Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
We had a chance to catch up with The Famous, from San Francisco, CA! Check out their video and an interview below!
What’s the origin of the band name?
‘The Famous’ is the name of a dry goods store in Central Texas that my family operated in a small town called Marlin. We’re talking from the ‘20s to the early ‘80s.
In our own way, we try to pay homage to life in small towns in America, and also to help folks remember that there was a time before Wal-Mart ran Mom and Pops out of business in agricultural areas across the country.
There have always been strong communities of people working together in our country and we try to tell those stories.
How long have you been all been playing?
The band’s players have all been lifelong musicians. Vic our lead guitarist can play anything, any instrument, he’s outstanding. G.D. our
bassist toured for years in a very successful punk rock band and brings a true pro experience to the band. Our drummer Chris is the backbone. My background is with storytelling.
Who are your major influences? Any major comparisons to certain bands that your music may receive?
Since we are something of a marriage between classic country and punk rock… we are definitely influenced by the likes of Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, X and The Pixies. People say they hear Rev. Horton Heat, Social Distortion, Old ‘97s, Modest Mouse influences… and they’re right.
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet? When did you form your band?
I’m taking the easy way out… we met 7 years ago, but the story is best told here…
“You can pound your fist on my front door / But it’s been too long, I don’t need you anymore.” Laurence Scott sings the opening line of “Better Things,” from the Famous’ 2005 debut Light, Sweet Crude, like he really means it. He might be singing about an old lover, an old friend — heck, even an old car — but the line could just as well be a kiss-off to the staid country and Americana his band seems all too happy to leave behind in a cloud of dust.
Mix that with the exhaust fumes of a 1965 Ford Galaxie — the four-wheeled talisman that led to the formation of the band in 2003 when Victor Barclay (lead guitar, vocals) spotted Scott (lead vocals, acoustic guitar) and his ride outside a Bay Area laundromat and remarked that he owned the very same car — and you get an idea of what the Famous is all about. To put it another way: take the ‘50s-era country of Hank Williams, Sr. and filter it through ‘70s punk rock, ‘80s psychobilly, and ‘90s post-punk. You’ll find yourself staring eye-to-eye with San Francisco’s own “Pixies in a cowboy hat.”
The band’s latest, 2010’s Come Home to Me, finds Scott and Barclay refining Light, Sweet Crude. They’ve perfected their signature
raw-country-meets-post-punk sound while maturing some of the more manic elements that made their debut such a bold statement.
Do you have a record label?
We self release our albums as Leading Brand Records. (the alternative to the alternative)
Where have you performed? What are your favorite venues in the Bay Area?
Bottom of the Hill, Café Du Nord and Thee Parkside have become our true homes in the Bay Area. We play all around Northern California, but those San Francisco clubs are home. We’ve also played festivals in Colorado and NXNE in Toronto.
Coming up on August 27th, The Famous open the show for SF honky tonk stalwart Red Meat’s CD Release Party at Café Du Nord.
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
We’ve been listening mostly to bands we’ve played shows with recently including Drag the River, The Toadies who have a brand new album ‘Feeler’ and the NickelSlots, a very cool band we played with at their hometown club, Old Ironsides in Sacramento.
What are your rehearsals generally like?
We rehearse at least once a week and it is usually a five-hour session of working on new songs, a few classic country covers and staying sharp on our songs.
What’s the ultimate direction for the band?
We hope to keep finding audiences and bands who appreciate our approach and want to join in at our shows.
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
It’s really simple… just have fun.
