Interviewed in person at Leeds Fest
I just walked into the room when someone grabbed me and plonked me down next to Andy from Manchester Orchestra. My hearing had taken a bit of a beating throughout the weekend and I didn't hear who they said it was. A bit flustered, I started recording as I was told I’d only have a few minutes.
I apologised for the rocky start and the fact that I’d just shoved my camcorder under his face, while explaining that I was only allowed to use it as a Dictaphone.
Andy: No worries, I was like, oh my god, I thought you were looking at my teeth for a second.
Altsounds: So you’re from Atlanta Georgia…
Andy: Is this like the Blair Witch Project? [Grabbing the camcorder] 'I’m so scared!'
Altsounds: Ha ha ha.
Andy: Ha ha. Nah go ahead.
Altsounds: So If I were to go to Atlanta Georgia, where would I go to rock out?
Andy: I dunno, I kinda play it low. I play a lot of shows all the time, so I don’t go rocking out that much, I just kind of chill with my wife, play with the dog a little, relax. I’m probably going on tour the next day. It's kinda non-stop.
Altsounds: Manchester Orchestra is a bit of an odd name, how did you come up with that?
Andy: That’s the first time anyone’s asked me that...only joking, ha! Because I liked The Smiths when I started the band, and I still like them. It was a sort of Morrissey summer for me so I thought it would be cool to have a band that all my friends could play in and as it went on it actually formed into a kind of band.
Altsounds: Sorry for the unoriginal question, I’ll confess that I had to ask so I knew who you were when I got home.
Andy: Ha ha! [Slowly] Exactly...Manchester...Orchest ra.
Altsounds: So what’s your favourite joke?
Andy: How do you make a baby float?
Altsounds: I don’t know.
Andy: Take your foot off of it.
Altsounds: Oh my god...that’s fucking awful.
Andy: One of the worst!
Altsounds: Do you know anything about Altsounds?
Andy: Yeah, I’ve read Altsounds before. I’ve read your review of us. Don’t know whether it was good or bad, but I’ve read it. [Incidentally, Manchester Orchestra got 90% and was recommended by altsounds].
Altsounds: So Altsounds is by the people, for the people. Do you have a message for them? I like how your [yellow framed] glasses match your [yellow trimmed] hat by the way.
Andy: Thanks, it’s a coincidence. Well, I spent 15 years with a Maharishi and he taught me something that I knew I would never forget. And he said, never…. no, always...I’m just joking.
Altsounds: Ha ha ha! I thought you were serious!
Andy: Are you going to have to transcribe this?
Altsounds: Yeah.
Andy: Then FUCK YOU ALTSOUNDS! [falls back laughing in chair]
Altsounds: So if I was a princess trapped in a tower how would you rescue me?
Andy: What kind of tower, are there dragons, thorns?
Altsounds: Yeah all of that.
Andy: I’m more concerned by the dragons than the thorns, y’know? A fire breathing dinosaur, not quite as scary as the briar patch, but please, carry on!
Altsounds: So how would you do it?
Andy: Ha ha ha, I’d PAY someone to do that. I’d ask whether I could do it on Xbox instead. How would I do it...erm, valiantly and like a gentleman!
Altsounds: So Reading or Leeds?
Andy: I’ve always liked Leeds more, it’s just a fun place to be at, awesome casinos too and I always have fun. I mean the crowd at Reading was just enormous. We played more technical things today at Leeds, but knew it’d be alright.
Altsounds: What’s your recommended hang over cure?
Andy: Throw up, just vomit it all up. Get it out. There is no cure! Everyone says they have a cure but it just makes you feel like shit. On the second Streets album - they’re brilliant - there’s a track where he’s on the flight back and he spent it all in the toilet praying away all his sins telling God "I’d never drink again." That’s what everyone does if they’ve got a BAD hangover. That’s how I was yesterday actually.
Altsounds: And now you’re just drunk…
Andy: Nah, I’ve been taking it cool, very easy, I was hangover yesterday because I raged really hard Friday and then it's just fallen. I've just been taking it easy. [Takes drink from cup] Water.
Altsounds: OK tell me a crazy story of something that’s happened in the band, where is the rest of the band anyway?
Andy: I dunno, there’s two of them around here somewhere, I was just grabbed in here and now I don’t think ill ever get out! Ok I sing in the band, [leans to camera] in Manchester Orchestra, Atlanta Georgia.
Altsounds: Ha ha ha
Andy: Ok, so something crazy that happened...Our bass player discovered he could control and create fire in the palm of his hand.
Altsounds: Err, So what would your last meal be?
Andy: I don’t think I could eat before I died, know what I mean. I can’t eat before I play a show, I don’t think I could eat before I died. If you knew what was coming do you think you could scarf something down?
Altsounds: Yeah man, definitely! I think Id have a Sunday roast.
Andy: Ok, well maybe an English breakfast. I’m a sucker for that meal
Altsounds: Ok great, thank you!
Manchester Orchestra are currently touring the UK from the 28th October - 28th November.
I apologised for the rocky start and the fact that I’d just shoved my camcorder under his face, while explaining that I was only allowed to use it as a Dictaphone.
Andy: No worries, I was like, oh my god, I thought you were looking at my teeth for a second.
Altsounds: So you’re from Atlanta Georgia…
Andy: Is this like the Blair Witch Project? [Grabbing the camcorder] 'I’m so scared!'
Altsounds: Ha ha ha.
Andy: Ha ha. Nah go ahead.
Altsounds: So If I were to go to Atlanta Georgia, where would I go to rock out?
Andy: I dunno, I kinda play it low. I play a lot of shows all the time, so I don’t go rocking out that much, I just kind of chill with my wife, play with the dog a little, relax. I’m probably going on tour the next day. It's kinda non-stop.
Altsounds: Manchester Orchestra is a bit of an odd name, how did you come up with that?
Andy: That’s the first time anyone’s asked me that...only joking, ha! Because I liked The Smiths when I started the band, and I still like them. It was a sort of Morrissey summer for me so I thought it would be cool to have a band that all my friends could play in and as it went on it actually formed into a kind of band.
Altsounds: Sorry for the unoriginal question, I’ll confess that I had to ask so I knew who you were when I got home.
Andy: Ha ha! [Slowly] Exactly...Manchester...Orchest ra.
Altsounds: So what’s your favourite joke?
Andy: How do you make a baby float?
Altsounds: I don’t know.
Andy: Take your foot off of it.
Altsounds: Oh my god...that’s fucking awful.
Andy: One of the worst!
Altsounds: Do you know anything about Altsounds?
Andy: Yeah, I’ve read Altsounds before. I’ve read your review of us. Don’t know whether it was good or bad, but I’ve read it. [Incidentally, Manchester Orchestra got 90% and was recommended by altsounds].
Altsounds: So Altsounds is by the people, for the people. Do you have a message for them? I like how your [yellow framed] glasses match your [yellow trimmed] hat by the way.
Andy: Thanks, it’s a coincidence. Well, I spent 15 years with a Maharishi and he taught me something that I knew I would never forget. And he said, never…. no, always...I’m just joking.
Altsounds: Ha ha ha! I thought you were serious!
Andy: Are you going to have to transcribe this?
Altsounds: Yeah.
Andy: Then FUCK YOU ALTSOUNDS! [falls back laughing in chair]
Altsounds: So if I was a princess trapped in a tower how would you rescue me?
Andy: What kind of tower, are there dragons, thorns?
Altsounds: Yeah all of that.
Andy: I’m more concerned by the dragons than the thorns, y’know? A fire breathing dinosaur, not quite as scary as the briar patch, but please, carry on!
Altsounds: So how would you do it?
Andy: Ha ha ha, I’d PAY someone to do that. I’d ask whether I could do it on Xbox instead. How would I do it...erm, valiantly and like a gentleman!
Altsounds: So Reading or Leeds?
Andy: I’ve always liked Leeds more, it’s just a fun place to be at, awesome casinos too and I always have fun. I mean the crowd at Reading was just enormous. We played more technical things today at Leeds, but knew it’d be alright.
Altsounds: What’s your recommended hang over cure?
Andy: Throw up, just vomit it all up. Get it out. There is no cure! Everyone says they have a cure but it just makes you feel like shit. On the second Streets album - they’re brilliant - there’s a track where he’s on the flight back and he spent it all in the toilet praying away all his sins telling God "I’d never drink again." That’s what everyone does if they’ve got a BAD hangover. That’s how I was yesterday actually.
Altsounds: And now you’re just drunk…
Andy: Nah, I’ve been taking it cool, very easy, I was hangover yesterday because I raged really hard Friday and then it's just fallen. I've just been taking it easy. [Takes drink from cup] Water.
Altsounds: OK tell me a crazy story of something that’s happened in the band, where is the rest of the band anyway?
Andy: I dunno, there’s two of them around here somewhere, I was just grabbed in here and now I don’t think ill ever get out! Ok I sing in the band, [leans to camera] in Manchester Orchestra, Atlanta Georgia.
Altsounds: Ha ha ha
Andy: Ok, so something crazy that happened...Our bass player discovered he could control and create fire in the palm of his hand.
Altsounds: Err, So what would your last meal be?
Andy: I don’t think I could eat before I died, know what I mean. I can’t eat before I play a show, I don’t think I could eat before I died. If you knew what was coming do you think you could scarf something down?
Altsounds: Yeah man, definitely! I think Id have a Sunday roast.
Andy: Ok, well maybe an English breakfast. I’m a sucker for that meal
Altsounds: Ok great, thank you!
Manchester Orchestra are currently touring the UK from the 28th October - 28th November.
