A fan puked all over their merch at a gig in Bellingham. A babe flashed their video blogger in Spokane. There was onstage champagne and nakedness in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. And during an election night gig in DC, as Obama was announced the winner, the drummer ran out into the streets with his kit to help celebrate. Business as usual?
"What we have is a much more grassroots approach to sharing music with people" declares Eric Gilbert, one of three unpredictable, eccentric multi-instrumentalists which comprise cool, keen, quirky experimental rock ensemble named Finn Riggins, all whom proudly reside in the great state of….Idaho. The new record is Vs. Wilderness - a fine brew of prog, pop, garage, and art rock you won't soon forget. "It's more personal…more sustainable. The tools available to DIY artists are much more prominent, and certainly allow DIY bands like us to reach a larger audience."
Along with Cameron Bouiss (drums, steel drum, drum pad, washboard, vocals, and miscellaneous) and Lisa Simpson (guitar, keyboards, drums, vocals, and of course, miscellaneous) the mighty Finns spend an astounding average of 245 days per year on the road! They've had lots of practice though, as the nearly inseparable threesome had lived under the same roof for nearly a decade. Simpson and Gilbert are husband and wife, and Bouiss, says Gilbert "is practically a brother to both of us. We're family." Recently the married couple found a place in Boise whilst Bouiss remains in a town called Hailey, which is two hours away. So now, they actually cherish all that time in the van going from gig to gig to gig to gig.
Unlike the majority of indie rockers, Finn Riggins are all college music department graduates (you guessed it, University of Idaho). "We're all thankful for what we learned in music school and we definitely put our knowledge to use in communicating with each other and writing - it was a foundation for us all to work from" notes Gilbert. "For Cam and I, it functioned as a boot camp and really helped us grow as musicians, and taught us how to play under pressure. We played our instruments 'a ton' and did things that were challenging beyond our abilities. It also taught us to forget about any expectations and to just make music to the best of our ability. In the end…we try to forget what we know! I've always admired my other musician friends who know nothing about theory and yet make great music by ear."
The tracks which comprise
Vs. Wilderness were written specifically for live performances. And not surprisingly, the songs, melodies, and arrangements were all road tested before the band entered AudioLab studios in Boise. "I think that's the best thing that a touring band can do" says Gilbert regarding the band's rather unorthodox way of making records. "Your skin gets thick enough, and courage becomes easier to come by."
Co-producer Jared Mees provided Finn Riggins the objectivity they needed to make their fourth long-player come to fruition. Taking the band to task in the short time they had to record and mix, the record boasts tight ensemble playing that exudes the zeal of an actual Finn Riggins gig. "He does a great job in bringing out the best in us" emphasizes Gilbert. "And he always has great ideas for additional vocal parts and other subtleties that can really help bring a tune to life. He's good at keeping it fun too, which is always important when we're making music." All three Finns were involved in the writing process. Some compositions were borne out of jams, other times a member would bring in a simple motif that blossomed into a song, sometimes it was just a simple beat that had an immediate appeal, hence a new track. "Cam especially likes to push our boundaries. Lisa and I tend to write most of the lyrics, but beyond that, it's a very balanced approach."
Rendering virtually unknown songs to unsuspecting audiences can often be a recipe for disaster for any band. However Finn seems to thrive on the high-wire. "I have to admit," confesses Gilbert, "we've been surprised in that most anywhere, if you find the right niche, there are cool people open to new and different music…everywhere!" Is it the hipsters on the coasts? College kids? Heartland bohemians? "We have an affinity to playing in small towns. Maybe it's because we come from small towns. We love it and we seem to find that the loves seems to pretty often be reciprocated." What comes around goes around…
Finn Riggins latest album
Vs. Wilderness will be out on Tender Loving Empire on October 13, 2009.
--Tom Semioli
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FINN RIGGINS Myspace
TENDER LOVING EMPIRE Myspace
