The last time we wrote about The Middle East back at the beginning of 2010 we envisaged great things for them. Just as we were getting excited by the prospect of the release of the Australian‘s full-length debut ‘I Want That You Are Always Happy‘ we found out they had decided to call it quits.
Here is the video for first single ‘Jesus Came To My Birthday Party‘ which showcased how much potential the band had. Hopefully the memebers will return in some form or another in the future.
‘I Want That You Are Always Happy‘ is out now on Missing Piece Records
We caught Steel Train performing live in Ventura, CA as part of their recent North American tour with Jack’s Mannequin. After the show we caught up with bassist Evan Winkler to discuss Baseball, historic venues and a lot of Girls… the band.
Cougar Microbes: What time did you wake up today? Was it out of choice or necessity?
Steel Train: 10 AM. Choice. I had a basketball game at 10:30.
CM: Describe Steel Train to the uninitiated? What have you been up to recently?
ST: I’d say we’re a rock band from New Jersey… but now we all live everywhere (Charlotte, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey). We spent the past year touring heavily on the self titled record we put out last summer. It’s been a good 2010/2011 but I gotta say I’m happy to be home… for a lil bit.
CM:How have you been killing time on the road, hobbies?
ST: I recently took up the hobby of going to minor league ball parks. On the last tour I went to eight games (with a few MLB games sprinkled in).
CM:What have been your favourite venues to play? Any venues you hated?
ST: That’s a tough question-I love places with history like Radio City but I also love places that bring me back to the legion hall days (places like DC9 in DC or The Middle East in Boston).
CM: Is there a song you are simply sick of playing?
ST: Not really, we do a good job of switching up the setlist a lot.
CM: What is the songwriting process like for Steel Train. Are you able to write on the road or do you do this in your off time?
ST: Jack does most of the songwriting, I’d say he spends a fair amount of time writing on the road, but he does the bulk of it at home.
CM: Favourite Steel Train track and why?
ST: To listen to or play? Possibly ‘SOG‘ or ‘Turnpike Ghost‘. ‘SOG‘ has a lot of layers and I’m always hearing something new, and ‘Turnpike Ghost‘ because I can feel the intensity in the vocals, music and the lyrics.
CM: If you could record any cover what would it be?
ST: Girls ‘Hellhole Ratrace‘
CM: Do your songs go through many revisions via demo recordings?
ST: Yeah. Jack usually records a demo at his place, we listen to it, maybe tinker with it a little bit, then hit the studio and record it.
CM: What came first, the lyrics or the melody?
ST: Probably for Jack the melody.
CM: What are your views on auto tune?
ST: I’ve heard bands misuse it and I’ve heard bands use it properly, no one really wants to sound like T-Pain.
CM: Any other band/bands from your local scene we really should know about?
ST: I’m digging three bands right now. Yellow Ostrich, Girls and Ariel Pink.
CM: Most flattering thing you’ve read about yourselves?
ST: That we put on great live shows.
CM: What was the first record/tape/cd you ever bought?
ST: It was a birthday gift from my friend Malachi in the third grade. the ‘Coneheads Soundtrack‘, it had a Red Hot Chili Peppers song on it that got me into rock music.
CM: What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
ST: Girls ‘Lust For life‘.
CM: What was the last show you paid and queued up for?
ST: Lykki Li last week at the Greek.
CM: If you had to bring on artist back from the dead in exchange for sending a living artist down ,which artists would it be and why?
As I write, The Middle East are fresh off the back of a handful of January shows in native Australia opening for indie-folk heroes GrizzlyBear. A fellow Cougar scribe recounts an awkward performance from the Townsville outfit in support of OkkervilRiver last year in which the three-piece stumbled their way uncomfortably through a short set.
However, on the evidence of 2009 EP ‘The Middle East’, a reworking of 2007 album ‘The Recordings of The Middle East’, these Antipodeans are growing comfortable in the company of more acclaimed piers such as the aforementioned GrizzlyBear, Iron & Wine and Fleet Foxes. Complimenting the spacious song-writing this release is crafted with tasteful, minimalist production. The glockenspiels and sparse pianos on standout track ‘Blood’ in particular refresh the palette and leave the listener thirsty for more.
Let’s hope The Middle East are growing more at ease in front of audiences as the stages seem set to only grow larger.
to feature an array of amazing releases and artists (past, present, old and new) with the goal of promoting them to anyone interested and anyone who stumbles across this site.
If you like any of the tracks, please go buy the albums and help finance the artists producing this great music.
If there are any issues with the tracks featured do not hesitate to contact: "team (AT) Cougar Microbes (DOT) com and we will happily oblige.
