After the show, Street was able to catch up with lead singer Jemina Abegg and lead guitarist Jonas Stein to talk about the upcoming album, touring and their abrasive style of crowd control.
Street: How does it feel to be back in Philadelphia? Jemina Abegg: We always have awesome shows in Philly so it's great to be back. Jonas Stein: The last time we were here was at the First Unitarian Church opening up for Sonic Youth. It was great to open up for such legends, but now we're back to booking our own shows here and there.
Street: How has this small tour been going so far? JA: Really good. This is the last show on our little short East Coast tour. We're going home for two days then heading to the West Coast to open up for The Raveonettes. JS: Then we're going abroad to Europe. Then we're heading back to the U.S. to tour for two months.
Street: You have a new album coming out on March 18th. What should fans and first-time listeners expect? JA: It sounds like the old album, but just a little bit more grown up.
Street: Do you think the change in sound is going to turn off fans who are used to a more chaotic, unpolished sound? JA: No, I don't. It's the same, but we just probably just have our shit more together now. We get away with being sloppy all the time. It's kind of our schtick, I guess. JS: But it's not a bad schtick to have.
Street: Speaking about crudeness, you tried to crowd surf at one point during the show and when someone dropped you, you yelled out that they were a bunch of pussies. JA: Haha, it was a joke. You got to give people a hard time. Sometimes you have a really bad audience and I'll tell them "You're the worst fucking crowd in the world!" and that's when they get crazy. I'm a big brat and a tease, so I like to fuck with people.
Street: Why are you still playing house shows, even after signing with two big labels (XL Records/Ecstatic Peace)? JA: We still love doing them. They're just more fun and more intimate, being right up there with the people.
So the radical transition from playing in basements to being signed and jet-setting across the globe hasn't been difficult? JA: It's definitely strange. For two years we were constantly traveling, and now when we get time off it's so weird. We're getting more used to this fast-paced lifestyle and constant excitement. JS: But it is hard work. JA: Oh yeah, it definitely is. But it doesn't go unappreciated. We feel very lucky to be doing it. We'd much rather be working really hard and playing shows in places like Philadelphia than working at like. Starbucks as a barista or some shit. JS: Sometimes we have shitty shows, but good nights like tonight make it worth it.
