We were able to get in a brief interview with New Jersey's Big Troubles about a month or so back, and then just to guild that lily, Earbuddy was able to catch the band opening for fellow Jerseyites, Real Estate, in Portland. Photos courtesy of Paul Mattson.
Earbuddy: So how did the band get together? Did you guys know each other long before you started playing music?
Big Troubles: No one knew Luka. Sam knew Ian but didn't know Alex. Alex knew Ian but didn't know Sam. Then Ian met Luka but then forgot about Luka. Then Sam met Luka so Ian and Sam knew Luka, but Alex didn't know Luka. Alex waited. Middle Earth begins. Begin: Nightmare Phase One. Sam and Ian become closer, while Luka retains friendship digitally. Alex waits. Luka, Sam, and Ian bond close and hard, as Ian reveals Alex (fourth chamber): Begin. Upon leaving middle earth, friend-ship continues. Middle Earth concludes, friend-ship continued, entrance communally sealed.
EB: There’s a pretty big difference, in terms of the band’s sound, between the first two albums. Was the lo-fi thing you had on ‘Worry’ strictly the result of recording on a budget?
BT: Yes. First LP had no money. Second LP had a little money. Third LP reveals budget as: "no money".
EB: What was different, aside from your budget, going into the studio to record Romantic Comedy?
BT: Mitch Easter, bunk beds.
EB: How was it working with Mitch Easter? Whose idea was it to hire him on? Were you guys familiar with his music?
EB: We’ve had a lot of laughs at the video you did for “Sad Girl”. Did you guys go into the video shoot with ideas, or was the plot the director’s idea? Was it a fun experience?
BT: We just tried to 'spin a yarn' that viewed as a complex representation of our everyday lives. Remember, even if the comedy is on your screen, Hell is all around us.
EB: You guys are heading out on the road with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Is this going to be your longest tour yet? They treating you guys well?
BT: Touring with Pure Heart? There is nothing minimum about this maximum experience. We haven't met them yet, but they put Kibble and water and fresh newspaper in our travel cage every morning. We KNOW they are good people.
EB: Any good tour stories?
BT: Nah, just the usual diarrhea and concentration.
BT: So I feel like I know who your influences are, but I’m probably completely off. Who do you guys listen to? Anyone you wouldn’t want people to know, or guilty pleasures?
EB: We listen to: George Antheil, The Wicked Big Band, The Joe Peroka Band, That Train, Slave 9, Big Audio Mike, "La Cocharacha", "Mammi", B.I.N.G.O., Gunga Din, "Ghost of John", "Wolfman Jack", Rikki Tikki Tembo, Unleashed, Aaron Carl, Ferdinand The Bull, Above All Hope, Geo Decay/The Decayed, Rin Tin Tin, and all good-natured people world-wide, Rock N Roll World-Piece.
EB: Any up and coming bands that more people should know about?
BT: The world should know: Cuffs, The Ice Choir, and anything Abe Scott touches.
EB: So, is Fluffy Lumbers everyone in Big Troubles too? Any plans for a full length?
Just to be clear, Fluffy Lumbers, that’s a dick joke, right?
BT: Fluffy Lumbers is just Sam, he has no dick, there is no joke. Sam can be found shopping at your local Smoothie King. He recommends the Acai Berry Full Body Colon Cleanse.
EB: So, now that you are international superstars, what is Kanye like?
BT: Fame is on the screen, but hell is all around us.
EB: I agree?
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