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| SPINDRIFT A talented group of musicians based in LA who produce post-galactic western shoegaze music. Drummer Jason Anchondo and singer Kirpatrick Thomas speak to SOMASOMASCENE about their latest project |
Meeting The Warlocks almost two years ago made a lasting impression on me. Their spectacular stage performance, their hypnotic
sounds, their wicked sense of humour, their enthusiasm for fanzines, their depth as genuine people and musicians...On hearing about
drummer Jason Anchondo's latest project Spindrift, it was time for a much needed catch-up and enlightenment on this intriguing new
band who are concerned about films and global warming as well as their music. It is this honesty, visionary thinking and musical
acumen which makes Spindrift the most relevant band in the world today. They are aware of their community, environment and their
actions respect the individual as well as society. A great example for other bands to learn from. Sit up and take notice.
sounds, their wicked sense of humour, their enthusiasm for fanzines, their depth as genuine people and musicians...On hearing about
drummer Jason Anchondo's latest project Spindrift, it was time for a much needed catch-up and enlightenment on this intriguing new
band who are concerned about films and global warming as well as their music. It is this honesty, visionary thinking and musical
acumen which makes Spindrift the most relevant band in the world today. They are aware of their community, environment and their
actions respect the individual as well as society. A great example for other bands to learn from. Sit up and take notice.
What does the name 'Spindrift' mean?
JA: Well it's a kind of wave, but I believe our singer, Kirpatrick Thomas named the band after a book.
When did Spindrift form? How do you know the other members?
JA: Kirpatrick had the band for sometime back east, he moved out to LA and was our merch guy for The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Frankie Emerson
(BJM) and I were asked to do a west coast version of the band and so here it is.
You are about to go on tour in California. Do you have plans to tour the rest of US and come over to London/Europe?
JA: We're about to go out with The Black Angels & Vietnam for a west coast tour, as for the UK or overseas - I don't know. We do everything ourselves
so it takes a lot of time and money that we don't have...So we're just trying to get the word out.
You describe Spindrift's sound as 'a psychedelic shootout in a Western town on a distant planet.' I can't think of a better explanation for
it! Name one film and one band that influence your music.
JA: There really isn't one. It's more about the music that was in those movies. All those movies that were coming out of Italy back in the 60's are a
huge part of our sound, but we all bring our own to the table.
Again, you are in a band with many members! How does the Spindrift song-writing process work? Does someone write the song and the others
improvise their parts?
JA: Well I never really know who's going to play a show. It's mainly KP, Dave Koenig, Henry Evens, Julie Patterson and myself. Sometimes our friends
Marcos, Dan Allaire (BJM) and Frankie Emerson (BJM) join in if they're not on tour or working.
Tell me more about the concept behind 'The Legend of God's Gun'. It is an amazing idea - has the film been premiered yet? Are you planning to
bring it to London?
KT: I came up with a soundtrack album to a Western after becoming inspired by my move to the west coast. Spindrift fleshed out the soundtrack and
eventually a story to the music was developed. After meeting director Mike Bruce, the script and film became more concrete. Our mutual love for
Western soundtracks and film is what inspired this movement. What came out was a Spaghetti Western style, Rock and Roll Psychedelic version of
Dante's Inferno. We are looking to premiere it in Hollywood in August, it will be distributed through DVD and we will try to do as many screenings and
festivals as possible. We did this movie from the ground up - without Hollywood's help - guerrilla style, so everything about it is a new experience to us.
Tell me about the CLEAN AIR CLEAR STARS festival. Spindrift are playing but are you also helping to organise it?
JA: CLEAN AIR CLEAR STARS is me and my friend Tommy Dietrich. We were sick of all the bullshit going on in the world today. Not a lot of people
believe that global warming is real. So we wanted to tell people what's going on. All the bands and people doing this are doing this for free. All the
money that's made from this event, we will be giving to www.stopgloblewarming.org to help the earth. Hopefully we can raise enough and make it
bigger next year.
What makes you want to be a musician?
JA: It's just in me....
Which current US bands do you like?
JA: Dead Meadow, Comets on Fire and Gris Gris. I'm also listening to The Moon Upstairs, Crooked Cowboy & Freshwater
Indian plus 2 bands on Teepee Records: Entrence and Assemblehead In Sunburst Sound.
Name 3 achievements you wish to accomplish by the end of 2007.
JA: Hopefully get Spindrift out there, get Clean Air off the ground and have a good time while doing it.
Which do you prefer - the desert or the city?
JA: I love them both. I was born in Los Angeles and lived here my whole life with the desert just down the road, so to speak. So I spent a lot of time out
there. It's nice to get away when you want to.
Today Bobby Hecksher announced a new deal for The Warlocks with Teepee records - will The Warlocks continue with the same line-up?
JA: Well for the most part. Y'all just have to wait and see!
A lot of your personal influences are British bands - Teenage Fan Club, Denim etc. Are there any current British bands you like?
JA: I haven't been turned on to anything new yet!
A lot of upcoming bands in the UK feel that the London scene is really stagnant and still look to bands like BJM, Warlocks and Raveonettes for
inspiration. Are you aware that the scene you guys created is so legendary in influence? Being in the scene from the very start, did it feel like you
were all doing something very special? When did you realise the impact you were making?
JA: I think we were just doing what we like. A lot of bands these days want to be rock stars and get lots cash and girls and I think that takes away from
the music. There's a lot of bands out there doing what we're doing and a lot for longer. It's just people doing it for themselves.
So you also play the guitar - do you write songs and would you swap the drums for guitar onstage?
JA: No...just drink a lot!
What is your favourite percussion instrument besides the drums?
JA: The shakers!
Interview by Dee Sekar. Many thanks to Jason Anchondo and Kirpatrick Thomas. Spindrift's west coast tour commences shortly.
For more information:
On the band: www.myspace.com/thewest
The CLEAN AIR CLEAN STARS festival: www.myspace.com/cleanairclearstars
and The Legend of God's Gun film: www.myspace.com/razortreefilms
JA: Well it's a kind of wave, but I believe our singer, Kirpatrick Thomas named the band after a book.
When did Spindrift form? How do you know the other members?
JA: Kirpatrick had the band for sometime back east, he moved out to LA and was our merch guy for The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Frankie Emerson
(BJM) and I were asked to do a west coast version of the band and so here it is.
You are about to go on tour in California. Do you have plans to tour the rest of US and come over to London/Europe?
JA: We're about to go out with The Black Angels & Vietnam for a west coast tour, as for the UK or overseas - I don't know. We do everything ourselves
so it takes a lot of time and money that we don't have...So we're just trying to get the word out.
You describe Spindrift's sound as 'a psychedelic shootout in a Western town on a distant planet.' I can't think of a better explanation for
it! Name one film and one band that influence your music.
JA: There really isn't one. It's more about the music that was in those movies. All those movies that were coming out of Italy back in the 60's are a
huge part of our sound, but we all bring our own to the table.
Again, you are in a band with many members! How does the Spindrift song-writing process work? Does someone write the song and the others
improvise their parts?
JA: Well I never really know who's going to play a show. It's mainly KP, Dave Koenig, Henry Evens, Julie Patterson and myself. Sometimes our friends
Marcos, Dan Allaire (BJM) and Frankie Emerson (BJM) join in if they're not on tour or working.
Tell me more about the concept behind 'The Legend of God's Gun'. It is an amazing idea - has the film been premiered yet? Are you planning to
bring it to London?
KT: I came up with a soundtrack album to a Western after becoming inspired by my move to the west coast. Spindrift fleshed out the soundtrack and
eventually a story to the music was developed. After meeting director Mike Bruce, the script and film became more concrete. Our mutual love for
Western soundtracks and film is what inspired this movement. What came out was a Spaghetti Western style, Rock and Roll Psychedelic version of
Dante's Inferno. We are looking to premiere it in Hollywood in August, it will be distributed through DVD and we will try to do as many screenings and
festivals as possible. We did this movie from the ground up - without Hollywood's help - guerrilla style, so everything about it is a new experience to us.
Tell me about the CLEAN AIR CLEAR STARS festival. Spindrift are playing but are you also helping to organise it?
JA: CLEAN AIR CLEAR STARS is me and my friend Tommy Dietrich. We were sick of all the bullshit going on in the world today. Not a lot of people
believe that global warming is real. So we wanted to tell people what's going on. All the bands and people doing this are doing this for free. All the
money that's made from this event, we will be giving to www.stopgloblewarming.org to help the earth. Hopefully we can raise enough and make it
bigger next year.
What makes you want to be a musician?
JA: It's just in me....
Which current US bands do you like?
JA: Dead Meadow, Comets on Fire and Gris Gris. I'm also listening to The Moon Upstairs, Crooked Cowboy & Freshwater
Indian plus 2 bands on Teepee Records: Entrence and Assemblehead In Sunburst Sound.
Name 3 achievements you wish to accomplish by the end of 2007.
JA: Hopefully get Spindrift out there, get Clean Air off the ground and have a good time while doing it.
Which do you prefer - the desert or the city?
JA: I love them both. I was born in Los Angeles and lived here my whole life with the desert just down the road, so to speak. So I spent a lot of time out
there. It's nice to get away when you want to.
Today Bobby Hecksher announced a new deal for The Warlocks with Teepee records - will The Warlocks continue with the same line-up?
JA: Well for the most part. Y'all just have to wait and see!
A lot of your personal influences are British bands - Teenage Fan Club, Denim etc. Are there any current British bands you like?
JA: I haven't been turned on to anything new yet!
A lot of upcoming bands in the UK feel that the London scene is really stagnant and still look to bands like BJM, Warlocks and Raveonettes for
inspiration. Are you aware that the scene you guys created is so legendary in influence? Being in the scene from the very start, did it feel like you
were all doing something very special? When did you realise the impact you were making?
JA: I think we were just doing what we like. A lot of bands these days want to be rock stars and get lots cash and girls and I think that takes away from
the music. There's a lot of bands out there doing what we're doing and a lot for longer. It's just people doing it for themselves.
So you also play the guitar - do you write songs and would you swap the drums for guitar onstage?
JA: No...just drink a lot!
What is your favourite percussion instrument besides the drums?
JA: The shakers!
Interview by Dee Sekar. Many thanks to Jason Anchondo and Kirpatrick Thomas. Spindrift's west coast tour commences shortly.
For more information:
On the band: www.myspace.com/thewest
The CLEAN AIR CLEAN STARS festival: www.myspace.com/cleanairclearstars
and The Legend of God's Gun film: www.myspace.com/razortreefilms
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