Weekend are a Brooklyn-via-West Coast noise pop outfit who released their sophomore LP, Jinx, earlier this year. The group has forged an interesting sound with familiar yet distant tools. Think The Cure’s dreamy bliss, The Birthday Party’s volatility, and My Bloody Valentine’s haziness all in one scrumptious blend.
Weekend played High Noon Saloon on Saturday, January 18 as a part of FRZN Fest. We were fortunate enough to have a few words (communicated through 1’s and 0’s) in advance of the show.
You guys have talked in interviews about maturing as a band. I think this is certainly evident in your latest LP, which sounds a bit poppier and paced at times. In what ways do you feel you’ve changed as a band from Sports to Jinx?
“We’ve focused a lot more on the nuances of the recording process and the performative experience. We’ve found out what elements make those listening experiences unique, and we’re pushing those elements to their extremes.”
The songs on Jinx are less abrasive than many tracks on Sports. Do you feel that the newer tracks are more fun to play live since they employ different moods?
“I think the songs on Jinx are much more dynamic structurally, so they take a bit more precision and care to play live — which makes the live show a bit more bipolar. The sweet is sweeter and the sour is absolutely revolting, and I think that makes for a better show.”
There’s been a pretty significant lyrical shift geared towards directness and clarity with the latest album. What spurred on the change?
“I was tired of hiding behind metaphor and fantasy and reverb and delay and I wanted to share personal, important stories. I guess I wanted to shed a little light on my cold little soul.”
You guys have toured all sorts of awesome… and perhaps not so awesome… places. What are two favorite and two least favorite places you’ve experienced?
“Any show we played when we were in Japan with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart was a favorite for us. They’re so accommodating and professional and respectful. I think the opposite of that would be a show we played in Santa Cruz, California where the promoter at the Catalyst tried to kick us offstage in the middle of our set because we were too loud. The headliners Sleepy Sun basically told him to shut the fuck up and he did. Even the sound guy wasn’t complaining. I just remember the angry little man staring up at me and pounding on the stage as I turned the volume up and blew his wig off.”
The music climate is incredibly saturated, considering anyone/any band can make a record in their bedroom and post it online immediately. Do you find it discouraging to be fish in a crowded sea or does it only encourage you guys to work harder?
“I always thought of us as sharks.”