It’s neat how you meet people on the net, and over time you get to know each other. Then you start really paying attention. Before long you are helping each other along and introducing new friends. That’s pretty much what happened here.
My friend Kim sent me a press release about a band that sounded cool, so I posted the news and went to review the record. Darn neat stuff on that record, so I thought “hey, why not…?” and well here we are… a chance meeting on twitter a jaunt through facebook, and some great times on G+ later, and I’m looking forward to meeting Kim, Nocona, and a bunch of other folks at Bonnaroo this year!
You guys have only been NOCONA for a year or so, but it sounds like you’ve been playing together all your lives. How long have you been making tunes together all told? And what were some of your former experiences like?
Chris – Adrienne, Annie and I played in Paladino together for a year before forming Nocona and we also share a lot of common southern and americana roots, and Adrienne and I have been married a long time and played in a number of art punk bands.
Adrienne – Chris told me a year back that he had a bunch of new songs he was ready to record and start playing live. I did what a good wife/fan does, dropped everything, pitched annie and justin to the insanity that we wanted them to commit to and lucky for us they went for it!
What are some differences in the New York and LA scenes?
Chris – Their are probably more similarities than differences on an independent music level, but basically, LA has a stronger undercurrent of americana, southern and folk music.
Adrienne – There are so many beautiful towns to play in California. There is nothing like driving the coast, through the Redwoods and into the desert… seriously. I DO love New York though and can’t wait to bring my band there!
You guys aren’t very old, but you list influences in your music that go all the way back to when music was good. Do you find that young people understand who and what you mean when you talk of Buck Owens and Graham Parsons?
Chris – I don’t know. I’ve felt out of touch with popular music for a while. There are some young people with whom that music seems really strong, often because they were raised with it, and a lot of young people who seem to think that certain brands of indy rock like arcade fire is folky or “americana”. It never ceases to amaze me what young people do and also do not know sometimes. I used to care more about whether young people understood who these and other roots people are, you could take it back to a lot of artists on the american anthology of folk or earlier.
Adrienne – You know, hopefully the kids today will love us and will be excited to discover our list of influences.
Do I have to type it NOCONA with all caps every time?
Chris – if you want.
Adrienne – hahhahaha you know Annie and I had this vision of NOCONA in all caps. I’m not even sure Chris orJustin knew about it (men). Justin just made our new logo/t shirts and it is not in all caps and it is rad! But all caps is great 🙂
NOCONA have regular bookings all over the West Coast and are taking time out to play what was one, but is now two shows at Bonnaroo, and this is not the first time for some members. What makes you want to come all the way to Middle Tennessee?
Chris – Bonnaroo is a great opportunity for us to potentially bring our music to new audiences. We would like to put our music in front of as many ears as possible. Hopefully some people will love it. We are also excited to see many of the other artists in the festival, visit with some old friends, take in some of nashville’s cultural attractions, make our way to ernest tubb’s record store and eat some soul food, hot damn!
Adrienne – There is nothing as exciting as Bonnaroo.
[ed. note: Agreed!]
Do you have plans of getting involved with any other large festivals?
Chris – We will play almost any festival we can get in currently, if they can meet whatever garauntee we need to get there and back!
Adrienne – Festival tour we’re ready let’s go!
I made my thoughts pretty clear in the recent review I’m curious how the EP is doing, I expect to see you on the charts soon!
Chris – Thank you so much for that review, we are incredibly flattered and honored. We literally just received the pressings in the mail, we have a lot of pre-orders! I hope your right!
Adrienne – Thank you!!!! I would kiss you but Chris would kick your ass.
[ed. note: how would that be My fault? lol]
Why don’t you totally pimp that bitchin’ camaro out and let Adrienne drive it?
Chris – It’s my friend’s car, it’s like driving an angry shark on the highway, it wants to kill anyone whose behind the wheel, i would never let my wife drive it.
Adrienne – That car has more character than most people I know. Scariest thing I’ve ever rode in in my life. I think i would’ve inhaled less fumes sucking on the exhaust pipe. It was perfect for our Brimstone video.
This record came together quickly, but left me with the impression that there is a lot more material ready for production. Do you have plans for another recording project in the near future?
Chris – Yes! we definitely have material for 2 more full length records! we just want to get into the studio and record as soon as possible!
Adrienne – Chris is a writing machine and the band is into it. We are planning on releasing at least 2 albums a year.
Do you have any tips for musicians that need to get a project off the ground in a year or less?
Chris – Record all your ideas no matter how trivial or mundane you think they are and try to finish a song in one form or another whenever you sit down to write. Kill your inner critic and don’t let your self doubt or guilt or any of the other things that make you hate yourself stop you from writing a song.
Adrienne – fill your band with hard working friendly people that share a similar vision… and then get some chick like me to bust your balls…
[ed. note: every indie band needs an Adrienne]
Thanks a bunch, y’all! It’s always great making new #mtmfriends, I’ll be looking forward to seeing you in Manchester!
