Post by isaac mcavoy on Jan 31, 2016 21:11:39 GMT
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| It's in a surprisingly run down motel room that I catch up with one half of Cat's Cradle, who have just completed the first show of their national tour. Despite reports of bad time keeping and worse attitudes, this particular show was every bit classic Cat's Cradle, with Isaac and Joe bouncing off each other in true McAvoy/McCarthy style, the energy in the room fizzing with their shared enthusiasm for the music. It's Joe and Isaac I'm meeting with tonight, and when I see them they're sharing a pizza, the faint smell of weed still hanging between them though there's no joint in sight. Thanks for agreeing to speak to me guys, I'm sure sitting down for an interview after the first show of a national tour isn't exactly ideal. IM: …Are you being sarcastic? Is that sarcasm? You're being sarcastic. JM: [shoving pizza into mouth] I think she's kidding. Not kidding. First show of the tour, how's it going so far? JM: it's good, you know. first time any of us are really doing this.. like we've played shows before, but not to this extent. I think we're all a bit fucking excited, it's a real kick to the gut when you realize "they're here for us. They know us and they LIKE us." IM: Y'think? I think it's just like every show ever. JM: it's not, did you see the light effects? Every show ever? So playing a sold out venue to 5000 people is no different to playing to a room of less than 50, half of whom you know personally? IM: Like Joe said, there's more lighting. [he pauses, running a hand through his hair] Well, the difference is now there are 50 dedicated fans, and they're not padded out with friends and family who are sick to death of our stuff anyway. Now we have people who come to hear the singles, who almost act like having to hear the rest of our set is a chore. Hashtag blessed. JM: Yea, you know. And the fog machines are fucking massive. We don't even have to order food, we just send the venue a memo and it's there when we're there.. which, I guess is ordering food. It's tits, man. Everyone's psyched - bar Zac - we get out there and everyone's throwing boners, and babies at us. The odd pair of boobs as well. So your band personally has more to offer than three singles off the album? IM: I don't know, maybe, you tell me. The label chooses the ones it expects to do well - maybe the rest of our stuff isn't up to scratch, but elevators need music too. My mom always told me to make a strong introduction and a strong conclusion, that the bits in the middle were just the stuff that people would forget. Maybe the other nine tracks are trash, you tell me. JM: I don't know. I think we've gotten processed into this world where people just make singles. The objective is to squeeze the ever-loving shit out of the sponge, drain it of every bit of water and hope that somebody digs it. Which a weird concept. But yea, maybe it's just the three singles. IM: Maybe a limited output is better. More selective. JM: I think we should stick to making jingles from here on out. IM: [laughing] I think we'd be good at that. We could really sell the shit out of some car insurance. You've been accused of being a bit of a two man band at times. Do you think your friendship ever interferes with the group dynamic? JM: Yea. Taylor's a bit jealous, sometimes he gets all pouty and sits in the corner. He'll call us, "Ellen and Portia." I'm obviously Portia because I'm more beautiful, but I'm also Ellen because I'm funnier. Zac's Ellen's suit. IM: What he's saying is that I'm Portia. The trophy wife, the under appreciated one. How did you two meet? JM: it was love at first sight. We locked eyes at this masquerade and were just so totally drawn to each other. IM: Grindr. Don't tell the wife. Adorable. Do you approach the creative process differently, or are you in sync? You've mentioned how your differing musical styles blend together, are they particularly different to begin with? IM: I'm gonna say yes. Joe secretly wishes he was a Mumford brother, whilst I'm waiting for Grizzly Bear to replace Edward Droste with me. In the meantime we can just about make an album without hating each other. JM: Zac would rather be sucking bear dick than singing in this band. But yea, in all seriousness. I grew up on artists like Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. My family's very musically inclined, my younger sister plays in a folk band called "Knives and Forks". When I.. what's a word for matured but not really matured... when time happened my style altered a bit. Blah blah blah, we get on just fine. Joey mentioned his musical background, Isaac what brought you here? IM: My parents weren't so musically inclined… I think they owned one CD when I was growing up, and that was Duran Duran. Nothing wrong with a bit of Duran Duran, I listen to 'the Reflex' whenever I'm writing lyrics, that's why mine are so terrible. But my dad died suddenly when I was young, which at first made me want to be a doctor… then it turned out that med school was expensive and tough and miserable, and I decided to reinterpret his death as a call to do something I love. Carpe diem, memento mori, YOLO. So you're half Duran Duran, half Dylan. That's not a bad interpretation of some of your early stuff. Beyond the music, you guys seem to be getting a lot of column inches lately. Do you feel like that's what happens when you get famous, or do you court controversy? JM: No, we're really not as interesting as we're made out to be. I spend my down time sleeping in till noon and smoking up, I'm probably one of the most passive people you'll ever meet. I'm sure our manager wishes we were fairly more dramatic for publicity, he has it pretty rough. IM: I got married at twenty. I pay a mortgage and never forget to call my mom. It's not very rock'n'roll. Do you find it difficult to maintain your cool now that you guys have a following? Surely it must be a challenge to get by as normally as you have in the past? IM: It'd be difficult if I was cool to begin with. I can't buy groceries without someone singing one of our songs at me, but that's not the worst thing that could happen to a person. JM: People always want to get high with me. some girls will read my interviews and try have common interests. But girls and pot aren't bad. IM: He's trying to deflect the gay rumors. Lean in, J. Now that you mention it, you two do seem to write a lot about each other, and your friendship. Are you really sure your closeness doesn't put a strain on the rest of the group? JM: Well, Taylor gets a little jealous, doesn't he? IM: He pretends to, for attention. JM: I think he's actually crying in the bathroom stall right now. But in all seriousness, I don't think he cares much. I hugged him once and he actually seemed a bit disgusted. IM: I think they think we're attention seeking, or maybe seeking validation in each other. When they don't like a direction we're taking a track in, for example, it's true that I'll immediately back Joey up and vice versa. In that way I guess we can be difficult to work with. But then when we disagree we really disagree, and any attempt at diplomacy goes straight down the shitter... I think it's our dynamic that makes the band what it is, and yeah, as a consequence it could break it too. In the past you guys have mentioned how fun recording is to you. Do you prefer it over touring? What's the part in the process that is most enjoyable? IM: It really depends on the tour. [He stands up, pacing, restless.] I don't mean to be rude, but are we gonna be here much longer? It's just I need to call my wife, and I'm wiped... JM: recording can be a lot like that [nods to Isaac]. Touring can be like that as well. They're different mediums. Alright, thanks for your time boys, I'll wrap this up. What's next for Cat's Cradle? IM: A break up, a best of, and a reunion tour. I don't know, I hope more of the same. JM: A 50 pack of chicken nuggets from McDonalds. |