Titus Andronicus: Interview
"You want people to understand that we're human beings, and I think that's really a punk rock thing."
To be in Titus Andronicus is sort of like being in a fellowship. It is fraternal, but not fratty. There is a common bond between the five members, and though Patrick Stickles is the songwriter, there's no apparent ego, no sense of entitlement, no "this is my band" persona. Unlike, say Bright Eyes, in which a single songwriter composes material to be performed by himself and whoever is at his disposal for this day in the studio or that tour, Titus Andronicus have an undeniable band dynamic. I had the chance to sit down with Stickles, bass player Ian Graetzer, and drummer Eric Harm before their February set in Iowa City on an off night from their tour with Los Campesinos!
When pressed about the follow-up to their debut album The Airing of Grievances, Graetzer tells me, "He's got it written in his head." Stickles continues, "We only all know how to play half of it. I know how it goes, but it's a closely guarded secret." Like many of his statements, he understates and deflects the spotlight with sarcasm." This man has an entire album written in his head. And yet, this does not seem remarkable to him, nor does he feel it a reason to champion himself more than any other individual in the band. When they play, he will face to the left with his keyboard, perpendicular to the stage, engaging his bandmates at least as much if not more than his audience. More than anything, their triple-guitar assault of swampy, grimy pop-punk is a ritualistic celebration in which the band members participate willingly -- and the spectators are encouraged to do so as well. Titus Andronicus make rock music, but more importantly they make rock music that is fun because they have fun doing it.
By many standards, Titus Andronicus are successful. They have made an album that has received generally very positive reviews, been signed to a major indie record label, have played festivals such as Pitchfork Festival, and get to tour the country at will. But they understand that even success comes in moderation, and that in success, modesty is a key part of their ethos. They live at home with their parents in New Jersey to save money, mostly because they are on the road so consistently. "It's just not a good investment," Stickles says of living on your own while being in a band. He also states, though it is unclear if this is in his deadpan sarcasm or not that, "When we're at home I just sit on my ass. No job for me, man." The other two tell me they work odd jobs, such as at a bookstore or doing freelance screenprinting, to "keep my time occupied and my wallet full," as Graetzer says. They understand that they still have work to do and dues to pay. "Just because you get a good review, or you get reviewed a lot, doesn't mean you're famous," Graetzer says. "There's still a lot of work to do," concludes Stickles.
When the subject of Pitchfork is broached, Harm says more telling than any review is that they were invited to play last year's Pitchfork Festival. But, even in light of performing at this event, the band remains cautious and determined. "Bands that are put in the position to play a big festival that go on their way to do their own tour are aware that that was just that one festival. We enjoyed it, but you'd have to be pretty foolish to think that the next show there'd be, like, a million people. You still have to work hard to build a fan base in places you've never been."
"What matters most," says Stickles, "more than having a lot of people, is how much the people that are there are willing to surrender themselves to having a good time." Harm took a minute to reflect on the prior night's sold out, 800-person capacity show in Chicago with Los Campesinos!, though conceded that the best shows are the small venues in odd places with rabid supporters. Unlikely places such as Tulsa, OK and Beloit College in Wisconsin have been good to Titus Andronicus -- perhaps not in numbers, but in incalculable energy and human feedback. Maybe this underdog spirit, on display in their self-deprecating, self-titled theme song, is what endears them to these fans in the non-capitals of rock. "Our band is a punk rock band. We sound that way," says Stickles. "This may sound lame, but being in a punk band is more of a mindset of the way you do things," says Graetzer. Harm noted Stickles' philosophy to sum up their version of punk. "I think that one of the things that you say a lot is that you want people to understand that we're human beings, and I think that's really a punk rock thing."
"Punk rock is the most human-sounding music, because it sounds like it was made by weak, imperfect humans, and that's us. Not gods," concludes Stickles, before adding, "No Pink Floyd live at Pompeii stuff. We're just dudes." "Some straight up bros," according to Graetzer. "Average Joes," adds Harm. Such is life in the brotherhood of Titus Andronicus, just some humble dudes perpetually on the road, playing rock music for anyone who wants to listen.
