10 Things I Hate: Widowspeak
What unifies us?
And by ‘us’, I mean musicians. What unifies the classical cellists, the metalheads, the rappers and MC’s, the electro DJ’s and the indie sleaze artists? The drudgery of touring. Touring sounds cool and fun, but that’s only because of rich fuckers like Motley Crue blowing their millions on cocaine and tour busses. The reality of touring for most bands - unless you’re playing stadiums - is five people subsisting on carrot sticks and Miller High Life’s filling a 2007 Toyota Sienna with gas station hot dog farts and not sleeping for a month straight. It is nightmarish. And yet, it is the traumatizing experience that bonds bands like Widowspeak, the Brooklyn-based indie band whose new album, Roses, is releasing now via Captured Tracks, so we asked them to tell us their very least favorite things about that which unites the world.
‘To be clear, we love touring. But even so, there are a few things we’re not looking forward to…’
Cars! Where are the high-speed trains?
One million bottled waters, even if you don’t ask for them.
Fluorescent lighting in hotel liminal spaces.
Showing up for load in on-time, only to find no one else is there.
TV’s in the hotel gym.
Venue merch-cuts.
Everybody knows there’s gonna be an encore.
Wondering why we aren’t playing in a city as we drive past it.
Being in the same town as a friend’s band, but missing each other’s shows.
It’s either gas station coffee or Starbucks. A lose-lose.
