Our Interview With SoundsofRVA - September 11, 2012
We are all about River City Shreds Festival happening this weekend at The Camel, Kingdom, and McCormack's, featuring 26 awesome Richmond bands. This week we look at some new stuff from River City Shreds performers, as well as some Miles Davis/Jimi Hendrix mashups and acoustic punk folk.
First of all, we get to know Lightfields a little better. Lightfields will be playing at the main event: Kingdom on Saturday, September 15 @ 2:00 pm. Check out the other event details HERE. Check the facebook event invite HERE. Lightfields plays sick rock tunes that will melt your face, right up there with Pavement. Read on to get close and personal with Lightfields.
Lightfields has gone through a lot of changes in the last year. Can you describe where the band is now?
Coldon Martin (guitar, vocals): Lightfields is always changing and evolving in a very Spinal Tap sort of way. CJ [Rosati, guitar], Texas [Austin Marks, bass], Ganesh [Sarma, saxophone] and I have been playing together for about four years now, but during that time we've had four different drummers, about five different practice spaces, tried out a new lead singer, and even morphed into Guided by Voices tribute project for a while. About a month ago though, Mark [McDonald, drums] took his spot back at the throne and we immediately hit the ground running again. So far everything's going great, until Mark inevitably dies in a tragic gardening accident or something.
What is the most exciting part about being involved with the River City Shreds fest?
Mark: Just the fact that Bucky is putting it on is exciting. So rarely is something like this attempted AND done right. Richmond is teeming with great music, and it's awesome to also have folks who want to help and want to put in the work to make live events happen.
Ganesh: Definitely, the DIY aspect of it is really cool to us and we're very excited to play with some bands we may not have played with otherwise.
Do you have any plans to record?
Texas: Yes, we are gearing up to record a single in early October. Drew Gillihan, from Black Girls, recorded our last EP and we're planning on havng him behind the boards again. We're really proud of the song and we can't wait to get it out there for everyone to hear.
What was the coolest thing you did this summer?
Coldon: I think the coolest thing we did this summer was head up to DC to see our collective favorite band, The Brian Jonestown Massacre. They've been a huge influence on how we approach music, so it was really fun to make a pilgrimage together.
What are you doing this weekend (9/7-9/9)?
CJ: This weekend has been all about the music. On Friday we hit up First Friday and Gallery 5 to check out Houdan the Mystic, Way Shape or Form, and Brother Wolf, and then we went over to the Camel to see Black Girls. On Saturday we played a couple of songs for River City Limits on WRIR. We love community radio and WRIR, so this was a really fun moment for us. Thanks to everyone that tuned in!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Lightfields: If this whole "band" thing doesn't work out we are all planning on registering at Starfleet Academy.
Describe the most fun show you've ever played or gone to.
Lightfields: I would have to say it was probably our first show ever back in 2009. It was our first exposure to the RVA house show scene, and it blew our minds to see how open-minded and receptive audiences can be in this city, especially when we were just starting out. I don't think we would still be together if we didn't immediately feel that sense of camaraderie and community right off the bat.
Mark: Yeah, I love playing and going to house shows. When someone asks me when we're playing next, my response is always "At your next house party." It hasn't worked yet.
What have you been listening to lately?
Texas: Coldon and I have been listening to the new Strike Anywhere acoustic album a lot recently. That and all the 90's stuff we're all obsessed with: Pavement, Guided by Voices, Blur, BJM, etc.
Ganesh: I've been listening to a lot of My Bloody Valentine the summer.
Mark: Nothing that's going to win me any scene points: My Morning Jacket, Sonic Youth, Wilco, The Band. On the home front, the new White Laces record is killer.
What was the first concert or show you ever went to?
Coldon: The first-annual Y101 Birthday Bash down in Shockoe Bottom. Cake was the headliner. My little sixth-grade mind was blown.
What do you either like or dislike about the Richmond music scene?
Mark: There's a lot to like about Richmond's music scene right now. There are more venues now then there have ever been. Likewise, there are a TON of great bands putting out some really inspired stuff. The best part is that it's all over the map. We've always had a strong underground scene in this town, and I feel like that's opening up to a wider array of genres. Exciting stuff.
Ganesh: Yeah, if there is one thing we don't like, it's that more people from out of town need to see how incredible the scene is getting these days.
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