Aerial view of Dallas, TX, Joe Knight’s hometown
One of the things I was really looking forward to at SXSW was sitting down for a chat with some of the artists I had been following for a long time but had only had the opportunity of corresponding with over the internet. Rangers‘ Joe Knight, who released a stunning record of “pop songs” on Olde English Spelling Bee earlier this year, was high on my list. Sadly, the interview I had planned to conduct out with him out there never came to be. It was such a hectic week for both of us that somehow we only managed to say a quick hello as he and the other members of the SXSW Rangers “band” — which had convened for the first time in Austin that week — were lugging their gear out of the backyard where the Micro-Pixel-Rites showcase was hosted. Fortunately, we were able to catch up on the information super highway when we both got home.
Last week was a big week for Rangers, marking not only your first appearance at SXSW, but also some of your first live appearances period. How would you describe the whole SXSW experience? Anything weird or unusual happen?
Dunno. It was a lot of fun. I guess it was random how it came about. I’m from Texas and have been to SXSW a bunch and I was tentativley planning to go just for fun and to catch up with some friends from back home. Then I started to get some offers to play shows, so I started to throw the idea around with my friend Peter and we were trying to think of the best way to swing it. We had some friends who were down to go and ready to practice; we practiced a bit and that was that. We had a great time.
I have to admit I was a little surprised when you told me that you would be performing with a full, 5-piece band, seeing as I know Rangers primarily as a solo recording project. What guided this choice, and who did you recruit for the occasion?
Well, when I mentioned the idea to Peter we started to think of how we would pull it off. I really like the one-man thing (Ducktails, Sun Araw), but I just doubt I would have the patience or technical know-how to put together some elaborate set with samples, loops, etc. The band option sounded easier, actually. I don’t really think the Suburban Tours stuff translates that well but the Low Cut Fades portions were really fun to play.
Having said that though, playing with a band is great! And these guys are so good and have such good attitudes. There are endless possiblities with a band. I would love to get away from the guy-in-a-kitchen recording sound and move towards a full-fledged live band sound with everybody contributing. We’ll see.
How did you feel about the result? I thought your songs translated really well live — still identifiably “Rangers,” but riding on an entirely different kind of energy. Pretty rock n’ roll, to be honest.
At the very least it was super fun. The guys have done a great job. As far as how the music translates live… well, that’s pretty shaky at best. We gave it a shot and put ourselves out there for better or for worse. We also had to borrow amps, thanks soooo much to Sleepover and Cloud Nothings. They were very kind, however we won’t do that again — not because it sounded bad, but just because shit… if you’re going to go play somewhere, have your own gear. We felt really awful about asking. We were flying by the seat of our pants, so I guess it worked out.
Joe Knight with the Rangers band at “Shake Some Action,” Weekly Tape Deck and Friendship Bracelet’s joint SXSW 2010 showcase
If VH1 made a “Behind the Music” documentary about you ten years from now, how would the story of Rangers begin?
“Area man makes tapes.” It would be a very brief, non-descript Onion article I think.
What kind of stuff were you listening to when you began the project? Would you count supermarket or elevator music as an influence?
Not really… anything that sounds like “elevator” or “grocery store” music is just me trying to rip off a Chic song and it coming out poorly. I honestly don’t think I was listening to that much of anything; I had just moved to San Francisco, and was living in the Haight, so I was listening to homeless people argue I guess. I remember listening to Funkadelic, PIL, Earth Wind and Fire, and Chic a fare amount, now that I think about it.
Most of your songs seem to built on loops — even the “pop” songs on Suburban Tours, where you sing. What draws you to the loop as a compositional building block?
That’s funny, I have a loop pedal but I rarely use it. Not any of the songs on ST used a “loop” pedal so to speak. All of the drums are played live along with the tracks. Its just repetitive at times but all of the repeats are me just playing the stuff live.
I find your music to be highly imagistic; I’m sure your song titles and lyrical content are partly responsible (not to mention the videos for “Deerfield Village” and “Out Past Curfew”), but I often find myself visualizing images of urban and suburban sprawl when I listen to it. Perhaps it has something to do with the geometry and repetition of your tunes, their slightly sinister monotony. Do you have any specific images in mind when you record?
Dunno. I had moved to San Franciso — which is a real, dense city — from Dallas — which is really just a suburb — so I was probably thinking about the built environment around me and how different it was now and how fucked up it was then.
The Rangers band at the Micro-Pixel-Rites 2010 SXSW Showcase
Timing-wise, the release of your debut L.P. on Olde English Spelling Bee seems to have coincided with the height of the hypnagogic/glow-fi/chill-wave hype parade. Not surprisingly, blogs have been lumping you in with this “movement,” even sometimes to the point of mistaking you for someone who “jumped on” after acts like James Ferraro and Ducktails. How do you feel about this?
Oh I totally jumped on after Ferraro and Ducktails, no doubt. I have been recording music since probably around 2003, but the stuff before them was way different. They were both big inspirations. Dunno what to think. Honestly, I think ST will be the death knell for the scene you mention; it will be what “raining men” did for disco, ya know? I think that would be pretty cool. I doubt it would ever come close to being that significant, but its something to shoot for I guess. Either way, I’m going to keep recording because I enjoy it; I enjoy the process much more than then end result most of the time. So I’m not worried what “scene” my music get’s lumped into. I have a lot of ideas, and I love the whole process of trying to put your ideas to tape or any other kind of medium. Some people draw, paint, write, or have some other creative release; I like to record. It’s pretty self-indulgent but everyone needs to indulge in something from time to time. I would love to get better gear, we’ll see….
Lastly, what do you think is the best way to listen to your music? Any ideal setting or scenario?
I have no idea really…I mean, it was all recorded on headphones so I imagine headphones would be the way to go. In a relaxed environment, when you want to get away from work or daily routine stuff I guess.
Words: Emilie Friedlander, Interview with Joe Knight
Photos: Emilie Friedlander (except for the aerial photo)
Tags: Joe Knight, Olde English Spelling Bee, Rangers, Suburban Tours
Cool little interview.