sometimes it can be a real struggle is all I’m gonna say!
So the thing about a 45 minute set is that you give it your all. You don’t pace yourself. The sets will be blisteringly fast. They’ll be good! But there won’t be much stage banter.
You will have a one off solo show at the Annandale as well!
Yes this is true! And I think we played there back in 1992 as well! That sounds right.
And then it looks like you’ve got plenty more touring after you leave Australia too…
We certainly do! Superchunk is keeping us all very busy. You know, I used to really hate touring. I hated leaving home. Now I’m come to peace with the fact that you’re lucky to be able to do it.
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SUPERCHUNK WITH M. WARD AND NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL:
TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER – BRISBANE, THE TIVOLI – 18+ (Neutral Milk Hotel / M Ward / Superchunk)
www.ticketmaster.com.au
SUPERCHUNK HEADLINE WITH BED WETTIN’ BAD BOYS:
WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER – SYDNEY, THE ANNANDALE – 18+
www.oztix.com.au
SUPERCHUNK WITH M. WARD AND NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL:
THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER – SYDNEY, ENMORE THEATRE – Licensed All Ages (Neutral Milk Hotel / M Ward / Superchunk)
www.ticketek.com.au
FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER – MELBOURNE, THE FORUM – 18+ (Neutral Milk Hotel / Superchunk / M Ward)
SOLD OUT
Second and definitely final show!
SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER – MELBOURNE, THE FORUM – 18+ (Neutral Milk Hotel / Superchunk / M Ward)
www.ticketmaster.com.au
