Vue
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An Interview
with Jessica Graves of Vue
by David Chiu
The band Vue is from San Francisco. That's
an important fact to consider since this five-piece possess a
psychedelic, underground sound that has been part of that city's
storied musical tradition since the '60s. Like their peers, say
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, for example, Vue's style is retro
but contemporary enough to draw garage and postpunk fans.
Vue-vocalist and guitarist Rex Shelverton,
guitarist Jonah Buffa, bassist Jeremy Bringetto, drummer Rafael
Olin, and keyboardist Jessica Graves-have been around since 1999.
Their story is like any of up and coming bands-gigging across
the country in a van, sleeping on other people's floors, and
playing in the smallest dives that would take them. Over time,
the group has shared the same bill with a who's who of alternative
rock: the aforementioned Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, the Donnas,
the White Stripes, and Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. They also played in
the major rock festivals in the UK at Reading and Leeds. And
their music appears on the Sopranos soundtrack.
To those outside of the Bay Area, Vue may
seem like a new band but the group had recorded two albums Vue
and Find Your Home for famed indie label Sub Pop before jumping
ship to major label RCA. Earlier this year, the group recorded
an EP Babies Are for Petting for their new label. It's
a brief sampler of the group's sound: tracks such as "Look
Out for the Traffic," "Find Your Home," and the
title track showcases the band's pure unadulterated rock and
roll with a little trippiness and bombast. If some of the songs
has a slight Stones edge, it might come from the fact that they
were produced by current Stones producer Don Was. The EP provide
the perfect set-up for their forthcoming album due out later
this year.
NewBeats had a moment to talk to Vue keyboardist
Jessica Graves, who was kind to take a moment to talk, even if
it was in 4:30 in the morning, and just a few days before the
band is set to go on the road.
1. Your sound encompass several different
styles; in your opinion how would you describe it?
I give you carte blanche to use your journalistic
expertise to do that job.
2. How was it like recording the two
songs on the Babies are for Petting EP with Don Was? What
did he bring to your sound in the studio?
Don Was is a character, no doubt about
it. He hobbled into our lives with a broken foot on a pair of
Rastafarian colored crutches. He's a master orator, in another
life I imagine him in a toga wandering the streets of Athens
pontificating on a myriad of sordid topics, en route to some
sort of bacchanalian orgy. He literally conducted our sessions
by dancing around the room while we tracked, strumming an inaudible
acoustic guitar. He brought a great vibe to the sessions. But
I wouldn't say he changed our sound. We've yet to have that experience.
I think most real bands abhor that scenario, and the best producers
aim to capture the essence of the band, rather than introduce
a new sound to the mix.
3. I'd like to talk about several of
the songs: "Hey Hey Not In There" has a Rolling Stones
feel too it-do you agree or am I off base?
If you say so. I've always been really
bad at hearing comparisons in music.
4. Were you influenced by the blues
when you recorded the track Babies are For Petting?
No, I personally wasn't. When I wrote my
keyboard part I was thinking Dr Dre. And my favorite bits in
that song are the incessant 16th note
guitar part, the freak out echoplex part in the breakdown and
the backwards guitar solo that follows it. I wouldn't describe
any of those things as blues. But those are just the parts of
the song that I happen to focus on I suppose.
5. The song "Find Your Home"
sounds like it was from the Animals? Does the music from the
'60s play any role in your music, because your music sounds retro
as well as modern.
Based on the last 5 questions I gather
that you hear 60's stuff in our music. You don't need my permission
to say it, and I wouldn't deny it. It's just not the way I think
about songwriting. I wouldn't ever want to limit myself in that
way.
6. For you personally, what artists
or bands influence you and why?
I tend to like more tasteful stuff as opposed
to wanky ostentatious playing (a la [the Doors'] Ray Manzarek).
But in terms of how other music influences my playing, I'm really
no good at imitating other people's styles.
7. Where are you guys based? How did
you end up joining the band?
We're based in San Francisco. I met Jeremy,
Rex, & Jonah in college at Santa Cruz. I filled in for their
keyboardist during some shows they were playing in Southern California
and it felt really perfect, so when their keyboardist quit, I
joined.
8. What prompted you to go from indie
label Sub Pop to major label RCA? How do you think being at a
major label affect the band?
The opportunity presented itself. The example
set by other bands, some of our friends, BRMC, ...And You Will
Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, demonstrated that artistic freedom
is a possibility on a major these days, so that wasn't a concern.
And so far, we've enjoyed that freedom. The band has always been
the central thrust in our perversely collective lives and it's
nice to finally be able to do it unhindered by the distraction
of day jobs and without the loss of brain cells sacrificed to
a van with an exhaust leak.
9. Can you describe a memorable experience
that happened to you in the band so far in your career (perhaps
something from the road)?
No I can't. Too many brain cells lost on
account of aforementioned exhaust leak.
10. There's a soulful yet raw nature
to your guys' sound. Why do you think you work together so well?
Well, this isn't anything new, but... As
a band we are very much a unit, I can feel it when we play live
together, either at practice or on stage, but we are five very
different personality types, with different tastes. And I think
this dynamic makes for interesting music. We sort out any musical
conflicts that arise because we are good friends, and in the
end the songs are enhanced by the process.
...As far as the "raw" thing
goes, we are all philosophically rooted in a punk attitude about
music. I think we all love those rough edges that you find in
The Stooges or Van Morrison or Suicide or Johnny Cash.
11. Is it daunting to play in front
of people who might not yet know who you are; how do you handle
it?
No, we have a lot of experience playing
live, we've been touring for 4 or more years now, and last year
we toured for about 10 months. I can't really remember ever being
intimidated on stage. Interviews are harder. No music to hide
behind.
12. How is the new full-length album
progressing? What do you guys hope to do in the next couple of
years?
I am absolutely thrilled with the way the
album is coming out... Hmmm. Next couple of years? I can't think
beyond the next few days. We have been so busy working on this
album, and we leave for tour in about 48 hours. I have so much
left to do, my license is suspended, I have to go to two different
DMVs tomorrow, my dad is coming into town on Saturday and wants
to hang out but I haven't packed yet, I have to clean out our
old van and we still need to practice one more time. But now
I'm done with this interview, and I can go to bed for three hours.
Thanks. Good night.
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