RIDING 'THE LIGHTING' WITH GRAND BUFFET

Riding 'the lightning' with Grand Buffet

Daily Collegian | April 16, 2008

This Thursday, to use Grand Buffet's own words, the city of Northampton will ideally resemble "Tel Aviv, but with more iced cinnamon bun franchises."

Whatever the band thinks of the city upon their arrival, the atmosphere within the Iron Horse Music Hall will be entirely under their collective control, echoing the raw energy and humor of the exuberant showmen.

To claim that Grand Buffet have a flair for the dramatic would be a gross understatement. The lively Pittsburgh hip-hop duo possesses enough enthusiasm and stage monikers to span an orchestra worth of musicians. Lord Grunge (also known as Jarrod Weeks and at times Viceroy) and Jackson O'Connell-Barlow (also known as Grape-A-Don and Plaps) combine their talents to create an impressive array of beats, energy and outlandish lyrics. With a musical career now spanning a decade, the duo have found themselves of late touring with critically-acclaimed bands such as the similarly theatrical Of Montreal, inspiring listeners along their travels with their two-pronged free-flowing attack. Now, in the midst of a headlining tour, the spotlight is directly placed on the duo.

"We don't have any instruments to hide behind or channel through," O'Connell-Barlow told the Daily Collegian via an online interview earlier in the week of their live performances. "We got to pour ourselves out into that empty space."

"It's a rush," added Weeks. "It's like being in a cage fight naked."

While on tour, the band has been unveiling songs from their newest album "King Vision," a release the band admits is a sure sign of their musical progression. When asked about this shift, Weeks said, "I think the evolution of our sound is essential. I've got enough reasons to want to kill myself. Making a record that sounded just like one we made eight years ago isn't a reason I want to add to that list."

Described by O'Connell-Barlow as a concept album with a more prog-pop sound, the album features rhymes that delve into more prominent social and political issues than some of the duo's past works.

"[The album] is over the top in its sincerity and sound in defiance of all the safe, 'subversive' hipster-magazine soundtrack bands out there snorting coke at art gallery parties whilst America is dying," said O'Connell-Barlow. "We put our balls on the chopping block with this 'heart on our sleeve' type of record. The sound of this album tends to soar more than sneak, so it runs the risk of getting shot down."

Still present throughout the length of the disc, however, is the band's unmistakable lyrical flow and ability to craft rhymes that are as identifiable with as they are, at times, outrageous. When asked about the inspiration behind their music and the creative process that fuels it, O'Connell-Barlow stated plainly, "I like using words that feel good in my mouth," while Weeks attributed, "dog sh*t-cheap wine," to being his muse in crafting the band's backing beats.

"I sit and listen to the beat for hours waiting for the wisdom of the collective unconscious/gods to add substance to whatever rhythmic pattern I've worked out," said O'Connell-Barlow, further elaborating on the creative process. With lyrics that revolve around such topics as brown bears with masonry skills on "Bears and Bricks" and meteorites crashing into fish tanks on the newly released "Cheesecake Money," O'Connell-Barlow's subconscious is truly something to behold.

On one of the band's most popular and established songs, "Benjamin Franklin Music," the duo urge their listeners to "feel the lightning inside," a sentiment that has not been lost over the past decade of creating music. "The power and resolve of the self-loving, self-respecting, self-aware individual is the closest thing to magic I've yet to witness," said Weeks.

With their performance Thursday, both members hope the audience can, as they put it, "shake off the frozen bumblebees and generate the lightning," and transform the Iron Horse into a venue of limitless possibilities.

Grand Buffet plays Thursday, April 17 with opening acts B. Dolan and Party Wolf at The Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton. Doors open for the event at 10 p.m. and tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Q & A WITH GRAND BUFFET

I was lucky enough to get in touch with Lord Grunge and Jackson of Grand Buffet before their upcoming performance this Thursday at the Iron Horse. Here is the hilarity that ensued:


Q- Most bands have an entourage of instruments at their disposal, what is it like being on stage with nothing but backing beats and a pair of microphones?

Lord Grunge: It's a rush. It's like fucking without a rubber, or being in a cage fight naked.

Jackson: I don't like a cluttered stage. We don't have any instruments to hide behind or channel through, we gotta pour ourselves out into that empty space, as long as the sound man doesn't castrate us with quiet volume, it is a fine set-up for our music indeed.

Q - I noticed a bit of a shift in style in your sound as of late, so could you talk a bit about how your latest album "King Vision" is a departure from your previous releases? What kind of influences (musically, socially, politically, etc.) played a role in its creation and the evolution of your sound?

LG: Well, we've been a band for so god damned long that we've both grown and self-educated ourselves significantly. I don't want to come off sounding smug, but when we cut our first record we were basically just kids. we're now full-on grown up assholes, and we've seen an awful lot of intense, funky shit on the road. musically, we've both always been huge fans of music and are perpetually devouring all the music we can get our damp little hands on, so i think evolution of our sound is essential. I've got enough reasons to want to kill myself. making a record that sounded just like one we made 8 years ago isn't a reason i want to add to that list. as for the politics, well, it wasn't nearly as clear to me when i was 20 that we are indeed living under a fascist, iron heel in this country, and have been for quite some time. i think that comes down to just not reading enough. it only takes a few books on economics and the history of government for a thinking person to realize that about the only system of government that doesn't lead to a command society is one of a staunchly libertarian ilk.

Jackson: KING VISION is our prog-pop concept album, over the top in it's sincerity and sound in defiance of all the safe "subversive" hipster magazine soundtrack bands out there snorting coke at art gallery parties whilst America is dying. We put our balls on the chopping block with this "heart on our sleeve" type of record, in the spirit of easy target bands such as Rush/U2/Springsteen.. artists that we admire greatly. The sound of this album tends to soar more than sneak, so it runs the risk of getting shot down. As far as politics, it's very difficult to avoid thinking in political terms currently. Politics are avoidable if you've the income to buffer the rate at which you are effected by their repercussions, I suppose.

Q- What is the typical song writing process for you both? Lyrically you manage to create an undeniably free-flowing sound while using some rather abstract/unconventional rhymes, what comes into play when you are penning a new track?

LG: It used to be that I made the beats, and the other guy rapped. Over the years it's gotten much more fragmented. We write and record separately, then meet up and play ideas and shit with each other. I don't personally have a strict method for writing, but a couple bottles of dogshit-cheap red wine comes to mind as a real humdinger.

Jackson: Most of my writing stems from what the sonic template informs it with, what type of mood the sound elicits. I sit and listen to the beat for hours waiting for the wisdom of the collective unconscious/gods to add substance to whatever rhythmic pattern I've worked out. I like using words that feel good in my mouth .

Q- How was it touring with Of Montreal last year? I sadly missed the show, but heard wonderful reviews from friends across the country who got to attend. Do you like touring with bands like that who posses a similar flair for the dramatic?

LG: Of Montreal is inspirational, both as a band and as individuals. Their work ethic is amazing, their music is amazing, their stage show is awesome, and they're some of the god damned coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Any band that can put up with my manic-depressive, hard-drinking, broken-hearted antics is some true good people. And yes I do think that the two groups share a passion for the performance element, which is why I think it worked well as a tour package.

Jackson: Of Montreal & MGMT are absolutely fantastic people and musicians, it was a wonderful tour. I'm happy to tour with any band that takes the stage to represent themselves with their own unique aesthetic.

Q- I have to know since it's certainly my favorite album title of the past few years, but how did you land on "The Haunted Fucking Gazebo" and what significance does it's name and artwork hold?

LG: That's all Jackson. He brought it to the table and it blew my mind. My only stipulation was that somewhere in the artwork he include a basketball.

Jackson: My higher self put that ace in the deck, it's just a title that a Grand Buffet record should have.. the album artwork is simply '' the Haunted Fucking Gazebo."

Q- Any thoughts on Northampton or the surrounding area if you've been out this way before? Any expectations if you haven't?

LG: I'm actually a big fan of Northampton. and no, I'm not saying that to be diplomatic. It's surprising, too, because normally I don't dig college towns, and I sure as shit don't dig the state of MA. I'm expecting a fun, fun time. because it always is, even when it's been an intimate event.

Jackson: I've had good Thai food in Northampton in the past. Last time we played there I bought a Brian Eno pin at a local record shop... but some asshole stole it during the Of Montreal tour. I get a little uncomfortable being around colleges.. so I hope those won't be around this time. I'm hoping that this time around, Northampton will resemble Tel Aviv, but with more iced cinnamon bun franchises.

Q- With a decade of creating music under your belt, and this latest album just released, what's next for Grand Buffet?

LG: That's a tough call. I know we're both working on solo records and some other side projects. personally, I'm trying to lose 50 pounds and then start getting paid for selling the dick on camera, if you know what I mean. The day job's been looming all this time, and I'm thinking porn might be the one for me. No, i don't have a giant cock, but my sincere, eager respect for the female form compensates. or maybe drive a big rig. Or, if we keep finding awesome, more famous bands to take us on tour as support, we'll do that until we're 40.

Jackson: The fires of Hell, the feathers of Heaven, a leather Arby's jacket and a sword named "Kevin."

Q- Now that you are a bit older, wiser... does everyone still really "got the lightening inside?"

LG: Absolutely, sir. The power and resolve of the self-loving, self-respecting, self-aware individual is the closest thing to magic I've yet to witness.

Jackson: If they choose to shake off the frozen bumblebees and generate the lightening, yes indeed.

Q- Any other thoughts you'd care to add?

LG: I think you nailed it all smashingly!

Jackson: People that use that antibacterial hand gel all the time, are fucking idiots.


Grand Buffet plays this Thursday, April 17 @ The Iron Horse in Northampton. Tickets are $10 at the door, show starts at 10 p.m.


* Grand Buffet's Official Site
* Grand Buffet on Myspace