Earlier this year, London-based quartet
Yuck solidified their status as indie darling and next-big-thing with a debut album that was
named a Cos Top Star, and have finally invaded American shorelines after building a year’s worth of ecstatic word of mouth. What separates the music of Yuck from your typical indie rockers influenced by the late 80’s/early 90’s is how they spin a variety of these styles and sounds into something that actually feels fresh. Before embarking on their upcoming American tour with
Tame Impala, guitarist and vocalist Max Bloom had a chat with
Consequence of Sound about touring, dream festivals, Animal Collective shirts, and what’s next for Yuck.
So I understand there were some visa troubles with your first American tour?
We tried to get visas and then they must have put a typing error. They typed the expiration dates wrong on the visas, so they made the visas invalid. We had to miss our first gig, and then we managed to sort it out. We made it all the way to the airport and had someone at the American Embassy trying to get the passports sorted out, and then when we got to the airport, we realized all the dates were not correct and Mariko’s [Doi, bassist] passport was still incorrect. And, so, we had to try to think of all these different situations, like if we had to come two weeks late, because the American Embassy can take ages to sort that stuff up. Eventually, five minutes before we checked in, we managed to get on the plane, so we were really, really lucky.
At least it was all sorted out in time for South by Southwest, and your tour with the Smith Westerns. How was your experience playing in the US?
It’s really good. I don’t have anything to compare it to, other than playing the UK, for the most part, and I remember it was really fun. It was just really, really fun. Everything was kind of new and unfamiliar. So, I didn’t mind so much about the long drives, and the people are just having a good time. It was a really fun tour, and people were kind of responding, and that gave me an indication of enjoying it. I guess playing in London, like everyone kind of stands really still and glares at you, so you feel quite nervous on-stage. I guess it makes you more comfortable if you’re playing to some people and you know they are having a good time, rather than you think they might hate you.
What’s it like performing multiple gigs in one day at SXSW?
It’s not what I’m used to, definitely not. Playing four gigs in one day was definitely difficult. We had to carry our equipment around by hand around the roads and it was really exhausting. It was really nonstop because after a gig you kind of need a cigarette, or whatever, but we didn’t have time for that. But, I mean, it was really good. I wouldn’t complain about it, because it was really fun. Ages ago, I think bands played more than four gigs a day, so I don’t think it’s that big a deal. It’s what you’re meant to do if you’re in a band. The main thing is now setting up and getting from one place to another. We had the biggest gig we’ve ever played. We had that there at SXSW at this NPR thing. And that was two or three thousand people, and that was really exciting, and kind of special that in America we played our biggest gig.
Did you get to discover any acts while at SXSW?
Not really. I didn’t have any time to go see any bands, but I did want to see Times New Viking.
The buzz surrounding Yuck has been building since well before the release of your debut, and it seems a large part of that came from touring. What can our readers expect from Yuck live?
I think live, it’s like…I don’t even know. I guess I’m the wrong person to ask, because I can’t really watch us. But, I don’t know… On the album, I try to keep it to the basic elements of what we do, as much as possible; just two guitars, bass, drums, vocals. So, that’s not changed live. I think a lot of our songs kind of vary drastically live compared to what we do on the album, because we play together a lot, and songs adapt to play, but I don’t really know what we’re like. I hope we’re not that bad.
I hear good things.
Oh. Okay, then.
Thumbnail photo by Heather Kaplan.
So, you and vocalist/guitarist Daniel Blumberg have known each other for years, and played together in Cajun Dance Party. But, from what I understand, Daniel and drummer Jonny Rogoff met in Israel? How did all of that lead to playing in a band together?
They got along really well, and they kind of bonded over liking the same music. And when Daniel came back, he was like “oh, I met this amazing guy, he’s an incredible drummer, he’s in a band.” And I checked out his band, and it was so, so good. It was not the kind of music I would normally listen to, really far out, and I was really impressed with his drumming. Clearly, he was an incredible musician and they made this one song that was a 10 minute love song. He seemed like a really lovely guy, and I wanted to be friends with him, and be in a band with him. We kind of got into contact with him, got his email address, and emailed him that we wanted to form a band together. He just started university, and lived in New Jersey, but he wanted to come over, and he could stay with me.
We weren’t thinking that far into the future, but I could tell he wasn’t really enjoying university, and he persuaded his parents that’s what he wanted to do with his life. And he just came over without thinking of the risks, or anything like that. We just really wanted him here. Very quickly, he was just here in a couple weeks, and, you know, we weren’t really thinking at the time, but it’s just fine now. Nothing bad has happened, though. It just worked out.
And the catalyst for all that was Jonny Rogoff’s Animal Collective shirt? Where do you think Yuck would be if he had been wearing a plain shirt and the encounter never happened?
It would just be different. I mean, Daniel and Jonny probably would have still spoken to each other, but it’s kind of interesting. It makes you wonder how many people have met because they’re wearing t-shirts of bands they like.
I find it fascinating, because I have an Animal Collective shirt and it gets more comments from strangers than any other article of clothing I’ve ever worn.
Oh really?
Yeah, even at Glastonbury two years ago, I was watching Emmy the Great, and I said something to the person next to me between songs. Emmy said “I like you, and I like your shirt”, and we’re talking about Animal Collective while she’s on stage in the middle of her set. And even on the streets, people grab me and go “hey, Animal Collective!”
I don’t like wearing band t-shirts anymore. Not for any reason, but because I don’t like people reading what’s on my clothes. It makes me nervous. It’s kind of weird, people, like, reading what’s on your shirt.
How did Mariko Doi become part of Yuck?
We knew her in London. Not as interesting as the story with Jonny, but she had just broken up with her band, and I vaguely knew her, and knew that she was looking for another band. I knew she was an incredible bass player, and she had a really nice face, and so we met up. We did a song and she was into it, and so we would just play together without a drummer until Jonny came over. We just liked playing together.
How do you think the international membership of Yuck affects the band dynamics?
I don’t really think it affects anything. I feel like music is something that kind of transcends everything that you are socially. And, so, if you’re from a different country, if you meet someone in a different country, and you have a different background, and find you like the same music, you instantly bond, and it doesn’t really matter about anything else, like your background, your nationality, or whatever. So, I guess Daniel and Jonny, the way they met kind of shows that. I guess different nationality or background doesn’t really affect anything. Mariko’s lived in London for quite a while now. She grew up in Japan, but I think maybe what affects, if anything, what musical background and band you played in. Jonny was in a very experimental, kind of progressive hardcore band. Mariko has been in punk bands all her life, so I guess that kind of, but nothing else really.
So what’s the story behind your band name?
I wish I had a really interesting story, but it’s nothing really. It was just, like, Daniel was just thinking of names and it was just the name we came across. I remember initially I didn’t like it, but it kind of stuck. I don’t know. I just like it. It’s just been a funny word, and we weren’t exactly thinking that people were going to hear what we were doing, so it didn’t seem like that much of an important issue. And, so, we just kind of went with it and never changed it. I can’t imagine it being anything else now.
How would you describe your music using five words or less?
I feel I have a bit of trouble describing our music, because I never have to think about it like an interviewer. It’s the only sort of time I probably have to think about the music like that. And then I have to think about…it’s kind of weird thinking about our music from that perspective. I want to say loud five times, and just leave it at that.
Going back to festival gigs, imagine an ATP-style event curated by Yuck. Who would you invite to perform?
Oh, wow, hopefully one day. That would be a dream come true. I think I would have Grandaddy and Super Furry Animals, because they did an American tour together co-headlining, and, obviously, I didn’t get to see that. I talked to a few people that have seen that co-headlining show, and they said that was the best gig they’ve ever been to. Also, Wilco would be a definite one. I saw them headline at this English festival that we played last year called End of the Road Festival, in Dorset, and it was the best gig I’ve ever seen. I’d probably have to try and get Brian Jonestown Massacre, because I want to see them live, and I haven’t. Also headlining everything would be The Zombies playing Odyssey and Oracle from start to finish.
So, when can we expect some new tracks?
It’s always at the forefront of my mind. Whenever I’m home, I never stop thinking. I imagine at the end of the year we’ll probably have something new. I mean, I’d really like to move on to something.
Your album was self-produced, so will the next one be as well, or is there someone you’re looking to work with on that?
I don’t know, really, because, to be honest, I’m not opposed to working with anyone. If we’re going to work with someone, then it would have to be someone who really wants to be involved and that I appreciate their creative opinion. Unless we get the chance to work with someone I really admire, then we will probably be self-sufficient. I don’t like the idea that artists aren’t as self-sufficient as possible. I also don’t like the idea that you might not be in total control of the final outcome, so I feel like there’s no reason why we wouldn’t be completely self-sufficient.
Hooked yet? Check out Yuck next week at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall, where they’ll play both Tuesday, May 3rd and Wednesday May 4th alongside Tame Impala and Yawn.
