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Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008
Q&A for the end of the year: Time for 5 Questions
What was one of your favorite experiences with Capital Sons this year?
Keefe: The Halloween show was a blast. I enjoyed counting the number of double takes as people walked in and realized Lieutenant Dangle was fronting the band.
Jesse: Halloween. We had a party/show, and Karl showed up as Officer Dangle. I have pictures.
 Gary: The Fine Line show when I got back from my medical leave. I was scared to death that I wouldn't play well, but I had a blast. And the Halloween show is right up there too—Officer Dangle will go down in history. Nice 'stache, sir!
Karl: Hands down my best experience this year was having the privilege to travel to England and meet one of our biggest fans from across the pond. He originally found out about us through a Replacements fan group on Myspace and wrote to tell us that he absolutely loved our sound and had already ordered the album. We corresponded back and forth through Myspace and I informed him that my girlfriend and I would soon be coming to England on “holiday” and that we should meet up and have a few pints. We had an absolute blast meeting him in London and doing the town. He has since come to visit Minneapolis, seen Capital Sons perform, and become a good friend of everyone in the group. This for me is a true testament to how the power of music and the worldwide reach of the Internet can transcend physical boundaries and bring kindred spirits together. Truly an amazing thing.
What’s your favorite track on the upcoming album and why?
Jesse: We’re not sure what’s going to make the album yet, but I have to say that it is a toss-up between Noose and High-heeled Boots. Noose is my favorite to play live right now, and well, its got cowbell, and who doesn’t love cowbell! High-heeled Boots is just a great dirty song through and through. When we heard the first scratch vocals Karl laid down for this, we thought he channeled Robert Plant. It’s really cool to listen to.
Karl: It’s hard for me to answer this question as the album hasn’t been recorded yet, but I would have to say that I am extremely excited to record High-Heeled Boots, Anchor, Slack-jaw, Wrong, Shadow People, Down To Size and Better Part of Me. Oops, is that more than one? This is a freaking tough question.
Gary: Down to Size, written by Keefe. I just love the main guitar riff that I came up with to Keefe's bassline, and it has a lot of differing parts and rhythms.
Keefe: Shadow People, it is a very unique song and I love listening to (and watching) Gary play his cool guitar riff.
What do you most look forward to for Capital Sons in 2008?
Karl: Recording and releasing the new album. Nuff said.
Gary: Finishing our newest recording and releasing it. Damn, we have such a backlog of tunes to record, we could make two easily this year.
Keefe: I'm looking forward to releasing the new CD. Maybe it will get more friends out that haven't seen us yet. I never get tired of hearing "You guys are ACTUALLY good" from friends who originally showed up to be nice.
Jesse: Definitely the new album. I can’t think of anything this year I look forward to more than the new record. We have 14 songs picked from the original 17 demos, I don’t know which will make the final cut. It may be the dozen or so we are expecting, it may be several that we haven’t even finished yet. All I know is Halo was an afterthought to play on our very first recording sessions and it is my favorite song we have recorded to date. There may be some songs recorded that make the album that nobody has heard yet. My hope is that one unknown gem makes the cut. I would love to hear the raw energy on Halo captured again. What I do know is that this will be the best work I have ever put down on tape (or hard drive – semantics).
What are your top 5 favorite albums of the year (not necessarily new)?
Keefe:
The Hold Steady - Almost Killed Me. Their first album that I finally got around to buying this year.
Mark Ronson - Version. I enjoy the diverse range of musical influences he brings to the table when producing for other artists or doing his own stuff.
The White Stripes - Icky Thump. There's just something about Conquest.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights. Great grooves and the bass player looks so cool playing live with how little effort it looks like he's exerting.
Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth. Another good addition from the local hip hop scene.
Gary:
Vicious Vicious - Parade. What an awesome collection of well-recorded songs. I am so humbled by these guys.
Little Man - Soulful Automatic. Great guitar work, great singing, and a variety of production styles.
Kwang - For What It's Worth. Best CD ever for driving with the convertible top down, crankin’ the tunes while cruisin' with friends. Such a fun ride! Damn, I miss these guys!!!
The Alarmists - The Ghost and the Hired Gun. With songs like these, they should be huge stars. And they are great live.
The Melismatics - Turn It On. When I grow up, I wanna sound like this.
Jesse:
Tom Petty - Highway Companion. I’ve looked forward to this album since Full Moon Fever. I was not disappointed.
White Stripes - Icky Thump. Will they just put out a bad album already! Never a bad moment for the Stripes, though my high points are Rag and Bone and Little Cream Soda.
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger. I missed that Ryan didn’t put out anything last year, I got my fix this year with an LP and an EP. This guy never loses it, never.
The Traveling Wilbury’s Collection. Holy shit. I think this is the ultimate super group. I only had the first record on vinyl, now I have it all on the iPod. I have probably listened to this record more this year than any other except…
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black. Hands down the best record of the year. Amy was quite entertaining as well, especially if you read the British news.
Honorable mentions to: Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights, Mark Ronson - Version, Velvet Revolver - Libertad, Crowded House - Time on Earth, Sixx A.M. - The Heroin Diaries (Nikki Sixx), KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic, Buckcherry - 15, Feist - Let It Die, Michael Heaton - Learning Curve
Karl:
Lucinda Williams - World Without Tears. Although this album was released in 2003, I recently picked it up and proceeded to listen to it nonstop for almost a week. Lucinda is an amazing talent and has a smoky, worldly voice that instantly draws the listener in and makes them feel as if they can identify with her joys and pains.
Band of Horses - Cease to Begin. This album has been embraced by 89.3 The Current and that’s how I first heard it. They have a very original, huge sound without over-production and the singer has a unique, shrill voice that I instantly latched onto.
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black. Say what you want about Amy Winehouse in all of her personal troubles and lackluster performances, but this is a great album. Even though this album was technically released in December of 2006 it conquered America in 2007 and I think it should, and probably will receive honors for album of the year.
Wolfmother. This group of Aussies has crafted a distinct and primal sound all their own. Their debut album pulsates raw rock and roll energy from beginning to end with glimpses of honorable influences such as Black Sabbath and The White Stripes. It’s definitely worth picking up.
Counting Crows - August and Everything After. After hearing us compared to this group on so many occasions I felt compelled to pick up their breakthrough album. I had heard all of the hits a million times on the radio, but was curious to hear the deeper album cuts that weren’t overplayed on the radio, and was pleasantly surprised when I did. This is a very solid album from start to finish and I have a newfound respect for this group. I also now have a better understanding of why people compare our sound to theirs and take it as a compliment when they do.
Any last words?
Gary: Live well, stay healthy, have fun. And turn it up all the way!!!
Keefe: Be excellent to each other.
Jesse: There isn’t enough sex and drugs to equal the rock n’ roll I’m looking forward to next year, though I encourage any beautiful ladies to prove me wrong.
Karl: If anyone has Ferrets for sale please contact us immediately!! Gary has been wanting pet Ferrets for some time now, and would prefer a male/ female couple so that he can begin breeding and selling them. P.S. Buy our new album!!!
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