Interview with The So So Glos

DOWNLOAD: The So So Glos- Fred Astaire

Still from "Fred Astaire" video shoot

The So So Glos is a rock band from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Think The Stooges, The Ramones, Titus Andronicus. Think garage-rock with some parts rock, some parts roll--that means you can dance to it. They know how to keep a beat and keep you interested. Singer Alex has that charming, yet urgent and punk  singing voice that works nicely with the band's music.

Currently they've released a new EP, are putting out a video for first single "Fred Astaire," and touring frequently in New York, and soon after playing a pair of shows with a delightful Brooklyn duo. We spoke with singer Alex Levine, while on the road, about the band's new EP, Low Back Chain Shift, their upcoming 5 boroughs tour, the importance of all ages spaces, and more.

Where are you now?

Alex Levine: We are in Austin, Texas on our way to New Orleans. Just finished the final dates with the Futureheads last night [Oct. 12]. Great tour. Now we're touring on our own back to New York.

What is the meaning behind the title for your new EP, Low Back Chain Shift?

AL: It's actually a way to describe the New York Drawl, like that comes out in talk and coffee. It's an accent on a dialectic. That's pretty much the technical term for the New York Drawl. We like the ring to it and the rhythmic nature of it and that's kind of an element of our music as well. In some ways it ensues a change of some sort. New York is an ever changing place, as is the world.

Are you playing a lot of these songs live?

AL: Oh yeah. We're pretty much playing every song on the [5-song] EP live. It's great to keep things fresh and get new things out there.

 

What has the response been like?

AL: It's been cool. People are picking up on it. We're just ready to record something new. We have to keep moving and making new things. We're anxious to be doing something new.

Are you releasing a music video for any of the songs?
AL: Yes, there's a video for "Fred Astaire" coming out. Our brother [Matt Greeley] who directed our video for “My Block” does a lot of our music videos--he's very much apart of the family. It should be out in a week or so.

You're a doing a 5 boroughs tour. What inspired the idea to tour around the boroughs?

AL: We just wanted to throw a big party for New York City. I don't know how thought out it was. Let's play a show in every borough.

Did you hand pick the venues?

AL: We hand picked all of them. Pretty much put together every show. We wanted to get together bands and friends. We put each day together and made each one a special individual thing. We're really happy about how it all turned out. We have a lot of different things going on. We have a matinee show in Queens that our old friend Joe lives at. That should be really fun. There's 10 bands. Everyone's doing things a little different. Acoustic numbers. They all create a different atmosphere and we wanted to do that.

You play a lot of all ages venues and you've helped with the Market Hotel and Shea Stadium. Why is all ages spaces so important?

AL: I think it's absolutely important to have all ages venues existing. Just for the simple fact that protest music, rock 'n roll, any form of letting loose pretty belongs pretty much first to the youth. So if you shut your doors on kids that aren't 21, you're shutting down the thought of anything in the future occurring because that's where the next thing is coming. Ya know? Who wants to see a bunch of old people? It's not that fun.

Why do you think there's such a lack of all ages venues?

AL: There's a lot of factors that go into it. Insurance. There's a 21 age restriction on drinking in this country and that's tied to live music and bars most of the time. So there's the simple legality of it. But there are people that push their necks to go out of the way to provide an atmosphere that's non-sterile and all ages and available for all ages. Those are the real soldiers on the front line, they're risking everything. It's a good thing.

The Brooklyn music scene can be very overwhelming. How does So So Glos manage to stand out?

AL: Do what we've always done since we were kids. We're brother and step brothers in the group. We just play music because we don't know how to do much else. I don't know if we stand out. We just do what we feel is real and what we feel comfortable doing and we hope that people like to do that with us. We never really thought about how we stand out, we just do what we do. We play music.

What music did you grow up listening to?

AL: Oh, all kinds of music. We listen to different groups and artists. Everyone from The Stooges to The Homosexuals to The Crabs. Nirvana. Wu-Tang. Robert Johnson. Bob Dylan. Woody Guthrie. The folk stuff. Johnny Cash. The Ninja Turtles.

What's next for So So Glos?

AL: We play all over New York City and then we're going to start working on our next album, write more songs. We're playing Webster Hall on the 26th and 27th [of October] with Matt & Kim. That's going to be great. They invited us. We did a tour before the Futureheads with them and they were super great people.

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THE FIVE BOROUGHS TOUR

STATEN ISLAND
Thursday, October 21st
Martini Red w/ The Delay, In Buenos Aires
372 Vanduzer, Staten Island, New York 10304

MANHATTAN
Friday, October 22nd  
Pianos - Force Field PR CMJ Showcase w/ Wild Nothing, Violens, Woven Bones, La Sera, Lord Huron
158 Ludlow Street, New York, New York 10002

BROOKLYN
Saturday, October 23rd   
Shea Stadium w/ Weekends, Liquor Store, Woven Bones, Carnivores, Grand Rapids 
20 Meadow Street, Brooklyn, New York 11206

QUEENS
Sunday, October 24th
BBQ Matinee at Silent Barn w/ Patrick Stickles, The Beets, Shilpa Ray, Carnivores, Bad Credit No Credit, 911 Thesaurus, Perpetual Crush, Baby Birds Dont Drink Milk, Paps
917 Wyckoff Avenue, Queens, New York 11385

THE BRONX
Monday, October 25th
Paul Shaffers House w/ Sweet Bulbs, No One & the Somebodies, Electric Tickle Machine, Genuine Imitations
1808 Muliner Ave, Bronx, New York 10462