Interview: Jerry Joiner of Girlfriends
This one man band is currently changing my life. Reminded me of what group vocals are. If you haven’t heard this project, it’s of dire importance to check it out pronto. Here’s the bandcamp link, I’ll be posting it at the end of the interview too. www.girlfriends.bandcamp.com
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No Silence Zine!: My friend and I are having a dispute as to whether or not you’ve started playing with a full band or if you’re still doing a one man band. Care to let us in?
Jerry Joiner: I’m glad you brought this up, I’m sure it must be confusing. For this past summer tour, I was pretty desperately looking for something to make me like music again. I wasn’t interested in playing my old songs anymore, didn’t have a good idea on how I wanted to tackle new songs and didn’t feel satisfaction being at home. So, when Duck. Little Brother, Duck! mentioned going on tour I kind of wedged myself in and ended up going with them. When it came closer to the time we were supposed to leave, I was set on the idea that I didn’t want to play by myself all tour, so I got two friends (Reid Stubblefield and David Plell) to help play new songs. I didn’t really have new songs but I figured it would push me to write new stuff. It sort of did, but all at the last minute. We wrote all five songs we played on tour in three days, so I can’t say I’m particularly proud of any of them (though a couple are pretty good, I feel). To answer your question, that setup was temporary. That’s not to say I wont try something similar in the future, but for now I’m continuing mostly by myself; by myself meaning without a full band, though I will never say I don’t draw on and use ideas that others have helped me develop.
NS: What inspired you to start doing this project?
JJ: I was tired of not doing anything. So, I took out a lot of student loans, bought an amp, electric guitar, drum set and pedals and then it just sort of happened. I found out my delay pedal had a loop function and the first thing I played was the song “New Computers”. That’s really about it. From there I realized I wanted to do more and moved to Portland.
NS: It’s been a while since you’ve released anything. Are you writing for anything right now?
JJ: I’m working on lots of things right now, Girlfriends included. I just graduated college a month back, so I’m living by myself and being jobless until May since this might be one of the only times something like this will make sense.
NS: You play really smoothly and clean and stuff. How long have you been playing guitar? Drums? Your beats are always so tight.
JJ: Well thanks! But remember, you’re only getting part of the picture. Most guitar takes come from loads of tries; I’m by no means a fantastic guitar player. Even less smooth, for that matter. My father got me an acoustic guitar from a pawn shop when I was in 10th grade so I would say 5ish years playing guitar. Drums are more complicated because I played them for a long time only sparingly (and still rarely play them). Drums are very much a mental process for me, so it’s really hard to say. Mentally, around 5 years as well, physically, much less time than that.
NS: What’s the scene like on the West Coast for the style of music you’re playing? Are there good turn outs at shows? What is your favorite place to play?
JJ: I can’t really tell you what it’s like compared to other places; I don’t pay attention to stuff like that very much. It all seems pretty similar to me. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that the people who seem to get the most into shows are people in small places who normally don’t get them. This could be that city folk are jaded and experience too many shows or its just a different way of enjoying a live show, it’s hard to say. My favorite shows tend to be house shows, but sometimes I play on the floor at venues and that rules just as hard. I’m heavily biased towards how I actually do too, so it really depends on the show. This isn’t a very good answer sheerly for the fact that I rarely pay attention to this sort of thing. Sorry about that.
NS: Any touring planned for the near future?
JJ: My plan is to have a set ready by SXSW and go on the road with El Ten Eleven in March, permitting I’m ready by then. Also, I broke my finger so lets hope that heals by then as well.
NS: Do you have a label that releases your stuff or are you all DIY? Have you done any physical releases in the past?
JJ: I’ve been approached by loads of people about putting out physical stuff so far, which I’m super appreciative of. I have a vinyl with El Ten Eleven, a tape on Black With Sap, something forth coming with Big Scary Monsters and some smaller labels as well. I’m very appreciative of how it’s all worked out so far; the Internet is a beautiful thing.
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Seriously check this guy out right now. www.girlfriends.bandcamp.com The guitar and drum work blows my mind. I’m seriously fanboy freaking out over him. GO CHECK IT OUT NOW.
www.girlfriends.bandcamp.com
www.girlfriends.bandcamp.com
www.girlfriends.bandcamp.com
Also, I don’t know who to interview next. I have interviews lined up with Algernon Cadwallader and Ape Up! but I’d like your feedback as to who I should interview next. Anyone have any ideas?
areudirty
stormborns
gummygunk
blakekathryn
tangentwithtanner
