Mississippi-born The Weeks describe their music as “the sound of wind through the pines, bare feet brushing through leaves, snapping sticks like the spines of the weak” — a nod at their Jackson roots where the band came to be and a hint at their lack of allegiance to any genre or music classification.
The Weeks, Bailiff, Double Ewes
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The Frequency
9 PM; $11/$15
Formed in their early teenage years, The Weeks grew to be a local phenomenon before moving to Nashville to record music and tour at rapid speed. The band, having just released their newest album, Dear Bo Jackson, under Kings of Leon’s label Serpents and Snakes, is starting 2014 off with a big U.S. tour in conjunction with the London-formed Communion Tour, which was created to showcase new up and coming acts across European and American cities, and now a stop each month in Madison. The Weeks will take on The Frequency tomorrow night for Communion’s January stop in Madison, where they will no doubt perform one of the grungy, off the walls show that they are known for.
We had the chance to talk to the band about their history, musical style, and upcoming plans for 2014 and guitarist/vocalist Sam Williams took the time to answer our questions and let us get to know a little more about what The Weeks are all about.
How did you all get together and where did the name The Weeks come from?
“We knew each other from going to the same shows around Jackson, MS from the age of 12 and 13. So when all our favorite local bands either moved away or broke up, we just stepped right in within a week or so. There was only a few days between our first practice and our first show, so we needed a name quick and there was a street sign in Cain’s bedroom, where we rehearsed, that said Weeks Place. And that was that.”
How has your music changed or matured since you first started playing together as teenagers? Has your style and attitude changed?
“We haven’t necessarily quit playing the style of music we played back when we were kids, we just added a few extra styles in there. We still like to play aggressive, fast, pop music. At the core it will always be melody driven pop. Our attitude hasn’t really shifted in the sense that we play whatever we feel like. Whatever we’ve been listening to always comes out in our newest music. Even if the song is five years old, we might play our individual parts differently from night to night.”
Have any of you ever focused on a different style of music or think you might stray away from the southern/indie rock genre in the future?
“We’ve never really considered ourselves to be any kind of music, so not to box ourselves in: country, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, it’s all there. We just like putting all of it together in a crock pot and coming out with Weeks music.”
Who would you say are your biggest musical influences? How much of an impact do they have on the records you make today?
“Lately it’s Thin Lizzy, T. Rex, Springsteen, and a few other mainstays like Bob Dylan and The Band. They don’t influence the music as much as the attitude. They’re all bands that let the songs be the main focus. All of them have unbelievable players, but they’re always prepared to take a back seat to the song.”
In your opinion, how does your 2013 release, Dear Bo Jackson, stand apart from the rest of your records?
“The biggest difference is how much we prepared for it. We spent around eight months writing, doing pre-production, and recording it. We’d never spent more than one week on any of that. We knew more or less exactly what the record was going to sound like before we made it. There were a few late additions, but for the most part it was a very premeditated record and I love that. We’ll probably go another route on the next record just to take ourselves out of our comfort zone.”
What’s your favorite city or venue to play on tour?
“House of Blues in Chicago was pretty incredible. Chicago has embraced us longer than any other city. Empty Bottle has been our spot there lately. Great staff, awesome green room, good sound. Can’t beat it.”
If you could tour with any band or artist from the U.S. or around the world, who would it be?
“Probably Wilco. The first time we ever hung out as a band was at a Wilco show in Meridian, MS, 2006. Everything about that band to me is perfect. Top to bottom unbelievable musicianship.”
What are your biggest or most exciting plans for 2014?
“We try to attack every year the same. About six months on the road and a lot of writing. Probably making a new record over the summer.”