Philly band Human Television is often described as jangly. Jangly nostalgic slack rock. Simple yet intelligent melodies and rhythms that, no matter how jaded you are, will make you tap your foot and smile. Recently Gothamist heard the bands live set on KEXP and we instantly found ourselves removed from the fluorescent white noise in our office, briefly put in a better mood. Tonight they play (with some other bands we love) at Pianos, details after the interview.
Human Television are Boyd Shropshire, Billy Downing, Mario Lopez and Richard Davis. This week guitarist Boyd took some time to answer our questions...
Let's get this out of the way, where did your band name originate?
Billy found this article about people that have the ability to pick up light rays and sound and they call themselves Human Televisions. We thought it sounded cool.
What is your favorite/least favorite memory involving New York?
We played at this halloween party. The good part was that I walked around all night with a fake beard and sunglasses on. I think I was trying to be Will Oldham, but we played real late and no one was there. Then at like 3 am we had to drive back to Philly. It was pretty rough.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about playing shows in New York?
Hopefully tonight's show will be amazing. My favorite thing is just being able to hear everything correctly, and then we can really relax on stage. Sound guys in new york aren't very used to our sound, and its hard to find a decent one.
How does the Philly music scene differ from New York's?
Philly's music scene is okay. The Khyber gets some decent bands. We haven't really played there, even though we live there, so its hard to compare the two.
Now it's time for some fill-in-the-blank action:
You know you've made it when...
I can afford an amazing sounding telecaster
It'll be time to pack up the gear for good when...
when it stops being fun to play guitar in the basement.
I'll never forget the first time I...
Played on the west coast! it was 67 degrees and sunny there and everyone is nice! Oh yeah and the Hollywood Downtowner is a really nice hotel.
I'll never forget the first time [insert another band members name here]...
Mario cut his hair
And finally, let's have some fun with word association. Give me your immediate feelings on the following (if you've got no discernable feelings, make something up that wont embarrass you in the morning):
Yankees
New York Baseball Team One
Mets
New York Baseball Team Two
Britney
Spears?
Bridge & Tunnel
Highway & Byway
The Darkness
The Shmarkness
Times Square
I've been there
Bloomberg/Smoking Ban/Noise Laws
I'm glad people don't smoke cigarettes in airplanes anymore. I don't like noise laws and who is Bloomberg?
Questions inspired by movies...
If you will, a brief justification of the ontological necessity of modern man's existential dilemma (in less than 10 words). (Reality Bites)
Life's a B, Then you D
What came first, the music or the misery? ( High Fidelity )
probably the misery but its definitely difficult to say
A few quickies on the music tip:
Who would be in your ultimate music supergroup, your all-star Olympic team of rock?
Something impossible like the Early Rolling Stones covering the Clean song "anything could happen"
If you released a 7" what would you put on the cover?
Someone's face really big in black and white.
What was the first/last album you bought on the day it was released?
I never have done that but if something good comes out I might.
And finally...If Josh Schwartz, creator of the OC, asked your band to perform on his tv show (as Modest Mouse, the Killers and the Walkmen recently have) would you?
Yeah I don't see why we wouldn't. Thats in California isn't it?
Human Television play Pianos tonight, January 27th, with the Harlem Shakes, Other Passangers and Shade. Music starts at 8:30. Listen to Human Television here.
