12/11/2007
Exclusive Interview With Elvis Perkins
Here are my top five reasons why I adore Elvis Perkins in Dearland:
#1: They have beautifully written and delivered songs
#2: They use an upright bass, a marching band bass drum, and a harmonium
#3: They have Civil War-era names (Brigham, Wyndham, Nicholas, Elvis)
#4: They have mustaches that curl at the ends
#5: They dance while they play
Last week I was lucky enough to indulge my Elvis Perkins adoration and see their live show at Johnny Brenda's. Better still, Elvis talked with me for a while before his show and set the record straight about his closet Billy Joel fixation.
People take pictures of each other just to prove that they really existed
Emily: Elvis, I've read that you are somewhat of a film buff. Might you be able to recommend a movie I haven't seen?
Elvis: Well, how do I know you haven't seen it?
Emily: Just name one and we'll see!
Elvis: Okay, have you seen Inland Empire?
Emily: I have not, in fact I don't even know about it.
Elvis: It's David Lynch's last movie and Laura Dern is in it. I rented it thinking it would have something to do with the inland empire of LA, but I found Lynch is exploring more and more far out places. It took me deeper down the Lost Highway and much further past Mulholland Drive. I suppose it was referring to more of an internal wilderness rather than a literal interpretation.
Wyndham Boylan-Garnett and his harmonium
Emily: I will have to check it out. Sounds appropriately abstract for a Lynch movie. Thanks! Okay, next question. Is it true that you are a closet Billy Joel fan?
Elvis: What?! Where did you get that from?
Emily: Let's just say a little bird you know from California told me he was your guilty pleasure.
Elvis: No, this has been blown out of proportion. I've never been a big fan but there are some songs that provide a sort of guilty pleasure.
Emily: Would you turn the dial if "For the Longest Time" was on the radio?
Elvis: No
Emily: "Big Shot?"
Elvis: No
Emily: "We Didn't Start the Fire?"
Elvis: Next question, please.
Drummer Nicholas Kinsey and Bassist Brigham Brough
Emily: Sorry. Totally different topic. How many tires have you had to change on tour?
Elvis: (knocks on wood) Zero. We have never blown a tire but on one of our first tours we had a more dire situation. We mistakenly hadn't set our trailer hitch properly and it became unhitched from our van. It was barely held together by these chains. We heard this awful screeching and were able to safely pull over four lanes.
Emily: Eeek. That could have really been dangerous. I'm sure you have never made that mistake again.
Elvis: (knocks on wood again)
Emily: Here is a kind of odd question. During what period of history would you most liked to have lived?
Elvis: Maybe around the time of fire. That must have been the most thrilling, most shocking time to be alive. To witness the creation of the first obvious human survival advantage. Now the scales are tipped and we, as humans, have taken over the planet. But before that happened, to experience the power and the pride of being able to harness this frightening element had to have been overwhelming.
Emily: Finally, Elvis, do you have a favorite holiday song?
Elvis: I really like these two lines you sing in church around Easter. Not for their lyrics but for their musical content. The verse is a quick summation of Christ's like and it is the most beautiful little perfect sequence that ever was.
Emily: Well thanks so much Elvis. I promise never to bring up Billy Joel around you ever again.
Elvis: Thank you Emily. Enjoy the show.
Elvis and Co's touring is finished for this year but if you haven't picked up a copy of their debut album, Ash Wednesday, you really ought to.
Posted by Emily on 12/11/2007 12:45 PM in Interview
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