DCist Interview: Mew
It's been a been a good year for the Danish band Mew. In 2009 alone, they released their latest record, No More Stories..., to great acclaim, played this summer's Pitchfork Festival and received a personal invitation from Trent Reznor to open a few dates on the Nine Inch Nails farewell tour. The band started their latest U.S. tour last night in Philly and will take the stage tonight at DAR Constitution Hall opening for the Pixies. We recently caught up with lead singer Jonas Bjerre to talk about recording in America, playing to other band's audiences, and more.
Why did you decide to record No More Stories... in Brooklyn?
We definitely wanted a change in scenery. Unfortunately a lot of the big studios in Copenhagen are closing down because people tend to record things themselves in smaller studios. We had actually worked with (producer) Rich (Costey) in Copenhagen but he wasn't completely happy with the surroundings. He liked Copenhagen a lot but the studios were a little dilapidated. But he worked in this recording studio in Brooklyn and he really liked that. And then later on we returned and he had his own place in Manhattan at Electric Lady Studios.
You worked with Rich on Frengers. What led you to work with him again?
I think in particular because the last record was very dark and cold sounding. That was what we wanted to do at the time but we didn't want to repeat ourselves. I think we all felt like adding some warmth and color into it by using a lot of percussive instruments and we just thought that Rich would be great at that. He is great at recording stuff to get a really tight and pressing sound and at the same time he is this sort of mad professor type of guy, he is good at keeping the project moving.
You guys did a few dates in the U.S. earlier this year with Nine Inch Nails, what was that like?
Great! I was a little bit scared at first because his fans are really into hard stuff and we really aren't that hard as Nine Inch Nails, but they were actually really attentive and received us very well. It was a great tour. It was an honor to be a part of that tour because it was Trent Reznor's farewell tour.
But you guys have had experience opening for bands that big in the past. You've opened for R.E.M. in Europe. Do you change up your show at all when you are playing to another band's audience?
I guess we don't talk as much on stage because people are there to see the main act and not the support act. And they are definitely not there to listen to the support act chat away. So usually we just go on there and play our songs and introduce ourselves and do the best we can to win people over. And I think we always succeed in winning some people over and that's what it's all about I guess.
Here in D.C. you are opening for The Pixies. Are you excited about that?
Yeah, very much so. The Pixies are one of my favorite bands ever and I was so sad when I got into them because they had already split up when I was a teenager. I got into their records and couldn't go see them live. But then I got to see them after the reformed which was completely surreal after listening to their records for so long.
They are going to be playing Doolittle in its entirety. What do you think of the "playing a full album" trend? It's kind of hot right now.
I think it's a great idea. I heard David Bowie played the whole Low album, I would have loved to see that.
Would you guys be able to pull off playing And The Glass Handed Kites in its entirety?
Yeah.
Really?
Definitely. We've played all those songs live, except for one.
I love how the songs on that album flow into the next. That would make a pretty killer show.
We do that live, but not necessarily with those songs but we have songs that kind of transgress into each other like that and its weird for us because we do that so much that once in a while it feels weird to play only one song and not go into the next one. I guess that's what most bands do but that makes us kind of uncomfortable.
As far as opening bands for the rest of your U.S. tour, you're holding contests in each city to choose them, right?
Yeah, it was just an idea because usually when we tour in the U.S. what happens in the promoter will send us a few things and we'll choose what we like the most but we just thought it would be great to have a bigger selection and sort of discover new stuff that way. When you listen to a demo, it's a different thing getting to hear it live and it will be a new experience every night. We just thought it would be a cool idea to do that.
With 2009 coming to a close, do you have any resolutions for the new year?
Not really. Maybe to have more vices.
More vices?
Yeah, I think everyone should have a few vices.
That's funny. Usually people are trying to give them up at this time of the year. So what do you have planned for 2010?
More touring and more work. A lot of work, but it's fun and great.
Mew open for the Pixies tonight at DAR Constitution Hall. Get there early. Tickets are still available.