MOKB Interviews Black Lips at Lollapalooza 2008 - My Old Kentucky Blog

I was fortunate enough to meet up with the Black Lips on Friday, shortly after they more or less kicked off Lollapalooza with their rambunctiously catchy pop gems. Cole Alexander was a little reluctant to interview, but only because a stack of pizzas had just shown up in the media area just before we planned to meet. I wanted a slice just as badly, but we overcame our hunger and pulled through long enough to talk about what they thought of their performance, where to find the best collard greens in Atlanta, and why they now have beef with Deerhunter.

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MOKB : How did the performance go for you guys?

Jared Swiley : I would have to say it's probably one of the best days of my life and the performance was great. We knocked the socks off of everybody that was in attendance.

Cole Alexander : I kinda feel sorry for the bands that had to go on after us.

Swiley : The one bad thing about it was I felt bad for the rest of the festival because we were the first band on the first day and it kinda ruined it for everyone who can't top it.

Joe Bradly : Yeah, what are you gonna do, like, fly to space?

MOKB : Do you enjoy playing festivals like these, or do you prefer more intimate gigs?

Alexander : I like the festivals.

Swiley : I like the festivals. I like the intimacy of being in a club and all that stuff but you can't eat at Cake Shop your whole life. (laughs)

MOKB : You've been touring pretty heavily for a long time now. Are you guys missing home? Missing Atlanta?

Swiley : We don't have a home. Home is where we stand. Right here (points to the grass) - this is my home right now.

Alexander : Miss the cornbread.

Swiley : Yeah, there are no collard greens in Chicago!

MOKB : Where do you get the best collard greens?

All : Carvers!

Alexander : Shout out to Mammy's on the east side for collard greens!

Bradly : Mammy's! They've got 21 different types of biscuits.

MOKB : (laughs) Well, how about the new record. How much time have you guys been able to put into that?

Bradly : Three days.

Swiley : But we've got our own studio now. We've been bustin' ass, bustin' our chops down there so we're gonna pump out something good for ya'll people.

MOKB : Is there an expected release date you're aiming for?

Bradly : Early next year. February or March, somewhere around there.

MOKB : Cole, I wanted to ask you about the solo album you've been working on. What's the status with that?

Alexander : Yeah, I actually completed it and half of it is out on Rob's House Records.

MOKB : What about the other half?

Alexander : Trying to find a label, so if you hear of any...

Swiley : (to Cole): You were supposed to be on Vice, right?

Alexander :: I got dropped from Vice.

Swiley :: You got dropped.

MOKB : But they're keeping the Black Lips, right?

Alexander :: Yeah, kept the Black Lips.

MOKB : What about Ghetto Cross, the other project you've done some work on with Bradford Cox?

Bradly : It's so funny how everyone always talks about that.

MOKB : What I've heard so far sounds good so good though!

Alexander : Yeah, it's just like, one song...

MOKB : But the song is great.

Alexander : Yeah it's good. We're playing with Deerhunter at McCarren Pool in New York so...

Swiley : We kinda had a falling out with Deerhunter. It's kinda like a gang war now.

MOKB : Oh? Why is that?

Swiley : They just don't got the cut.

MOKB : Are you not impressed with their new album (Microcastle)?

Swiley : It made me really sad. No, I'm just kidding. (laughs)

MOKB : How about this movie you guys have a prominent role in, Let It Be. I've read that it's been postponed?

Bradly :: Yeah, back burner.

Swiley : Yeah, we don't know how to comment on that right now. We're sitting on a fence.

MOKB : Anything else planned for the future that you're excited about?

Swiley : We're going to South America soon. I'm real excited about that. I'm sick of playing in first world countries. I'm sick of the U.S.A. and Europe. We want to take it to Mexico, South America, and Asia.

Bradly : Our opportunity to play India is growing and growing and growing.

Swiley : The free world is failing so we want to leave the free world.

Bradly : As soon as Sir Richard Branson, the rebel billionaire, opens up his space shuttle thing, we want to be the first band to play in space.

Swiley : We've actually been talking with Ted Turner lately because he's also from Atlanta and he likes us and we like him so I think he's gonna bank role us for a little while. (laughs)

MOKB : Well, thanks guys. Are you going to stick around for a while? Looking forward to seeing anyone at the festival?

Alexander : I was trying to see some bands at the Kidzapalooza stage.

MOKB : Yeah? I guess Jeff Tweedy will be playing over there for a bit.

Alexander : Who's that?

MOKB : He's the singer of Wilco.

Alexander : Okay.

Swiley : To be honest, we're not going to watch any bands. We're getting out of here to go play our own show afterwards. I really don't give a shit about any band that's playing.

MOKB : Really?

Swiley : No, that's not true. But it's hot and I'm tired.

Black Lips - Oh Katrina
Black Lips - Cold Hands
Black Lips - Not A Problem (Live From Tijuana)

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