“It’s been a weird year…”
Almost 12 months have passed since one of Philadelphia’s most prized inhabitants Adam Granduciel and his band The War On Drugs took to the stage, ensuing ‘slaves to their ambient’.
Removing the lid from his self-professed “hole”, Granduciel details exactly what these 12 months have comprised of for the Philly rocker.
“I pretty much spent the whole year working on a new record and just going crazy over it,” Granduciel slowly asserts. “It just never felt done to me until you or the song has gone through some little journey.”
Granduciel makes obvious his blatant frustration for their lack of live performances due to recording. “I don’t pump stuff out nearly as fast as some of the people around here. It’s daunting.”
Three years separated the band’s debut Wagonwheel Blues (2008) and the stellar sophomore Slave Ambient (2011). Time is the clear essence that has allowed our proclaimed gear nerd to write, record, and produce these textured on-the-road dreams that truly personify the two records. We know it’s worth the wait. “I spent a lot more time on everything on this record…but now it’s finished,” he confirms.
Despite his dire disappointment about not playing live shows for the past year, Granduciel warms when explaining the writing of the anticipated third LP.
“I really love starting with an idea and then building it up. Let it take shape and let it take on its own identity over the course of time,” he excites.
“I improvise a lot in the moment. I try to write as much as I physically can in the moment.” Improvisation is an element Granduciel attributes substantially to his personal Jesus, the freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.
However, our Philly hero frets and promptly confesses how he succumbs to everyday influence. “I’m really easily impressionable in most things. I’ll be like ‘Oh I’m not drinking this weekend’ and it will be like the most fucked up weekend of my life”.
“I’m really easily impressionable in most things. I’ll be like ‘Oh I’m not drinking this weekend’ and it will be like the most fucked up weekend of my life”His professed inability to shout NO sees him shy from the frequent roadmap many artists pursue when composing sound and lyric. “When I’m making the record I don’t listen to a tonne of music or read a lot. I kind of go into my hole and I listen to my own music. I sometimes have such a solid sound in my head or such a solid idea of how I want to approach a song or record that if I indulge myself in tonnes of music I tend to lose focus.”
Granduciel believes his organic, introverted approach is imperative to his unique creative process.
The shaggy star permits to one significant obsession throughout the past 12 months, one that he can confidently champion as inspiration for the new record – the late legend, John Lennon. “I listened to a lot of John Lennon records this year. I listened to Mind Games for like a straight month. I got the ultimate Imagine records. Then l bought all these John Lennon books.”
The addition of Lennon to the existing faultless arsenal of the band’s classic key influences – Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty – creates a further shaking anticipation for this long-awaited third record to drop.
Removed from the rambunctious festival and touring circuit, and somewhat downtrodden by the fact, Granduciel admits to “making a lot of changes in his life”, consequently forgoing his usual attendance of live shows. That aside, he heralds three gigs that left him shell-shocked.
The first was a show by the man whose name has appeared almost as frequently as Granduciel himself in this piece, Bob Dylan. “I was by myself and I’d had this shitty shitty month. I got down into the pit. I was 30 feet away and there was Dylan, there’s my man right there! I’ll always see him. It’s like a travelling cult or something, I just go without really thinking. I have to go.”
Granduciel reflects on Trouble Will Find Me by Ohio brooders The National, who personally invited him to their Philadelphia show. Unbeknownst to Granduciel at the time, he was in for what he pertains as the grandest of honours. “It blew my mind. I almost started crying. It was such an intense moment for me!”
Rather coy, Granduciel pinpoints his favourite show of the year, crowned to none other than his Philadelphia counterpart and longstanding blood brother, Kurt Vile.
“I worked on the new Purling Hiss record. I played piano on a few songs which was awesome. I love that record. Mike is just a great songwriter.Reflecting on the performance, starry-eyed Granduciel gleefully cements, “I was super proud and the band sounded great. These guys are my friends and I can still say ‘this band is my favourite fucking band in the world’, you know? That was a cool enlightening moment.” Chuckling, he admits to hiding in the corner of the crowd as an outsider looking in. “It’s actually hard to remember that you love to just sit there and get your mind blown for two hours.”
The Philadelphian compadres, Granduciel and Vile, both bestow a deep sense of pride for their hometown and its surplus of musical talent. Despite both artists being highly-acclaimed in the industry, at times the Philly sound is shadowed by the dominant sphere of New York City. Granduciel graciously provides insight to the sublime work coming from the east coast city.
“I worked on the new Purling Hiss record. I played piano on a few songs which was awesome. I love that record. Mike is just a great songwriter.”
“Chris Forsyth and the Solar Motel Band. I love his guitar playing, he’s just a fuckin’ awesome guitar player.”
“Tin Horses are also really good, kind of like an alt-Americana band and a little bit more Crazy Horse loco or something, it’s cool.”
The War On Drugs’ brief (and unintentional) hiatus from performing live will be vanquished on the adoring shores of Australia in late December this year. Joining the coastal forces for Falls Festival and Southbound, Granduciel is itching to finally take to the stages of Australia once more. “We fuckin love it there. It’s a good excuse to take that first step into getting the band oiled up for some new songs and it’s just going to be great. We’re gonna fuckin’ play a bunch of new songs and it’s gonna feel good.”
Their Melbourne show at the Northcote Social Club in 2012 sold out and was revered by fans and critics alike. “Our first show in Melbourne will be a little tricky, but I think it will actually be pretty amazing too. It’s gonna be a huge release, so I’m really excited. Melbourne gets pretty loose too, it’s cool!”
Unable to unravel too much of the tapestry of the third record, Granduciel was able to close with two important facts: the record will be out in March 2014 and Melbourne will be the first to witness these tracks performed live.
The War On Drugs Australian Tour
Tickets on sale now from www.handsometours.com
Saturday 28th December – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Monday 6th January – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
The War On Drugs also appear at Falls and Southbound festivals.
Falls Festival 2013 Dates
Marion Bay, TAS: December 29, 2013 – January 01, 2014 (All Ages)
Byron Bay, NSW: December 31, 2013 – January 03, 2014 (18+)
Lorne, VIC: December 28, 2013 – January 01, 2014 (18+)
Ticket available at fallsfestival.com.au/
Southbound 2014
January 3 & 4, 2014
Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton WA
www.southboundfestival.com.au/tickets
