The Feelies Interview for Wicked Spins Radio
The Feelies Interview for Wicked Spins Radio
Interviewed by Phliss
WSR – Your early days were quite on and off but at what point do you feel the band gained its momentum and got the strength we see now?
Glenn – I don’t really think in terms of ‘on & off’ since I’ve always been involved with music in some capacity. I think it’s more like ‘part-time or full-time’. We had a period where we worked full-time with the Feelies in the 80’s, but it’s back to being a part time thing. We’ve found that we function best when we balance our work with the band with other pursuits and interests.
WSR – What do you think it was about The Feelies that still had life and gave you the strength to reform again?
Glenn – We had created a bond from our shared experiences and we all saw the value in reconnecting. We also felt a strong bond with our fans. I also think that our sound is unique and that is has an appeal that enables us to gain new fans as well, so it’s not just a nostalgia thing. The idea of writing new songs and recording again was a big motivation for us to reunite.
WSR – REM has quoted you as an influence, what was it like sharing the stage with a band you helped to influence?
Glenn – That tour was a lot of fun for us. We all liked their music and got along well with them. It was an important time for each band at that point and it was a good double bill for the fans as well.
WSR – Crazy Rhythms is a masterpiece and is often quoted as being one of the greatest albums of all time, but things started to go wrong after its release. What were these events?
Glenn – To put it in simple terms, Bill and I felt the urge to focus on recording rather than performing and Anton wanted to play more often. Also, Stiff records weren’t too happy with the band.
WSR – There becomes a point in a band’s life when getting famous means the band turns into a type of business and not just mates making music that they enjoy. What do you feel happens to the band’s soul when the transition to a business is made?
Glenn – It’s always been a delicate balance between art and commerce and some people are better at maintaining that balance. For us, the act of self-expression is always the focus. And, if we can please ourselves, the fans, and the record company, then we consider that the ideal situation. But, ultimately, we want to satisfy ourselves first so we can remain creative.
WSR – As technology improves so does the way that you make and record music, is there any of the older Feelies songs that you would like to re-record with today’s technology?
Glenn – For me, each record represents a specific time and place, and the sound of the recording reflects that. Any changes would alter the context where the songs exist. I’m not against the idea of alternate versions, and revisiting arrangements, but the recordings are what they are, and I accept that. We recently re-recorded two songs to go with the bonus tracks for two re-issues we’re planning for the spring, but the technology didn’t play any significant role in the recording.
WSR – Sometimes you do something live or playing a track and it integrates into your style and becomes somewhat of a tradition, do The Feelies have any of these traditions?
Glenn – Our live version of Slipping Into Something, for example, has evolved over time to incorporate a lengthy, improvised ending that varies a lot from the record and has become an important element in the flow of the set. Also, we always play Raised Eyebrows and Crazy Rhythms in sequence and it would now seem weird to separate them. Another more recent tradition is that we play two sets with an extended encore segment. This enables us to present the songs in a manner that makes a maximum impact in regard to the pace and flow of the performance. We include songs with acoustic guitar at the start, then the set builds in dynamics and ends with a generous amount of cover songs.
WSR – Weren’t Universal at one point claiming ownership or something of Time For A Witness and what eventually came of that?
The Feelies
Glenn – A&M records, who put out both Only Life and Time For A Witness, were taken over by Universal at some point. It took a long time to establish some sort of contact with someone at the company and we, through our current label Bar None, were able to work out an arrangement to reissue both records. They should be coming out this spring, with some bonus material.
WSR – Will you ever give life to The Obedient Atom again or even consider doing a full instrumental album? .
Glenn – I recently released a solo record on Bar None that’s all instrumental called “Incidental Hum”. As far as the Obedient Atom, I don’t foresee that being recorded. We’d rather work on new stuff.
WSR – When The Feelies first formed you wanted to distance yourself from punk, how did you do it and why did you feel the need to distance yourself from the punk genre?
Glenn – For a lot of people, punk started in the late 70’s in NYC, but for us, we thought of bands like the Stooges and MC5, even the Velvet Underground, as being the original punk bands. We felt like we needed a balance between the scene in New York City and our suburban NJ roots. The element of nature in our surroundings made it’s way into our musical approach as well. We would listen to the neighborhood sounds of insects, birds, trickling brooks and the wind in the trees and we’d discover a symphony of suburban sounds.
WSR – So just how much did Sonic Youth have to do with getting The Feelies back together?
Glenn – They happened to ask at a time that was right for everybody. We hadn’t met them before then, but we appreciated the fact that they considered asking us. I think there were a lot of factors that led to the reunion, and that show just felt right. We tend to operate by instinct, and our instinct told us to say yes.
WSR – When you play live sometimes you do long set of up to nearly 3 hours, what keeps you playing that length of time?
Glenn – We like the feeling of playing until the time feels right – when we’ve had enough and the audience is satisfied. We’ve done a few shorter, single set shows in recent years, and it always feels like a partial show. We find it helps us reach our peak when we take our time with a longer build up.
WSR – Is there a wound in the history of The Feelies that can never really heal?
Glenn – No, not at all. We feel blessed, never wounded.
WSR – Thank you so much for giving Wicked Spins Radio this interview, is there anything you would like to add?
Glenn – Aside from the two reissues, we’re planning on releasing another new record later this year. We’re working on it now and it’s coming along very well. Thanks!
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